Comfort in knowing what to expect
Once diagnosed, Paxton spent 10 days at the hospital.
“That first night was definitely very scary and very long,” Justin recalled. “But the staff immediately put us at ease and the entire stay was very comfortable. I can’t say enough about how we were treated that first day. They knew it was new to us, but they made it very easy to understand over time.”
Doctors, nurses and staff consistently told Paxton and his family exactly what to expect before any new procedure.
“That was nice because this is a very stressful situation we’re in,” Justin said. “I knew nothing about this world coming into it. The more explanation and the more times talking through things have been helpful for me.”
Paxton and his family have found a rhythm to their weekly clinic visits that helps Paxton know exactly what to expect.
Topical numbing cream, choices, distraction and positioning
At every clinic visit, Paxton is offered Comfort Promise, a free, standard part of care that helps reduce or eliminate pain during needle procedures. This includes:
- Choices to help him feel more in control.
- Tools and interventions to help address any pain.
- Positioning to help him feel more comfortable.
- Distractions to help him better cope.
- Memory framing after it's over to remind him how well the experience went.
After just two months of treatment, Paxton and his family had his Comfort Promise plan locked down. Once a week, Paxton knows that in the morning his parents will apply topical cream at home, allowing it to take full effect before a nurse accesses his port. After applying the cream, they cover it with plastic wrap. Then they’re out the door.
“We sit in the same chair every single time,” Justin said.
This repeated positioning brings Paxton comfort.
“They bring in an iPad for him to watch his favorite show right there,” Justin said.
This distraction also comes with a choice.
"It makes him comfortable, and he’s zoned out,” Justin said.
It’s normal for kids — and adults — to wish they could skip their weekly port-access appointments. But for Paxton, Comfort Promise makes these recurring appointments something he anticipates with joy.
“Honestly, he looks forward to pulling up to Phoenix Children’s and coming in the door,” Justin said. “That’s a testament to how the process has gone so far. He doesn’t dread coming here. He doesn’t cry. He has a great experience every single time. We do it the same way every single time. He knows what to expect, and there are a lot of familiar faces. It helps him. Those are his friends, as he likes to call them. I definitely look at it as a partnership between us and everybody here at the hospital.”
The importance of memory framing: Everyone at Phoenix Children’s is a friend
Paxton will continue treatment for at least two more years. From the beginning, his parents have helped him frame his experiences at Phoenix Children’s positively, encouraging him to think of everyone within the hospital walls as friends.
“He knows that he’s going to see friends at his appointment, people who are here working with him, helping him — Child Life Specialists, nurses and doctors,” Justin said. “They’re his friends. We’re building relationships here. He knows what to expect every time. He knows who he’s going to see and what that process is going to look like.”
Justin appreciates everyone’s friendly, rather than clinical, tone. At every visit, friendly faces stop by to say hi to Paxton. Everybody remembers his name.
“Having consistency in the process, but also making it something that is enjoyable for him and familiar for him has worked out really well,” Justin said. “The process has been pretty seamless, and he enjoys coming honestly every single time. So it’s amazing to us. I love it.”
Every child deserves a more comfortable healthcare experience. Learn how Comfort Promise helps reduce pain and anxiety during needle procedures — and why it's offered to every patient, every time.
