The Just Me Project

For Health Care Professionals

While the national media and politicians speak of health care reform, the faithful caregivers of our nation’s sick and disabled live with some very hard truths.

One of these truths is that they have few adaptive tools to help sick children and their families talk openly about their feelings, the challenges, and the fears that can impede healing. The Just Me Project provides some new tools, and uniquely uses the voice and perspective of a cat to engage others.

What made Christopher Reeve a Superman was not the blue cape and the movies he made, but his responses to the challenges of living life as a quadriplegic. Each person with an illness or handicap can either feel like a victim or become a teacher of high self-esteem. Henry calls each person to be the hero in his or her own story.

One oncology nurse used the story to help a boy facing an amputation. He carried the book into the operating room, and in recovery draws pictures of his prosthetics for Henry. Other nurses use the materials in transition; discharge and home care for children with long-term challenges. They have described dramatic changes in the family when it is recognized that we are all on the journey from victim to hero. Read more…

Henry-bandage

White paper: The Just Me Project for Health Care Professionals