El Paso Children’s Hospital introduces new therapeutic arts program

The El Paso Children’s Hospital’s oncology department is trying to help young patients deal with their illnesses with a new therapeutic arts program.

The program is also a way for the young patients to add more excitement to their daily hospital routine. “I like it that we get to do different things every day,” said Aixa Saldivar, a young patient at the hospital. The children who participate in the arts program have daily routines that now include painting, drawing and sculpting. Professional artists also volunteer their time to teach the patients a few of their techniques. “Sculpting is a fantastic thing to do so it can keep your mind away from things,” said Julio Sanchez DeAlba, a sculpting artist who participated in the program. The new therapeutic arts program also strongly encourages family members to join their children. “When you develop an illness and you’re looking at like eight months on treatment, all of a sudden there is no control and the whole family dynamic is affected by cancer. Here in therapeutic arts the whole family participates,” said Gina Kay-Lochausen, head of the therapeutic arts program.