Each year, CHRISTMAS IN JULY Charity provides for the patients and families of the Marshfield Children's Hospital, items to make their stay as happy and comfortable as possible.
In 2025, the Charity will focus its fundraising efforts on creating a state-of-the-art Pediatric Rehab Gym at Marshfield Children’s Hospital!
In 2024 Christmas In July Charity is raised funds for the for 10 NEW Childrens Hospital Priorities for the Marshfield Children’s Hospital!
WHY 10?? To celebrate to 10th Anniversary of the charity!
Welcome Dolly Paw-ton!
Dolly is a paws-itive new team member joins Child Life team at Marshfield Children’s.
The Child Life and Expressive Therapies team welcomed Dolly to Marshfield Children’s Hospital the end of November 2024.
Dolly is a specially educated facility dog who will assist her Child Life handler helping pediatric patients cope while at a medical appointment, procedure or during a hospital stay.
Dolly comes from Canine Assistants in Georgia, who use a bond-based approach. Marshfield Children’s Hospital is one of only two children’s hospitals in Wisconsin to have a facility dog.
This animal-assisted therapy can help patients feel more comfortable and less anxious. Different than pet therapy, Dolly and Child Life are following a goal-directed program that helps patients cope, heal and achieve treatment goals.
Child Life works with patients, they will assess if a child’s care plan would benefit by assistance from Dolly.
Marshfield Children’s Hospital facility dog program is funded through donations from Christmas In July Charity.
In 2023 Christmas In July Charity is raised funds for the for a facility dog for the Marshfield Children’s Hospital!
Facility dogs are an intentional part of treatment, utilized for therapeutic bedsides, bereavement situations, procedures, etc. Specifically, facility dogs can be used in the following ways:
• Distractions: The facility dog will aid in distracting patients and providing comfort positioning during MRI scans, IV starts, SANE exams, catheters, and more.
• Preparations: The facility dog will be used to demonstrate what patients will experience during scans or other scary situations.
• Medical play: Patients can listen to the facility dog's heart, place an "IV" in the dog's paw, etc. to help them better understand procedures.
• Motivation: Staff can use the facility dog to motivate rehab patients to "walk the dog" or walk to the dog.