The Beads of Courage Program at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, Ark. is a tangible way for pediatric cancer patients to tell about every step of their journey to get well. Dozens of colorful glass beads represent a different treatment or experience in the cancer treatment unit. When they are first diagnosed, they receive individual letter beads to spell out their name. White beads are given for each treatment of chemotherapy, brown when they lose their hair, red for blood transfusions, glow-in-the-dark for radiation treatments and dozens more. When the treatment ends, young cancer survivors receive a purple heart. Arkansas Children’s Hospital is one of 14 hospitals in the United States to implement the Beads of Courage Program. This video profiles the program at Arkansas Children's Hospital and includes interviews with the nurse manager of the oncology unit, as well as young cancer patients.
