FlairCare, a Healing Art Platform to Support Pediatric Patients

Every year, over 3 million children are hospitalized in the United States. Their treatment process can be long, arduous, and isolated, especially with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We recognize that treatment is not simply removing a disease; instead, it requires a holistic approach to convalesce invisible wounds. To foster multidimensional healing, we created FlairCare, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Med-City Rochester, MN, and is fully volunteer-operated. Our mission is to support pediatric patients using creative art as a palliative therapeutic tool. By educating patients and providing a platform for creative pursuits, we help enhance mental and emotional health. For example, many cancer patients experience chemotherapy-induced alopecia with profound psychosocial consequences. As one of our exciting initiatives, we wrote, illustrated, and published “Beautiful As Always,” following a young girl with cancer as she finds her internal values regardless of her external appearance. By encouraging the self-confidence and self-love that all patients deserve, we have gained endorsements from several pediatricians nationwide and partnered with children’s hospitals to continue sharing the inspiring story. Additionally, FlairCare team members have strived to reach local and global communities through initiatives like hosting therapeutic art workshops, donating to children’s hospitals, planning special events (like the Twin Cities walkathon for cancer research), and advocating for palliative care. Our community events have reached 700 kids in just a few months. We will continue branching to more pediatric patients to drive our community to the next level of patient-centered healthcare—helping these brave kids laugh a little more, embrace their treatment, and achieve their healthiest, happiest selves.