The Cellie Coping Kit helps sick kids manage the stress of treatment

Designed by Marsac during her fellowship at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the Cellie Coping Kit was developed for children ages 6-12, and includes of a plush toy named Cellie, a deck of cards with coping and communication techniques, and a book for caregivers. The first Cellie kit was geared toward children with cancer, but has since been adapted for children with sickle cell disease, traumatic injuries, and food allergies. A kit for eosinophilic esophagitis, an allergy condition that causes inflammation of the esophagus, is in the works, as is a kit for the siblings of children with illness or disability. The kit is designed not only to comfort children during their illness, but also to provide them with the tools they need to understand their treatment and communicate their feelings. The coping cards address various "stressors" children can face, from procedures (e.g. needle sticks), to emotional stress (anxiety and sadness), to side effects of treatment (nausea, hair loss).