Our Pediatrics Unit is tapping into its creative side to help patients heal. Inspire heART recently donated an “Inspiration Station” art cart to the unit to thank and give back to San Juan Regional Medical Center for the support we have provided to their mission. Inspire heART was founded by Christy and Danny Clugston to help students heal following the Aztec shooting. They have grown to help students all over the Four Corners since then, using art as a tool to help students express their emotions.

San Juan Regional Medical Center Pediatrics Unit staff explores the Inspiration Station with a patient.

The Clugstons came up with the idea to use art to help children through their hospitalization – and shortly after, the “Inspiration Station” was conceived and delivered to the Pediatrics unit. The rolling cart can be moved from room to room. It contains everything a child could want to creatively express themselves during a hospitalization with crayons, coloring pages, watercolors, stickers and more. For those experiencing mental health struggles, the station also contains art therapy tools with booklets that prompt children to express their emotions in a safe and creative way. 

“We are excited as a pediatrics unit to be able to reach this side of patients. It’s not just about the medical, it’s about what’s inside and how they are feeling,” manager Melanie Stout said.

“It’s part of the healing process,” said Christy. “Art is a powerful medium for starting conversations and understanding the inner workings of the mind.” 

We are grateful for our continued partnership with Inspire heART and look forward to future collaborations to expand this art therapy program to other areas of the hospital.