CHEO TREASURE CHEST (click here for photo) Located on the 6th floor of the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, in what is known as the Medical Day Unit, the Treasure Chest allows children who have just had blood work done to pick a small gift as a reward.

As most of us with children know, it doesn't take much to make a child happy. Very often the box is just as exciting as what is in it! That is the general idea behind this program. The "box", or in this case the "chest", is a visual stimulation for what's inside. What's inside is a variety of small gift items that a child can choose by reaching into the treasure chest. The blood drawing room itself is also decorated up and furnished by TLP Foundation with an "out at sea" kind of feel to compliment the treasure chest, complete with soothing ocean music!

On a busy day in CHEO's Medical Day Unit, this program can reward up to 40 children for having blood work done.

During the course of treatment and the related follow-up, it is not uncommon for a child to have to give blood samples in the hundreds of times.

We would like to express our sincerest thanks to local design company Expographiq, who used their creative expertise to design and donate the treasure chest.

If you or your organization would like to contribute to this or any other of our programs please click here.