February typically means gray skies, cold, damp and shortened days, and plenty of indoor play. Who couldn’t use a little cheering up? The employees at Monongahela Valley Hospital’s Center for Children’s Rehabilitation implemented a special week called “Dinosaur Days” to extend good cheer, lift spirits, give the children keepsakes to play with during the winter months and especially reward them for their hard work and determination in therapy sessions.

The idea originated when Susan Guglielmi, a MVH physical therapy aide, received several hundred stuffed dinosaurs and books from the Kohl’s Cares for Kids® philanthropic program. Throughout the year, Kohl’s Cares for Kids sells merchandise and 100 percent of the net profits from the sale are donated to support health and educational opportunities for children across the United States. When the sale of the book and plush dinosaurs concluded, Kohl’s Department store in South Hills Village donated the remaining supply to Monongahela Valley Hospital. Gugliemi arranged for MVH’s Center for Children’s Rehabilitation and the Emergency Department to give away the dinosaurs and books to children receiving therapy or coming to the ED.

Velociraptor, Protoceratops and Apatosaurus are the plush dinosaur characters in the book How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon by children’s author Jane Yolen. At the Center each child receives the book and a choice from one of the three dinosaurs, when his or her therapy session is completed.

Jane Yolen’s books along with the dinosaur plush were available at Kohl’s for several months for a cost of $5 - a fraction of the cost to just purchase the book elsewhere. Kohl’s Cares for Kids® is not just a program, it’s a promise of hope for a brighter, healthier future for kids in our communities. From injury prevention and immunization programs, every day across the country, Kohl’s is putting time, effort and funding toward keeping kids healthy.

Susan Kramer, MVH physical therapist said, “That is how the idea for ‘Dinosaur Days’ was created and then we just took off with the theme of a promise of hope for a brighter, healthier future for kids. We made posters, signs, coloring sheets and decorated the office and therapy rooms with dinosaurs and other brightly colored images. The parents are so thankful and the kids can’t wait to get their cute, cuddly dinosaur and book.”

Donna Murphy, Office Manager at the Center for Children’s Rehabilitation, said, “The children’s smiles are priceless while they are choosing their dinosaur. It touches my heart when they receive the dinosaur and book and then ask if they may have one for a brother or sister. And of course, the answer is yes.

“This is such a family-oriented environment. Parents and siblings wait for their loved one to receive therapy and we get to know everyone. It is very beneficial for the parents and siblings to see the hands-on therapy. Families and caregivers play an important role in the development and implementation of the rehabilitation,” said Murphy.

Monongahela Valley Hospital’s Center for Children’s Rehabilitation provides specialized services to meet the rehabilitation needs of children and adolescents in the mid-Monongahela Valley. The Center serves infants, children, adolescents and young adults to age 21 who have been diagnosed with any of the following conditions including: Autism, Attention Deficit Disorders/ADHD, Down Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disability, Language Delays and Disorders, Swallowing Disorders, Fine and Gross Motor Skill Delay, Orthopedic Disorders, Neuromuscular and Neurological conditions and Behavioral Disorders.

The MVH team coordinates care for various needs including physical, occupational and speech therapies. MVH enjoys a professional partnership with California University of Pennsylvania to accommodate the Social/Psychological evaluations through Cal U’s Child and Family Studies Institute. The therapists and developmental specialists assess each child/adolescent’s needs, establish goals, and create an individualized intervention plan.

MVH is committed to the medical, educational, and emotional needs of children/adolescents and their families, and will continue to provide innovative, comprehensive programming to help them obtain the best life possible.

Appointments will be available in the day or evening, Monday through Friday by calling 724-258-2971. The Rehabilitation Center is located at 1029 Country Club Road in Suite 202, Carroll Township, PA.