New playroom under construction at Grady Burn Center

Grady’s Walter L. Ingram Burn Center provides specialized care for children suffering burn injuries. To provide comfort during the recovery process, the Mary Alice and Bennett Brown Foundation recently assisted in outfitting the Burn Center’s new playroom, which will open later this year.

Burn-related wounds are very painful, and the treatment to prevent infection and aid healing can be excruciating. On top of the emotional and physical toll of recovery, pediatric patients may miss weeks of school, sports and after-school activities. The main goal of the new playroom is to provide a space for play, normalcy and joy, offering a much-needed escape from the stress of medical treatments and procedures.

The new playroom, being constructed as part of the Burn Center’s current renovation and expansion, includes a host of engagement activities and therapeutic opportunities designed to improve the experience and outcomes of pediatric patients. Grady’s Child Life Specialists plan to use the room for therapeutic play, supporting healthy development throughout a patient’s extended hospital stay, helping patients engage with items reflecting their medical experiences in a safe way, and building meaningful connections with teens.

It is also open to pediatric patients’ siblings and the children of adult patients, ensuring that anyone who can benefit from this fun, healing environment has access during their time at the Burn Center.