Magic Wand Moments | Caitlin Novelli | Making Medical Experiences Meaningful for Kids

How do you explain cancer to a child? And how can creativity help children feel more involved in their own healthcare experiences?

In this episode of Magic Wand Moments, Lindsey Wahlstrom sits down with Caitlin Novelli, a Certified Child Life Specialist in the Philadelphia area and one of the newest advisors to Rona's FUN LAB.

They explore two creative projects from Caitlin's work:

✨ Take Your Child to Work Day cancer demonstrations: Making complicated medical concepts understandable and approachable for children.

🎨 A mural project at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP): Exploring how art and creativity can help transform the hospital experience.

Along the way, Lindsey and Caitlin discuss the important role of child life specialists, what adults underestimate about children's ability to understand medical information, and why opportunities for creativity, participation, and agency matter in pediatric care.