Thank you in advance Ashley for your time and cooperation in helping us to create a positive perception and increased awareness of the Treasure Chest Foundation. We appreciate your availability for this interview and welcome any questions you might have for us, or any suggestions you might have for additional topics for this interview.

POTCF: What inspired you to choose a career in healthcare? How did you originally get into healthcare/nursing?

Ashley: I was initially going to school for information technology and webpage design because that is what my cousin studied. Sitting, writing code and staring at a screen all the time was not for me. A friend told me about an interesting class she took called Children in Hospitals. It was the beginning of the semester, so I dropped a class and signed up for the class. I learned about Child Life on the first day of class and within minutes knew that I was put on this earth to be a Child Life Specialist.  Sounds cheesy…but true. 

POTCF: What type of education was required for you to enter a career in healthcare?

Ashley: A bachelor’s degree in Child Development or a similar field. Also, I completed an internship in a Children’s Hospital with Child Life Specialists and then got certified through The Association of Child Life Professionals.  

POTCF: When did you begin working at the hospital and what was your first job?

Ashley: I began working at Children’s Hospital at Erlanger in June of 2007 and it was my first job out of college. I started off in outpatient surgery and was there for about 8 months and then moved to the hematology/oncology outpatient clinic where I have been since!

POTCF: How would you describe your “dream” job? 

Ashley: I have it.

POTCF: How has pediatric oncology changed since you began?

Ashley: Hearing about new treatments and that some protocols are changing chemo treatment lengths to be shorter, has been exciting!

POTCF: If you had free reign to do so, would you change anything about pediatric oncology?

Ashley: OF COURSE! It would be HISTORY! But…I would also like to continue building amazing foundations and resources for these families. They need them and the families are so appreciative of them. I am lucky to see the kids and families benefit from TONS of foundations daily. I would start a foundation to pay for kids' funerals. I hate that after you fight for the life of your child and they pass, that a parent is now stressed about money for a funeral. They will be getting bills in the mail for days, weeks, months to come and I would love to help families not have that as a stressor in such a difficult time. 

POTCF: Have any individuals (teachers, fellow workers, doctors, staff members, etc.) been an inspiration or made a positive impression on you?

Ashley: There have been so many! Dr. Kropp, my teacher/advisor in college and now a friend. Maggie, a fellow Child Life Specialist that started right when I did and was right out of college. We have learned so much together and grown as well. It has been nice to have someone to bounce ideas off of, call when I am unsure of things, and share our good and bad experiences with, because she gets it. 

POTCF: How would you describe the impact on childhood cancer patients of being able to select a toy from the Treasure Chest?

Ashley: They LOVE IT! They talk about getting a prize out of the chest before their port access. Right when the nurse is done with an access, the child is up and ready to run to the treasure chest. 

POTCF: Do you have a favorite moment, story, or patient from your experiences while observing the effect of the Treasure Chest?

Ashley: Not a certain one, because they are all so cute! I do love getting the boxes and unpacking them and filling up the chest. I see all the different toys and know in my head which each kid will pick. Then I see them pick their prize and it is the one I thought they would pick! I love it!

POTCF: How has the Treasure Chest impacted you or made your job easier?

Ashley: It has been a blessing to have a steady supply of prizes come for the treasure chest. I love that we have an actual Treasure Chest for kids to dig into. It makes the whole experience more fun!