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Wolfson Children’s at Southeast Georgia Health System recently held an unveiling ceremony for its new Donohue Sensory Room,
a therapeutic space designed to help children with autism spectrum disorders
and/or sensory challenges feel calm, supported and focused while at the
pediatric specialty clinic.
The specialized sensory room was made possible by a $40,000 gift from The
AJ Donohue Foundation. The funding supported capital needs, including
construction and equipment.
“Our foundation’s mission started with my brother, AJ, who
in the final weeks of his life, decided to raise money to support the
patients and families at Wolfson Children’s Hospital,” said
Luke Donohue. “It has now been 16 years since he passed away, but
his vision is alive and stronger than ever. Our continued relationship
with Southeast Georgia Health System and Wolfson Children’s has
allowed us to extend AJ’s vision back into the Brunswick community,
where he first got the idea to start fundraising. I know that AJ would
be so proud to know that we’re still raising money for his vision
all these years later.”
Since AJ’s passing from a rare bone cancer in 2006, The AJ Donohue
Foundation has organized scholarships and endowments to assist Wolfson
Children’s Hospital, where AJ received treatment. It has also raised
more than $350,000 for Wolfson Children’s at Southeast Georgia Health
System, aiding programs that provide care to children in the southeast
Georgia region.
“The AJ Donohue Foundation is dedicated to helping children and families
experience more joy and fewer struggles,” shared
DelRia T. Baisden, FACHE, vice president, Southeast Georgia Health System. “Their newest gift, the Donohue
Sensory Room, will help to promote a soothing environment that comforts
children and allows them to feel safe during therapy.”
Baisden added, “On behalf of the Health System, our therapy teams,
and the families we serve, I extend deep appreciation to the AJ Donohue
Foundation for this very generous gift.”
Paying special attention to what the children and families need, the room
was designed with soft, neutral colors, minimalistic décor, and
a variety of therapy equipment, including: a climbing system with a scooter
board ramp, a crash pad and bean bag chair, a trampoline and assorted
swings. Each product has a unique purpose to help promote different sensory
inputs. Instead of harsh fluorescent light bulbs, which produce a mild
humming noise and often flicker, the space includes dimmable lighting
and blackout shades that families can customize to meet the individual
comfort level of their child.
Wolfson Children’s at Southeast Georgia Health System is the result
of a partnership between Southeast Georgia Health System and Wolfson Children’s
Hospital of Jacksonville, Florida. Opened in 2013 and staffed by the Health
System and the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville,
the center offers outpatient pediatric subspecialty care in cardiology,
neurosurgery and rehabilitation therapy.
“Thanks to the generosity and continued support of The AJ Donohue
Foundation, as well as to our longstanding partners at Southeast Georgia
Health System, we are able to go the extra mile to meet the needs of families
seeking specialized pediatric services close to home,” says Thabata
Ford, MPH, FACHE, vice president, Operations and System Pulmonary, Baptist
Medical Center and Wolfson Children’s Hospital. “A testament
to the remarkable legacy of its namesake, AJ Donohue, the new Donohue
Sensory Room at Wolfson Children’s at Southeast Georgia Health System
will help children have more positive and meaningful experiences.”