On July 1, Kaylie went to ARUP Laboratories in Salt Lake City to participate in a child diagnostics study. ARUP is working with the University of Utah, giving a physical exam and taking blood and urine samples from healthy volunteers (ages 7 to17) so they can have a baseline of what a healthy child looks like. They can then use this information as a comparison when they are helping sick children. The children (and parents) participating in the study can use the exam results for school, sports or scouting activities, and the children are given a gift card as compensation.
Michael, Jason and Lindsey participated in this study a few years ago, so when we found out they were still looking for more kids we asked the younger ones if they wanted to do it. Ryan did not; Brandon did, but they already had enough information from boys his age; and Kaylie, who just turned seven, wanted to go. In fact, she was pretty excited about going--she was looking forward to that gift card.
So this past Tuesday Bruce took her up there. He said she was happy and excited; she'd taken her coloring book and crayons and colored on the drive there.
Kaylie says the first thing they asked her to do was "pee in a container and I couldn't do it, so I had to do it last." Then she had her eyes checked and her reflexes checked ("it feels funny"). She was a little bit nervous about the blood-draw, and she says, "it hurt a little bit. She [the technician] said it would feel like a little pinch, but it was more than that." But her dad held her hand and the phlebotomist was very nice; they took six vials of blood--about 1 teaspoon each, and then Kaylie got her gift card and they gave her some juice. She felt very happy to get that gift card; Kaylie said, "It was cool." After a few more drinks of water and the rest of the exam she was able to produce the urine specimen as well. And then she was happily on her way home again.
I got to take her shopping! I had thought she'd choose some cool place like Toys R Us, but she chose Wal-Mart. We looked at everything! One-and-a-half hours later she was at the checkout buying her new desk caddy (a little box with papers, markers, crayons, stickers, etc. to keep in it). Since she had signed the gift card herself she also had to sign the card-reader pad; she could barely reach it--it was pretty cute.
To sum up the whole experience, Kaylie said, "The doctor was nice; his name is John. It was fun." I'm proud of Kaylie; and I think she is too!
Kaylie plays with her well-deserved prize.
ARUP still needs a few boys (I don't remember what ages) and girls of all ages (7 - 17) to complete their survey. If you know someone who is willing to go, they will get a complete, free physical exam and be given a $30 gift card. Print the flyer (below) for information and please print the referral card to take with you--Kaylie will get another $10 gift card for every child she refers. Thanks!
2 comments:
Hooray for Kaylie! What a brave girl. I'll have to tell Emma.
Yay for Kylie!! That's so awesome!
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