STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — This is not news: Nobody wants to be a patient in a cancer center, least of all children.
But what is news for Staten Islanders is that a very challenging experience has been made a bit easier, thanks to a new child-focused Brian Halpin Pediatric Cancer at Staten Island University Hospital’s Florina Cancer Center, the first free-standing cancer center in New York City, now fully operational for the past six months. Kristin Carrozza has experienced the change firsthand, since her son, Carmelo Carrozza IV, is now in remission, having beaten leukemia twice. Carmelo, 7, still visits the new cancer center for long days of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) infusions to strengthen his immunity.
Throughout the treatments, the family now sits more comfortably in larger, more private infusion bays with walls and windows. “The first time around, I will say the only thing that maybe you get at different hospitals that you didn‘t get here was the facility,’’ Carrozza said. “But, you know, everybody here is amazing.
So now the facility matches how amazing everybody is. It definitely makes it more comfortable. We’re here very long, you know, a long day.
” Carmelo, a second-grader at PS 69 in New Springville, kills time creating drawings in his sketchbook and playing Minecraft video games on his iPad. But, ultimately, kids need to burn off energy. And the new setup gives him the space to stretch his legs, run around a bit, even play a few games of magne.