A Second Set of Hands

A grant from the Wilbert Foundation provided money for the initial printing of A Second Set of Hands. Contributions are gratefully accepted so that we can reprint the book and continue to make it available to families of pediatric patients at University Hospital. If you would like to help, send your donation to:
Pediatric Spiritual Care Fund
c/o Center for Spiritiual Care
University Hospital
750 East Adams Street
Syracuse, NY 13210
and earmark it "for reprinting of SSOH".

A Second Set of Hands, offering practical and spiritual help for parents with hospitalized children—written by parents of hospitalized children—has been published by the Pediatric Spiritual Care Advisory Council of SUNY Upstate Medical University and University Hospital with the help of a grant from the Wilbert Foundation. The book is distributed to the families of pediatric patients at University Hospital.

The book, which takes its title from a story told by Lou Farchione, M.D., a member of the Pediatric Spiritual Care Advisory Council and a retired Syracuse pediatrician who described his approach to patient care as involving both his hands and "a second set of hands" from God, includes stories from parents about how their spiritual life helped them through their ordeal.

Along with heartwarming stories, the book offers practical advice for families. Sidebars and footnotes provide helpful tips and resources for managing stress, maintaining healthy family relationships, and balancing career and financial concerns—challenges that are unique to parents with children who have medical needs.