New oncology teen room opens at Diamond Children's

A new teen room has opened at Diamond Children’s Medical Center, a part of the Banner – University Medical Center Tucson facilities, providing a visually appealing and cozy space for teens who are undergoing cancer treatment at the hospital.

More than 100 teenagers undergo cancer treatment at Diamond Children’s every year. One of those was 18-year-old Kelsey Luria, who died in 2015 after a months-long battle with acute myeloid leukemia, a rare bone marrow cancer. Her parents, Maya and Michael Luria, intimately know the challenges faced by teens undergoing months of treatment in a hospital. They chose to honor their daughter’s memory and enrich the lives of other teens fighting cancer by contributing $150,000 to create the Diamond Children’s teen room.

New respite room for teen oncology patients at the Diamond Children'’ Center in Tucson, with an image on TV screen of the former 18-year-old cancer patient to whom the room was dedicated to with funding by her parents. Side images, displaying a beach scene here, are able to change to suit the mood of the patient. And signage (below) just outside the room. (Photos courtesy of Banner Health) 

The room provides an escape where teens can enjoy respite from the busy medical environment. The dedicated room allows them to gather or enjoy moments alone playing video games, reading or watching movies on a large TV mounted in front of LED panels that can display scenes of Paris, the beach, or a jungle. The space also features colored LED lighting that can be changed with the push of a button.

Before Kelsey lost her battle with cancer, she created the Bald Beauties Project, which works to empower children and teen cancer patients who have lost their hair due to chemotherapy. Bald Beauties provides these patients with a professional photoshoot to help them feel beautiful and self-confident, gives comfort kits to hospitalized teens and supports on-going research of acute myeloid leukemia. Kelsey’s parents honor Kelsey’s legacy through the Bald Beauties Project, which funded the build-out of the teen room.

Here the new respite room for teen oncology patients displays an image of the Eiffel Tower just in time for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris (Courtesy of Banner Health)

“Rarely does a day go by at Diamond Children’s without our feeling Kelsey’s impact. The new teen room is another example of her kindness and thoughtfulness for others. On behalf of patients’ past, present and future, we are forever thankful for the Luria’s dedication to helping provide comfort to others in their time of great need,” said Courtney McClellan, RN, MSN, CPN, nursing associate director for pediatric oncology at Diamond Children’s.

About Banner Children’s – Diamond Children’s Medical Center
Banner Children’s – Diamond Children’s Medical Center provides pediatric care for children, from newborns to teens. Services include emergency care, heart disorders, traumatic brain injury, autism and developmental disorders, cancer, diabetes and endocrinology, gastrointestinal and nutritional disorders, neurological problems, orthopedics, intensive care needs and more. It is the only pediatric medical facility in Arizona connected to an academic research facility — the University of Arizona Steele Children’s Research Center — where physician-scientists provide access to groundbreaking science and research to advance children’s health. For more information, visit bannerhealth.com/diamondchildrens and bannerhealth.com/university-of-arizona-cancer-center-tucson

For further information contact us at: media@bannerhealth.com

Original story link.

A version of this article also appeared Aug. 1, 2024, on the Banner Health Foundation website.