Gaslini Beach: a beach for young patients at the Genoa pediatric hospital

« Gaslini Beach », an oasis of light -heartedness

The unknown environment, so different from that of the house, the visits that can make a little fear, the sometimes annoying exams, sometimes painful, the therapies to be taken at regular times, make hospitalization in the hospital a very tiring experience for children. The possibility of spending some time in the open air, in a real bathing establishment, with deck chairs, umbrellas and all fun games Which can be done on the shoreline and in the waves, it gives a parenthesis of serenity and joy both to the small patients and to the parents. For mothers and dads, getting out of the department and seeing their child who plays and relaxes in an absolutely safe context, is a precious « breath of air », an opportunity to pause at least for a little anxieties and worries.
Those moments spent in the open air that have the flavor of the holiday are precious for everyone, but even more for children and teenagers who will have to spend their summer in the hospital in part or completely, hospitalized in a hospital ward.

Magic begins even before arriving on the beach, when – starting from pavilion 13 – take the long underground corridor which, thanks to the project Painted hospitals of the artist Silvio Illirihas transformed nothing less than into a submarine. Nice dolphins, multicolored fish and sea turtles smile behind the portholes And to the large rectangular windows painted along the route that leads directly to the beach.

On the beach workshops and creative activities

For children sand and sea they already represent an inexhaustible game and leisure opportunity, but to make the most of this resource, workshops and artistic and creative activities are organized every day on the beach.
« The Gaslini beach is not just a place of entertainment: it is a space that allows us to take care of the child and his family even outside the hospital rooms » he explains Raffaele Spiazzi, Health director of the Gaslini Institute. «Here the game and the beauty of the sea become an integral part of the therapeutic path. Bringing educational and rehabilitative activities to such a special environment means offering a more complete care experience, which puts not only the disease at the center, but the person in its entirety ».

Thanks to the volunteers of the associations «Tommi’s dream «  And « The port of the little ones»,, Patients who spend a few hours on the beach can all play together, listen to fairy tales and dedicate themselves to many activities, all on the sea theme. For children it is a great satisfaction to create something with your own hands and return to the ward with an aquarium made with a cardboard box, tempera, brushes and imagination, or with a nice pebble painted with cheerful colors. But that’s not all: why Didactic activities also take place on the beach that allow children to get to know the sea and its inhabitants better (fish, dolphins, sea turtles, etc.) and to discover the secrets of boats and ships of all types and sizes.

Special guests and rescue demonstrations

Then there are the special days, those in which in addition to the fixed workshops, guests arrive who tell children new aspects of sea life.
« Every year new initiatives are added thanks to the collaboration with numerous realities: the Port Authority, the divers, the Red Cross, the Associations of the Fishermen, the Italian School of Live Dogs and many others » he explains Michele Pesce, vice -president of the Giannina Gaslini Institute Recreational Circle (Crigg) that manages the bathing establishment and contact person of the Gaslini beach.

The calendar of summer initiatives is truly rich, to satisfy the needs of young patients and their families as much as possible.
« Last summer we proposed weekly sweet fitness lessons, this year we are starting moments of meditation for children, family members and operators, together with the association »The Bear Band«  » Consider Michele Pesce. « A great support comes in particular from » Gaslininsieme « , the Foundation that deals with Fundraising for the Gaslini Institute and which has long contributed to the improvement of our beach through dedicated projects ».

The Beach project

New models of care and therapeutic alliances with families are also built on the beach. This is the case of the project Beachacronym for « Be aware of achondroplasia Children  » Dedicated to children with Acondroplasia, a genetic pathology that causes low disproportionate stature. To conceive it, the Pediatric and Endocrinology Clinic of Gaslini, which introduced innovative therapy for these small patients. « Until a few years ago, the only treatment for ACONDROPLASY was represented by the lengthening of the limbs by means of surgical approach » explains Mohamad Maghnie, head of the clinic. « Now there is a drug that has offered new hope to improve stature, increasing the speed of growth and body proportion. Continuous therapy has also proven effective for other complications associated with this condition ».
But the novelty of the Beach project is above all the taking charge of families at 360 ° for which assistance is not only medical: parents are in fact guaranteed emotional support, motivation, encouragement and the possibility of meeting other families who are experiencing the same experience to confront and share doubts, fears, emotions.

Meet and share emotions

And the beach offered the ideal scenario to inaugurate these moments of encounter between parents and children. In a much more cheerful and convivial environment, compared to a hospital department, families and health operators meet and confront each other.
« Through this project we aim to offer a unique opportunity for training, support and sharing among the families who face this challenge daily » explains Caterina Tedesco, pediatric nurse of the clinic and Beach contact person. « We chose to organize the first event at our Gaslini Beach, supported by different associations, with a game of words that recalls the name of the project ».
Others will follow this first event, during 2025. « The goal is to improve the quality of the care of children and their families, creating a mutual support environment and promoting the sense of belonging » concludes the German doctor. « This initiative also offers an opportunity to stimulate self -esteem and autonomy of the children involved ».

Giorgia Cozza