Art therapy has helped Katherine Alderfer during her treatment for juvenile dermatomyositis at Riley Hospital. Now Katherine’s art is helping Riley Children’s Foundation’s year-end giving campaign called “The Gift of Hope Happens Here.” Her picture of a Christmas snowglobe appears this holiday season on the Riley Holiday Cards. The cards are available in packs of 10 for $8, and are sold exclusively at RileyHolidayCards.com and the Riley Hospital gift shops. Companies may order personalized Riley Holiday Cards with a special message and company logo. In an interview with Katherine’s parents, Alan and Kristine Alderfer, Winona Lake, Kristine said this was the first time Katherine submitted her art for consideration for the holiday cards. Katherine made the art well over a year ago. Alan said out of the hundreds of pictures submitted by children, the hospital’s doctors and nurses vote and narrow it down to five pieces of artwork for the cards. “For her, the opportunity came through the art therapy program. Art is her biggest highlight of being a Riley kid,” said Kristine. The Alderfers found out over the summer that Katherine’s work was selected for the cards and that Katherine also would be the focus of the giving campaign. The photoshoot for the campaign was in September. What’s unique about Katherine’s picture is that in the 20-year history of the holiday cards, there’s never been a snowglobe in one of them, Alan stated. The Riley staff were excited about that. “The snowglobe was all her (idea),” Kristine said. “It just must have been on her mind. She’s so young, she doesn’t realize how much of an opportunity this is.” Alan said Katherine’s holiday cards already have sold more than any other card before. That’s partly due to Lake City Bank using Katherine’s card for its Christmas card this year, he said. “It’s nice to have the county represented this way because lots of kids from here go to Riley,” Kristine said. Each year, nearly 5,000 patient visits take place at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health involving families from Kosciusko and surrounding counties, with more than 750 from Kosciusko County, according to information provided by Jason Mueller, regional communications director, Riley Children’s Foundation. May will mark four years that Katherine has been going to Riley for treatment, Alan said. “We used to go weekly, but now it’s monthly,” he said. “Riley is where the sickest of the sick of our kids go. It’s not only helped Katherine get better, but it’s also a place where, while she’s in there, it’s not a typical hospital, she’s not upset,” Alan stated. Kristine said Riley Hospital staff try to make it not a scary place but a place where children feel safe. Children don’t dread going to Riley, and it’s a good environment for kids, she said. “It’s really a home away from home; for us it really has been,” Kristine said. Alan said Katherine has learned to love art because of her art therapy at Riley. Kristine said that therapy has helped Katherine develop a love and passion for art they otherwise may not have uncovered. The art therapy program at Riley is not reimbursable by insurance, so it runs on donations, Alan said. The kids in the art therapy learn to use different media. One time, he said, they used bubblewrap with paint. “They bring all this stuff that makes art fun for them,” he said. “They can get their hands dirty,” Kristine added. Before Katherine gets to go to her 45-minute art therapy, she has to sit in an infusion chair for eight hours. The art therapy gives Katherine something to look forward to, Alan said. “I’m sure she handles it a lot better than adults would,” Kristine said. Katherine, 7, was diagnosed with Juvenile Dermatomyositis at 4 years old. From the outside, she looks like a normal, healthy child. On the inside, however, her body is fighting the autoimmune disorder. Juvenile dermatomyositis is called an “orphan disease” because it affects so few children it’s not on the radar for big companies to give to. Only about 17,000 people in the world have the disease. Alan said Katherine is better, but the disease is still active in her body. “We’re not through this by any means,” Kristine said. By buying the Riley Holiday Cards, people can help Riley, which in turn helps kids like Katherine. Alan said the cards are still available, but are limited. “I think they will sell out,” he suggested. “You can also do a variety pack or just her cards. There’s a total of five artists,” Kristine said. Riley Children’s Foundation also is accepting donations for “The Gift of Hope Happens Here” year-end giving campaign at www.RileyKids.org Proceeds support Riley Hospital to sustain and expand “groundbreaking, life-saving treatment and research, facilities and accessibility,” according to a press release from the Foundation.
