Kids soak up lessons from the sea

As three patients swim in their “hospital rooms,” kids listen to how they have been scanned and poked and prodded at the Sea Turtle Care Center at the South Carolina Aquarium. Many of these kids, some of who have casts or are getting chemotherapy, can relate all too well to what it’s like being sick.

That’s part of the mission of DreamNight, a private event hosted Nov. 14 by the Children’s Hospital at the Medical University of South Carolina and the aquarium. Touring the sea turtle hospital, the kids can see medical scanning devices and surgical suites and learn how treatment helps the turtles get better. The slogan on the wall: rescue, rehabilitate, release.

It’s a common goal for many here.

One of those is Ryan Tate, who said his favorite event of the night was “all of them.” The 8-year-old explains he’s getting chemotherapy for his cancer and then bounds away to listen to a diver in the Great Ocean Tank glass talk about fun fish facts. Ryan strains towards the tank, putting both hands on the glass wall. It’s obvious he’d climb in if he could.

Ryan dashes back to his parents and announces he wants to be a scuba diver, then runs off to another exhibit.

His mother, Jayme Tate, smiles. He’s usually like this, happy and energetic, despite that he’s been battling cancer off and on since his diagnosis at four months old of bilateral retinoblastoma. It’s a rare form of cancer that affects the retina, the light-detecting tissue of the eye.

His father Aaron said it’s been difficult to deal with multiple treatments. “It’s long and hard and still not done.”

Jayme agrees. “But how can we complain when he’s so positive and happy?”

To see the kids enjoying themselves brings joy to the heart of Mark Scheurer, a pediatric cardiologist and chief medical officer of the Children’s Hospital. It’s a great partnership with the aquarium and as part of the tour, the kids get to see the hospital area where the animals get their treatments, he said. This can help make medical treatment less scary for the children and, as a bonus, they learn how ecology affects human and marine life.  

Veterinary assistant Whitney Daniel, who loves working in the aquarium’s turtle care hospital, said one of the best parts about DreamNight is seeing how the kids relate their experiences to what is happening with the animals in the hospital. The veterinarians diagnose each turtle, providing treatments that include IV fluids, antibiotics, vitamins and other medications. Based on the sea turtle’s condition, a variety of procedures may be performed, such as X-rays or ultrasounds. Even the CT scanner is similar to the one used for kids.

“Basically it’s the same technology and the same size they use for the kids,” she said. “It’s awesome to show them how certain animals have diseases and injuries, and we’re able to treat them and help them overcome it.”

She tells them stories, such as the one about the sea turtle Midway, who “pooped” out 60 pieces of various kinds of plastics. “The fish are eating the plastics, and we’re eating the fish. They see how it’s all interrelated.” Many of the children who take the tour will later join read-a-thon fundraisers or make birthday donations. “It’s fun to see them get inspired.”

For mom Valerie Scharff, it truly was a dream night. She has twin sons, Mark and Anthony, age 7. Anthony is on the autism spectrum and usually would not join in to see the exhibits during normal hours when the aquarium would be busy, but the small, private event was perfect, she said. Her other son has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

“This is pretty cool. I think it’s great they do this. My kids are big animal kids, so they are loving it,” she said, pointing to where her sons sit entranced next to the 350,000-gallon Great Ocean Tank.

On the other side of the glass in a dive suit is Philippe Gresle, director of growth, planning and development for pediatrics at MUSC, who also is a volunteer for the aquarium. A kid at heart himself, his passion for marine life bubbles out as he describes highlights of what is swimming past him. Gresle likes how the aquarium brings topics such as pollution, ecology and sustainability and their effects on marine and human health home in a real way to the children.

He warns the children to watch out for Caretta, the aquarium’s favorite 220-pound loggerhead turtle. She likes to disappear and then suddenly reappear overhead where he can’t see her. “It’s a little game between us. She likes to sneak up on me.”

Gresle, who has had more than his fair share of “fish kisses,” said Caretta is known for nibbling on the divers. “She’s very social. She’s a fixture of the place. She’s always playing tricks on us.”

Volunteering twice a month at the aquarium, Gresle said it delights him as it does the kids, which can be the best medicine. “You get to do things you never do, and the kids are amazed.”