Hazel Oreta

  Bounce Intern

“I worked on real, impactful projects that meet emotional and mental health needs that exist far beyond the hospital room.”

A future clinician, Hazel Oreta already knows that healthcare is holistic; mental and emotional health are just as imperative as physical health. As a Fall 2020 Intern at Bounce Children’s Foundation, Hazel supported its mission of helping children with chronic illness, and their families, shift from surviving to thriving, an especially important undertaking during the heightened isolation caused by the pandemic.

“I had the opportunity to work on real impactful projects that helped meet the emotional and mental health needs that exist beyond the hospital room,” explained Hazel.

Hazel, a senior biology major at Loyola University Chicago, has had ample previous experience with programs that supports others. She volunteered for an after-school program for children experiencing homelessness, worked as a resident assistant, and served at Edward-Elmhurst Hospital as a Child Life Volunteer. At the hospital, Hazel brought toys and played games with pediatric patients, talked them through painful, scary procedures and cared for patients and siblings when their parents needed to step away for a moment.  During this time, she began to understand the importance of community and normalcy for families impacted by chronic illness, leading her to apply to Bounce’s internship program.

Her internship showed Hazel how powerful the work produced by the small team at Bounce truly is. During the virtual Bounce Bash® Halloween Hoopla party, one parent mentioned, via the chat, that her kid was having a meltdown. Although simple, the comment impressed Hazel, illustrating how safe the environment felt for parents who talked openly about what others would try to hide.

Hazel’s time at Bounce furthered her understanding of the multifaceted approach to health and, as a future healthcare professional, she will incorporate these learnings into caring for her own patients.

But Hazel isn’t ready to say goodbye to supporting Bounce’s life-changing work just yet. Extending her internship, she will now focus on enhancing Bounce’s Hospital and Healthcare Partnerships program by expanding its connections to doctors, nurses, and other support services. With Hazel’s help, Bounce will continue to extend support, create inspiration, and build resilience far beyond the walls of the hospital.