Burlington, Vt. – Alexa Valyou has faced more health care in her eight years than most people do in a lifetime. Born with DiGeorge syndrome — a condition caused by the absence of her twenty-second chromosome — she underwent her first heart procedure less than 24 hours after being born and her first open heart surgery when she was less than a month old.

Since then, she’s had four more, along with 17 other heart procedures, two major surgeries on her pulmonary arteries, near fatal brain bleeds, emergency brain surgery and two strokes. For many children, a single traumatic medical experience – especially those involving needles — can leave lasting emotional and psychological scars.

“She’s one of the most spirited and resilient people I’ve ever met,” said pediatric nurse Jess Putvain, who has known Alexa for most of her life through her work at University of Vermont Medical Center. “She has been through a lot and has every reason to be wary of the hospital, which is why it’s so important to offer a calmer alternative that meets her on her level. It’s for kids like Alexa that we built the Comfort Zone.”  

A Calmer, Kinder Approach to Care

The Comfort Zone is a pre-procedural space designed to help children — and now, young adults with complex care needs — navigate medical care with less fear and more personalized support. Staffed by a child life specialist and pediatric nurses, the team is pioneering a trauma-informed approach that prioritizes trust, patience and care.

Child life specialists are health care professionals whose focus is helping children cope with stress and uncertainty related to illness, injury, disability and hospitalization. They are child development experts and use science-based, age-appropriate education and coping strategies to support the emotional, developmental and cultural needs of children and families.

“These ladies have been with us for most of Alexa’s life – they’re amazing,” said Brittany Valyou, her mom. “It makes such a difference for Alexa to come in and see familiar faces – to slow down and get care the way it works for her. It really means a lot to us.”

Expanding to Young Adults

Recognizing a gap in care for adults with complex care needs and developmental disabilities, the team launched a pilot program to support patients between the ages of 18 and 26 who come to the hospital to have their blood drawn for tests. These young adults often struggle to transition out of pediatric care, especially with procedures like blood draws.  

As medicine advances and more children with complex needs live into adulthood, the need for compassionate, specialized care continues to grow. The Comfort Zone’s young adult pilot program focuses on providing thoughtful, individualized support to patients at ages that have often been underserved.

A Better Way to Care for the Most Vulnerable

For many children, a single traumatic medical experience — especially those involving needles — can leave lasting emotional and psychological scars. Research shows that up to 25% of adults with needle phobia avoid medical care entirely, often tracing their fear back to childhood. The Comfort Zone is working to change that. Their approach is rooted in trauma-informed care, patience and personalization.  

“We don’t hold kids down or force them. We get to know them and work on their terms,” says Putvain. “Instead of rushing, we take time to understand each patient’s needs, fears and sensory sensitivities. It pays off in the long run.”    

Tools That Build Trust

The team uses strategies like numbing cream, comfort positioning, distraction and even desensitization visits where children are gradually introduced to medical equipment in a non-threatening way.  

“We start from scratch,” said child life specialist Jennifer Eddy. “We build rapport, find out what the child likes and incorporate that into the plan. It might take several visits, but it works.”  

They also collaborate closely with families — often calling ahead to learn about past experiences and triggers — and send congratulatory cards after visits to recognize a child’s courage.  

“Some parents come in saying: ‘This will never work,’ because all they’ve known is trauma,” said pediatric nurse Patti Haidar, who is helping to standardize this care model throughout the Children’s Hospital. “But then they see what’s possible here.”  

Golisano Children’s Hospital at University of Vermont Health 
111 Colchester Avenue 
Burlington, VT 05401

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About Golisano Children’s Hospital at University of Vermont Health

Golisano Children's Hospital at University of Vermont Health is a “hospital without walls” providing high-quality, child-friendly, family-centered care across six hospitals and five primary care clinics. Our Children’s Specialty Care Center offers more than 20 pediatric subspecialities, and our inpatient services include general pediatric and nursery care, pediatric intensive care and neonatal intensive care. As part of a rural academic health system, we care for thousands of children each year — from routine checkups to complex medical needs. We welcome more than 2,000 babies annually at our Birthing Center and conduct about 38,000 patient visits each year. Through our partnership with University of Vermont’s The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine and College of Nursing and Health Sciences we bring the latest advances in pediatric care to our patients, while helping train the next generation of health care professionals. Together, we care for children and families where they live, learn and grow, drawing on the compassion and expertise of our faculty, staff and learners.

About University of Vermont Health

University of Vermont Health is a rural academic health system with more than 100 years of service to small towns and cities across Vermont and northern New York. We are deeply committed to reimagining rural health in ways that will benefit our communities for generations to come and keep exceptional care close to home. Our system includes an academic medical center, two community hospitals, three critical access hospitals, a children’s hospital, a cancer center, a multispecialty medical group, 154 outpatient sites and care beyond the hospital through home health, hospice care, four skilled nursing facilities and other support services. Our care is informed by an essential partnership with University of Vermont’s The Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine and College of Nursing and Health Sciences. Together, as a health system serving a rural area, we are tackling health care’s biggest challenges — supporting the communities we serve and investing in our employees by addressing housing affordability, quality childcare and professional development needs. To learn more, visit us at www.uvmhealth.org