The Dream Machine: Helping Young Patients Cope With Chronic Illnesses

The Montreal Book of Children with Chronic Illnesses focuses on helping patients manage their pain.

The Dream Machine was written by Candace Amarante, Education Manager at Equitas, a non-profit organization working to advance equity and social justice in Canada and around the world.

“All children have the right to health. It is a fundamental and fundamental right that should be guaranteed to them,” Amarante said. “But unfortunately, that's not the way it is in the world. It's a stark contrast to most places.”

The book describes a teenager born with a rare disease called osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), which makes your bones fragile and brittle. One day his younger sister broke her leg and was sick as usual. The car in the dream represents a fantasy world that takes them away from suffering.

“Approximately one million Canadians are affected by rare diseases that are often present at birth or develop in early childhood,” said a news release from Shriners Hospitals for Children.

The book titled “Dream Machine” was released on February 2, 2024. (Courtesy, Global News Wire)

Tsimikalis, a professor at McGill University, has been conducting research on OI for several years.

Amarante says the idea for the book came when Tsimikalis noticed that there were very few books written about children with chronic illnesses.

Tsimikalis hopes Amarante's book will help young patients cope with chronic pain and multiple hospitalizations.

“Where are the stories of children living with life-threatening or rare diseases? The purpose of this book is to create a space for children whose experiences are rarely told,” Tsimikalis explained.

Illustrator Dave Reed said the project was a dream come true for him.

“It's amazing what you can do when you allow yourself to dream big. I now understand how it affects so many children.”

Shriners Hospitals for Children (Canada) was founded in Montreal in 1925 and is the only Canadian institution in the Shriners Hospitals network. They offer ultra-specialized short-term care for children and adolescents suffering from orthopedic and neuromuscular problems.

Towards the end of the book, a surgeon, an anesthetist, etc. from the Canadian Shriners Hospital. A team of healthcare professionals, such as , provides practical advice on managing physical and mental pain.

“All of the creative work contained in this inspiring and comprehensive book promotes inclusivity by increasing children's knowledge of health and illness,” said Kelly Thorstad, director of nursing and patient services at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Canada.