Library remembers Harrisville boy's life
BUTLER TWP — The Lutheran SeniorLife Children's Library was dedicated on Tuesday afternoon in honor of the late pediatric hospice patient Aldon Blom and all other children cared for by VNA Hospice.
Nurses, staff, family and friends all gathered for the dedication ceremony, which included readings, music and remembrance.
At age 2, Aldon, of Harrisville, was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), a terminal brain tumor. He passed away at three-years-old in the care of VNA Hospice.
In his memory, Aldon's father Josh Blom and Aldon's grandparents donated money to expand the book selection in the Children's Library at VNA Hospice at 154 Hindman Road in Butler.Blom said he wanted to donate to the library's expansion because of his son's love of books.“Aldon loved being read to,” Blom said. “That was a big part of it.”To begin the ceremony, bereavement and spiritual coordinator Kelli Connolly thanked the family for their contribution, noting that the children's section of their grief library is used more than any other.“These books are helpful to me when I talk to the families, helping them understand grief and death,” Connolly said.Later, spiritual councilor Suzie Dalessandro performed “When She Loved Me” from “Toy Story,” Aldon's favorite movie, changing the pronouns to make it special to Aldon.
During the ceremony a plaque was placed over the children's section of the library bearing Aldon's picture and the inscription “Forever A Hero, Daddy Loves You, Buddy.”Nurses and staff who knew Aldon and his family gave readings about grief.“We honor these children who, in a very short time, impacted so many around them,” Connolly said.Blom said Aldon was a child who loved learning and was a bright spot in everyone's life who knew him.“I'm happy we could do this, as five years ago today, at almost this exact time, Aldon was born,” Blom said. “I was supposed to teach him, but he taught me.”In addition to their donation to the Children's Library, the Blom family is hoping to start an organization called “Aldon's Army” to raise awareness of the disease and help families with DIPG pay hospital bills.“I never realized how many bills were involved and how much of a stressor that was until I was experiencing it,” Blom said. “There's not much state funding for families with children with DIPG.”Blom said he wants to raise awareness of the disease and advocate for more research.“The only treatment for DIPG is radiation, and it's been that way since the '60s,” Blom said.
According to Debbie Kaylor, director of communication at the Butler VNA, people often don't consider the number of children who need hospice care.“Unfortunately, we do treat a number of children,” Kaylor said. “It means a lot that we're able to provide resources to families who need grief counseling.”Toward the end of the ceremony, Connelly said the children treated by the VNA always leave an impression on nurses and staff.“All of you will never forget them, and we don't as well,” Connolly said.
