Richies is a natural comedian — always telling jokes and playing pranks. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that he was born on April 1 — April Fool’s Day. To celebrate his 10th birthday, he planned an epic prank on his little brother, Richmond.
“I’ve got slime bombs and I’m going to cover him in slime,” Richies says. “A slime ambush!”
Although Richies is a happy, fun-loving kid, he’s been living with a serious disease, sickle-cell disease, for his whole life. He’s had several strokes because of the condition and needs monthly blood transfusions at BMC.
But Richies is also fearless — his favorite movie is “It” — and he takes the transfusions in stride. Of course, it helps that he’s got Karlie Bittrich, certified child life specialist, by his side at every visit. Karlie has been at nearly all of Richies’ blood transfusions since he was very little — keeping him busy with games and listening to his jokes. She’s there for his MRIs, too.
During a recent transfusion, the mood in the room changed when Karlie walked in. Richies lit up, obviously excited to see her. They joked and laughed together like the old friends they are.
“Karlie was the only one that could relax him in the emergency room when he was little,” says Richies’ mom, Funmi. “She was always his favorite, from day one. They just seem to have a great connection.”
Karlie is clearly attached to Richies as well. “He’s grown and changed so much over the years, it’s really incredible to see.” She’s especially impressed by how much he’s progressed since his last stroke. “He’s gone from wheelchair to walker to cane and can use both sides of his body again. These things are huge.”
Karlie says she loves being a child life specialist and the relationships she builds with her patients. “It combines all my passions into one field.”
For Richies, having Karlie in the room seems to make him relax. When asked how he feels when Karlie visits him, he says he can’t describe it. “She comes and hangs out with me and we play Nintendo Switch!”
Even though he may not have words for the role Karlie plays in his life, it’s clear they have built a lasting bond.