No kid should have to go through chronic illness alone.
We connect kids ages 7–13 living with chronic illness to teen mentors who have been there too. Monthly one-on-one video chats, games, and in-person meetups, all created and run by teens.
Hospitals, community centers, and families have written to Tyler about Little Spoonies.
“A great success with the March 30th Kids Chronic Illness Support Group, and many children and parents expressed how wonderful it was to connect their children with mentors from Little Spoonies.”
“I am going to print this pamphlet out and make sure our GI office and infusion center have copies to hand out. The doctors and nurses love being able to help spread awareness about opportunities like this.”
Little Spoonies Family“He met Dashel where he was, drawing him out naturally through genuine conversation, humor, and the video games Dashel loves. Tyler gave him the experience of being understood and included without making him feel defined by his illness.”
People living with chronic illness often have limited energy, and they spend more of it on everyday tasks that others take for granted.
In disability communities, spoons are used as a visual way to show how much energy someone has in a day. Every activity costs a few spoons. When they’re gone, they’re gone.
Kids with chronic illness have to budget their spoons across school, friends, activities, and doctor’s appointments. That affects their lives socially, mentally, academically, and physically. People who relate to this call themselves “Spoonies.”
Our mentors are Spoonies too, so they understand from experience.
You wake up with 12 spoons. Tap the things you want to do today.
My name is Tyler Yecies, and I have Crohn’s disease. I was diagnosed after years of stomach pain, heartburn, chronic fatigue, and not growing the way I should have. I had frequent doctor’s appointments, blood tests, and more invasive testing that meant staying in the hospital.
Through all of it, I often felt anxious, alone, and disconnected from my friends. Then I joined the chronic illness club at my school, and for the first time I had peers who knew exactly what I was going through.
I know how much those connections can help during treatment and recovery. So I started Little Spoonies, together with other teens who live with chronic illness, so younger kids don’t have to go through this alone. Our mentors have been where these kids are, and they show them that you can live a positive, successful life with a chronic illness.
Hospitals provide wonderful care, but being a young patient can still be very lonely. Little Spoonies is our way of filling that gap with friendship, fun, and support.
Our programs are virtual-first, so kids with compromised immune systems can join safely from home. In-person meetups add the fun of getting together.
Each kid is paired with a teen mentor for monthly one-on-one video calls.
Meetups lasting 60 to 90 minutes, held every month or two at hospitals and community centers.
Parents and guardians are part of the program from the very first call.
A parent or guardian completes the short Mentee Form, including your child’s condition, interests, and the best times to connect.
Our team reviews sign-ups every week and matches your child with a teen mentor, ideally one with a similar condition.
Your mentor calls to introduce themselves to you and your child, then sets up the first video chat.
Monthly chats with games, conversation, and small goals. Then see everyone at the next in-person meetup.
Every mentor and every family agrees to our Code of Conduct before the first session. Guardians are included in the mentor’s first contact, and our leadership team checks in with mentors every month and with parents after the first session. We make reasonable efforts to keep health information private.
Chronic illness can be isolating, even for kids surrounded by loving families and great doctors. Connection helps.
People who understand your experience, and listen without judgment, can greatly ease the emotional stress of chronic illness.
Social time in a supportive setting helps combat stress, which can make symptoms worse.
Chronic illness can lead kids to pull away. Staying connected helps prevent loneliness.
A supportive network encourages healthy habits and taking medications, which helps kids manage their illness.
Feeling accepted and valued, illness and all, boosts self-esteem and overall well-being.
Our mentors live with many different conditions. We match kids with a mentor whose experience is as close to theirs as possible.
Don’t see your child’s condition? Sign up anyway. We’ll find the best match we can.
What started as an idea in a high school chronic illness club is now reaching families across northern New Jersey.
Tyler and the Spoonies chronic illness club at Dwight-Englewood School set out to support younger kids beyond their school.
Our mentors joined the Pediatric Gastroenterology (IBD) Peer Meet Up at Hackensack Meridian Health’s Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital.
Our Kids Chronic Illness Support Group at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, with games, trivia, prizes, and mentor matching.
Teen mentors meet one-on-one with their mentees every month, led by a student leadership team.
Thank you to Hackensack Meridian Health, Kaplen JCC on the Palisades, Temple Emanu-El of Closter, ShopRite of Englewood (our food sponsor), the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey, and Dwight-Englewood School for helping us reach families.
Reviews every sign-up and matches each new mentee with the right mentor.
Checks in with mentors every month to make sure meetings are happening and support is there.
Connects mentors with their new mentees and gives them everything they need for a great first call.
Follows up with families after the first session. Certified by the National Celiac Association.
Sign your child up to be matched with a teen mentor who understands.
Turn what you’ve been through into support for a younger kid.
Are you a hospital, school, community center, or family looking for support? We’d love to hear from you.