Pink Binder with "The Peyton Chronicles" written on the cover

“Brain” Binder

Create your own binder to keep track of medications, treatment dates, important procedures and all the handouts given to you. Easy to bring to appointments or hospital admissions. Take the pressure off your brain to remember everything.

Supplies:

  • Letter-sized 3 ring binder

  • Clear Letter-sized sheet protectors

  • Letter-sized index dividers

  • Lined paper

  • Blank monthly calendar

  • 3-hole puncher

  • Pen

  • Whiteboard marker, optional

  • Zippered pencil pouch (preferably 2 zipper sections), optional

Build Your Binder:

  1. Decide where and how you want your information divided. My index divider tabs are in this order:

    1. Treatment- Treatment plan worksheet, handouts on chemotherapy drugs child will receive, copy of the surgical report from biopsy or official diagnosis report.

    2. Education- Any educational handouts regarding your child’s cancer or care at home.

    3. CVC- Specific education handouts, Tape the card given by OR on the specific catheter placed by the surgeon on the inside of this divider.

    4. G-tube- specific educational handouts, tape Surgical team contact information to the inside of divider for any issues or questions.

    5. Results- copies of hearing tests, ECGs, etc.

    6. Resources- Handouts about support services and organizations

    7. Letters- Copies of work notes, FMLA paperwork, etc.

    8. Consents- Copies of all consent forms signed.

  2. In a clear sheet protector, put a copy of the important numbers you will need. My child’s Oncologist office gave us a list but I added the phone numbers to order supplies. Put this in front of your first divider tab.

  3. Place your blank monthly calendars in the very front. You can put these in sheet protectors if you want or hole-punch them. Great to write admission dates, clinic appointments, when a procedure is done, etc.

  4. If you have a pouch, use one of the zippered pockets for any business cards you may receive and the other for a pen and whiteboard marker. The whiteboard marker is useful to write any questions for doctors or staff on your child’s care board.

  5. I try to keep the most recent discharge paperwork in the back of my binder. This helps with any questions regarding medications and dosages between facilities.

  6. Put the lined paper either in the front or back of your binder to make any notes.

  7. Keep a couple of clear sheet protectors in your binder. These are great to keep handy for any new papers you get or put your child’s drawing in them to tape to the hospital wall.