Tackling a life-long medical journey inch by NICH

By Tracy Brawley June 19, 2017 Portland, Ore.

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Taylor Jennison, 17, has had type 1 diabetes since she was four years old. She is learning to manage her disease with the help of the Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare, or NICH program, which aims to improve the health and care of youth whose medical needs are compounded by social problems. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

NICH program

Taylor Jennison earned a pair of shoes by regularly monitoring her diabetes as part of the Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare, or NICH program, which aims to improve the health and care of youth whose medical needs are compounded by social problems. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

NICH program

Taylor Jennison, 17, (left) has had type 1 diabetes since she was four years old. She is learning to manage her disease with the help of the Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare, or NICH program. Ingrid Gomez (right) is Jennison's "interventionist" through the NICH program. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

NICH program

Tina Nguyen (left) gives Taylor Jennison, 17, (center) a pedicure while Jennison chats with Ingrid Gomez at Zen Nails in Portland, June 13, 2017. Jennison earned the pedicure for managing her diabetes, part of an incentive program through the Children’s Healthcare, or NICH program. Gomez is an interventionist with NICH, and available to Jennison 24-7 to support her health management. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

NICH program

Taylor Jennison, 17, chats with Ingrid Gomez (center) as Taylor gets a pedicure at Zen Nails in Portland, June 13, 2017. Jennison participates in the Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare, or NICH program, which aims to improve the health and care of youth whose medical needs are compounded by social problems. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

NICH program

Ingrid Gomez (left) looks over nail polish choices with Taylor Jennison, 17, June 13, 2017 at Zen Nails in Portland. Jennison participates in the Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare, or NICH program, which aims to improve the health and care of youth whose medical needs are compounded by social problems. Gomez is an interventionist with the program, available to 24-7 to help Jennison learn to manage her diabetes. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

NICH program

Ingrid Gomez is an interventionist in the Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare, or NICH program. She is available 24-7 to help her clients learn to manage their health. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)

NICH program

Self-care is incentivized in the Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare, or NICH program, which aims to improve the health and care of youth whose medical needs are compounded by social problems. Taylor Jennison, 17, earned a pedicure recently by regularly monitoring her blood sugar and performing other diabetes management tasks. (OHSU/Kristyna Wentz-Graff)