Early in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic, our medical center, like many, halted in-person learning activities. The narrative medicine sessions we planned for the pediatric hematology/oncology fellows were no exception. At this time we also witnessed waves of civil unrest fueled by systemic racism toward Americans of color. Amidst the isolation, apprehension, and turmoil, we turned to narrative medicine. To keep our participants safe and work around novel constraints, we adapted the narrative medicine curriculum for virtual delivery.

There are no proven safe and effective therapies for children who develop life-threatening complications of SARS-CoV-2. Convalescent plasma (CP) has demonstrated potential benefit in adults with SARS-CoV-2 but has theoretical risks. We report on the first use of CP in children with life-threatening COVID-19, providing data on four pediatric patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. We measured donor antibody levels and recipient antibody response prior to and following CP infusion. Infusion of CP was not associated with antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) and did not suppress endogenous antibody response. We found CP was safe and possibly efficacious. Randomized pediatric trials are needed.