Surgery is a scary experience no matter who you are. Going under the knife is an experience that forces one to ponder life and death. It’s especially difficult for kids, who rarely – if ever – consider their own mortality.
From favorite blankets to stuffed animals, the kids headed into surgery at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta bring a “comfort item” from home that will be waiting for them when they wake up from anesthesia. These items help children feel calm before undergoing surgery and provide a sense of normalcy, the hospital says.
“For patients who forget their comfort item, we provide them with one — a teddy bear, blanket or even a light-up wand,” Jessica Palumbo Dufur, a child life specialist, wrote in a July 31 post on the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s blog. “Comfort items are a great coping mechanism for patients on the day of surgery, and provide us an opportunity to give the child a choice in a situation when so much is chosen for them.”
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta posted touching photos on its blog of the brave, young patients showing off their comfort items before surgery.
For baby Jordan, a stuffed Minnie Mouse helped her prepare for cleft palate repair surgery. For Alsea, 3, who had her adenoids and tonsils removed, her favorite Paw Patrol police pup was on the case.
Check out how these everyday items are making the not so enviable task of surgery a little more bearable:
Aniya:
Alberto:
Beyoncé uses a magical wand to feel better:
Hudson has been in and out of the hospital nearly all his life:
Sweet Jordan takes refuge with her very squeezable Minnie Mouse:
And who wouldn’t feel a little braver with Spider-Man around? Miguel certainly does:
Adorable!
Prayers for all these littles (and parents!), that they receive God’s peace during these difficult times.