Teddy Bear Clinic helps to reduce anxiety associated with an upcoming operation

Thursday, July 21, 2016 - 12:57

Did you know? Even teddy bears can require surgery! Patients waiting in the pre-op and day surgery waiting area were treated to a very special Teddy Bear Clinic by our Child Life Services team, designed especially to reduce anxiety associated with an upcoming operation and encourage therapeutic play and distraction techniques. We’re happy to report: all Teddys (and their proud owners) reported feeling much better about their trip to the Operating Room! 

Having already named and gowned his teddy bear, Hoppy, 6-year old patient, Matteo prepares a special mask for Hoppy’s upcoming surgery with help from Child Life Services intern, Afifah. He decides to colour the mask with markers and attach stickers of his favourite cars.
Next step, choosing a scent to be put inside Hoppy’s mask before he falls asleep, just like for real-life Montreal Children’s Hospital patients. With help from Child Life Specialist, Nathalie, Matteo chooses a pineapple scent.
Now it’s 5-year old patient, Tazia’s turn. She picks out some special Frozen stickers to adorn her teddy bear’s mask.
Time to pick a scent with Nathalie! Tazia’s choice is bubblegum :)
What kinds of dreams will Tazia’s teddy bear dream once he falls asleep for surgery? Tazia is quick to decide on princesses!
Teddy is almost ready to fall asleep, so Tazia and Nathalie set him up on the Operating Room table with his mask firmly fastened to his face.
Tazia makes sure to hook her teddy bear up to an oxygen saturation machine to monitor his condition throughout the surgery.
Nathalie confirms the great news in her funniest voice: Tazia’s teddy is fast asleep and dreaming about princesses!
The Teddy Bear Clinic is officially open! Exam station 1 is coordinated by Child Life Services intern, Afifah, who holds up some teddy bear-sized masks ready to be decorated by patients.
Exam station 2 is coordinated by Child Life Specialist, Nathalie, and is supplied with all kinds of scents to be placed inside teddy bear masks to help them relax before falling asleep for surgery.
Exam station 3 is a teddy bear-sized version of an Operating Room Table coordinated by Child Life Specialist, Sabrina, who shows patients how to make sure a mask is properly fitted on each teddy bear before an operation.