The Power of Stuffed Animals

If you have ever had a child spend any time at Primary Children's Hospital then you would know that one of the first things they do (when the child is stable if it was an emergency) is give them a stuffed animal. I have seen other hospitals do this as well.  I always thought that it was nice of them to do that for the kids.  But after our latest visit to Primaries for a followup for Skyler's tumor I realized that there is more to it than just to give the kid a gift.

I have decided that stuffed animals are given to the kids because of the great healing power they have. It is amazing how much of a calming effect they have on kids.  They seem to cheer them right up, no matter how much pain they are in. Stuffed animals will dry up tears and make large cuts seem like small scratches. Not to mention that a stuffed animal quickly becomes a child's best friend.

When Skyler was in the hospital a year ago and he was stuck in bed with all kinds of tubes and monitors connected to him, the thing he wanted most (next to his mom) was his Shuka the Whale stuffed animal. He would cuddle it while he slept and a lot when he was awake. It was a huge comfort for him. And a life saver for us at times.

When we went to the hospital for Skyler's one year checkup yesterday he got another stuffed animal. He is pretty much healed now. His remaining kidney is functioning perfectly and his scars are fading. But he still made an instant connection to the comfort of that stuffed animal.  He carries it with him everywhere in the house. He even sleeps with it on his pillow. It may just be a small little stuffed animal, but it is priceless to him.

Another testament to the power of stuffed animals is how they can help not only the ones that are sick, but the siblings of the one that is sick as well. When Skyler was out of surgery and the girls got to spend time at the hospital with him for the first time, a nurse sat down with the kids and each one of them got a stuffed doll that they got to do the "procedure" on. They got to put bandages and IVs and stomach tubes and all into the doll.  The nurse used this to explain to them what each thing that was connected to Skyler was for and why he needed it.  It really helped the girls understand what was going on.

Like I said before, stuffed animals have a lot of power when it comes to the healing of children. It really is amazing how much they help a child.