Giggle Doctor visits for children in hospital

Hello!

It is thanks to kind supporters like you that we have been able to support children in hospital for the last 31 years and can continue to reduce stress and anxiety, improve their experience of hospital and bring vital opportunities for play.

The children we support often must travel between their local hospital and larger specialist children’s hospitals for ongoing treatment. Families have shared how comforting it is to see the recognisable, joyful presence of the Giggle Doctors in another hospital.

When 14-year-old Scarlet was staying in Rotherham Hospital she met Dr Scribble and Dr Nic Nac for the first time. Her mum, Diane, shared: “Scarlet had been in hospital for three days and it had been a really emotional time. Just 20 minutes before the Giggle Doctors came to see us, we were both in tears and Scarlet was really fed up. I cannot explain how much the Giggle Doctors visit made a difference; we went from sadness to laughter in the space of half an hour!

A few weeks later, Scarlet was at Sheffield Children’s Hospital and was about to go into theatre for a procedure. Not only did she spot the Giggle Doctors, but it was the familiar face of Dr Nic Nac!

Click here to read Scarlet’s story

Celebrating 20 years of giggles in Sheffield

On the 15th of October during Play in Healthcare Week, the Giggle Doctors had the best time celebrating two decades of visits at Sheffield Children's Hospital and creating lasting memories with families, create vital opportunities for play and to support children's wellbeing.

Our Programme Team organised arts and crafts for children to enjoy, whilst Dr Flowerpot, Dr Fancy Pants, Dr Nic Nac, Dr Cowpat and Dr Scribble shared their joy and silliness across the wards, singing songs, giving gifts to staff and playing with families throughout the hospital. 

How the Giggle Doctors helped Jensen

Many of the children and families the Giggle Doctors must spend long periods of time in hospital for treatment or procedures. During those weeks, months and even years, they have been able to get to know, connect with and create special memories with the Giggle Doctors. Terri recently shared how her family and her son Jensen have got to know the Giggle Doctors over the last few months:

 "My son is currently in hospital and will be for a long time, he is having chemotherapy and then will have a stem cell transplant after being diagnosed with Aplastic Anaemia. The photo below where Jensen is wearing a red top was the first time we met Dr Geehee and she was amazing, I honestly can’t praise her enough, she was just fantastic for putting a smile on our faces."

"Yesterday we got to see Dr Geehee again with Dr Dilly Dally and they were honestly fantastic! It makes such a massive impact on our lives to just laugh and enjoy life for a few minutes considering we are going through such a difficult time. Thank you to your amazing charity, it helps in so many different ways for Jensen but also for us as parents."

Thank you  

We are so grateful to have your support and as you can see, it makes a huge difference for children like Scarlet and Jensen. If you have any questions or would like to find out more, please feel free to email enquiries@theodora.org or follow us on social media @GiveAGiggle. 

If you would like to help the Giggle Doctors visit more children in hospital, donating £15 can help pay for a child to receive a visit, bringing joy and connection when they need it most.

Links:

• From tears to laughter: Scarlet's hospital journey
• Want to hear updates more often? Sign up to our E-News!
• Meet the Giggle Doctors

It is thanks to kind supporters like you that we have been able to support families in hospital for the last 31 years and can continue to brighten their hospital experience. 

"Meeting the Giggle Doctors definitely helped Lily’s stay at the hospital. It brought some normality to the day rather than being stuck in her hospital room and it was nice to see her interacting with the play team too after her surgery." - Nicole, Lily’s Mum

There's so much to know about our talented Giggle Doctors and the long term impact their visits have on children and their families. Lily's story is featured in our 2024 Impact report, which you can read here.

It touches on a new Giggle Doctor training model and explores the wider impacts of Giggle Doctor visits not only on the children themselves, but also on their families and the staff caring for them in hospital.

Empowering children to get their voice back 

Whilst we work in giggles, magic, jokes and silliness, our supporters know that the impact the Giggle Doctors have is much more than laughter.

Our visits help to empower children and young people, to feel safe in a stressful environment, help children take control of their situation and express their emotions.

Isabel, our Programme Manager, recently visited our friends at North Manchester General Hospital and got see Dr Muddy Puddle in action. Below, Isabel shares a story of how Dr Muddy Puddle helped a young person find their voice again during a visit she will remember for a long time to come.

“Is she speaking?” one nurse mouths to another - the answer is an eager nod and they both raise their arms in celebration. 

They tell me in hushed whispers that the young person who we can hear laughing through the open door - while Dr Muddy Puddle talks about living in a tree - has been refusing to speak. To anyone. 

I’m as excited as they are: I’ve heard this story told many times, but this is my first time witnessing it. 

It’s not uncommon for children in hospital to choose not to speak. It’s a stressful, unfamiliar environment, and very likely they are feeling rotten too. But sometimes, a visit from a Giggle Doctor can cut through this and unlock their voice. 

All Dr Muddy Puddle knew as she approached the room was that this young person was struggling with their mental health and was under one-to-one supervision to keep them safe. The room was in darkness except for a green glow from an emergency exit sign and a little light from the corridor." 

As she arrives with an actual nest on her head, all it takes for Dr Muddy Puddle to get a giggle from the doorway is saying “Oh yeah, sorry, I live in a tree.”  

 “I like your green spotlight,” she adds, pointing to the glow from the sign. Inside there’s more laughter. “Can I stand in it? I won’t come inside without your consent.” 

Yes, Dr Muddy Puddle can go inside. There’s a posse of nurses crowding around outside now, carefully keeping out of sight but eager to be nearby for this breakthrough moment.  

A student nurse tells me: “People see us coming in our uniforms and we look very official and they don’t want to interact. The Giggle Doctors are clearly fun and different and sometimes that's just what we need.” 

Giggle Doctors are trained to empower every child and young person they meet and I can think of no better example of how delicate a skill this is. It was ten minutes at most, and it won’t make that young person’s problems vanish, but for that brief time, they found their voice again and that seems to me like a very precious gift to give.  

It’s the least visually dramatic encounter I see Dr Muddy Puddle have all day – in fact I don’t see it at all, I stay in the corridor with the nurses – but it’s the one I’ll remember for the longest.  

Thank you  

We are so grateful to have your support and as you can see, it makes a huge difference. If you have any questions or would like to find out more, please feel free to email enquiries@theodora.org or follow us on social media @GiveAGiggle 

If you would like to help Dr Muddy Puddle visit more young people in hospital, donating £15 can help pay for a child to receive a visit, bringing joy and connection when they need it most.

Links:

• 2024 Impact Report
• Want to hear updates more often? Sign up to our monthly E-News
• Meet the Giggle Doctors