Mental Health United Kingdom Project #6497

Giggle Doctor visits for children in hospital

by The Theodora Children's Charity

Giggle Doctor visits for children in hospital

Project Report | Jun 25, 2012
April 2012 - June 2012

By Clare Conroy | Giggle Gatherer

Samantha Cameron with Sarika & our Giggle Doctors

On Tuesday 12^th June we were honoured to attend a reception hosted for us by Samantha Cameron at 10 Downing Street. It was a lovely evening and a great opportunity to thank our supporters.

I would love to share with you a lovely story we received from Dr Bungee after a recent visit to North Manchester General Hospital:

A bored teenager, in a bay with a baby, makes eye contact with the most unlikely character...”Dr Bungee?” she says, slightly bewildered by the outfit and unsure whether the bucket is meant to be on his leg. “How old are you today?” Asks Dr Bungee..

”13” comes the reply with a sideways look...

”Happy Birthday! 13 today!"...

”No- not today! She laughs with her head in her hands”

“Then how old are you really if you’re not 13?”

“I am...but not today!...I mean...I am...well! I don’t get it!” She says laughing with her dad.

“Oh- you mean it’s your un-Birthday today!”

“Yeesss! It is!” she said with a grin

“Do you know what?” Said Dr Bungee

“What?” she replied anticipating what was to come...

“It’s my un-Birthday today!”

They played pass the un-birthday present, had an un-birthday cake and had an un-birthday goody bag to take home. Then Dr Bungee realised he had to go and get ready for his own un-birthday party the very next day to which the girl realised it was also her un-birthday tomorrow...and believe it or not it was her dad’s as well! Then she realised that they couldn’t sit around being bored any longer...they had to plan for 364 un-birthday parties. They thanked Dr Bungee for coming to their un-birthday party and hoped to see him again.

We have been sent so many lovely letters and emails from parents of children who have loved meeting our Giggle Doctors. Below is a message from a parent at Great Ormond Street Hospital:

A big thank you to Dr Jimmi Jammi. My son finds speech difficult and Dr Jammi sang a song about Superboy, which Adam sang all the way home! From the bottom of my heart, thank you for making a tough day not so tough. Bless you.

This summer we are recruiting for 12 new Giggle Doctors who will bring smiles to thousands more poorly young patients across the UK.

Thank you so much for your support, without which such magical moments would not be possible.

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Apr 2, 2012
January 2012 - April 2012

By Clare Conroy | Giggle Gatherer

Dr Snug & Dr Geehee at Chelsea Children's Hospital

Our 18^th Birthday dinner and auction on 5^th March was a huge success. Our guests had a great evening, Dr Jammi and Dr Yo-Ho shared some heart warming stories of their most emotional visits and we raised a massive £32,000!

We have now introduced our Giggle Doctor visits to a new hospital, Chelsea and Westminster. Last month Dr Snug and Dr Geehee visited Chelsea Children’s Hospital for the first time to give out much needed doses of magic and laughter to poorly young patients.

Our Giggle Doctors received some lovely feedback from the Patient Governor at the Hospital…

"I was so impressed with the Giggle Doctors. Having planned to follow them for one hour, I stayed for four! I was totally mesmerized by the way they inter-acted with the children. They engaged with the shy, who opened up, & brought laughter & joy to the more extrovert. The parents & nurses were in fits of laughter, & the cleaners stopped making the beds!

No child was excluded. When I saw Dr. Snug go up to a very sick little baby boy of 4 months I queried it. Her response was they have something for every child. Within a few minutes he was holding a squeezy ball which lit-up & kicking with his feet when she sung to him!

It was a life-enhancing experience, & I cannot praise them too highly. I only wish we had the funds to invite them more often than once a month….”

I also wanted to share a lovely message we recently received from a parent of a young patient at Sheffield Children’s Hospital…

“You all do an amazing job...my daughter Melina was seriously ill in Sheffield Children's Hospital last year & even though improved still has a long way to go but "Doctor Hunny" really cheered her up, she still talks about her today & loves to look at the photo we took & the signed pic..u really do bring lots of smiles & giggles to all those children that need them so thank you”

Thank you so much for your continued support.

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Jan 16, 2012
October 2011 - January 2012

By Sarika Brown | Executive Director

We've changed the name of our Clown Doctors to Giggle Doctors as people kept expecting 'circus clowns' which didn't accurately represent the true character of our performers. Our trainees are at the final stage of their training programme - unfortunately one of our trainers for sick which delayed our aim of having them qualify as Junior Giggle Doctors in January. Never mind, they'll soon be visiting 20,000 more children as of Feb / March.

In December, we had a TV appeal on BBC1 and BBC 2 - you can watch it on our home page until 26th January: www.theodora.org.uk

More than a million people tuned in and we have had so many phone calls and donations. This year is a big one for us as we turn 18! On the 5th March, we're hosting a birthday dinner and auction - just 4 tables left to sell! We'll let you know how we get on in the next report.

I'd like to share with you a special moment your donation helped to create:

On Tuesday, we an email from the aunt of a special little boy who is in hospital in Great Ormond Street and was due to have a 4 hour operation to get sensors inserted into his head. He has epilepsy and so far there isn’t any medication that has helped stop his seizures. He is going to be bed ridden for a good while as the plates have to be left in for up to a week and that’s before the 8 hour operation to remove the bad part.

"I have heard the giggle doctors really help with recovery and more importantly put a smile on kid’s and parent’s faces. He has now had the Op to put plates in and now looks like the surgery will take place on Thursday 12^th January and we are all praying for the right outcome".

It just so happened that we were visiting the Great Ormond Street to see the giggle doctors in action so found out which ward the young boy was on and arranged for Dr Snug to pay him a special visit.

His mum said it’s the first time she has heard him have a belly laugh for ages, she sent a picture and he looks so happy.…"You do amazing work with the kids. He is now going tomorrow for the brain surgery keep your fingers crossed for him. You are all amazing"

Thank you so much for your support. We really do appreciate it.

Links:

Watch our BBC appeal

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