By Ellen Blessington | Senior Community and Communications Fundraiser
Theodora Children's Charity helps children living with illness, disability and serious health challenges to feel better using the proven power of laughter. Our vision is to contribute to the wellbeing of children in the 22 hospitals and specialist care centres we visit across England.
By combining music, play, magic and storytelling our 23 Giggle Doctors bring joy and laughter to brave children in challenging times. Giggle Doctors aim to reduce stress and anxiety, increase opportunities for play and improve children’s wellbeing.
The difference you have made for children in hospital
In 2022 our Giggle Doctors were able to visit over 4,130 children all over the country despite ongoing restrictions. We have had parents get in touch to share lovely stories and photos of when their children met the Giggle Doctors, children like Kristie.
Right at the beginning of the 2022 summer holidays, 9-year-old Kristie broke her femur. Her mum Alison told us, “It was a very traumatic experience for her – she had surgery at the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton and had to spend 10 days in hospital.”
Kristie and her mum and dad were all rather shocked when Dr Fancy Pants, wearing her usual inflatable flamingo, poked her head around the curtain, followed by Dr Easy Peasy.
Naturally, silliness ensued: “My favourite things were that they made me a balloon animal, their bubble camera that made lots of bubbles everywhere, and the hide and seek was really funny!” Kristie told us.
Her mum agreed, “it was such an amazingly positive experience for my daughter. After everything she’d been through it was lovely to see her proper belly laughing with them and have a brief time totally forgetting the accident.”
How a child feels about hospital can really impact how quickly they recover physically. We asked Kristie how she felt about her visit from the Giggle Doctors, and she said: “They made me feel a lot happier and made me laugh a lot!”
Dr Fancy Pants and Dr Easy Peasy only spent a few minutes with Kristie, but thanks to her mum, we know the effect lasted a long time – in fact it’s still working!
“Since meeting them the only thing she ever mentions about our 10-day stay in hospital was meeting them! She returned to school and even told her whole class when asked to name the best thing that happened in the summer holidays, that for her it was actually being in hospital and seeing them! After going through so much it is amazing that their work has had such a huge and positive affect on her and for that I am so very grateful.”
Since she got on with them so well, we asked Kristie if she’d like us to pass on a message to Dr Fancy Pants and Dr Easy Peasy, and she said: “Can you tell them they are the best part of hospital, and they are the funniest people I ever met."
Our Impact
Children with a serious illness, a long-term health condition or disability often have to endure numerous, lengthy hospital stays. The procedures they go through are often painful or uncomfortable, causing a great deal of stress and anxiety, and this means they miss out on vital opportunities for play and fun. Our specially trained Giggle Doctors help these children, bringing play, music, magic, laughter and imagination to them wherever they are.
Thank you
We were so grateful to have your support and as you can see, it has made a big difference. As a small charity we have seen our income impacted in the last few years, meaning now more than ever we are relying on the generosity of our supporters to help us to continue bringing magical moments to children and their families at a time when they need it most.
Thank you for your continued support.
If you have any questions or would like to find out more, please feel free to email enquiries@theodora.org
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