‘Giggle Doctors’ heal children patients’ soul
You might occasionally hear gales of laughter coming from wards and corridors of Hong Kong Children's Hospital (HKCH). Following the sound, you might spot several colourfully dressed ‘doctors' weaving through the hospital, surrounded by children. They wear gown, but they are not medical doctors; they do not manage diseases, yet they heal the soul – they are the ‘Giggle Doctors' dedicated to bringing joy to paediatric patients.
Leaving oneself behind upon entering ‘Hu-du-men'
Since the commencement of HKCH, ‘Giggle Doctors' from a non-governmental organisation have been stationing in the hospital, offering companionship that provides a sense of solace to children confined to their beds. Dr Fei Fei notes that every ‘Giggle Doctor' has their own strengths, and hers is magic. "We hope to achieve something ‘more than happy' and alleviate children's fears. Children are afraid of injections and medication most, so I take a ‘happy syringe' out of my magic pocket to specifically transform theirs fears into playful experience," she says, taking the prop ‘happy syringe' from her gown.
From eight-month-old infants to eighteen-year-old adolescents, Dr Fei Fei She believes that staying on-trend is essential to start a conversation with them - from early years like Pikachu to recent trends such as Chiikawa, Labubu, and even the online game Honor of Kings.
Dr Fei Fei admits that everyone has negative emotions at times. "The moment I step through the ‘Hu-du-men' into the ward, I leave myself behind. I wish children could have a pleasure experience in the hospital," she says.
Accompanying patients to operating theatre to reduce anxiety
Yvonne Lam, Social Work Officer (Patient Resource Centre) of HKCH, points out that the ‘Giggle Doctors' who undergo professional training in arts and healthcare settings, good at interact with paediatric patients. There are four ‘Giggle Doctors' at HKCH who work in wards, specialist outpatient clinic (SOPC)and operating theatres. "It is inevitable for children to feel terrified about surgery. ‘Giggle Doctors' accompany them into the operating theatres, increase their understanding to surgery through games, can alleviate their anxiety," says Yvonne.
The ‘Giggle Doctors' are equally important to the children's families. Yvonne explains that they can change the atmosphere of wards. Parents sometimes call to inquire about the location of the ‘Giggle Doctors'. In the midst of uncertainties, seeing a long-lost smile on their child's face gives parents a glimmer of hope.
From a single balloon to a magic syringe, the ‘Giggle Doctors' are healing patients' souls with joy in their own unique way.
