A hospital scary? Seven-year-old Judson Strong of Lake Bluff didn’t think so, not even lying on a hospital table hooked up to the electrocardiogram machine with half a dozen circles attached to his chest. At the moment, he was only nodding yes to questions about how he was doing, because he wanted to be a model patient for Dr. Stan Dee. Also, Judson’s friends from the Lake Bluff Tiger Cub Scout Pack 42 had crowded around the table to wait their turn.
“Awesome,” said Lake Bluff Tiger Cub Taylor Romack, 7, as he watched the monitor needles draw zigzags.
Lake Forest Hospital was holding a “Teddy Bear Clinic” for “sick” stuffed animals and dolls last weekend so children would feel at ease if they ever had to come in for tests or an operation.
The afternoon had started out with the idea that Teddy, Judson’s stuffed animal, was going to be the patient. But as would happen again during the clinic, some youngsters were more eager to play patient than have their animals examined.
Judson’s mom, Kate, watched from the sidelines with other Pack 42 parents. Pack members had come to earn their “Know Your Community” and “Go See It” badges.
“I think this is great. It’s a wonderful idea to have this so that children are not afraid when they have to go to the hospital,” Kate Strong said.
Indeed, the afternoon was a practice run for 4-year-old Dougie Home of Lake Bluff, who was going to have his tonsils taken out in less than two weeks. Dougie brought his kangaroo Hoppy. But after watching Judson, Dougie decided he would be the patient and Hoppy could watch.
“I want to try this,” Dougie said as he scrambled up onto the table.
Sharon Hopkins, emergency medical services-trauma coordinator, was keeping an eye on several stations that had been set up in the hospital’s Health Education Center. She was pleased that children were eagerly participating.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for children to become familiar and comfortable with a medical setting,” Hopkins said.
