"We knew she could hear us - she got the punch lines, she knew the jokes were there," said mother Judith, who requested the family's surname be withheld. With the help of two therapeutic clowns, Jumpa, a.k.a. Fif Fernandes, and Sparkle, a.k.a. Cheryl Oberg, at the Alberta Children's Hospital, Micaela began laughter yoga, to reduce pain and stress and increase oxygen intake through breathing and laughing exercises. "Three years ago we weren't sure we'd get to bring her home, so this is good, we're glad we're here," said Judith.
Laughter yoga helped Micaela exercise her lungs and vocal muscles, allowing her to start speaking again and while still confined to a wheelchair, she has gained some motion back. "It helped her express her voice again, it helped her feel a lot better - more playful and less stressed," said Oberg. "The doctors and nurses take care of health care, we take care of the spirit."
Dr. David Chaulk, facility medical director and emergency pediatrician at the ACH, said the clowns' presence in the emergency room when he is prepping patients for stressful or painful procedures is a also huge help. "Instead of an anxious child being focused on me, the clown can help distract them, relax them and the patient is not getting stressed watching what I'm doing," he said. The pair of clowns share one full-time position funded through donations to the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation. There are approximately 60 therapeutic clowns working across Canada.
There's a news video here.
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