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This is a story about a little girl named Karina who
learned that she had to have her tonsils removed so that she could breath
better at night. Karina, her daddy and her mommy made a visit to the
hospital and met with a very nice lady named Connie. Connie is a Child
Life Specialist at CHOC at Mission in Mission Viejo, CA. She is
available to provide pre-teaching to a child prior to a hospitalization.
Connie and her doll Annie taught them about what would be happening at the
hospital.
 
Connie and Annie told them that when they arrived early in
the morning they would first both be given a sparkly bracelet that had their
names on it. This would help the doctors know who they were.
Next they learned that a nurse might be giving Karina some medicine which
may make her feel a little sleepy. Karina was encouraged to bring her
favorite doll and blanket to help her feel safe and comfortable while she
was there. Karina's dolly would probably get a bracelet too.
 
Connie then taught them about the sleeping mask.
Karina would get to pick what flavor she wanted the mask to smell like.
They had bubble gum, strawberry and root beer. When Karina is taken
into the operating room she would be given this mask to help her relax and
go to sleep. Her dolly would be right there with her and so would
mommy.
 
After the mask helps Karina go to sleep the nurses would be
taping Karina's arm to a special pillow. This pillow is important
because the nurses will also need to give Karina's arm a straw to help her
drink. This would all be new once Karina wakes up but it won't hurt.
 
After the doctor's take out Karina's tonsils they will give
her a wake-up mask. It looks different than the other mask and it has
a strap that holds it on her face. When Karina wakes up she will find
her mommy, her blanket and her favorite dolly right there next to her.
 
The nurses might use a stethoscope to listen to Karina
breathe after surgery. Karina got a chance to listen to Annie.
Karina and her parents were then given a tour of the pediatric floor and
taken to Connie's play room. This room in on the same unit and is
available to the children when they feel up to playing after surgery.
Karina was also told to bring in a special bag with her favorite videos and
a few things to play with just in case she wanted to play before she went to
surgery.
 
Karina's mommy and daddy made a book for Karina with
pictures from their visit. She even brought it to school and shared it
with her class. That next week when she went to the hospital it was
calming to know what was going to happen. This program was not only
nice for Karina, it was nice for her parents too! Thank You Mission
Hospital and CHOC employees.
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