Visiting the doctor for surgery can be scary for anyone, but it’s particularly frightening for young children. Luckily there are doctors and surgeons who are acutely aware of their youngest patients fears and know the best way to provide both physical and emotional care.
Dr. Travis W. Groth oat the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin is one of these extrodinary people. Dr. Groth is the Program Director of Robotics at the hospital and his specailty is minimially invasive robotic laparoscopic surgery. This means he’s able to do more for his patients with smaller incisions, less pain, fewer scars, and a faster recovery time. That covers the physical aspect of his care, but what about the emotional?
As a surgeon, Dr. Groth is an artist with a needle and thread. He even uses those skills to help mend his patient’s favorite toys. The hospital posted the picture above showing Dr. Groth mending a torn stuffed animal from the Pixar film Monster’s Inc. Kate Kaddatz, the mother of one of Dr. Goth’s patients, was thrilled when she saw the photo on Facebook because it finally solved a mystery she had been puzzling over ever since her son’s surgery. She commented on Facebook,
Oh my goodness!! It must have been him who stitched up my son’s pillow pet monkey while we were there to see Dr. Groth last month!! He went in with duct tape on him (because stuffing was falling out and this mama doesn’t know how to sew!). I noticed when we got home that the monkey was stitched up!! Thank you so much, Dr. Groth!! That really meant a lot that you took the time to go the extra mile!!”
Dr. Groth’s bedside manner doesn’t just include toy repair. Heavy casts and bandages can make some younger patients feel alienated, and having a friend to share the experience with does wonders for their emotional recovery. In those cases Dr. Groth treats their favorite toys as well. Michelle Grohoski shared this story after her daughter suffered a broken leg,
She said on Facebook, “When my daughter was at children’s for getting her broken leg set. Her stuffed animal also came out with a cast on his leg.”
Even non-invasive tests and scans like an x-ray can be terrifying for a child, but they often find comfort after seeing their stuffed animals go through the process and come out OK. Tammy Speerbrecher Tomomitsu shared this image saying, “Yup they did an x-ray on Elmo…( yes this was ten years ago…with actual FILM! LOL) and we still have it!”
Parent’s like Holly Decker and Tami Doyle shared similar experiences. “My daughter had cochlear implant surgery and so did her cat!!!! Loved Childrens,” said Holly.
“My daughter had brain surgery and so did Cookie Monster,” said Tami.
Without the wonderful doctors, nurses, a lab technicians like Dr. Groth, the world would be a truly scary place. Thank you all for your gentle bedside manner and creative healing spirit!
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