Come On Children Let's Go Out And Play
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| There is not one child I know who enjoys going to see the doctor and worse still is having an illness that requires them to stay in the hospital. I had an idea to make an outdoor playground at the hospital and many comments from parents spurred me on. Over and over I heard parents say how much they missed the play area in the Pediatric Ward where the outpatient clinic used to be located. The kids loved playing in the playroom while waiting to see the doctor. A new pediatric outpatient clinic was built and there is no play area there.
After discussing the idea with the administration, they agreed to let me use the grassy area just outside the pediatric ward and outpatient clinic. So, with the help of one carpenter, two welders, one painter, four maintenance workers and many onlookers, the playground was completed. The progress was full of frustrations and tested my patience at times, but seeing all the children staring at the playground with anticipationin in their eyes was enough to make it all worth the work. The question of the day was always, "Aunty, when is the playground going to open?"
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Opening day was September 21, 2009. The administration, heads of departments, chaplains, and other staff gathered inside the playground for a time of dedication. The chaplain read scripture and then gave a prayer of thanks to God for the blessing that this playground will bring to the hospital and the many children who come for treatment.
Now it is great to walk by and see all the children swinging on the swings, sliding down the slide and climbing on the monkey bars. The sounds of laughter and the smiling faces bring a little bit of joy to a place that many times is sad or full of painful experiences. I went out to the playground one day and it was overflowing with children. They love the swings and there was not a swing that was empty the whole time I was there. One mother had even transferred her son from his wheelchair to the two-person swing and he was swinging with the biggest smile on his face. I also took several of the children and showed them how to climb across the monkey bars. There were so many trying to go at the same time that they were all bumping inot each other and laughing.
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| I hope this playground will encourage inpatients to get out of bed and move around which will help in their overall healing. I also hope that the playground will give outpatients something to look forward to when they come to see the doctor rather then dreading their trip to the hospital. There is nothing like a little fun to help make the pain go away.
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