How a big bird named ‘Magrau’ is helping make hospital visits less scary for B.C. kids | 24CA News

A B.C. physician is aiming to make visits to the emergency room much less scary for youths, with the assistance of an enormous vibrant chook named “Magrau.”

Magrau is a ventriloquist puppet, and the star of six movies for youngsters aiming to take the thriller out of widespread procedures they may encounter on the hospital.

“So far the feedback has been great. It doesn’t take much effort to provide a better experience for kids,” Dr. Amir Behboudi, an ER doctor at White Rock’s Peace Arch Hospital advised Global News.

“The way we interact with kids can have long-lasting effects, either positive or negative. It takes a small effort and investment to change that to a positive one.”

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Behboudi stated he was impressed to try to discover methods to insulate youngsters from concern of the hospital seven years in the past, when his personal son was admitted and required a number of procedures.

He stated his son was fortunate as a result of a specialist in working with youngsters was readily available on the time, however added that regularly isn’t the case.

“It was at that time I made it my mission to provide a similar experience for the kids that we receive in our hospital,” he stated.

With funding from the Peace Arch Hospital Foundation, Behboudi and his workforce labored up scripts that assist clarify six widespread procedures: blood exams, sedation, X-rays, CT scans, ultrasound scans and IV drips.

He then teamed up with Kellie Haines, a veteran ventriloquist who has labored with Canuck Place and the Vancouver Children’s Festival.

“It makes me feel amazing to be able to do this for kids. I was in the hospital as well, when I was a youngster, and I brought Magrau in there for me and we performed for the kids,” she stated.

“I know what it feels like to be afraid of certain things but when you understand them they become, oh this isn’t so hard, I can do this, so I just feel really grateful.”

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In every of the movies, Magrau undergoes one of many six procedures with Haines at his aspect, and the 2 work together, describing what’s going on.

Physical actions and physique language play a big half within the scripts, which Haines stated helps youngsters perceive what’s taking place.

The movies are hosted on YouTube, and will be accessed by scanning QR codes on posters positioned in hospitals all through the Fraser Health area.

“It’s very rewarding to see the parents and kids watching them, and they laugh through it even though the child might be going through a painful procedure,” Behboudi stated.

“When the parents are calm, the child becomes calm, too. So overall it just provides a better experience for the kids and the parents, too.”

While the posters are at present solely up at Fraser Health hospitals, Behboudi stated the movies are accessible to anybody anyplace on the planet, and he’s hopeful the mission can broaden.

His subsequent aim, he stated, is elevating funds to translate them into a number of languages.

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