This program teaches children about the surgery experience from a child's perspective in a non-threatening and understandable environment.  Bernard, Le Bonheur's hospital puppet, helps the children learn through hands-on experiences.  The children dress up as surgeons, complete with scrub suits.  Throughout the program, these "doctors" will take their patient, "Bernard", through the surgery process.  They will learn about the sights and sounds that they will encounter on their own day of surgery.

Bunny Room:    The "doctors" take their "patient"  (Bernard)  to the Bunny Room.  This is where the children will get to pick out a toy on the day of their surgery. The tour continues through the Holding Room, where they smell the flavors of "anesthesia". 

Surgery Room:   Then the "doctors" take their patient Bernard to the Surgical Suite, where they use a real anesthesia mask to put Bernard into a "special sleep". 

PACU (Post Anesthesia Care Unit/Recovery Room):   After Bernard's "operation", it is on to the real Recovery Room, where they gently wake up Bernard.  Here they comfort Bernard, and assure him that he will see his Mommy soon. 

Return to Mommy:   The young doctors conclude the program with returning Bernard safely back to his hospital room and to "Mommy". 
Participation in this program helps to reduce the child's fear of the unknown by giving the child a better understanding of what the child will experience as patients. This makes the surgery process easier for the child and less stressful for his or her family.

What?                             
Pre-Operative Teaching Program
A program to help teach and prepare children and the their families for the surgery process.

Who Can Attend?
All children who are scheduled for surgery at Le Bonheur Children's Medical Center or Le Bonheur East.  Parents, siblings, grandparents and family members are invited.

Where?
Meet at the Information Desk in the Lobby of the West Patient Tower of our children's hospital and ask the receptionist to page Bernard and his Mommy.  (In their absence, a Child Life Specialist will instruct the class.)

When?
Monday through Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
(A Child Life Specialist is available to conduct classes on Saturday, if that day is more convenient to your family.)

How?
Participants register by calling Bernard's Mommy, Diana Chiles, M.Ed, MRE, CCLS, Pediatric Therapist, at (901) 287-5048.