That night I surfed the super-slow internet thoroughly for how to engage kids in activities. I stumbled upon origami videos and realized this was an easy,cheap way to shift the patients minds from chemo to crafts.
The next morning, I walked into the hospital equipped with my new-found origami knowledge of making jumping frogs and little bunnies. Every morning parents would bring their children to a room around 15 by 18 ft, but not an inch of that space was seen due to the rush of morning tests. Children would be brought here to receive blood pressure and blood count tests. The little kids would start screaming and crying as soon as they laid eyes on the nurses with needles. I had a small plastic chair near the middle of this room and decided to start making frogs and bunnies out of paper in efforts to distract some of the kids. I would fold the square papers as quick as I could, draw eyes and noses, then turn and give the craft to whoever was near by. At first, the screams were replaced by momentary coos and awes from the young kids seeing the simple jumping frog. However, at this point I had only made about 3 frogs and then there was even more commotion than before! Kids started screaming so loud in Malayalam, "Enikka thavala vanum!"--translation "I want frog!." The nurses looked up surprised that the kids were screaming louder and laughed at my situation. I usually take a moment to appreciate the irony of situations but the clamor forced me to start making frogs at a furious pace in order to stop the second set of screams lol. In the small crammed room, there was now children on my lap, on the table, mothers making sure their kid got one so I just folded fast. Basically just, Smile, Fold,Draw,Give, in like 30 secs, rinse,repeat. In the speed I accidentally folded the wrong way and made a car which made some little boys happy hahah. As the crowd died down, I glanced over to my paper stack and realized it was finished--i went through like 75 papers, not even realizing the time go by. I left the small room to go check up on other patients and I was surprised to see parents and little kids waving the little crafts at me to say thanks. To see that many people smile for such a simple gift warmed by heart.
I got too caught up in the commotion and did not take pics that day, sorry lol.
The next morning, I walked into the hospital equipped with my new-found origami knowledge of making jumping frogs and little bunnies. Every morning parents would bring their children to a room around 15 by 18 ft, but not an inch of that space was seen due to the rush of morning tests. Children would be brought here to receive blood pressure and blood count tests. The little kids would start screaming and crying as soon as they laid eyes on the nurses with needles. I had a small plastic chair near the middle of this room and decided to start making frogs and bunnies out of paper in efforts to distract some of the kids. I would fold the square papers as quick as I could, draw eyes and noses, then turn and give the craft to whoever was near by. At first, the screams were replaced by momentary coos and awes from the young kids seeing the simple jumping frog. However, at this point I had only made about 3 frogs and then there was even more commotion than before! Kids started screaming so loud in Malayalam, "Enikka thavala vanum!"--translation "I want frog!." The nurses looked up surprised that the kids were screaming louder and laughed at my situation. I usually take a moment to appreciate the irony of situations but the clamor forced me to start making frogs at a furious pace in order to stop the second set of screams lol. In the small crammed room, there was now children on my lap, on the table, mothers making sure their kid got one so I just folded fast. Basically just, Smile, Fold,Draw,Give, in like 30 secs, rinse,repeat. In the speed I accidentally folded the wrong way and made a car which made some little boys happy hahah. As the crowd died down, I glanced over to my paper stack and realized it was finished--i went through like 75 papers, not even realizing the time go by. I left the small room to go check up on other patients and I was surprised to see parents and little kids waving the little crafts at me to say thanks. To see that many people smile for such a simple gift warmed by heart.
I got too caught up in the commotion and did not take pics that day, sorry lol.
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