Clowns in Crisis No More
Amazing support comes flowing through the doors of the hospital and into the clown program.
What was lost was found again in a different place. The public made it clear that they supported the clowns being in the hospital to help children adapt well to various medical procedures and to make the nurses and doctors days go smoothly.
At the clown program in St. Boniface Hospital, we played with the families in the waiting room of the Paediatric Clinic. We distracted the children from painful medical procedures and eased their fear. Each week we wrote notes of our interactions with the families. We started as volunteers, found funding, and then continued as volunteers when we lost our funding. In 2009, I had decided to move on, and Kolinda Jobst (A.K. A. Kit Kazoo) joined the program. She later married another clown and is now touring with circuses. Here are some of her notes to give you a flavour of the program:
“When I first arrived, I could hear a little one crying in one of the doctor’s offices and it appeared that there was quite a struggle with him. He needed to be restrained by nurses and doctors to get his inoculation. When he came out of the doctor’s office he didn't want to talk or look at anyone. He didn't even want the sticker that the nurse tried giving him. When he came to sit in the waiting area with his mom, he was still sobbing with deep breaths in between.
When he saw me, he stopped crying and just stared for a bit. I began blowing bubbles slowly getting closer and closer to him and popping them as I went. He began to slowly smile and then giggle a little. As I neared him, I started to pop the bubbles with the toe of my big shoe. He found this quite amusing and started to laugh out loud throwing his head back and laughing from his belly.
His mom was amazed and thanked me many times. When it was time for the nurse to check his arm. She stood far away and asked the mom to show her his arms, I had him so distracted that he appeared to not realize that his shirt was being lifted to get checked. I was thanked by the nurse and the mom once again. At one point he had the people in the waiting area laughing with him, it appeared that everyone was happy to see him smiling and laughing.”
Clowns in Cocktail
The media blitz that followed the article “Sick Kids May Lose Their Joy,” in the Winnipeg Free Press in February 2009, started a landslide of donations that took us by surprise. Suddenly we were being interviewed by the papers and on the radio. Money started to pour into the Hospital Foundation. They made a special account for the clown program. “Variety: The Children’s Charity” featured our St. Boniface clown program at their fundraising Gala. Pat Holbrow (Sunny Soleil) and I (Maude Bee) went to the formal Gala as clowns and mingled with the guests. I must say, I felt quite silly being there, but that was my job. I didn’t have to worry about what to wear, because I was in my clown costume. At the finish of the Gala, we were “auctioned” off in an effort to raise money for the program. We starred in lots of pictures, people were amazingly generous and we did lots of laughing together. When we came back to the hospital we were treated like ‘stars.’ In the end, the Hospital Foundation raised enough money for us to continue the program for ten years.
Clowning for Connection
Selected Clown Notes from St. Boniface Hospital Clown Program
Kit Kazoo, Jan’08
When I first arrived, I could hear a little one crying in one of the doctor’s offices and it appeared that there was quite a struggle with him. He needed to be restrained by nurses and doctors to get his inoculation. When he came out of the doctor’s office he didn't want to talk or look at anyone. He didn't even want the sticker that the nurse tried giving him. When he came to sit in the waiting area with his mom, he was still sobbing with deep breaths in between.
When he saw me, he stopped crying and just stared for a bit. I began blowing bubbles slowly getting closer and closer to him and popping them as I went. He began to slowly smile and then giggle a little. As I neared him, I started to pop the bubbles with the toe of my big shoe. He found this quite amusing and started to laugh out loud throwing his head back and laughing from his belly.
His mom was amazed and thanked me many times. When it was time for the nurse to check his arm. She stood far away and asked the mom to show her his arms, I had him so distracted that he appeared to not realize that his shirt was being lifted to get checked. I was thanked by the nurse and the mom once again. At one point he had the people in the waiting area laughing with him, it appeared that everyone was happy to see him smiling and laughing.
Super Dot, January’08
As I was going down the hall, a mom was in the doorway of a room and stopped me to ask if I could talk to her son. Of course, I said sure. The son was about 20 - lying in bed. We joked and talked for a few minutes and as I was leaving, the mom thanked me, saying I had made their day! Wow, it's great that it takes so little of our time to bring a smile or moment of happiness.
Judy Whitaker, “Super Dot”, February’08
At first in the clinic there were only babies, but after a short time, it started filling up with toddlers and older children. We did some colouring and drawing as well as playing "Old Maid". One little girl was very shy and didn't want to come to play at first. Dad said she was shy and nervous, so I told him to just let her come in her own time. I continued playing with two other kids and soon the little girl came closer and closer and finally was asking if she too could colour. Yay! I even managed to get her to talk about her school friends a bit and her Dad was very surprised that she had opened up to me.
Another adorable little guy was also shy but after a short time, we were playing "ring" toss and then a game of cards, then bubbles. His grandma was there and was interested in the clowns. She said a couple times how great it was that the hospital had this program and she enjoyed watching her grandson interact with me.
Pat Holbrow, “Dr. Sunny Soleil”, April’08
A 2 year-old and her grandmother had a long wait due to a reaction to her vaccination. The woman was so relieved to see I was still there when they came out the first time because the child had been very upset. The bubbles worked their magic and she was soon bubbly, too. Then they had to check the arm and discovered the reaction – wait 15 more minutes. Check again – this time child very upset so I blew bubbles into the passageway where the medics were checking her. Wait another 15 minutes – finally she was cleared to go but the bubbles saved the day. People were commenting on what a difference the clown made to distracting and amusing the girl. Felt good about that. Three teenaged girls in the hallway told Sunny how cute she is – that felt good, too.
Didn’t take a break I was so busy. I did have to go out for a few minutes when a child who was already crying, looked at me and cried louder. But to balance this, there was a shy child who said although she was shy last time, has done nothing but talk about the clown ever since and wanted to invite her to her birthday party! A Mom made a point of thanking me for playing cards with her 9 year-old son – she had the other one in with the doctor and Dad was late arriving. Both boys have ADHD and she can’t manage both of them in the small confines of an examining room. I’m exhausted from all the bubble blowing but it was a great day.
Kolinda Jobst, “Kit Kazoo”, May’08
Well today was fulfilling, sometimes you just know that you have made a difference. There was a boy 5 yrs. old who appeared to be upset about just getting weighed and measured. He struggled with nurse and mom. I decided it might be helpful if I went over and tried to help, and it did! I started blowing bubbles and talking to him. I said if you stand on here (the scale) you can help me pop the bubbles and it worked! He got on the scale (a little bit wiggly but still on the scale). Small steps of progress were made.
