In my last article, I discussed what you can do if your child is afraid to go to the doctor.  But what if your child needs something more than an average appointment?  An MRI, a hospital stay, or even surgery?

My friend is going through one of those scenarios right now.  For her, and you, I’ve found a few great articles to help navigate that turbulence.

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford has put together a great site for kids 5-12 helping kids visiting the hospital…either as a patient (inpatient or out) or visitor.  While some of it is specific to that hospital, the vast majority of it applies to any hospital.

Duke Children’s Hospital has a wonderfully informative page to help parents prepare their child for surgery.  It has specifics for every age group from infants to teens, and (except for the phone number listed) this fabulous wealth of information is a must-read no matter what your hospital is.

MassGeneral Hospital for Children has a page devoted to talking to your child about having an MRI, complete with a link to an adorable booklet drawn and written by a seven year-old girl who experienced one and has recounted it in her own words and drawings.

These sites do a great job of covering a multitude of situations; if you or someone you know finds themselves in one that isn’t helped by the above links, please contact me.  I’d love to do all I can to help you make the situation as smooth and painless as possible. 

Have a question about healthy living for you and your family that you would love answered in one of Dr. Diva’s columns or want to discuss this one more? Come on over to Blissfully Domestic Living and join the conversation!  If you want to talk to me directly, you can find me here.