Last week was tough.  The red nose is back.  This time, I’m training with Theodora Children’s Trust to become one of their Giggle Doctors, who visit children’s hospitals around the world, bringing a little joy into the sometimes dull, sometimes dreaded, world of medical routines and procedures. 

Think Robin Williams in Patch Adams, without any pretense at medical knowledge - we’re just here for the smiles.

So why so tough, I hear you wonder? Well, unfortunately, sick children sometimes die.  During last week’s module (number 2 of 3) we were privileged to receive a whole two days exploring the grief process with some wonderful ladies from the Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge.  Followed by videos of children with cancer.  The good news is that I discovered over 80% of childhood cancers are now cured.  The bad news is that it drove home to me the emotional suffering of the parents and other family members that we will be coming into contact with.  It was pretty intense, and there were many teary moments between us.

There are 10 of us training in this round of recruitment, which will almost double the charity’s provision of Giggle Doctors in the UK.  I have my first ‘observational visit’ on Monday to watch some of the current entertainers at work in Birmingham Children’s Hospital, which will be followed by 3 more observations and a final week-long training module before I am loosed onto the wards in costume and nose, assisting a Senior Giggle Doctor.

I ordered my nose today.  It’s going to be silver and sparkly. With that, the fluorescent pink spectacles I bought from Claire’s accessories, and the tailor made ‘doctor’s coats’ the charity provides, I’m going to look a treat!

The group have been working on developing our characters through games and improvisations, so we have had many laughs to balance out the tears.  We’ve also been handed magic tricks, balloon modeling kits, and a wonderful little WormBoy puppet whom I’ve fallen head-over-heels in love with.

It’s fantastic to know that my skills are going to be used in a way which will bring real benefit and joy to people’s lives, as the comments on the Theodora’s Facebook page attest.  Never under-estimate the healing power of laughter!