Using humour to improve paediatric care
Wednesday, 07 September, 2022
Doctor Ben Anderson first attended to Havana鈥檚 heart condition when she was only three months old聽鈥 12 years later he鈥檚 considered part of the family.
To Havana and her parents, there was no better way to express their deep appreciation and affection for 鈥淒r Ben鈥 than to nominate him in the Juiced TV Super Hero Awards, sponsored by QSuper (now part of Australian Retirement Trust).
Diagnosed with aortic stenosis at birth 鈥 a condition where the aortic valve is unable to open to full capacity聽鈥 Havana requires ongoing treatment at the Queensland Children鈥檚 黑料吃瓜群网.
With Dr Ben monitoring, diagnosing and performing interventions where necessary, she is now able to participate in school sport with her peers.
鈥淗avana鈥檚 most recent surgery has meant she can run around and be a 鈥榥ormal鈥 child for the first time ever, which is incredible,鈥 Havana鈥檚 mother, Jamie, said.
鈥淒r Ben is just like family. Havana trusts him in every sense, and if he tells her she is going to be okay she really does believe him.鈥
The centrepiece of Havana and Dr Ben鈥檚 unique relationship has been their shared humour, with the pair exchanging jokes every appointment without fail.
鈥淚鈥檓 not sure when it started, but now before every appointment Havana will search the internet for a few jokes and save them to read to Dr Ben,鈥 Jamie said.
Dr Ben鈥檚 sense of humour has been significant in making Havana feel less anxious about her hospital appointments.
鈥淯sing humour isn鈥檛 something that you learn to do. It is just a natural part of interacting with the patients, to put them at ease and make them feel that they can trust you,鈥 Dr Ben said.
鈥淭he children, especially Havana, are funny. Their honest observations just make my day.鈥
Jokes aside, Dr Ben has also gone above and beyond in offering comfort and compassion to Havana. Jamie shared that Dr Ben made a detour every day of Havana鈥檚 last five-week admission to check in.
鈥淒r Ben just cares. My husband and I have always said if he ever left that hospital, we鈥檇 have to follow him. We just couldn鈥檛 go with somebody else, he鈥檚 amazing,鈥 Jamie said.
This admiration is reciprocated with Dr Ben considering himself lucky to have been there for Havana and her family throughout her entire health journey.
鈥淚 am in a very privileged spot to watch kids like Havana grow up. You get to know them, watch them go through their developmental stages and grow up into little humans,鈥 Dr Ben said.
鈥淏eing nominated was unexpected and touching. They鈥檙e the ones going through it day in and day out, but they still want to thank me. It is incredibly sweet.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 take full credit, of course. No individual can do any of this, it is always a team effort.
鈥淲e would like to thank Australian Retirement Trust and its QSuper team for making the awards possible; we鈥檙e grateful to have the platform to share everything that Dr Ben has done for us,鈥 Jamie said.
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