I have a few different theories for this since I spent so much time in the hospital at so many different ages I want to share them all with you.
As a child….. To pass the time when I was not too ill to do anything, I would spend a lot of time playing and doing crafts with the play therapist. At Children’s Hospital they were very good at having this person come by your room and see what you were able to do. I loved crafts and any kind of arts. On the days I was either too sick or heavily sedated I would just look over the many cards sent me hanging on the wall. A very important thing is to send lots of colorful cards and balloons to give the patient something to look at all day when concentrating on anything else is impossible.
As a teenager….. not only did the colorful card thing come in handy, but short visits by friends and family were always welcome. They did check with the nurses to see if I was up to it and if not I would stare at anything on television when I could or just stare out the window. Children’s Hospital was designed around windows so it was easy to pass the time that way.
As an Adult….. Television was my savior, movies when available, but I was there so very long the movies did not change and I ran out of things to watch. I did swear off soap operas! To this day I do not watch them. Color balloons, cards and flowers to stare at. Magazines from friends were nice when I could concentrate and not too sedated.
Recap…. 1) cards 2) balloons and or flowers 3) television 4) play therapy (younger years) 5) short visits from friends and family.
