Giggle Doctor visits with a world champion

At the end of November, our Giggle Doctors and the children at the Central Switzerland Children’s Hospital were given some extraordinary company: Paralympic athlete Catherine Debrunner joined four Theodora artists on the paediatric wards. The wheelchair athlete experienced an afternoon full of laughter, music, soap bubbles – and even an unforgettable sporting challenge.

It’s 1 PM at the Children’s Hospital of Central Switzerland in Lucerne. Barbara, Regula, Bibi and Kurt have transformed themselves into Dr. Lilu, Dr StrubuLà, Dr. Chrüsimüsi and Dr. Wolle. At the entrance today, the four Giggle Doctors will receive a special guest of honour: Professional wheelchair athlete Catherine Debrunner will accompany the quartet at work today. A moment with special significance for her, as she was also able to experience the Giggle Doctors’ visits as a child.

Barrier tape and magic Aromat

Together with Dr. StrubuLà and Dr. Chrüsimüsi, they head to the first floor of the children’s hospital. The two Giggle Doctors gather all the important information about the young patients from the ward office before entering the first room. Fourteen-year-old Mohammed and eight-year-old Alexander peer curiously through the door when they spot the strikingly dressed artists with their funny Rasta hairstyles. The two immediately introduce their companions for the day. With plenty of slapstick and humour, StrubuLà and Chrüsimüsi quickly manage to capture the attention of everyone present. First, the door sticks, and the two Giggle Doctors try everything they can to open it with the help of the children. Finally, a barrier tape is pulled diagonally across the room and StrubuLà ties a purple string to Alexander’s bedside remote control. «Would you like to have a pretty bow like that, top?», she asks Mohammed, who looks over curiously. The teenager nods and smiles. To get to Mohammed’s bed by the window, StrubuLà first has to cut the barrier tape. Her repeated attempts fail – to the great amusement of all the spectators, including the children’s parents. In the end, only a pinch of StrubuLà’s ‘magic spice’ called «Aromat» (a famous Swiss spice) can fix the mess. While the Giggle Doctor sprinkles the invisible spice over the tape, Alexander recites a magic spell. The tape comes loose as if by magic and Mohammed grins as he takes his purple bow.

Encouraging soap bubbles

In the corridor, we meet 18-month-old Enzo. His arm is bandaged and he is enjoying watching the hustle and bustle in the hospital corridor with his mother. When he sees the two Giggle Doctors, he is initially sceptical. But when Chrüsimüsi pulls out her giraffe-shaped bubble machine, the spell is quickly broken. Enzo tries to catch the bubbles, becoming increasingly brave and cheerful. When he falls, while trying to catch a soap bubble, the artists pull out their ukuleles and sing a soothing ‘Heal, heal saw’ until Enzo’s tears have dried and his eyes are shining again. Catherine watches the scene with a smile.

A top-class volleyball match

When we reach the third floor, we encounter a group of teenagers gathered in the hallway. «Who wants to play volleyball?«, Dr. Wolle calls out cheerfully to the group. The teenagers’ beaming eyes, which immediately turn to him, reveal that they know Dr. Wolle well. «Yes, I’m in!», says 13-year-old Chloé. «Me too», cries an older girl enthusiastically. «He’s known me since I was a baby», she adds with a smile. She and the other young adults have all been in hospital for several weeks. This makes them all the more familiar with the Giggle Doctors from the Theodora Foundation, who visit the children’s hospital every Tuesday and Thursday. «But we don’t have a ball», says a boy with glasses. «Of course we do», replies Dr. Wolle, and immediately blows up a red balloon. «And where’s the string?», asks Chloé. Dr. Wolle reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out several modelling balloons, which he ties together at the ends in a matter of seconds and stretches them across the hospital corridor. «Now let’s form two teams», he says. Shortly afterwards, ten people, including two interns from the nursing ward, are standing ready on the improvised playing field. «Which one of us will be the Olympic champion?», Wolle calls out laughing, and the game begins. Loud shouts, high jumps, enthusiastic cheers, squeaking shoes and the ball (or balloon) bouncing repeatedly on the floor to the delight of the opposing team follow. Catherine’s team wins by a narrow margin of 12:11 and is rewarded with thunderous applause. With their hearts pounding, their faces slightly red and big smiles on their lips, the group disperses – deeply grateful for this unique moment of variety.