Clowning for Young Patients Is Serious Business

Imagine you’re a patient in a strange hospital surrounded by people you don’t know and machines you don’t understand – laid low by an illness everyone wants to conquer. Now imagine you’re just 10 years old.

Based on pioneering Dr. Hunter ‘Patch’ Adams’ findings that humor is great therapy, Hearts & Noses Hospital Clown Troupe – the oldest troupe of its kind – began in the late 1990’s “to bring smiles and relief to hospitalized children and their families.” With the Troupe starting its 20th year, Executive Director Cheryl Lekousi of Needham announced the addition of a fourth hospital partner, the Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, joining Boston Medical Center, Franciscan Children’s, and Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital Pediatrics. And recently, the Mass. General Hospital joined this group.

“We’re thrilled that our pediatric patients now have this opportunity to add a little joy and happiness to their day,” said Andrea Colliton, Director of Child Life Services at Floating Hospital for Children.

Lekousi – known as ‘Tic Toc’ to young patients – reports record activity by the Troupe last year: 200 hospital visits, more than 3,000 patient visits, and ‘clowning’ at 12 special events. With 90 hours of professional training, volunteer clowns engage and empower children who feel they’ve lost control of their lives. They also engage parents, providing a welcome, lighthearted respite. “We invite the child to interact in many ways. A visit can last a moment or much longer, as dictated by the patient,” Lekousi says.

“Medical clowns infuse hope into the toughest moments for children and their families,” says Dr. Michael Agus, Chief of the Division of Medicine Critical Care at Boston Children’s Hospital and Medical Director of Hearts & Noses. “This brand of clowning helps the child feel engaged, opening the door to healing.”

Many of the region’s leading companies agree with the importance of this work, and support Hearts & Noses, including Genzyme, Eastern Bank Charitable Foundation, and Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund, to name a few.

Through its fundraising campaign, the Troupe will train more clowns, make more visits, plan more events, and add more hospitals.

For further information/photos, to arrange interviews and/or to accompany clowns on hospital visits, contact Stanley Hurwitz: stanhurwitz@gmail.com / 508-269-0570. Website: http://www.heartsandnoses.org. To donate online, go to http://www.heartsandnoses.org/donate-now/. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Hearts-Noses-Hospital-Clown-Troupe-112097046354/ Individual, corporate and foundation gifts are welcome. Donations are tax deductible.