Laughter in the face of adversity: How Clown Doctors bring joy to ‘chronically ill Kids on haemodialysis like Seb and Raph
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Emily makes the seven-hour round trip to Melbourne’s Monash Children’s Hospital with her son, Raph. No matter how he’s feeling, dialysis isn’t optional; it’s his lifeline. For five long hours, Raph sits in a chair as a machine filters his blood, the only thing keeping him alive.
Dialysis has been a part of life for both her sons, Seb and Raph, for as long as Emily can remember. Seb was diagnosed with renal failure at just five weeks old. By the time Raph was born, the family knew what to expect – but that didn’t make it any easier. ‘We lost our middle boy, Gus, to the condition back in 2003. He was nine days old,’ Emily shares. ‘When I was pregnant with Raph, we were hopeful, but we knew the reality.’
Seb, now 25, manages his own dialysis at home, but for Raph, every week revolves around the hospital. ‘He has no choice,’ says Emily. ‘Even on public holidays or when he’s sick, he must go. It dictates everything; he can’t attend mainstream school, we can’t go away on holidays, and the food we eat is restricted because of his condition.’
It’s an unimaginably tough reality for any child. Yet, in the midst of it all, something extraordinary happens. Twice a week, the Clown Doctors arrive.
‘The Clown Doctors seem to appear on the dialysis unit with their own little sun shining over them,’ Emily describes. ‘They don’t just walk in; they read the room, adapting instantly – whether that means tiptoeing in quietly, bursting through with an air horn, or sliding in sideways like a crab.’
Seb met the Clown Doctors when he was 12. ‘He broke into a huge smile and immediately engaged with them,’ Emily recalls. ‘He loved their dry humour and sparring with them.’ Raph, on the other hand, was sceptical at first. ‘Are these really doctors?’ he wondered. But soon, he couldn’t help but laugh.
For children like Raph, who spend hours each week confined to a dialysis chair, the Clown Doctors bring more than just entertainment – they bring relief. ‘They break up the long, monotonous hours, cracking the kids’ faces into smiles of delight and joy,’ Emily says. ‘They don’t just perform; they connect, lifting the spirits of not only the children but the parents too.’
For Emily, those moments of laughter are everything. ‘Seeing my boys interact with the Clown Doctors is like a warm hug for my heart,’ she shares. ‘They even banter with me, lifting me out of my own thoughts and resetting my mindset. Nothing but humour has ever done that.’
The Clown Doctors rely entirely on generous donations to bring joy and relief to families like Emily’s. ‘Not everyone can do what they do,’ she says. ‘It’s a rare gift to approach a chronically sick child (who may be grumpy and exhausted) and find a way to make them laugh. It’s vital.’
Right now, more families like Emily’s are facing long hospital stays or repeat hospital visits, unexpected diagnoses, and overwhelming uncertainty. But with your support, the Clown Doctors can bring laughter where it’s unexpected, yet most needed.
Your donation today ensures that children and families across Australia experience moments of joy and relief during some of the hardest times of their lives. And with the end of the financial year approaching, your gift is 100% tax-deductible.
Your tax-deductible gift creates moments of joy
Your donation directly supports the Clown Doctors program, bringing moments of joy and connection to children, families, and hospital staff. With your help, we can:
- Reach more people, giving more sick kids access to the healing power of humour.
- Provide ongoing training and resources for Clown Doctors, ensuring they can support people when they are at their most vulnerable.
- Develop new programs tailored to the evolving needs of hospitalised children and their families.
Every dollar you give helps us deliver laughter where it is unexpected, yet most needed .. And because your gift is tax-deductible, you’ll be making a real impact while reducing your taxable income.
Make a Donation Today
Make a Donation Today
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Donate before June 30 to bring laughter where it’s unexpected, yet most needed
The EOFY deadline is fast approaching! Don’t miss this opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of sick kids and their families. Your generosity can help transform hospital experiences with laughter, joy, and connection.
Donate today and claim your tax deduction before June 30!
