Preparing for surgery
Being prepared and knowing what to expect can help reduce stress related to a child’s surgery. The resources below share details about surgery and inpatient stays to help with your planning and preparation.
- Instruction sheets or our different surgeries are available on our Forms and Information Sheets page. These have details about how to prepare, what to bring, where to park, and what to expect during and after the procedure.
- Preparing emotionally is important too. Our team has put together helpful information for every step of the way, including tips for how to talk with your child about an upcoming surgery and answers to parents’ frequently asked questions about surgery/choosing a surgeon.
- For information about our inpatient units and what to expect during an inpatient stay, you can take a virtual tour of our inpatient units.
- Depending on your child’s needs, there may be doctors from different specialties working with nurses, therapists and other health care professionals for their procedure or hospital stay. Who’s who in the hospital outlines the different specialists who may care for your child.
- We have many programs to make to a child’s hospital stay more comfortable. Children can visit our playrooms and outdoor play deck, play games (including popular video games) or do crafts at their bedside, keep up with school with our hospital teachers, visit with Dogs on Call, and participate in special events. Our support services include the following:
- For those coming from out of town, nearby lodging options include “homes away from home” with special options for our families.
We are here to help as you approach this important step in your child’s treatment. Please be sure to contact us if you have questions or suggestions for additional information we can provide.