FIVE THINGS ABOUT ONE SPECIAL SURGEON ARTIST

After an operation on her newborn son, Susan Mcfrederick and her husband, Rodd, parents of six, burst into tears, but not just from anxiety: Across the incision on their baby’s belly was a sweet winter scene, hand-drawn on his bandages. They soon learned the artist was their son’s surgeon.

1 FINE MOTOR SKILLS

“There were rolling hills of snow, a pine tree and a snowman with a hat and broom, cut out separately and put down layer by layer,” she recalled. “It was extremely touching and comforting to know that somebody had taken the time to do that for my family.”

2 POSITIVE VIBES

Dr. Robert Parry had discovered another way to use his hands during his pediatric surgery fellowship in the late 1980s. Another surgeon had cut out heart and shark shapes to decorate children’s bandages, and Parry, who had always enjoyed drawing, decided to follow suit. “During a time of stress for families, it’s nice to be able to help them smile and laugh,” he said.

3 SURGERY SELFIES

During the past 30 years, Parry says, he estimates he has left examples of his handiwork over the stitches of more than 10,000 children. Examples of his post-surgery artwork can be found in patients’ scrapbooks and hospital Facebook posts.

4 CUSTOM CHARACTERS

Parry decided to draw figures that captured young patients’ personalities. “There was a girl who really wanted a cheeseburger but couldn’t eat after surgery, so she woke up with a cheeseburger drawn on her bandage,” he said. “When I took a bullet out of a child, I drew a gun inside a circle with a red line across it.” Long-necked giraffes are perfect for covering vertical stitches, he said.

5 KNIT ONE, PURL TWO

For Parry, 61, the reward is knowing a child “can go on and live their lives and never know I was in it.” He’s not ready to retire, but he’s found a new hobby for the years to come. “I’ve taken up knitting. Hats, sweaters, scarves, fingerless gloves — I enjoy it all. But mostly, I enjoy giving everything away.”