Children get pony visit with bells on
A FEW days ago Jack HewittTownsend was a ‘‘very sick little boy’’.
The 8yearold had been struck down by meningitis and was in Dunedin Hospital’s intensive care unit.
Yesterday, he was full of the laughter any young child should be in the runup to Christmas, even if he was facing one more day in the children’s ward.
There to help bring out the smiles was a special guest, a Shetland pony named TomTom.
The pony, bedecked in Christmas decorations and a Santa hat, was a popular attraction as he was led around the ward by owner Dave Buckley as a preChristmas treat yesterday.
Babies, toddlers and older patients on the ward gathered around the gentle animal to offer a scratch or a pat, and the smiles soon spread.
For Jack, the small gesture was ‘‘amazing’’ after a tough few days, and made him feel ‘‘100%’’ better, he said, ‘‘because it’s adorable’’.
He was one of the lucky ones, having survived his meningitis scare and being due to head home later today, just in time for Christmas, his mother, Lisa Hewitt, said.
‘‘He’s really, really good compared to what he was,’’ she said.
‘‘It could have been a different story.’’
Sharing the ward with Jack was another Dunedin boy, Gus Carr (8), who has been battling a ‘‘funny sort of anaemia’’ since last Sunday, mother Sarah
Carr said.
Gus was still receiving blood transfusions while recovering, and would remain in hospital over Christmas, meaning family would have to come to him for the big day tomorrow.
He said the prospect left him feeling a little ‘‘sad’’ but TomTom’s visit had cheered him up.
Dr Carr said her son and Jack were already friends, playing in the same club rugby team, which had made it ‘‘a lot easier for the two of them’’ to be in hospital.
The efforts of Dunedin Hospital staff to care for — and cheer up — the children were also ‘‘brilliant’’, she said.
Hospital play specialist Sue Chirnside said children on the ward had already been visited by Santa and Christmas fairies, among other treats, which were all part of efforts to encourage their recovery.
Play was a ‘‘really important’’ part of the recovery plan on the children’s ward, and she was full of praise for the ‘‘incredibly generous’’ community support which helped lift children’s spirits.
Mr Buckley, who brought in TomTom for the children, was only too happy to help — especially at this time of year.
‘‘I love horses and I love kids, so you put the two together and it’s pretty special.
‘‘You make people smile and it’s all good.’’