Prepare Your Child for Surgery

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Prepare Your Child for Surgery

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(HealthDay News) -- If your child needs surgery, she'll probably be

afraid and curious about what will happen -- and turning to a parent

for comfort and answers. Here are some suggestions on what to tell

her, courtesy of the Nemours Foundation:

Be honest. If you don't know the answer to a question, ask the doctor

and then explain it to the child. Answer questions honestly, but be

sure to use language that's not frightening to your child.

Make sure she knows that you'll be outside the operating room waiting

for her during the procedure, and that you'll be in the room with her

when she wakes.

Keep your explanations simple, and appropriate for both your child's

age and personality. If she is a worrier, only tell her -- honestly --

what she needs to know.

Tell her that she will fall asleep before the surgery starts, and

that she will be asleep during the entire thing and won't feel any

pain. Make sure that she expects some discomfort and maybe even some

pain after she wakes, but that she will have medication to keep her

comfortable.

Stay calm and relaxed. Your attitude will have an impact on your

child's reaction to what is happening around her.

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Or you can buy them a large pizza and a map of the stars. Then drive around

Beverly Hills all night looking at celebrity houses.

Spencer still talks about the nights before his surgeries. LOL