Unfortunately she did not live to see her dream of the Tracy Fun Centre come to fruition, so in her memory we named the project after her and are proud to say that there are 34 units in hospitals throughout South Africa. The brightly coloured, carefully designed, well-engineered and robust mobile audio-visual trolleys now each contain a TV monitor, DVD player and Sony PlayStation with a range of games. Each unit is well used and loved by both children and staff alike.
What is the purpose of Tracy Fun Centres?
- To keep children undergoing treatment in hospitals busy and active, stimulating their minds and creating a fun environment.
- To forget about the pain and procedures they are subjected to while in hospital.
- To enjoy play time with friends.
A study in America found that young patients aged between five and seventeen years of age, demanded up to 50% less pain medication from self-administered pumps while distracted by a visual form of entertainment. We have heard delightful stories of children learning to share and wait their turn while a fellow patient plays with the unit and how children who cried and were consumed with pain, played for hours with the units forgetting about the pain and need for medication. Nurses have also told us that children who refused to eat, began eating again because of the reward of being able to play with the unit.
