Logan is 12 years old with complex needs and is registered blind but he can see bright colours and loves the yellow coats and red noses of the Clowndoctors. Logan knows the Clowndoctors really well seeing them regularly at Glasgow Children’s Hospital and at Robin House Children’s Hospice. When the COVID-19 crisis and lockdown hit, Logan and his Mum were among the groups who had to shield at home. This meant that Logan could not see the Clowndoctors and they knew that he would be very sad about that. We asked his Mum Donna if she thought Logan would like a message especially for him from one of his favourite Clowndoctors. The answer was a big YES! Dr Cous Cous knows Logan very well and that he likes music and songs so he got to work creating a song especially for Logan. And we got this lovely message from Donna: “Thank you so much for Logan’s personal message from one of his favourite Clowndoctors – Dr Cous Cous. We both loved it and it brightened up our day. We have watched it together over and over again. We watch the clip every day and your YouTube channel is the first thing we put on every morning and we love all the messages. It has been lovely to have something familiar for Logan in these strange times. Thank you for keeping the smiles going.” It is important for young people like Logan to have something to brighten their day and keep a wee bit of normality in their lives. The virtual messages and films help Logan to still enjoy some fun with his favourite people.

Nine year old Jacob regularly sees the Clowndoctors at Rachel House, one of the CHAS locations, and also when he is in hospital. Jacob has complex needs and requires round the clock care and he has been shielding with his Mum Kirsty since March. Jacob has spent much of his young life in hospitals and Clowndoctors are a big feature of his stay. He looks forward to their visits where, for a short while, he can forget his treatments and with the help of the Clowndoctors become a spaceman, a dinosaur or whatever he wants to be! Thanks to the Clowndoctor on Call Programme Jacob can now receive virtual visits with a regular dose of fun and laughter from his favourite Clowndoctors in his own home! Kirsty said: “Jacob’s connection with them is incredible. Being in hospital so much means that the people there become an extended family and that’s the case for Clowndoctors. They give him a real boost when he is feeling poorly. I just can’t put into words the excitement and joy these sessions at home have made and I think about all the other children and families who are shielding like us and am sure they get the exact same benefit we do. It is lovely to see Jacob enjoy his time with the Clowndoctors and I get to enjoy it too” The Clowndoctor virtual sessions are helping families like Jacob’s feel less isolated during this current crisis and deliver a joyful human connection.