Your Hospital Visit

The thought of a hospital stay can be scary for children. They may not understand why they need to go. And not knowing what will happen when they get there makes them nervous. But as a parent, you can help. Here are some simple ways to ease your child's fears.

This animated Speak Up™ video is especially for children going to the hospital. Marco, as Captain Speak Up, helps em"power" Cara, so she feels confident asking her doctor questions. "Speak Up: Kid Power!" emphasizes that children have the right to ask questions and voice their concerns if they don't understand something.

Having surgery can be stressful—and scary, especially for a child. You can do a lot to help your child stay calm and get ready for the procedure.

During an appendectomy, the surgeon removes your child's appendix. The procedure takes 30 minutes to an hour.