Any parent who has been there will know that time spent in a children’s hospital is characterised by sadness, boredom and worry; this is why Jason Haney’s simple but heart-warming actions have brought joy to so many families.
Jason is a foreman on a construction site across from Indiana’s Memorial Children’s Hospital; and, seeking to do something special for the poorly little ones being treated there, he came up with a wonderful idea.
The caring father created a life-size ‘Where’s Wally?’ character out of plywood, and began to hide it in various spots around the construction site for the children to find.
As you can imagine, it didn’t take long for the game to take off, with children and parents alike joining in on the search for Wally. As well as bringing a smile to the families’ faces, the pursuit of Wally also took their minds off their health struggles, even briefly.
The staff are well in on the game, too; they are the ones who inform Jason once a discovery has been made, so he can find a new spot for Wally!
Jason recently set up a special Facebook page dedicated to the game, and the timeline is filled with tributes to the caring father.
“My son was in the hospital in May after a bicycle accident. [Wally] gave him something to look for outside of his room. Thank you so much for helping our hospital stay go a little better!” wrote one grateful mother.
Meanwhile, a medical professional heaped praise on Jason, writing: “I have been a nurse at Children’s in Philadelphia for the last 37 years. I love seeing what is happening at others. Where’s [Wally] is awesome!”
Jason’s story is proof that a simple but well-meaning gesture can turn any frown upside-down.
