Building patients’ confidence

Lug South members Lance Eder and Cory Varcoe display the Lego MRI model they are planning to send...
Lug South members Lance Eder and Cory Varcoe display the Lego MRI model they are planning to send to Dunedin and Southland hospitals to help children become comfortable with the procedure. PHOTO: NINA TAPU
A miniature Lego MRI that helps kids with the stress of X-rays has been remade by Southlanders and will be sent to surrounding hospitals.

Lego club Lug South have got their hands on the official blueprints and are getting ready to make the toys to send to Southland and Dunedin hospitals.

Lego first released 600 of the hospital machinery replicas in 2018 but Lug South secretary Gavin Evans said the toys never made it to New Zealand.

At the time, Lego said the model was designed around the child’s perspective of the full-body scan, to build confidence, resilience and ultimately reduce anxiety.

Mr Evans said he was contacted by a playroom worker at Southland Hospital who asked if he knew or had the means to remake the toy.

He contacted a club overseas, who made instructions for the build after Lego charged them with constructing the models in 2018.

Mr Evans invited fellow South clubmates Lance Eder and Cory Varcoe to build the tiny MRIs.

The project was a full-circle moment for Mr Eder, who was treated for Leukemia 40 years ago, when he was 7.

He never had an MRI but before his radiation treatment he had X-rays done at Dunedin Hospital, where staff allowed him to X-ray his own Lego toy.

Mr Eder said it was cool he was able to give back and help kids going through the same thing.

ella.scott-fleming@alliedmedia.co.nz