July 1, 2019
Undergoing surgery can be stressful for anyone, especially small children. A Weill Cornell Medicine pediatric otolaryngologist has been making the experience easier for patients, thanks to a pair of miniature cars that kids can play with as they await surgery—and can even drive to the operating room themselves. "It was a total game changer," says Elena Silverman, whose four-year-old son, Jaime (both seen at right), came to the NewYork-Presbyterian David H. Koch Center in March for procedures to replace fluid-draining tubes in his ears and to reduce the size of his tonsils and adenoids. "Once he spotted those cars, it was like he was in a toy store rather than a hospital. It was a wonderful distraction."