Not just clowning around
Esha Oss-Emer, 9, from Stony Chute, spent Monday night at Lismore Base Hospital with her mum after a small accident.
The nurses and doctor were happy to help, but the little girl missed her home.
On Tuesday morning, two colourful people asked Esha for permission to enter her room.
Dr Freckles and Dr Sniggles were unlike any other medicos Esha has ever seen.
They were clown doctors, and after some book reading they did some fun drawing... on the hospital's glass door!
Esha felt much better after that visit, and was happy to talk to the other doctors.
Clown doctors Freckles and Sniggles have been visiting Lismore Base Hospital once a week, as a free service since 2004.
As professionally-trained performers and actors, they visit all wards in the hospital, even the ones that are the gloomiest.
A clown doctor's work is about creating happy memories for patients during their stay in hospital.
Asked how they 'debrief" after work, Dr Freckles says: "it's like this!", and she pretends to remove her underwear.
Laughter aside, Dr Sniggles explained that "there are many weeks when we see things that are challenging. We discuss the things we have seen. We also have support behind us. As a performer, our emotional hygiene is very important".
