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How thoughtful design makes sick kids happy

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This September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness month, and we’re featuring great design that’s been put in place to surround childrens’ cancer treatment.

Thousands of children each year are diagnosed with cancer, and cancer is the leading cause of death for American children under age 15. Over the past 30 years, advances in the understanding and treatment of cancer has lead to a significant percentage of children being able to anticipate when they will be in long-term remission or cured altogether.

With this in mind, there are a few hospitals that have gone out of their way to change the experience of children being treated in the hospital. Check out this amazing CT scanner themed to look like a pirate ship:

Pics1bThe Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital recently remodeled one of their radiology testing rooms to ease the nerves of children. When it came time to replace their CT scanner, the hospital worked with GE to design and install the machine in a high-seas sailing, pirate themed room. In addition to being super cool, the scanner was built to deliver the lowest possible dose of radiation to protect the patient from additional harm. via My Modern Met
Photos Credit of BuzzFeed/Macey J. Foronda

Pics1bAt Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis and the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh; window washers occasionally been dressing up as super heroes to the delight of the children on the other side of the glass. This is becoming a great trend, appearing at many hospitals across the country, with some hospitals turning it into a whole event and other hospital staff participating. Hospital spokesperson Sara Burnett summed it up best when talking with ABC News saying, “When a child’s mind gets off their pain and their sickness, it makes them heal.” via Yahoo
Photos Credit of Penn State Hershey