A program aimed at helping patients at the IWK create their own television content has topped 100,000 views on YouTube.
Child Life Television is written, produced and performed by children at the health centre, and have been a staple of the hospital's inpatient TV network since 2011.
CL-TV coordinator Cleve Sauer said the program has been therapeutic in helping patients.
"They get to show the world all these great things about themselves, they get to communicate with friends and family back home, plus when they leave the hospital, they get to have that memory," he said.
All their hard work seems to have paid off, many of their videos have amassed a lot of views.
"They're showing it to their friends, they're calling over grandma and grandpa and showing it to them," explained Sauer. "We've put about 100 videos up there, so on average every one is getting a thousand views, which is remarkable."
The shows also helps kids see other young people go through similar experiences.
Identical twins Kendra and Kinsey Fader have spent a lot of time at the IWK since their premature births 10 years ago.
Kinsey said making the show with Buddington, the therapeutic clown, is really fun.
"Making our own shows makes me forget I’m in the hospital," added her sister Kendra. "I also like to watch his shows at home on YouTube on my iPad when I have
to use silver nitrate sticks around my GJ button because it really hurts and it helps distract me and makes me happy."
The IWK says the shows with topics ranging from hockey to giraffes to living with asthma, are often educational, informative, therapeutic, and always fun.
