Long-term hospital stays can impact many areas of a child’s life. Being taken out of a familiar environment presents both emotional and physical challenges, which can affect their development. Adapting to unfamiliar situations becomes inevitable, especially when their everyday routines are disrupted. During childhood, when establishing emotional and social security is most crucial, the lack of communal experiences can feel like a major loss. Distance from family and friends often results in children facing loneliness.
Healthcare institutions can seem like alien worlds to young patients. Activities that differ from their usual routines may create feelings of helplessness, especially when familiar faces are absent. In such circumstances, fear can take hold—children’s imaginations are vivid, and sometimes their minds conjure frightening scenarios. While parental presence can help ease these fears, it’s not always possible to be by their side continuously. Although doctors and nurses are helpful and kind, they cannot replace the warmth of home or a parent’s embrace.
Modern technology offers exciting opportunities to break through the feeling of confinement caused by physical limitations. VR headsets and gaming consoles allow children to virtually leave the hospital walls. These tools not only provide entertainment but also boost creativity and imagination.
During prolonged hospital stays, it is not just the children’s physical recovery that needs attention—their emotional well-being is equally important. Emotional support, staying in touch with friends, and a sense of belonging to a community play a key role in ensuring that children don’t feel alone.
Time spent in the hospital is often frightening and stressful for children. Medical tests, the unfamiliar environment, and separation from their home contribute to the development of anxiety. In this situation, virtual reality headsets can play a major role in reducing stress. These technological tools allow children to travel to other worlds without ever leaving their hospital beds.
The Én Szívem Foundation supports children suffering from heart disease, those awaiting heart transplants, children with cancer, and those recovering from organ transplants. An outstanding contributor to this mission is Mr. László Csőke, who lives in Dubai and tirelessly helps make VR headsets accessible to as many hospitals as possible.
The experiences provided by VR allow children to immerse themselves in colorful, interactive environments that draw their attention away from the unpleasant realities of hospital life. This can be especially beneficial during painful or uncomfortable procedures such as injections or tests, as it helps reduce the sense of discomfort. Various virtual games and interactions allow children to play, which increases their comfort and improves their mood.
An added benefit of this technology is that it enables children to experience healing through play. This form of entertainment not only makes their hospital stay more enjoyable but also more meaningful, encouraging children to actively participate in their own recovery process.
Healthcare professionals have also observed that children become much more cooperative when using VR headsets, making treatments more effective. The immersive experiences help divert attention, reduce stress, and thus enhance the overall healing process.