Building Brave Kids Through Medical Play: Tackling Medical Trauma & Normalizing Care with The Butterfly Pig

Empowered by Hope

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MaryJenner, a nurse with a creative heart, founded The Butterfly Pig after writing a children's book about embracing differences—a theme that would become central to her mission of transforming pediatric medical experiences through play. Her company creates realistic medical simulation tools that children can use with their favorite stuffed animals, helping them process everything from IV placements to ostomy care in a safe, empowering environment.
The power of these medical toys extends far beyond simple distraction. When children experience procedures as something happening to them, they often feel powerless and afraid. But when they can parallel process by caring for their own "patients," something remarkable happens—they begin to understand, cooperate, and even take pride in their medical journeys. Ashley shares how her daughter went from requiring restraint during stoma care to proudly showing her stoma to friends at school after playing with a doll that had the same equipment.
This transformation occurs because children naturally learn through play. By creating approximately 80 different realistic medical devices scaled for toys, The Butterfly Pig taps into children's innate processing mechanisms. Parents and healthcare providers report children who previously couldn't sit still during procedures becoming engaged participants when they have their own medical tools to work with. The benefits extend to siblings too, who develop understanding rather than fear when they can engage with medical equipment through play.
What began as a creative project has evolved into a movement that's changing how families experience healthcare. The Butterfly Pig has introduced a Wishful Wings program where supporters can purchase toys for families who need them, creating a community of care around children with medical needs. As Mary explains, each medical experience gives children "a different type of superpower" they can eventually use to help others, transforming challenges into strengths that shape who they become.
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Chapters

1. Welcome to Empowered by Hope (00:00:00)

2. Meet Mary and The Butterfly Pig (00:01:21)

3. Medical Toys as Simulation Tools (00:06:26)

4. Play's Power in Medical Trauma Healing (00:13:24)

5. The Value of Preparation and Education (00:22:41)

6. Parents' Role in Medical Education (00:32:30)

7. Embracing Difference as a Superpower (00:42:37)

8. Wishful Wings Program and Closing Thoughts (00:51:20)