Surgery can be a stressful experience for children and families. Feeling well prepared can help reduce anxiety, support recovery, and make it a positive experience. When a child needs surgery, it can ...

Carli Tourdot is a Child Life specialist and a children's book author. Tourdot is pictured with her book "Today is the Day! My First Surgery" on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, in Rochester.

Surgery might be a physical event, but it’s a mental and emotional one, too. Even if the procedure is routine, it can bring up real fears of pain and the unknown. That kind of stress doesn’t always ...

Within the next year, about 50 million people will undergo surgery in the United States. And with rare exceptions, all of these people — both adults and children — will suffer from anxiety beforehand.

Preparing your child for surgery can be a stressful time for you both. Working with your healthcare team, you can help make this scary time a little less frightening by addressing your child’s ...