By Lim Peng Hoon
It was a hectic afternoon in the CT scan room when I met this five-year old girl Lily and her mother. The moment they walked in, I could see the fear in Lily’s wide eyes as she clung to her mom’s leg, her tiny fingers gripping tightly. Her mother looked just as anxious, whispering reassurances that did little to calm her daughter’s trembling lips.
“Hi, Lily!” my CT partner Elizabeth said, she crouched down to her level. “I am Eliz, do you know why you’re here today?
Lily shook her head, burying her face in her mother’s side. Her mom sighed. “She’s scared of the machine. The last time she had an x-ray, after that she cried the whole night.”
Elizabeth, a seasoned paediatric radiographer, she had a way with children, that always amazed me. Instead of rushing, she knelt beside Lily and smiled. “You know what, Lily? I feared the big machine when I was little too.”
Lily peeked at her, curious.
Elizabeth pulled out a small stuffed bear from the drawer and put it on the CT couch. “This is Buzzy, our bravery bear. Do you want to lie down together with him while we take your picture? He’ll keep you safe.”
Lily hesitated, then reached out, her tiny hand wrapping around the bear gently. Elizabeth continued, “and guess what? The big camera doesn’t hurt at all. It is just like bringing you to the space, and your mummy can hold your hand while you are lying down with Buzzy on the couch, quick and easy!”
With slow, patient steps, Eliz guided Lily through the process, let her touch the CT gantry first to ease her fear. She even pretended to CT scan Mr. Buzzy, making Lily giggle when the bear “posted perfectly.”
By the time it was Lily’s turn, she was still nervous, but she trusted Eliz enough to lie down for those crucial seconds.
When it was over, Lily hugged the bear tighter and whispered, “That wasn’t scary at all.” Her mother’s eyes welled up with relief as she mouthed, thank you.
That day, Elizabeth reminded me that our profession isn’t just about positioning patients correctly, -- it’s about meeting them where they are, especially when they’re small and scared. A little empathy, creativity, and patience can turn a moment of fear into one of courage!
This piece was selected as a winning entry in the CHEER™ Short Story Contest: Healing Tales 2025. This is part of a broader effort to capture the lived experiences of Allied Health and Pharmacy professionals. The contest highlights authentic stories that reflect the CHEER™ values—Compassion, Humility, Empathy, Encompassing care, and Respect—and how they are enacted in real-world practice.