Construction Worker Creates ‘Seek-And-Find’ Game For Hospital Kids Next To Work Site

Jason Haney, a construction worker from Indiana, USA, became a local hero after he developed a ‘seek-and-find’ game for the kids who were seeking treatment at the Memorial Children’s Hospital. Back in 2016, Haney was working on the construction of a new wing of Memorial Children’s Hospital when he decided to make an eight-foot tall cutoff of the popular puzzle book character called Waldo. Haney began hiding this cut-out at the construction site that was next to the hospital and was visible from the hospital beds. The kids would scan the construction site and try to spot the Waldo cut-off through their windows.

This small but impactful gesture of kindness won over patients and the hospital staff alike. Heidi Prescott, the hospital’s media relations specialist, told ABC News, “I’ve been watching the kids run over to the window and look out for Waldo. On a daily basis, our pediatric patients look forward to going to the windows in their playrooms in their unit to try to figure out “Where’s Waldo?” It usually only takes a few minutes before they see him peering out of the big scaffolding, but it truly brightens their day.”

Haney told the news portal that he made the cut-out with the help of his teenage daughter. He explained that his family understood how hard it was to spend time in hospitals for long periods. When his daughter was three, they found that she had brain damage which could hinder her growth and intellectual development. One of the doctors predicted that she might not learn past the grade three level. Fortunately. Haney’s daughter made an incredible recovery and graduated school with honours and got admission to Ball State University.

While speaking to the media outlet, Haney said that he started making four smaller Minion characters that he would start hiding similarly. Since these characters would be smaller in size, they would be easier to hide.

Talking about his playful initiative, he said, “I just did it so the kids could take their mind off what they’re doing, so they could get out of their room and walk over to the playroom and have a little bit of fun. I’m just glad that they’re enjoying it and it’s helping. I’m glad to have the opportunity to do it.”