Dealing with complex medical issues can cause emotional scarring, especially when it comes to children. Megan is an advocate for Allyson’s wholeness — making sure her psychological changes keep pace with her physical treatments and that she stays engaged in all the little things that make being a 4-year-old so magical.

These types of exchanges, called medical play, teach Allyson to cope with her health challenges in a language she’s already fluent in. By familiarizing Allyson with medical equipment and procedures, Megan eases Allyson’s anxiety about her upcoming cardiac surgery at the Heart Institute at Children’s Hospital Colorado. By getting Allyson out of her hospital room and into a playroom that’s home to a dinosaur, a castle playhouse and a Rocky Mountain wallscape, Megan helps Allyson be a typical preschooler.