09/10/2026
🎈🧸As Play in Healthcare Week continues, we’re sharing one of the many ways we support play in the Children’s Cancer Unit.
For a child or young person, receiving a cancer or complex blood disorder diagnosis can be incredibly scary and it can bring about a lot of uncertainty, unpleasant procedures and treatments and a big change to the normal life that they knew. This can leave a child feeling scared, confused and not in control.
This is where our My Special Aflac Ducks come in🪿
Through our longstanding partnership with Aflac Northern Ireland, we have been able to provide My Special Aflac Ducks to children receiving treatment in the Children’s Cancer Unit. The soft, fluffy ducks provide a soothing companion to help children prepare for medical procedures, communicate their feelings, practise distraction techniques and so much more.
Some of the really clever features of the My Special Aflac Ducks include:
🪿An accompanying medical bag which includes medical play equipment such as a port-a-cath, stethoscope, pulse oximeter, syringe and bandages.
🪿Feelings/emotions coins which can be held against the duck’s chest to help the child communicate how they are feeling in the moment.
🪿A special Soundscapes™ app which allows the children to listen to the sounds of a forest, ocean, farm or amusement park - perfect for practising distraction therapy.
To hear Lyndsay talking about the impact that the My Special Aflac Duck had on her son Matthew’s journey, click here:
🔗 https://youtu.be/XsDW0Ph-N20 🔗