What if one of the most powerful tools in pediatric healthcare is not a device at all, but something much more fundamental? Play. In this episode of Bluestock Talk, Allison is joined by Mary Jenner, RN, BSNS, CTSS, former pediatric oncology nurse and founder of The Butterfly Pig, to explore how play is transforming the healthcare experience for children and families. Mary shares the moment that started everything: a frightened young patient, a teddy bear, and a simple idea to treat the toy first. What followed was a shift in trust, cooperation, and care. That moment revealed something deeper. When children understand what is happening to them, they feel safer. And when they feel safer, everything changes. Today, Mary designs imaginative, medically inclusive toys that help children process complex medical experiences, from IV lines and feeding tubes to imaging procedures. They are intended as tools for preparation, communication, and emotional safety. One of Mary’s most powerful takeaways: “Kids’ language is play. They deserve the right to play with things that represent their world.” Allison and Mary explore how small moments in healthcare can shape lifelong perceptions of care, and how unaddressed medical trauma can lead to fear, avoidance, and worse outcomes later in life. They also discuss the reality clinicians face, including “transient empathic blindness,” where providers must prioritize tasks over emotional connection in high pressure moments, and how that can unintentionally contribute to trauma. Mary also shares a personal story about a life-saving medical technology that helped her daughter recover from a traumatic birth, a powerful reminder of how innovation and care intersect in real life. Along the way Allison and Mary discuss: • How play builds trust and reduces fear • Why children need preparation, not surprise • The role of child life specialists • How small clinical moments can have lasting impact • Why medical trauma can lead to healthcare avoidance • How toys give children a sense of control • The importance of collaboration across care teams KEY TAKEAWAYS • Play is a powerful tool for communication and emotional safety • Preparing children improves care experiences • Medical trauma has long term consequences • Emotional safety should be part of standard care • Innovation does not always have to be complex CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction to Mary Jenner 02:00 The moment that sparked Butterfly Pig 06:00 Building trust through play 12:00 Understanding medical trauma 18:00 The role of child life specialists 24:00 Designing medical toys 30:00 Preparing children for procedures 36:00 Long term impact of care experiences 42:00 A life-saving medical technology story #BluestockTalk #PediatricCare #MedTech #HealthcareInnovation #MedicalDevices #PatientExperience #ChildLife #TraumaInformedCare #DigitalHealth #MaryJenner 💙 Want more honest conversations about MedTech, innovation, and the people building it? Tune in to Bluestock Talk as Allison Komiyama, PhD, RAC, explores the people, ideas, and medical technologies transforming healthcare. Have a guest, medical device, or healthcare topic you’d like Allison to explore? Let us know in the comments.
