Themba and the Sleep Fairy Project Helps Children Face Surgery with Courage
Dr Shenaaz Essa, an anaesthesiologist with a special interest in paediatrics at Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, has launched a new storybook and colouring pack designed to help young surgical patients navigate their hospital journey with compassion and warmth.
Recognised as one of the Tygerberg Hospital Children’s Trust’s supported programmes, Themba and the Sleep Fairy Project was created to support children who arrive in theatre frightened and unprepared – a designation that will help extend its reach across public hospitals countrywide.
And now, thanks to a heartwarming matched-funding partnership with Gift of the Givers, every act of kindness is doing double the good, ensuring thousands more children walk into surgery feeling braver, calmer, and more supported than ever before.
Helping Children Understand a Scary Process
In many public hospitals, young patients go into surgery without understanding who they will meet, what the equipment does, or why they need anaesthesia. For a child, that uncertainty can be terrifying – leading to heightened anxiety, higher medication needs, and more difficult recoveries.
“Calm children cope better,” says Dr Shenaaz. “When they understand what will happen, their anxiety drops, and their wake-up experience is much smoother.”
The book gently walks children through the surgical process in age-appropriate language, from the moment they arrive in theatre to the moment they return to the ward.
The book explains the steps of surgery in a clear, age-appropriate way, from the moment a child arrives in theatre to the moment they return to the ward.
Included with each book is a box of crayons so children can colour while waiting, a meaningful addition for many young patients who arrive with no personal belongings.
“Some children arrive with no personal belongings at all,” says Dr Shenaaz. “Giving them something of their own restores dignity, sparks creativity, and helps them feel seen.”
Parents who have used the book say their children arrived at hospital noticeably calmer and more confident – proof of just how powerful small acts of kindness can be.
Inspired by What Doctors See Every Day
The project began during Dr Shenaaz’s final month of specialist training. After organising a mural in the recovery area at Tygerberg Hospital, she saw firsthand how a supportive environment can change a child’s entire experience.
Her work in both private and public hospitals revealed the stark contrast between the environments children experience – and how much emotional support is missing in under-resourced settings.
Working with colleagues illustrator Dr Annemie Burke and editors Dr Ramona Ramklass and Dr Graeme Wilson, all experienced anaesthetists, she spent nine months refining the story around the real questions and fears children express before surgery.
But for the team, this project is about more than a book.
“It comes down to dignity and compassion,” says Dr Shenaaz. “Many of these children come from environments where even basic needs aren’t met. Giving them a story, a kind character, or even their own crayons is a reminder that they matter.”
She believes deeply in the biopsychosocial model, emphasising that healing isn’t only physical – mental health, environment, hope, and emotional safety all shape a child’s ability to cope and recover.
“We want to give every child the best chance,” she says. “Sometimes, that begins with the smallest act of kindness.”
Kindness in Action: How One Small Gesture Can Change a Child’s Life
When asked what kindness means to her and her team, Dr Shenaaz offers a deeply human reflection:
“These children are the most vulnerable. A small gesture – a story, a colouring pack, a moment of compassion – can restore dignity and spark hope. Maybe it inspires a future artist, writer, or nurse. Kindness opens up possibilities.”
She recalls being moved by the film Patch Adams as a child – a reminder that the work of healthcare is not only clinical.
“Our impact is not just medical. It’s emotional, psychological, and social. When you give a child comfort, you strengthen every part of them.”
This is the heart of the Sleep Fairy Project – showing children they are valued, cared for, and never alone.
Matched Funding Doubles the Impact
The project’s BackaBuddy campaign has raised R6 000 from 13 donors, toward a R30 000 goal.
Through matched funding by Gift of the Givers:
- R30 supports 2 children
- R300 supports 20 children
- R1 500 supports 100 children
- 1 000 donated books = 2 000 books delivered
The first 2 000 packs are planned for distribution to public hospitals in 2025.
For Dr Shenaaz, seeing this ripple effect has been deeply inspiring.
“I am so privileged to have Gift of the Givers collaborating with us,” she says. “Acts of kindness are contagious. When people see generosity, they want to join in. It releases joy – not just for the giver, but for everyone involved.”
With the festive season approaching, she believes this is the perfect moment for South Africans to uplift children who may receive no other gift at all.
Reaching More Children Across South Africa
To ensure accessibility, the book is being translated into Afrikaans, isiXhosa and isiZulu, with French and Swahili versions underway for broader African use.
“Our goal is simple,” says Dr Shenaaz. “Every child facing surgery deserves to understand what is happening to them.”
Aiming for No Child to Enter Surgery Unprepared
For many young patients, this storybook may be the only emotional support they receive before going under anaesthesia. But with every act of kindness multiplied through matched giving – and with supporters joining hands across the country – that emotional safety net grows stronger.
“A small amount of information can completely change how a child experiences surgery,” says Dr Shenaaz. “Even reducing fear a little is meaningful. And it’s something every child deserves.”
The Sleep Fairy Project proves that kindness doesn’t need to be grand to be powerful.
Sometimes, it looks like a storybook, a crayon, a smile – or a donation that becomes two.
To support the Sleep Fairy Project and help your act of kindness do double the good:
https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-themba-and-the-sleep-fairy
Your contribution creates a ripple effect – touching not just one child, but every child reached through matched giving. And that is the true magic of kindness in action.
