Who: Lacie Oyler, a perioperative technician who works in the surgical and post-surgical areas at WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital.

What: Lacie especially loves two things: art and kids. A lifelong drawer and crafter, Lacie also is the mom of a 3-year-old boy. At work, she interacts with children who are waiting for operations such as tonsillectomies or the insertion of ear tubes.

“Kids are scared and don’t know what is going on,” Lacie says. “Sometimes they bring stuffies or something that means something to them to comfort them.”

Earlier this year, Lacie met a little boy who had a stuffed Bluey, a cartoon dog that is popular with small children. She thought about her own son and how she would feel if he had surgery.

“My little boy is all about Bluey,” she says. “And I wanted to give this little boy something to wake up to, to make him happy, to make his parents realize someone is in there looking after their kid.”

She drew Bluey on one of the small absorbent pads used in the surgical area, called a chux, and left it so it was one of the first things the boy saw when he awoke from surgery.

It was the first of many caring, fun drawings she has created for surgical patients.

Name a children’s character and Lacie probably has drawn it on a chux: SpongeBob SquarePants, Cinderella, Peppa Pig, the Mario Brothers, Cookie Monster, Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, the dogs from Paw Patrol, the crew from Monsters Inc.

She also places a tiny surgical cap or surgical mask on a child’s stuffed animal, situating it next to the decorated chux. Always, she writes cheerful, encouraging messages alongside the pictures she draws.

Next to a dog drawn to look just like a child’s stuffed dog (with the addition of a hot water bottle sketched on his head), she wrote, “I heard you were feelin’ RUFF. Feel better soon!”

Next to a happy blue dinosaur, she wrote, “Dino-sore? Hope you feel better soon!”

She even did a drawing for a “big kid” – one of her fellow team member’s significant other who is an avid gamer. He got a PlayStation controller drawn on his chux.

Words to live by: “I just do this to offer a little bit of happiness,” Lacie says. “Surgery can be scary, no matter what your age is. Kids don’t always know what’s going on. Mom and dad aren’t with them for part of it. It’s frightening for them.”

Dr. Josh Dunklebarger is an ear, nose and throat physician who often performs the surgery on the patients who receive Lacie’s artwork. He was so tickled the first time he saw the chux that he shared photos of some of them on his Facebook page.

“It’s so thoughtful and a cute and compassionate gesture,” Dr. Dunklebarger says. “Our patients are our neighbors, friends and family.  We want the best for each and every one of them and this act of kindness brightens their day.  Lacie is a shining example of the commitment we have to our patients and our community.  We are so proud of her.”