Wii-rry Christmas!

Well, just as everyone is settling into their Christmas presents, there are some people who aren’t enjoying their gift-giving!

It seems that up to ten people a week are being hospitalized with injuries caused by playing Nintendo Wii games, prompting doctors in Britain to issue warnings of the dangers associated with the video game system.

“There has been a 100 percent increase in patients complaining of Wii-it is,” Dr. Dev Mukerjee of Broomfield Hospital, Essex, told The Sun newspaper.

Most patients are admitted after playing tennis or running games which involve sudden movements, resulting in tendon stretching or tearing. “It’s possible Wii-itis may lead to rheumatism or arthritis later in life. Patients often have inflamation of the shoulder or wrist,” said Dr. Mukerjee.

Another common injury is dubbed Wii-knee, blamed on the bending of the knee from the Wii-Fit game. This involves a special platform and a series of movements ranging from yoga to strength-training moves. In extreme cases, the kneecap can be dislocated or pop out of joint.

Doctors treat Wii-knee with cortisone injections, icing, and anti-inflammatory painkillers. Treatment can last for three months.

Wow! Well, at least a Wii wasn’t under our tree on Christmas morning! That’s good news and bad news. I think, from watching the TV commercials, a Wii would be fun to play. I love video games and think I would enjoy this particular unit. However, I certainly don’t want to be rushing off to the hospital (again!). So, we’ll wait until Evan is a little older to consider purchasing a Wii or any other game console.

Any experience with a Wii? Playstation?

Wednesday's A+ Award of the Day

In mid-September, in Phoenix, Arizona, a family arranged a Family Game Night at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Jackie and Matt Behm, who own an online rental group set up several Wii and PS3 stations so families could play games like Mario Kart Wii together.

The idea for the game night was born out of the realization that families involved with hospital stays don’t get to do activities together like they used to; playing games might be one of the few things everyone can do together.

“What little we do for [the patients and their families] is not anywhere near enough, but hopefully we are doing something invaluable for them,” said Jackie Behm to the Arizona Republic. “If they’d let me, I’d bring a Wii down there every Friday if I could.”

Matt Behm said that about 70–75 people attended the event, which was held in the hospital cafeteria; roughly 30 kids who were hospitalized showed up, with about 20 parents and a number of hospital staff joining in to play games with the patients and families.

My brother’s oldest daughter has had multiple life-threatening illnesses in her young life. She has been in and out of Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama, more times than I can count. Most of those hospital stays required days, if not, weeks of hospital stays. My family has always been appreciative of organizations like Ronald McDonald House that provides housing for the family members of the hospitalized children. They have been life-savers! We always appreciated countless others who gave of their time and energy to help during those long hospital stays.

Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Behm for your commitment to the children of Phoenix, Arizona, and the surrounding area! Thank you for your love of the children, families, and hospital staff. May your tribe increase—not only in Phoenix, but all across the world.

Way to Go! Truly, an A+ Award goes to the Behm family!