People depart a Lego store in Manhattan on August 29, 2024 in New York City. Spencer Platt | Getty ImagesIn September 2023, just two months after his mother fought and won a battle against breast cancer, Sam Lane began to get sick.Sam underwent several rounds of testing, and the now 14-year-old finally received a diagnosis: a rare brain and spine cancer.”They said ‘cancer,’ and before I started crying, I said, ‘Dang it, I was going to guess that, but I didn’t want it to be that bad,'” Sam said.But at his lowest point, intubated and unable to walk, a nurse offered Sam a bright spot: She said she needed his help to build a Lego MRI scanner set for fellow patients at Boston Children’s Hospital to play with and learn from.Sam’s mom said she was “blown away” by the level of detail in the play set, made of specialized Lego bricks.”I remember sitting there saying to him, ‘Sammy, why don’t you take a break? You’ve been working at that straight for some time,'” Christina Lane said. “And he just didn’t even look at me and was like, ‘Nope, this is important… I need to help other kids.'”Lego’s MRI scanner sets, which feature a scanner, patient bed, waiting room, staff figures and medical instruments, were designed specifically to help children learn about the procedure through hands-on play. The miniature MRI machine table moves back and forth, mimicking a real procedure. On Monday, the toy company announced that more than 1 million children globally have used the sets to help them prepare for their medical procedures. New Lego research found that 96% of healthcare professionals said the model helps to reduce children’s anxiety, and 46% reported a lesser need to use sedation after the children played with the set.Lego MRI Scanner play setCourtesy: LegoMRIs, which don’t involve radiation, are often used in pediatric care – but with the bright light, loud noises and requirement to stay st …
