Eddie Echo book launch

Eddie Echo with the stars of his book.

Patients and staff joined a life-size Eddie Echo to celebrate the launch of Eddie Echo and me at Evelina London. The book helps children at Evelina London Children’s Hospital prepare for heart surgery.

Evelina Children’s Heart Organisation (ECHO) funded the book which uses photographs of Evelina London children having a range of procedures. Evelina London staff worked with ECHO, artist Jeannie Ford and photographer Joel Virgo, to develop the book.

The book uses illustrations of ECHO’s mascot, Eddie Echo, alongside photographs of children having a range of procedures with Eddie’s 'top tips' for managing them. The story, which was written by health psychologist Melinda Edwards MBE and play specialist Clare Perrett, uses words and phrases that children might hear in hospital, explaining what they are and why they hear them.

Melinda said: “Having effective preparation can help children feel more familiar and secure within the hospital environment, and this can help them to cope and feel better about managing any procedures, including surgery.”

A ‘thank you’ launch party was held at Evelina London Children’s Hospital. The children featured in the book - Fearne Priestly, Jessica Rayner and Theo Holloway - all received an award from Eddie Echo and ECHO’s director of operations, Samantha Johnson.

Samantha Johnson said: “This book will help families better prepare themselves for hospital stays, procedures and heart surgery, reducing the anxiety that can build up around the unknown tests and hospital. We are excited about sending it to families and are pleased that Eddie ECHO will be helping them get ready for trips to Evelina London Children’s Hospital.”

ECHO provides support for children and young people with heart conditions and their families who receive treatment by Evelina London Children’s Hospital and its outreach clinics at other local hospitals. Membership is free. To find out more, visit the ECHO UK website.