LEGO® MRI Scanner Sets Inspire Courage in Kids

Since 2024, Starlight Children’s Foundation has been working with the LEGO Group to donate LEGO® MRI Scanner sets to hospitals across the United States – all with the aim of helping kids navigate the often daunting and intimidating process of having an MRI Scan. 

Healthcare providers can use the LEGO MRI Scanner set to turn an often-stressful experience into a more positive and playful one. 

Playing with something familiar like LEGO bricks creates a safe and comfortable environment for kids as a “training space” for real life events. Child life specialists can use the LEGO MRI Scanner set to engage pediatric patients in medical play, role playing and talking about what will happen during the MRI scan. The set can also be used with other playful experiences with the goal of reducing the use of anesthesia. 

The LEGO MRI Scanner set has helped kids like Jameson enter their MRI scans with peace and confidence. 

Nine-year-old Jameson is in his third battle with cancer, relapsing with high-risk pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Known at his hospital as “Strongman Jameson”, he remains resilient through another round of treatment and hospital stays.  

“We were in the hospital one night, and he said, ‘Mom, it’s okay, we can do hard things,’” shared Noelle, Jameson’s mom. “One of the nurses was in the room with us and we were both in tears. This stuck and became our family motto." 

When he and Noelle heard he needed to get an MRI, it was another hard thing he would have to face — he had never gotten an MRI done before.

With 12 other different appointments that same week, Jameson was not looking forward to it, increasing Noelle’s anxiety. 

“My anxiety was so high about the situation because I was worried for him,” Noelle said. “I’ve heard stories from other moms how it’s really difficult for children to be in an MRI machine, how its hours long because kids get scared or don’t know what to expect.”  

But a Child Life Specialist brought in a helpful tool to make the process easier for Jameson — the LEGO MRI Scanner set.

Almost immediately, Jameson felt more at ease playing, helping Noelle feel more at ease too. 

“It calmed all of our nerves, and my son relies on my nerves,” Noelle reflected. “So, I’m always trying my best not to show worry or anxiety through any of these processes we’re going through.” 

Their Child Life Specialist simultaneously played a video that educated Jameson about the mechanisms of a machine while he was playing with it. 

Jameson wasn’t so nervous anymore. He entered the MRI with courage and confidence.

He completed the MRI successfully and did so well that the hospital staff said they had never seen a child do so well in the MRI machine.  

Starlight’s mission is to deliver happiness to seriously ill kids and their families.  

Through collaborating with partners like the LEGO Group, Starlight can provide essential resources to children’s hospitals nationwide and advance its mission 

As a part of the Starlight Toy Delivery program, for example, Starlight has delivered more than one million LEGO® sets and products to kids in children’s hospitals nationwide. 

But to get these resources into kids' hands, we need your help.  

Are you a corporate partner looking to make a wide-reaching or local impact for hospitalized kids? Learn more about how you can partner with Starlight today. 

Or are you a community supporter who wants to help kids feel happy and ease? 

98% of our hospital partners say Starlight programs put kids at ease. 

Donate to deliver Starlight programs and fuel that relief today.