Our MRI Day at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital: Compassion in Action for an Autistic Child

Walking into a hospital with your child for an MRI under anesthesia is a knot-in-the-stomach kind of day. If your child is on the autism spectrum, that knot can feel even tighter—new faces, unfamiliar sounds, bright lights, and long waits can stack up fast.

At Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, though, we experienced something remarkable: a wall-to-wall culture of care that anticipated our son’s needs and met them with patience, creativity, and heart.

From the Curb to the Care Team—Kindness Everywhere

It started at the valet, who greeted us like neighbors and gave simple, steady directions that lowered our stress. A police officer near the entrance caught our son’s eye and offered a calm wave instead of questions. The receptionist spoke directly and gently, with no rush. These tiny choices matter for autistic children—and for their parents, too.

Behind the doors, the nurses, social workers, and the anesthesiology team were exemplary. They introduced themselves one by one, explained what would happen (and what wouldn’t), and gave our son as much control as possible—choosing a sticker, taking his own temperature, and letting him explore safe items before anything medical happened.

When Waiting Is Hard, They Made It Easier

Our appointment ran late because the case before us went long. That’s tough for any family, and especially hard for autistic kids who rely on routine. Instead of leaving us to manage alone, a nurse showed up with sensory toys—fidgets, textured items, and simple activities. Then a social worker arrived with a sensory cart (bless whoever built that cart!). About 30 minutes later, a golden retriever padded in for a therapy-dog visit. Watching our son’s shoulders drop and his breathing slow told the whole story—his body finally found a calmer rhythm.

Those 60–90 minutes of thoughtful support turned a potential meltdown into manageable waiting. They didn’t just “keep him busy.” They regulated him. That’s the difference.

The MRI with Anesthesia

When it was time, the team moved with quiet confidence. They used minimal words, visual cues, and gave us a heads-up before each step. We were encouraged to stay close, keep our son’s focus, and bring the familiar comforts that help him feel safe. He drifted off peacefully, and the team watched him like hawks until he was back in recovery, sleepy but okay.

A Hospital That Has Done the Work

It didn’t surprise me to learn that Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital’s Emergency Department is Florida’s first emergency department to earn the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). That certification means the majority of their ED physicians, nurses, and patient-facing staff completed specialized training in autism-informed communication, interaction, and safety—and they renew that training regularly. It shows. jdch.comIBCCES

What Helped Us (So You Can Borrow It)

• Ask for sensory supports. Many children’s hospitals now have sensory toys/carts—they made all the difference for us.

• Bring your child’s comfort kit. Favorite fidgets, headphones, weighted items, visual schedule, and snacks for after anesthesia (per medical instructions).

• Use simple scripts. Short, literal phrases (“First check-in, then play, then pictures, then snack”) help set expectations.

• Advocate for pacing. Kind staff appreciate knowing what doesn’t work (e.g., too many questions, unexpected touch).

• Accept help. Therapy animals, child life, and social workers are not “nice-to-haves”—they’re regulation superheroes.

Gratitude

To the valet team, security, reception, nurses, social workers, child-life pros, anesthesiology, and everyone we met that day: thank you for seeing our son—not just his chart. Thank you for slowing down when it mattered, for offering choices, for finding a golden retriever on a hard morning, and for proving that clinical excellence and sensory-aware compassion belong together.

For families on a similar path, know this: you can ask for the support your child needs. And if you happen to be heading to Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, you’ll find a team that’s already thinking that way.