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Where’s Waldo cutout a ‘huge hit’ at children’s hospital

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[An Indiana construction worker and artist is using his talents to help pediatric patients. Photos: Beacon Health System; Memorial Children’s Hospital/Facebook]

An Indiana construction worker is using his trade and talent to help amuse pediatric patients while they wait for their new hospital to be completed.

Artist and foreman Jason Haney made a life size figure of the concealed character Waldo from children’s books Where’s Waldo? and placed it in different areas of the work site for the new Memorial Children’s Hospital in South Bend, Indiana.

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Young patients being treated next door have found the ongoing game of hide and seek to be a pleasant distraction, according to Beacon Health System spokeswoman Heidi Prescott .

“I’ve been watching the kids run over to the window and look out for Waldo,” Prescott told ABC News. “It usually only takes a few minutes before they see him peering out of the big scaffolding, but it truly brightens their day.”

The game began with a snowman Haney placed on the work site in the winter time.

“It was a huge hit,” Haney said. “After that, it didn’t snow as much so the construction management team got some inflatable snowmen and an inflatable Sponge Bob, so I went over there and put that up.”

Haney got the idea to create his 8-foot-tall Waldo from a co-worker’s suggestion.

The effort to brighten up the pediatric patients’ day has been a success. Haney continues to post clues on social media about where Waldo might pop up next.

Haney plans to add four construction site Minions from the film Despicable Me to change things up and keep the kids engaged.

“I just did it so the kids could take their mind off what they’re doing,” Haney said. “So they could get out of their room and walk over to the playroom and have a little bit of fun. I’m just glad that they’re enjoying it and it’s helping. I’m glad to have the opportunity to do it.”