CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Driscoll Children's Hospital works tirelessly to try and give children the best medical care available.
Child life specialists play an important role by working with the kids to explain the medical procedures they are going to undergo.
12-year-old Luis Leal plays Madden '15 in the Teen Room at Driscoll Children's Hospital. 3News was there to see him playing the Cowboys versus the Eagles, and Tony Romo was the Cowboys' quarterback.
It's the position Leal played in real life before he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
"I used to play football. I was the quarterback and it's really fun to play," Leal said. "Even though it's on a game, it feels like I'm playing."
He was playing against one of many child life specialists on staff at Driscoll Children's Hospital. They handle everything from playing with the kids to telling them what all that will happen before and after their surgeries.
"We have a bunch of different roles," Child Life Specialist Lisa Cervantes said. "So one of the questions we get asked often is, 'What is your typical day like?' And there is no such thing as a typical day."
Cervantez is the lead child life specialist at Driscoll -- a job she loves, and one where the rewards are many. She told 3News about one young patient who recently told her how much she appreciated her.
"She said, 'I have a statement to tell you,' and I said, 'okay, what is it that you want to tell me?' And she said, 'You're the best!'" Cervantez said. "And that absolutely made my day. My week."
Cervantez also pointed out that kids like Leal need play areas for many different reasons, like to help them deal with their medical issues.
"I like to come in and see what other kids are playing and ask them if I can play with them," Leal said. "It's really fun."
The younger children can use other activity rooms where building blocks, crayons and coloring books are available to them. The child life specialists are also right there to help them learn and try to ease the pain of their hospital stay.