When hospital clown Stella visits the children's department at Hvidovre Hospital, Nordsjællands Hospital, or Bodil Eskesen Center (Rigshospitalet), she does so with humor, presence, and a special ability to meet the children at eye level. With small magic tricks, balloon animals, and quiet companionship, she creates a breather in a daily life marked by illness and examinations.

– A hospital stay is often associated with insecurity and worries. One of the most important things is to give the child small victories. In the hospital, there are many situations where the child loses control. When it suddenly succeeds to perform a magic trick or help Stella, it can give the feeling of being able to do something again, says Charlotte Nefer, alias Stella.

Charlotte Nefer is a self-employed hospital clown and has worked in children's departments in the capital region for 23 years. As a professional actress and psychotherapist, she meets the children with humor, empathy, and a special ability to create contact – even when illness, anxiety, and pain are present.

– It can feel insecure, for example, to have a blood test taken. Here, I can help bridge the gap between the child and the staff, because I signal that they are nice and that they want to help the child feel better, says Charlotte Nefer.

– I am also someone the child can relate to. If there is a child who does not want to take their medicine, I might say: 'I don't want to take my medicine either,' while holding it in a glass. This way, the child's feelings are acknowledged, and most often it ends with Stella and the child agreeing that it is still best to take the medicine.

Charlotte Nefer also knows what it means to be a mother to a child who is hospitalized. When her son was seven years old, he underwent the first of two major back surgeries.

– I saw a TV program about a hospital clown, and I could see how significant her presence was for the hospitalized children. Suddenly, I realized that this was the direction I should go. Stella is not just a job – it is my passion project. I have poured my heart and soul into Stella every time I put on the red nose, and I can see that I make a difference for the children, she says with a smile.

After her son's first operation, she began to seek funding and contacted various hospitals. In January 2003, Stella made her debut at Nordsjællands Hospital, and since then, thousands of children have become acquainted with the sweet and engaging hospital clown.

– For me, it is important that I bring my core values into my interactions with the children – empathy, humility, respect, and good situational awareness, says Charlotte Nefer.

Every week, she visits hospitalized children and their families, creating small bright spots in an otherwise demanding everyday life.

– I try to create positive memories that the children can take with them when they are discharged from the hospital, says Charlotte Nefer.

Experiences from both families and healthcare professionals show that the presence of the hospital clown can reduce anxiety, make examinations easier, and create greater security for both children and parents.

– When a child is hospitalized, the world can suddenly feel overwhelming. The hospital clown Stella helps create small moments of joy, safety, and presence – and that can make a big difference in a difficult time. Therefore, we are happy to support her work, says co-founder of the foundation, Margit Andersen.