Apple’s iPad tablets have become hugely popular, especially among kids who can get their hands on one. That's why CHEO, the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario in Ottawa, is now using them to help children awaiting surgery learn what to expect.

Nine-year old Justin Leblanc was the first patient to have access to an iPad at CHEO. Leblanc has a type of bone cancer called Ewing’s sarcoma, the same cancer Terry Fox had. In October, Justin found out he needed surgery.

So to prepare him for what was to come, CHEO child life specialist Manon Rollin created a slideshow explaining the surgery, and loaded it onto an iPad.

"Sometimes, when you walk them through it, you take away some of their fears,” she says.

Leblanc says it really helped. “Before my first surgery I was quite a little bit anxious,” he admits.

CHEO started using iPads with patients two years ago. Now, there are nine of them being used in the ER and day surgery. Soon, patients throughout the hospital will have access to the technology.

"We can use it a lot for distraction throughout invasive procedures. So sometimes that will lessen the pain because they are focused on something else,” says Rollin.

Rollin says the applications can be tailored to a child's age and interests.

"What's so awesome about this iPad is that you can go from a two-year-old to a 17-year-old,” she says.

“And the fact that it is swipe and tap, even an 18-month-old can do that.”

With a report from CTV Ottawa’s Natalie Pierosara