Two years ago, Jessica Bender was in a car accident that required her to undergo some minor surgeries. Her daughter, Everly, was in the car with her, and while many kids may have been traumatized by the experience, she was inspired.
"For the past two years she has been telling us that she wants to be a doctor who cuts bones when she grows up," Jessica says. So it was no surprise when Everly asked that her fifth birthday party have a medical theme. Initially, Jessica, the creative mind behind Jessica Bender Photography [1], was completely stumped. But after a brainstorming session with her daughter, the ideas were flowing.
"She had a few requests for the party, namely around the menu," Jessica says. "She wanted it disgusting, like an operation, and all treats. So I let my inner 5-year-old loose."
Scroll through to see how Jessica put a medical twist on her tot's birthday party.
Source: Jessica Bender Photography [2]
The Doctor Will See You Now
Jessica created the invitations, which were meant to look like prescriptions.
Source: Jessica Bender Photography [3]
Poop or Pee?
Iced tea and lemonade were labeled as fecal and urine samples, respectively. Jessica "loved hearing the parents ask their children if they wanted pee or diarrhea to drink."
Source: Jessica Bender Photography [4]
Move Your Body
Jessica created posters with healthy messages and hung them up as decorations.
Source: Jessica Bender Photography [5]
Eat Your Veggies
Source: Jessica Bender Photography [6]
Candy-Striper Push-Pops
Red velvet cake made this medical dessert possible.
Source: Jessica Bender Photography [7]
Bone Macarons
Jessica turned this classic French pastry into a surgery-themed treat.
Source: Jessica Bender Photography [8]
Scrub In
Jessica shaped sugar cookies into scrubs, bandages, and red crosses.
Source: Jessica Bender Photography [9]
Eye Exam
Guests snacked on cake pops as well as candy.
Source: Jessica Bender Photography [10]
Blood and Urine Samples
Jessica relied on red and yellow gelatin to make this decoration, which doubled as a snack.
Source: Jessica Bender Photography [11]
Edible Poop
What looks like a less-than-appetizing dish is actually a chocolate-covered cereal treat.
Source: Jessica Bender Photography [12]
Nurse's Station
To keep guests entertained, Jessica set up a medical corner complete with bandages, gauze, and ice packs. She notes that, "the kids had a ton of fun wrapping up 'injuries.'"
Source: Jessica Bender Photography [13]
Surgery Sweets
X-rays, bandages, and doctors were just some of cookies guests could choose from.
Source: Jessica Bender Photography [14]
Sweet Bones
Chocolate chip cookies were shaped to look like human bones.
Source: Jessica Bender Photography [15]
Open-Cake Surgery
Dessert is often the best part of any party, but Everly especially loved her open-cavity cake from Schur to Please Wedding and Specialty Cakes. [16]
"She liked that it was like a real-live surgery," Jessica says.
Source: Jessica Bender Photography [17]
Gross-Out Goodie Bags
The goodie bags, which were made to look like patients' belongings bags, were guarded by jars of pig and cow organs.
Source: Jessica Bender Photography [18]
Dr. Everly's Medical Book
The goodie bags were filled with Band-Aids, cookies, and Doctor Everly's medical book, which Jessica and Everly created together.
"She started reading the month before, and I thought it would be fun to tie in this new skill with her doctor fascination," Jessica shares. "She was a champ for the book photo shoot and hammed it right up!" The book includes fun medical facts and tips on handling a trip to the doctor's office.
Source: Jessica Bender Photography [19]