Ravija Alahakoon (9) broke his leg playing rugby and was recovering in the children's ward yesterday.
The St Joseph's Cathedral School year 5 pupil used the hospital's iPad to Skype his grandparents in Sri Lanka and play games such as Minecraft.
The tablet computer helped pass the time in hospital, when he could get his hands on it.
''I have to share it with my sister,'' Ravija said.
The seven iPads given to the hospital were bought with funds from the Carisbrook Rotary Project.
Before the Carisbrook complex was cleared, scores of Rotary volunteers removed seats and sold them to people and organisations across New Zealand.
Rotary also sold chopping blocks made from the salvaged wooden seats.
Former Lower South Island Rotary governor Gary Williams said Rotary had given the children's ward about $250,000 raised from the project.
Nurse manager Pam Markby, of Southern District Health Board women's and children's inpatient service, said the children in the ward from across Otago and Southland used the iPads to keep in touch with their family.
The ability to connect with family made a ''big difference'' to their hospital stay and recovery, she said.
