Dr. Stephen Migliori (right) and his surgical team at the Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, RI prepare to operate on Cavity Sam, the eternal patient from the OPERATION game, to cure him of his latest ailment - Brain Freeze. The new ailment, represented by an ice cream cone in Sam's head, is the first addition to the OPERATION game since its introduction 39 years ago.

The Votes Are in... The Operation Game's Eternal Patient, Cavity Sam, Is Diagnosed with Brain Freeze After 39 Years on the Operating Table

Brain Freeze: First New Ailment in the Game's History

October 2004 - And the winner is... Brain Freeze! Hundreds of thousands of Americans voted to diagnose Cavity Sam, the eternal patient of Hasbro's classic board game OPERATION, with "Brain Freeze" - the first new ailment since the game's creation. The new ailment, represented by an ice cream cone in Cavity Sam's head, has been added in celebration of Cavity Sam's 39th birthday, a notable milestone for this quirky character who just may remain at 39 for years to come. After all, everyone's afraid to turn 40, aren't they?

In 2003, votes were cast by phone and online for one of three possible new ailments. The candidates were Brain Freeze, Growling Stomach and Tennis Elbow. The final tally was Brain Freeze 54%, Growling Stomach 27% and Tennis Elbow 19%. Milton Bradley, a division of Hasbro Games, has spent the last nine months updating the game to incorporate the winning ailment. The game featuring Brain Freeze is now available at retail.

"OPERATION is a classic children's game that has a rich history with generations of Americans," said John Santanella, marketing director for Milton Bradley. "It's been great to involve the American public in the celebration of this noteworthy birthday with the selection of the new ailment."

About Operation

The goal of the OPERATION game is to use your skill, concentration, coordination and the game's tweezers to remove Cavity Sam's "ailments" without setting off the buzzer - and his red nose. The OPERATION game is for one or more players, ages six and up. The game featuring Brain Freeze is now available at all major toy and game retailers for an approximate retail price of $13.99.

About Hasbro

Hasbro Games manufactures and markets games and puzzles under the brand names Milton Bradley and Parker Brothers. Included in its product line are some of the world's best-known games and puzzles including: CANDY LAND, the MONOPOLY game, SCRABBLE Brand Crossword Game, YAHTZEE, TWISTER, THE GAME OF LIFE, TRIVIAL PURSUIT and BIG BEN Puzzles. The company also markets its games in three focused initiatives: MY FIRST GAMES (pre-school games), FAMILY GAME NIGHT (family games) and GET TOGETHER GAMES (adult games).

Hasbro (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world.

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