I just want everyone reading this to realize the direct impact this is going to have on families like mine. We live just under 2 hours away from Denver Children's Hospital. When Zoe had her initital surgery, we were in the hospital for 8 nights. Because Zoe's condition was so fragile, neither her father or I could stomach driving home at night in case something should happen. Only one parent could stay in the room at night. So, we got a hotel room and even at a discount we paid over $800.00. Not to mention the cost of our meals. And that was for only 8 nights. Some of the kids are there for weeks and even months. Take into account that most parents miss out on paychecks when they miss work. It is stressful enough watching your child in pain, hooked up to tubes but to add on the worry about money is almost unbearable. We were lucky. We planned for her surgery. We knew it was coming and were able to figure things out. Not everyone is so lucky as to be prepared for a hospital stay. This is a great cause. Everyone will heal faster with less worries. With a place to decompress. Even a place to do your laundry or send out an email to family and friends is a huge comfort. Thanks to all who have donated so far. Thank you, Highrollers for opening your hearts not only to a great cause but to Zoe. And, Ace, I will never be able to find the words to thank you. All I can do is sing your praise, promote your cause, and get everyone I know to go out and buy your cd when it comes out.
You're the best. with love, Lorraine
The Family Amenities Area, located on the second floor of The new Children's Hospital, will provide comfortable, temporary living quarters for patients' family members. The new hospital will open in Fall 2007. Check out the progress of the new hospital here.
kids in the ICU have access to them. Due to the overall lack of space in the current hospital, families have few places to stay -- and take care of their needs -- when their child requires a long-term stay in the hospital.
However, Children’s is building a new, 1.44-million-square-foot medical center on the Fitzsimons campus in Aurora, which opens in Fall 2007. Because we believe that it is best for kids to have loved ones nearby, we have included a large Family Amenities Area on the second floor, providing a “home away from home” for all families whose children are inpatients. The Family Amenities Area will include six large family sleep rooms with private bathrooms, two dressing rooms, lockers for storing personal items, a laundry room with three washers and dryers and a private massage room. What’s more, the area will include a large kitchen with a fridge for personal food storage and a lounge with a big screen TV and Internet access. This space will allow family members to “decompress” after stressful clinical situations and give them a comfortable place to be without leaving the hospital.
When a child is admitted to The Children’s Hospital in Denver, he’ll stay an average 6.6 days. Some children, especially those cared for in our neonatal and pediatric intensive careunits, stay much longer. Our current hospital has four sleep rooms for family members who don’t want to go far from their children’s beds -- but only families with
