Hospital stays can be scary -- especially for kids.
But the new pediatric center at Kadlec Regional Medical Center will go a long way toward easing fears and welcoming young patients and their families.
The Don & Lori Watts Pediatric Center opens this week. Like much of the community, we took advantage of the many chances for the public to get a sneak peak.
If you've seen it, you know why we're excited.
If you missed the tours, here's an inadequate overview. The previous pediatric unit had 17 semi-private rooms. The new unit has 20 private rooms. They're not gaining any bed space, but each room is kid- and family-friendly.
Couches fold down to hide-a-way beds for parents. The TV system includes on-demand movies and video games. The whole floor is decorated with an ocean theme, and each room has its own critter.
One extra nice feature is the family room. It's like an apartment complete with a kitchen, laundry room and big screen TV, where families can gather, relax and share a meal.
The unit's director, Dr. Josh Weldin, told us it is the nicest facility he's ever seen. We're not doctors, but it we have to agree that it's top notch.
A big chunk of the funding for this project came from the Kadlec Foundation, which raised $7.4 million from hundreds of open hearts and wallets. Especially notable donors are Don and Lori Watts, namesakes of the unit, and Leola Condotta, in memory of her husband Denny. If you have the chance to visit you'll see a sign for Condotta Cove.
We would rather that all children are healthy, but when they're not the new unit will take much of the anxiety out of their hospital stays.
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A Richland family's donation of new toys to the pediatric wing at Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland aims to give some joy to the children who might have to stay there.
Mike and Tanya Zaugg and their three sons dropped off the toys Wednesday. The family has a special relationship with the pediatric center because their 7-year-old son Aidan spent time there in 2008 for cancer treatments. He died in November of that year.
"Aidan would have turned 10 years old on Aug. 18," his mother said. "We continued to celebrate his birthday by filling the yard with red balloons on that day each year."
Kennewick 12-year-old gives back to Kadlec Regional Medical Center
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Malachi Trimble's arrival Thursday on the fifth floor of Kadlec Regional Medical Center was more lighthearted than his usual visits.
For 18 months, the 12-year-old Kennewick boy has been undergoing chemotherapy there to fight leukemia.
This time he showed up with an oversized check for $6,500 to give back to the hospital that is working so hard to save his life.
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There's a reason why ski injuries most often occur late in the day or at the end of a vacation.
That's when skiers are more fatigued.
To avoid spending your ski vacation in a cast watching everyone else go down the slopes, follow these tips from Robert Dimeff, professor of orthopedic surgery, pediatrics and family medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center:
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The photos we want to make don't always jive with what the event organizers had in mind. Some media relations people seem genuinely shocked when I dismiss their suggestion that I snap a smiley handshake in front of a logo and sign orgy. Thankfully, many of the media handlers we work with frequently aren't that controlling during these carefully contrived situations.
Some are definitely better than others, though, and in my experience, covering stories at Kadlec Regional Medical Center has always gone the smoothest. Much of the credit goes to Jim Hall, director of community relations, but when he's not there, Delt Clark, community relations coordinator, and Nan Domenici, community relations specialist, maintain their higher level of media care.
I should start by saying that I'm not disparaging the other area hospitals. I've just worked on stories a lot more frequently at Kadlec. While part of that is because of scheduling, I think that's the first reason they're easiest to work with.
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Gates visitor center more than philanthropy museum
People are already joking it's a good thing the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation isn't charging admission for its new visitor center, which showcases Bill Gates' multibillion-dollar philanthropy, not his computers.
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