Minnesota Children’s is an awe-inspiring and miraculous place.  Every time I walk through the doors, I am comforted by the world-class care the doctors, nurses and other professionals provide for Charlie and Parker.  At the same time, I am humbled by the strength of the children and families I pass in the hall.  Many have come from hundreds of miles away and many have “lived” at Children’s for months at a time, patiently waiting for their miracle. 

We first spent time at Children’s the day after Parker was born, when he was rushed there in an ambulance from another local hospital.  24-hours into being a parent, we found ourselves in the Children’s NICU, where our fear quickly turned into comfort thanks to the incredible team.

Charlie was born two years later, at Abbott, with Children’s nearby, “just in case.”  24-hours after he was born, Charlie was diagnosed with tetralogy of fallot.  Holding Charlie in my arms, there is no way to describe the fear I felt, worrying about every possible scenario for the days, months, years and decades to come.  But the team at Children’s carried us through those early days and have become an integral part of our life ever since.   

We are infinitely lucky to have a hospital like Children’s nearby to provide the integrated care that Charlie needs.  We go to both Minneapolis and St. Paul campuses regularly, spent more nights than I can count on one hand in the cardiac ICU  last year,  and have had appointments with many (maybe most!) of the specialists in the hospitals and clinics.  We joke that Charlie deserves a frequently flier card for Children’s, but we are deeply thankful to have the team in his corner every step of the way.

It is impossible to express the gratitude I feel as parent towards the people and programs at Children’s.  On the hardest days of my life, the team at Children’s has been there to care, protect and heal.  On normal days, the team at Children’s has been there to help Charlie continue to grow, develop and overcome.  The team provides exceptional care and compassion every day for kids and families from across the region and provides hope for a better tomorrow.