When I signed up for Team Superstar's Grandma's Half-Marathon I never anticapated I would end up reliving what we went through with my mother-in-law with my father-in-law. Both of them had tough illnesses and fought very hard in the ICU before we realized the quality just isn't there. Being critically ill in the hospital is very hard for the patient and for the families. It was challenging for us with just Kate and I could not imagine the stress parents go through to see their child sick, the decisions they need to make all while many are also taking care of their other children, jobs, etc.
These past few weeks, I also realized how much the hospital and its culture, policies, practices make a difference. Hospitals are under alot of pressure these days and it is hard to put the patient first. I have realized now that not all hospitals are the same. At Children's I am very proud to say that they put the focus on the patient. I see it firsthand with some of the changes I do at work or when I attend our department meetings. It is also impressive that both hospitals now have Ronald McDonald's House or Family room within the hospital making it a little easier for families to just escape or grab a home cooked meal. Just walking around the hospitals, you notice the effort and details they put into making the stay a little better. The toys in the waiting rooms, the musical play art on the walls and colorful artwork. Many of which are made possible through donations. Your donation will make a difference. I am raising money for a variety of programs needing resources.
