Smarty Sponsor: Brenner Children’s Hospital

By Rachel H

Most people in the Triad have passed by Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and have seen Brenner Children’s Hospital from the highway. For many, this building may always remain just a landmark, but for others, it is not just a hospital, it is a place where miracles are made and lives are touched on a daily basis. It is the best source for medical and surgical care for children in our region. This is a state-of-the-art facility with a compassionate pediatric-trained staff. If and when your child ever experiences health problems, this is the best care you can receive. This is the region’s only Pediatric Emergency Department and Trauma Center staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with pediatric specialists. (Plus Brenner Children’s Hospital is sponsoring FREE classes for parents on a variety of topics that many of us want to know more about. More information on these classes is detailed at the end of this blog).

Fortunately I have only been to Brenner Children’s Hospital a handful of times. We were there three separate times for ER visits with my energetic son, and I was highly impressed with the knowledge and care we received from the staff. My son was also hospitalized overnight at one point when he was six months old. I was a first-time mom at this point and it was absolutely the most terrified I had ever been in my life, when the doctors told us he would need to stay the night. I slept in the room with him and although I was petrified of what may happen, I had a sense of comfort at Brenner’s. During our stay that evening, many doctors, nurses, and staff members visited our room. Everyone took the time to introduce themselves to me and show compassion toward my son. I even remember the staff member who came in to take my breakfast order stopping to say hello and offer a few words of comfort. I know it sounds crazy, but when my son was finally cleared to go home a day later, I almost did not want to leave. I knew that as long as we were at Brenner’s, everything was going to be OK. Thanks to the treatment he received, everything ended up just fine.

Ashley, who is a dear friend of mine, has had much more experience with Brenner Children’s Hospital, and although it was obviously a difficult time for her family, she has had nothing but positive things to say about her experiences there with her son, Brock (pictured above), over the past few years. I always wondered how she stayed so positive and optimistic through all of Brock’s hospitalizations and treatments. She has said time and time again that she was confident in the care that he received. Along with ER visits, Brock also had multiple overnight stays at the hospital. Of course Ashley’s biggest compliment to Brenner’s is the wonderful doctors and nurses. We can only imagine what these staff members see on a daily basis, and Ashley was always impressed by their ability to walk into her son’s room and focus on him as if he were the only child in the hospital that day.

Ashley has raved about the patient rooms and how large they were in comparison to other hospitals Brock had to visit. She explained that the rooms in some hospitals were so tiny for a mom and dad who were staying the night with their child. The building itself at Brenner’s is also very bright and clean, which can help ease some of the fears of being in a hospital. As Brock received treatments, his sister also spent a lot of time at the hospital visiting him, and the spacious rooms were a tremendous benefit for this reason. His sister also was able to participate in art programs in the unit while they were there. Staff members would even stop by with things to keep big sister entertained. Ashley also loved the fact that the staff members always had great resources to offer her and her husband. The Ronald McDonald Family Room area also provided a snack area, relaxing seating and computers to support parents’ needs and keep them in touch with family, friends and their workplace.

Brock is now healthy, and does not have to visit the hospital on a regular basis, but Ashley has actually kept his prescriptions at the hospital pharmacy so that she has an excuse to go by and visit the staff members, who are now also their friends.

Brenner Children’s Hospital also sponsors free classes for parents on a variety of topics that many of us want to know more about. The classes are held at Best Health at Hanes Mall. For a complete list with descriptions, visit www.besthealth.com/BrennerMonth. To register for an event, please call Health On-Call at 716-2255.

Upcoming classes include:
June 10 at 6 pm - Breastfeeding Basics
June 11 at 2 pm - Benefits of Infant Massage
June 13 at 11 am - Family-friendly Foods
June 16 at 3 pm - Ear Health in Children 3 pm
June 17 at 6 pm - Breastfeeding Success: Returning to Work
June 18 at 11 am - Nutrition Trivia Bingo 11 am
June 18 at 6 pm - Of Course I Don't Want My Kids to Be Overweight … But How?
June 19 at 4 pm - From Circumcision to Bedwetting: Children’s Urologic Health
June 20 at 1 pm - Kids in the Kitchen
June 23 at 11 am - Packing for a Picnic
June 24 at 3 pm - Kids & Asthma: Coming Up for Air
June 26 at 3 pm - Adolescent Acne
June 29 at 6 pm - Discipline: Promoting Healthy Behavior
June 30 at 3 pm “Mom, My Tummy Hurts”
June 30 at 6 pm - Misshapen Head Abnormalities

We at Triad Smarty Pants encourage you to visit http://www.brennerchildrens.org/ to learn more about this incredible facility and all it has to offer. We are not only proud to have them as a sponsor but also as a neighbor in the Triad!

Don't forget to register for a FREE 1/2 day slot at one of Sawtooth's summer art camps! You must first be a Triad Smarty Pants newsletter subscriber, and then you can click here to register. For more information on this give-away, visit our post about Sawtooth's summer camps. Last day to register for this give-away is Friday, June 12, and the winner will be announced on Monday, June 15. Good luck Smarties!

Posted by Triad Smarty Pants at 5:00 AM