WAUWATOSA - The brand new expansion of Children's Hospital is about to open its doors to the public.
We got a sneak peek inside.
It's another high spot on the horizon. The west tower expansion soars 12 floors high, and will serve kids from all over Wisconsin and the nation.
Children's has been around since 1894, but in those days it was a frame house on Brady Street. The hospital then moved to Farwell and eventually to 17th and Wisconsin. In the 1980's it moved out by Froedtert on the County Grounds.
The new tower is located right next to the current hospital.
We toured with Sandy Jodarskik, nurse who's been with Children's for 24 years.
She described her first assignment, working at the Wisconsin Avenue location. "It was very old and four to six patients in ward rooms and the parent had a tiny little cot they could stay in," she recalled. "This is ten times better, it's just so beautiful."
She's excited about the big move. "I've been waiting for this for so long. I can't even begin to tell you how many classes and inservice people have been attending to get ready."
The new tower is high tech, but what you see is color and comfort. The lobby has a huge fish tank, and every floor has a theme that goes from the floor to the ceiling.
Jodarski said the environment is key to children healing.
"Children are remarkable how much they react to their environment and will play through illness much more so than adults," she explained.
The other key is making parents feel comfortable. The new family spaces have microwaves, comfortable beds and privacy. That allows families to be with their child through treatment.
"This is a family's most precious thing their child. They're scared and they need to be able to have a space where they can take care of their child and be together and make it ok," Jodarski said.
Kids we talked to also like the new place. They got their faces painted and enjoyed special snacks at the open house.
The new tower officially opens to the public Monday.
0 COMMENTS
ADD A COMMENT