Children's Miracle Network Hospital (CMNH) is a non-profit organization that raises money for pediatric medical research, worldwide. Phi Mu Fraternity is the second oldest woman's organization in the United States (and my personal favorite-not that I'm biased or anything though) and has supported Children's Miracle Network as their national philanthropy since 1983. Phi Mu has raised over $8 million for the non-profit. Its easy to look at those numbers and think, "Holy cow! We've helped so much," and so easy to forget how expensive care for an ill child can be.
Today I had the opportunity to travel with some of my sisters to the Arkansas Children's Hospital, which works hand-in-hand with CMNH. I went with the intent of seeing all the good Phi Mu has done for the hospital, but I left realizing that while the steps forward have been good, there is still so much more that needs to be done.
Today I had the opportunity to travel with some of my sisters to the Arkansas Children's Hospital, which works hand-in-hand with CMNH. I went with the intent of seeing all the good Phi Mu has done for the hospital, but I left realizing that while the steps forward have been good, there is still so much more that needs to be done.
My sisters and I spent the first portion of the day crafting cards for the kids. I happened to glance out the window while I was coloring and saw a little boy, 3- or 4-years-old, playing outside while a man (I assumed was his father) followed closely behind with his IV stand. Words can't even begin to express the emotions that overwhelmed my heart. We then began our tour which took us through the infant wing and the dispatch wing. |
Custom-ordered diapers, like this one, are used for premature babies born between 23-24 weeks. It is less than two inches wide and three inches long (about the size of a drivers license) and is still too big on these little, loved ones. These "micro preemies" are born under one pound or 12 ounces and are younger than 26 weeks. The medical care needed to allow them to develop, provided by the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), out of their mother's womb is extreme. Just one isolette (clear covered bed for infants in intensive care), without all of the medical technology needed with it,costs approximately $30,000 and one day of care for a child costs between $5,000-10,000 (keep in mind most of these new borns have to be cared for, for up to four months).
We saw babies on both ends of the health spectrum, starting with the ones about to be released to go home, to babies suffering from Gastroschisis (when a child is born with their intestines outside of their body) and ending with the micro preemies who's features hadn't finished forming and who's delicate skin had scabs simply from laying a certain way for too long.
We saw babies on both ends of the health spectrum, starting with the ones about to be released to go home, to babies suffering from Gastroschisis (when a child is born with their intestines outside of their body) and ending with the micro preemies who's features hadn't finished forming and who's delicate skin had scabs simply from laying a certain way for too long.
Our tour group was then taken to the dispatch wing, also known as Angel One, where we learned about the hospitals medical transportation. Angel One uses Sikorsky s-76 helicopters which have a starting cost of $12 million. We also looked at equipment used to transport infants which cost up to $80,000 a piece.
Angel One helicopters are built for safety and are made by the same company that makes Air Force One.
After learning the costs related to pediatric medical treatments, I realized how great the need for Children's Miracle Network Hospital research and awareness is. The Arkansas Children's Hospital, began as an orphanage for four children, and has grown into a campus covering nearly 30 blocks. I am so excited to see what Phi Mu can do to help raise funds and help grow such a great organization, just as Arkansas Children's Hospital grew.