At CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth, the Emergency Department alone sees 8,500 pediatric patients a year. Currently, the waiting room caters to adults without any toys or entertainment for children. The Emergency Department wants to better serve the pediatric population and their families by offering a form of entertainment in the waiting room that will distract, calm, and educate. Thanks to a grant from Child’s Play, the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation is now able to provide that entertainment.
Two Touch2Play Pro touchscreen game systems will be installed in the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth Emergency Department waiting room this spring.
Many times, Emergency Department wait times can be long and anxiety filled. The Touch2Play systems will help offer comfort and normalcy in an unfamiliar environment. Each game system has the capability of accessing only the websites that the staff deems safe and appropriate. It is the perfect gaming system for all ages, from toddler to teen, offering 40 family-related games with none of the violence sometimes associated with video games.
Delaney Harmon and Annie Schwendiman are members of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) at Lumberton High School. As part of a school project, they chose to raise money for premature babies at their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth. Throughout December, Harmon and Schwendiman made and sold cookie and bread mixes in mason jars. Each jar included a recipe gift tag and all dry ingredients required. The jars were sold at school and various places in the community, including CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth.
After the sale ended, Harmon and Schwendiman made a trip back to St. Elizabeth Hospital to present their donation to Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. Ivy Pate, CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation President, and Melissa Conley, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Program Manager, were thrilled to accept their donation of $600! The money raised will go toward helping babies in St. Elizabeth’s NICU receive lifesaving medical care.
The CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation is excited to announce that we have provided five Panda Bed Warmers for the Center for New Life at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth, thanks to the Stephen and Mary Birch Foundation. These Panda Bed Warmers will help fulfill the ultimate goal of equipping each of the 19 labor and delivery rooms with an infant warmer, as they are required to be in each room for delivery. Until now, the Center for New Life only had four outdated warmers.
The warmers allow for immediate care for sick newborns with integrated resuscitation available and minimal setup for high-risk deliveries. The warmers also offer easy patient monitoring with integrated, full-color displays that help track the infant’s temperature, weight, oxygen levels, and pulse rate. The compact size allows more room for the nurse, the patient, and the family to interact with the infant.
On January 4, Andrea Sterling, a member of Harvest for Lost Souls Church, brought joy to sick and injured kids in Southeast Texas by delivering over 400 plush toys for the kids at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth Hospital. The boxes were filled with characters like Olaf from Frozen and Destiny from Finding Dory. During Hurricane Harvey, Somebody Cares America donated an abundance of resources to Harvest for Lost Souls Church, and Andrea made it her mission to make sure these resources continue to help the community. These plush animals are being given to pediatric patients at St. Elizabeth to help them cope with the stress of being in the hospital. “It makes our hearts glad to know so many children will be comforted,” said Sterling.
About a week before Christmas, Patti Bobbitt and her son, Cory, delivered over 500 TY Beanie Babies to CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth Hospital. Patti’s mother, Willie, joyfully collected Beanie Babies for several years. When Willie moved to an assisted living community, she wanted to make sure they continued to bring joy to others. The Bobbitts decided to use the Beanie Babies to help sick and injured kids in their hometown by donating them to their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital. “We are overjoyed to receive this donation,” said Melissa Conley, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Program Manager. “These Beanie Babies will bring joy and a sense of comfort to every kid who gets one. I can’t thank the Bobbitts enough for thinking of their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals when making this generous donation.”
The CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation is proud to announce that, after raising funds through local foundations and local individual philanthropists, we have purchased a 3D mammography system for the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Outpatient Center Mid County. Thank you to Mike Roebuck and family, the Mildred Yount Manion Charitable Foundation, the Mamie McFaddin-Ward Heritage Foundation, and each of our private donors for allowing us to bring cutting-edge technology to our Mid County – specifically Port Arthur – residents in a spa-like, outpatient setting.
It’s never fun being stuck in the hospital during the holidays with nothing to do – especially if you’re a kid. On December 20, kids at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth hospital were blessed with Christmas gifts donated by Promptu Immediate Care. Jodi Clark, Regional Practice Manager at Promptu Immediate Care, hosted a Toy Drive where employees and guests donated toys for kids in the hospital. At the end of the Toy Drive, Clark took the toys her local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital to be delivered to pediatric patients admitted during the holidays. “I’m so glad these toys will help,” said Clark with an armful of toys. “Promptu is always happy to help kids in our community!” Thank you, Promptu Immediate Care, for your generous donation and continuous support.
The 20th Annual Christmas Tree Contest at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth was a huge hit this year! With 14 trees in the contest, St. Elizabeth associates, patients, and visiting families had an array of trees to choose from when casting their vote for Crowd Favorite. Local guest judges, Elizabeth Blackstock, Cumulus Radio Market Manager, and Lance Edwards, Channel 12 News Sports Director, had their work cut out for them as they determined the winners for Most Creative, Most Beautiful, Grand Prize, and Most Embracing of the CHRISTUS Spirit. We are so thankful for all of the hospital departments that came together in the spirit of the holidays to help raise funds for their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.
Brandy Ousley, the mother of one of our pediatric patients, was recently reminded of the importance of donating toys to her local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. When her toddler, Callyn, stayed at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth, they spent some time in the playroom and found that there weren’t many toys for preschool kids. “Because so many children have access to our toys, they get loved, played with, and worn out faster than they would in a home,” said Ashley Bares, Certified Child Life Specialist. “We are constantly seeking donations to replenish our resources as tired toys get removed from the playroom.” Ousley shared her story with friends and family and together they donated toys for preschool-age children. The toys they donated are all plastic and will be used in the playroom by toddlers just like hers. “I know how moms feel when their kids are in the hospital without anything to do,” said Ousley. “Even if Callyn doesn’t get to play with these toys, they will be available for other kids to enjoy.”