Every day I come to work I am amazed at the privilege of
caring for babies and little children. It is the most rewarding aspect of my
career that parents, faced with fear and anxiety for the health of their
precious children, put their confidence in our team to give them the best care
possible.
Dawson Tucker is a great example. Born with hydrocephalus,
or water on the brain, this beautiful boy needed the surgical implantation of a
shunt to relieve the pressure and allow his brain to develop normally. It was a
real pleasure to care for him and to get to know his parents and extended
family that came to the hospital in his support.
I got a big surprise when Dawson came back to clinic for his
post-operative check-up. Dawson’s family had seen how important it is for older
children in the hospital to have fun activities and a supportive environment.
They saw that some kids go for rides in little red wagons to lighten the day,
get out of their rooms, or relieve the anxiety of going for a test.
Dawson’s grandfather decided to get together with other
family members and donors in his town and build the most tricked out red wagon
Doernbecher had ever seen! The result is below. Every day when I see a patient
riding in the Tuckers’ wagon down the halls of Doernbecher, I am reminded what
a great community I am a part of. It involves doctors, nurses, patients,
families, donors, professional staff, and thousands upon thousands of other
Oregonians.
Best of all? Dawson’s family had so much fun building this
wagon for Doernbecher, they decided to build more. Thanks, Tuckers!
