Our new building and skyway at our St. Paul hospital will be opening later this year. But yesterday, we celebrated the opening of two key pieces to our expansion project: the Dairy Queen Family Room, and a new Health Resources and Education area (formerly called the Family Resource Center).
In Health Resources and Education, patients and families can access books, magazines, DVDs and online materials about disabilities. There’s plenty of seating, and even an area to watch videos.
The Dairy Queen Family Room — made possible thanks to a generous grant from DQ, our Children’s Miracle Network partner for over 25 years — is a special space for families to relax and enjoy snacks and beverages while they’re waiting for their child’s appointment. And with the opening of a Ginkgo Coffee Shop less than two weeks away (which will offer coffee, lattes and other brewed drinks, along with sandwiches, salads, sweets and more) families will have plenty to snack on!
We invited our DQ friends and Gillette staff to see the beautiful new space and enjoy some tasty Dilly Bars. And Gillette’s Margaret Perryman, had a special message for DQ. Check out a video of her speech, here.
And here are some photos of the new space!
Here's a view of our new Dairy Queen Family Room.
Some patient volunteers handed out Dairy Queen treats to celebrate the new space.
Here's the entrance to our new Health Resources and Education area.
Say the words “Independence Day” and one date usually comes to mind — July 4th. But for Gillette’s surgery department, freedom came a little earlier this year. That’s because, in mid-June, we opened our very own reprocessing facility in St. Paul.
But what, exactly, does reprocessing mean? It’s a fancy word for the area where surgical instruments are sterilized, dried, and prepared for their next use. Our new reprocessing facility is saving our staff LOTS of time. That’s because, until this summer, we shared Regions Hospital’s reprocessing center — a 10 minute walk, both ways, from our surgery suites. Just think about how much time and effort that took staff to transport equipment back and forth!
So this June, after months of construction, our brand new reprocessing facility is open for business. Conveniently located next to our operating rooms, it gives Gillette staff everything they need to sterilize our equipment. But most importantly, it lays the groundwork for a major expansion of our surgery suites that begins in 2011— an expansion that includes growing our number of operating rooms, and making ALL of our surgery suites large enough to accommodate the complex surgeries our patients so often need.
Here’s the reprocessing team with the sign announcing our “independence day”.
This instrument washer can heat instruments up to 194 degrees.
This steam sterilizer heats equipment to 275 degrees. Now that’s HOT!
Two weeks ago we invited you and your friends, family and coworkers to share Miracle Treat Day photos for the chance to win free Dairy Queen food and treats. See below for the lucky winners of a $25 Dairy Queen gift card! While you’re here, don’t miss this Dairy Queen video recapping our Miracle Treat Day fun.
Looking for another way to get involved? Miracle Jeans Day is only a month away on Wednesday, Sept. 15. On Miracle Jeans Day, you and your coworkers can pay just $5 for the privilege of wearing jeans to work. All of the funds raised come back to Gillette. Visit www.miraclejeansday.com to learn more, then call 651-229-1709 to sign your workplace up.
Thanks to all who participated in our Miracle Treat Day photo contest. Congratulations to winners Keegan, Allison, Rachel, and Donovan!
There’s nothing that says “summertime” like a child’s lemonade stand on the front lawn. And while lemonade’s a refreshing treat on any summer day, it tasted even sweeter this past Sunday. Why? Because at 8-year-old Anna Geherin’s lemonade stand, all proceeds benefited Gillette! Anna and her family served up all things lemon — including lemonade, lemon bars, lemon drops, lemon cookies, and even lemon popsicles — to friends, neighbors and passersby.
If you think a lemonade stand only earns small change, think again! Last year, Anna’s lemonade stand raised $500 for Gillette. This year she raised even more — $550 — and is already planning for next summer.
There are lots of ways that you and your kids can make a difference for Gillette — and have fun doing it. If you have an idea to share, leave us a comment and tell us about it!
Here’s some photos of Anna and her friends at her lemonade stand.
Here at Gillette we’re still on a “sugar high,” of sorts, after the flurry of activity last Thursday, Miracle Treat Day. That’s because, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Dairy Queen Blizzard, our friends at DQ had a few NEW surprises up their sleeve for our patients, including visits from Miss America, Miss Minnesota and the famous DQ Blizzard mobile.
Miracle Treat Day is over until next summer, but there’s two ways that you still can join the fun — and support a great cause.
• Submit Your Photos. Email your Miracle Treat Day photos to blizzard@gillettechildrens.com and you’ll be entered to win free Dairy Queen food and treats. The contest ends at midnight tonight, so don’t wait.
• Give (and Get). Through this Tuesday, you can make an online donation to the FOX 9 Countdown to Miracles telethon. For every $25 you give, you’ll get $25 in DQ food and treat vouchers. Click here to take advantage of this sweet deal.
Here’s a few Miracle Treat Day photos our patient families have shared with us. We can’t wait to see yours, too! Do you have Miracle Treat Day memory or story to share? Tell us about it by leaving a comment below.
Gillette patient Brandon Wittrock visited staff at the Burnsville, Minn. Dairy Queen on Miracle Treat Day.
Tyler Schell, another Gillette kid, chatted with customers at the Woodbury, Minn. Dairy Queen and asked them to buy a Blizzard.
Today — Thursday, August 5 — is Dairy Queen Miracle Treat Day! Participating DQs will donate $1 or more for every Blizzard sold today to Gillette through Children’s Miracle Network. Since 1989, DQ has raised more than 2.5 million for Gillette. Donations support life-changing care for children who have disabilities and complex medical conditions.
You can help make miracles happen today! It’s easy. Here’s what you can do:
•Buy a Blizzard! Invite a friend, treat your whole office,or enjoy a special outing with your family today. For every Blizzard sold, DQ will donate $1 or more to Gillette through Children’s Miracle Network. •Visit www.gillettechildrens.org/blizzard. There, you can find your participating DQ, submit your Miracle Treat Day photos for a chance to win FREE DQ treats, and spread the word on Facebook and Twitter.
Earlier today, DQ kicked off Miracle Treat Day by visiting Gillette patients — the very kids who will benefit from this special day. Of course, every child received a Blizzard to enjoy!
Gillette patient Katelynn Kenney was excited to get her Blizzard — and meet Miss Minnesota Kathryn Knuttila! Knuttila helped DQ pass out Blizzards to Gillette inpatients this morning.
The DQ Blizzard mobile paid a visit to Gillette, too!
What a group! Children's Miracle Network CEO Scott Burt, Miss Teen Minnesota, DQ CEO John Gainor, Gillette's CEO Margaret Perryman, Miss America and Gillette patient Bella Giraldo outside the DQ Blizzard mobile.
From Wild hockey star Pierre Marc Bouchard to, more recently, Twins first baseman Justin Morneau, it seems that concussions among pro-sports players have been in the news with growing frequency. Sports-related brain injuries have gained attention on a national level, too. Only weeks ago, the New York Times reported that deceased Cincinnati Bengals football player Chris Henry, 26, had already developed chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a progressive brain disease that’s been discovered in a number of retired NFL players.
What does all of this mean for young athletes? It’s a sobering reminder of just how serious sports-related head trauma can be — and of the importance of post-injury rest time to preventing long-term damage.
16-year-old football player Brett Pierce, pictured below with his mom and Gillette brain injury specialist Leslie Larson, C.N.P., can speak firsthand to the importance of appropriate rest time following a brain injury. Just yesterday, he shared his own experience of receiving two concussions just six months apart, with WCCO reporter Dennis Douda.
At Gillette, Brett took an easy and affordable (just $4 per athlete!) brain test called ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) that can help players, parents and coaches determine when it’s safe to return to play. Through a series of computerized exercises, ImPACT can identify changes in brain function, evaluate post-injury condition, and help track recovery. Learn more about ImPACT.
Brett’s mom, Leslie Pierce, is already working to broaden ImPACT to Brett’s entire football team. In the meantime, Brett received the news he was hoping for at his appointment today: he can rejoin his teammates at Holy Angels Academy, who are already practicing for the upcoming season.
Brain injury specialist Leslie Larson helped Brett and Leslie Pierce understand the serious implications of sports-concussions — and administered the ImPACT test to help determine when Brett could safely return to play.
All firefighters are everyday heroes. And today, a group of local firefighters went above and beyond the call of duty for kids at Gillette by hosting a carnival (yes, a carnival!) at our St. Paul hospital. St. Paul firefighters filled an entire floor of our parking ramp with games, food, balloons, face painting, and more. For our patients — many who can’t attend a community carnival because they’re recovering from surgeries or have complex disabilities — today was a day to “just be a kid.”
The Firefighters Carnival is a summertime favorite. It’s also an annual tradition here at Gillette, and it’s all thanks to a grateful family. At the height of the Polio epidemic in the 1950s, Saint Paul Fire Captain Burt Behr’s two young sons contracted the disease and were treated at Gillette. To thank us for the care his sons received, Burt planned a fun-filled carnival, just for our patients.
Through the years, Burt’s idea has grown…and grown…from games, food and prizes to also include pony rides and appearances by local celebrities and athletes. For example, today’s guests of honor included Minnesota Twins mascot T.C., Miss Minnesota, and the Minnesota Vikings cheerleaders. Current and past Gillette patients of all ages are welcome. Best of all, the carnival travels room-to-room so patients unable to leave their rooms can still join in the fun.
This post kicks off our “Ask the Expert” series, which will answer your questions and bring you timely information from a variety of Gillette experts. Do you have a question or topic for one of our experts? Leave a comment or e-mail us at insidegillette@gillettechildrens.com.
Summertime means wheeling around the neighborhood on bicycles, skateboards, scooters and in-line skates. But while you’re out enjoying the fresh air, don’t forget your helmet! Below are the answers to some questions I hear most often from parents about helmets.
What if my child won’t wear a helmet? This is a common question, and I have a simple response: No helmet, no wheels! Here are some tips to enforce this basic family rule:
• Start young. Children should grow up knowing that a helmet is part of safety on wheels.
• Be a role model. Always wear your own helmet when riding.
• Get your child involved. Let your child pick his or her own helmet. Some children also like to decorate the outside of their helmets with stickers.
• Make sure it fits. Helmets should be snug, level and stable.
• Explain what’s at stake. Tell them why you want them to protect their heads. (“I love you and want you to stay safe.” “I want to protect your head so that you stay smart.”)
Do I have to buy an expensive helmet?
No. Research shows that protection doesn’t increase with price. Stores such as Walmart and Target sell bicycle helmets starting at $15.
What should I look for in a bicycle helmet?
Choose a bicycle helmet certified by the Consumer Products and Safety Commission (CPSC). There should be a sticker inside the helmet that notes this certification.
What should I look for in a skateboarding helmet? Choose a skateboarding helmet certified by American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM F1492). There should be a sticker inside the helmet that notes this certification.
Can my child wear the same helmet for cycling and skateboarding?
Yes — if the helmet is dual certified for both bicycling and skateboarding. Look inside the helmet for two stickers to indicate dual certification by CPSC and ASTM F1492. All helmets should fit well — meaning that they’re snug, level and stable.
Additional Resources
Check out these kid-friendly videos about helmets and bike safety. The first, Wear Your Helmet, was produced by Gillette. The second, Bike Safe – Bike Smart, was produced by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Leslie Larson is a Gillette nurse practitioner who specializes in brain injuries. She works with children who have developmental delays, cerebral palsy and traumatic brain injuries. She is a Credentialed ImPACT Consultant and a Certified Brain Injury Specialist.
When you’re next at our St. Paul clinic, you’ll notice a bright splash of color nearby the construction activity in Margaret Perryman’s former office. It’s all because of a vibrant new mural created specially for Gillette by attorney and artist Karolyn Stirewalt. But the 16- by 7-foot mural is more than a pretty picture — it’s a celebration of Gillette’s expansion and recognizes the patients, staff, and supporters who mean so much to our hospital.
Wondering what inspired Karolyn to donate her artwork to Gillette? Curious what kinds of things you’ll spot in the mural? Watch this video message from the artist herself.
As you just heard from Karolyn, our mural includes things — real things, like doctors, therapy dogs, and volunteers — that you might spot at Gillette. For example, here’s a patient favorite: therapy dog Sasha.
