Prayers for Porter
From the "Faith," "Hope," and "Love" banners hanging in the lobby to the hymnals found in the chapel at The Children's Center, God's presence and providential hand are evident in the hospital's mission of care. The staff at The Children's Center has always believed in the power of prayer. During his five-month stay, 16-year-old James Porter Goodwin and his family were constantly in the thoughts and prayers of everyone at The Children's Center.
Meet Christopher
Rosa Ramirez thought her four-month pregnancy checkup would go as smoothly as her previous appointments. Full of excitement for the baby growing inside her, Rosa was given the grim news...her baby was curled into a tiny ball, not moving. His abdomen was fluid filled causing it to be bigger than his head. His spine, instead of being straight, was more like a squiggly line. Doctors said the baby would not survive past Rosa's six month of pregnancy.
Mending Heston
As you walk down the halls of The Children's Center, you might want to keep an eye out for one-year-old Heston Bock.
"Turn this way Heston," calls his physical therapist as the blonde-haired boy practices driving a power chair. It's just one of the many ways Heston has become more independent at The Children's Center.
"Turn this way Heston," calls his physical therapist as the blonde-haired boy practices driving a power chair. It's just one of the many ways Heston has become more independent at The Children's Center.
Overcoming the Odds
By talking with Pamela Anderson today, one would never guess she beat the odds and overcame a debilitating disease at the age of four. "It was a struggle," the former patient from The Children's Center said. "Just getting up everyday was a struggle. I truly believe that without this Center I wouldn't have survived," Pamela described as she strolled down the halls of the Donald W. Reynolds Complex.
Ashlynn's Independence
Most of us think of Independence Day as the Fourth of July, but 3-year-old Ashlynn celebrates increased independence everyday at The Children's Center. About a year ago Ashlynn came to The Children's Center after experiencing a severe traumatic brain injury. When she first came to The Center, Ashlynn was able to breathe on her own, but was totally dependent on nurses, therapists, and family to do everything else for her.
Remembering Ryan
Some measure their life by their friends, money, or possessions. Others weigh the impact they make on those around them. Ryan Cruz was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the young age of two. Instead of dwelling on what his disability left him unable to do, Ryan excelled at what he could do. "He didn't see himself as the victim, he completely saw past his disability," said Lindsey Stephens, Ryan's sister. "Ryan definitely had a huge influence on his family and me."
A Legacy of Hope- Ch. 4
Today The Children's Center is a private, nonprofit pediatric hospital, that is dedicated to helping children with complex medical and physical disabilities maximize their potential. In an atmosphere of love and hope, the Center provides general pediatrics, medical and respiratory care, rehabilitative therapies, and special education to youth and children, both inpatients and outpatients.
A Legacy of Hope- Ch. 3
Between 1968 and 1977, the type of care offered by the Center became too diverse. The lack of focus created inefficiency and resulted in financial chaos.
A Legacy Of Hope- Ch. 2
During the 1940s, the hospital shifted towards caring for children with Polio. Children like Brenda Nusbaum came from across the state for specialized care at the hospital. Raised on a small farm in Blue, Oklahoma, Brenda was one of 10 children in the Nusbaum family. When she was a toddler Brenda was diagnosed with Polio. She was just one of many children who contracted the disease during the Polio outbreak of the 1950s.
A Legacy of Hope
Mattie Mallory was called by God to care for the orphaned children in the Oklahoma City area. In 1898, with only five cents to her name, she tried to rent a house on Fifth Street. The owner required twenty dollars in advance, but accepted Mattie's watch as security instead. By eight o' clock that same day, more than a dozen children were warm in bed and Mattie began to pray that God would provide for their needs.
The Boy's Room
Monday, May 9th began as a typical day for 12-year-old Bradley Reimer...so everyone thought.
Aaron's Story
For 19-year-old Aaron Bullock, the slow walk to the front of the school auditorium is deliberate and steady.
Stevy's Story
154 days, 5 months, or 3,696 hours, no matter how the time was weighed, it still felt like a small lifetime to 15-year-old Stevy Cellum.
Angelina's Story
Born with very sick lungs and a floppy airway, Angelina, a brown-haired, chubby-cheeked beauty, has spent most of her life in a hospital.
Lauren's Christmas Wish
Lauren Smith faces many obstacles in her life. Born with cerebral palsy, the hurdles began at an early age.
Music from the Children
For the past three years, The Children's Center has been immensely blessed by local businesses, churches, civic clubs and families who have generously given to the Center through the Holiday Baby Basics gift drive. Occurring from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day, Holiday Baby Basics helps to meet the material needs of specific departments within The Children's Center.
Do You Know Fletcher
Fletcher Burns is pretty much nobility to anyone who's familiar with The Children's Center. "He's so POPular!" his sister, Maddie, giggles as she's dotes on her 5-year-old brother, a patient at the Center for most of his life.
Back on the Saddle Again
May 28, 2010 was a bitter sweet day for employees and patients at The Childrens Center Pediatric Medical Rehabilitation Unit (PMRU) in Bethany, Oklahoma.
"Everyone in this hospital is going to miss Jose," said Heather Jarvis, speech therapist. "His smiling face, he will always keep you in stitches," she said.
"Everyone in this hospital is going to miss Jose," said Heather Jarvis, speech therapist. "His smiling face, he will always keep you in stitches," she said.
Jasmine's Second Chance
They were two phone calls Maria Cartwright will never forget. The first was the kind every parent dreads. It came during the middle of the night in September when she was told her 15-year-old daughter, Jasmine, had been in a pickup truck accident on a south Enid road.
4th and Long
"What do you want to do when you get out of here?" the reporter asked.
"Play some more tackle football," the ten-year-old said while gasping for his next breath.
"Play some more tackle football," the ten-year-old said while gasping for his next breath.