Children's Center at Valley Baptist Celebrates
2nd Anniversary; Has Treated Nearly 5,000 Patients

The Valley’s first Children’s Center devoted exclusively to the care of children and infants is turning two years old as it continues to treat thousands of the Valley’s youngest patients.

The Matt & Patty Gorges Children’s Center at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen enables many children to stay in the Valley for specialized medical care. In recent months, the specialized services have been enhanced by a partnership between Valley Baptist and Driscoll Children’s Hospital of Corpus Christi.

The 62-bed center is specifically designed to accommodate children and their parents. The center opened in 2003 on the fourth floor of the East Tower at Valley Baptist-Harlingen. The center is named in honor of Harlingen community leaders and generous supporters Matt and Patty Gorges.

The partnership with Driscoll Children’s Hospital was announced in May 2004.

Driscoll Children’s Hospital now manages the pediatric units at both Valley Baptist-Harlingen and Valley Baptist-Brownsville. The combined services of Driscoll and Valley Baptist provide greater resources for specialized care for the children of South Texas.

Prior to the opening of the $8 million Children’s Center, many Valley families had to travel to Corpus Christi or San Antonio for specialized pediatric care. Having a Children’s Center in the Valley saves money and time for these families – and lessens the hardship for a child who is ill, since the child is closer to home and family.

“It is very convenient not to have to go to Corpus Christi or San Antonio,” said Iliana Cortez of Harlingen, whose six-year-old daughter Gabriela Davila was recently hospitalized at the Children’s Center. Despite her illness, Gabriela actually enjoyed her stay in the hospital, thanks to the many activities, such as arts and crafts, which are provided at the Children’s Center.

“She didn’t want to leave at all … she is having so much fun. They made the experience very nice,” Ms. Cortez said.

The state-of-the-art center features 48 private rooms and 14 pediatric intensive care rooms, as well as greater access to expanded pediatric specialty care. Children receive enhanced care in such areas as cardiology, pulmonary medicine, neurology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, endocrinology, surgery, intensive care, oncology, immunology, and dentistry. There is also a 38-bed Newborn Intensive Care Unit located near the Children’s Center.

To make children feel more comfortable and less fearful while they are in the hospital, the Children’s Center features colorful and unique artwork and special “child-friendly” features. All of the nurses’ stations, patient rooms, and hallways are brightly decorated in themes which appeal to children.

To help with the Children’s Center’s second anniversary celebration, KRGV-TV Channel 5 donated a variety of Disney videos, stuffed animals, and toys for the hospitalized children. The donations were presented by Channel 5 anchors during the second annual children’s “Disney Party” in the Children’s Center play room March 9.

The donated materials, which include a DVD player, computer games, arts & crafts materials, flash cards, videos and books, will benefit all future patients of the Children’s Center. In addition, Mickey Mouse stuffed animals will be given to hospitalized children at both Valley Baptist-Harlingen and Valley Baptist-Brownsville. The donations were made thanks to the generosity of the Starlight Starbright Foundation and Disney.

“These donations really help,” said Christy Escandon, RN, MBA, Administrative Nursing Director for Women’s & Children’s Services at Valley Baptist. “These kids have to make the transition from the home environment to the hospital environment … the toys, games and videos help ease their fears and make the transition easier.”