This afternoon I visited with patients at Arnot Odgen Medical Center. The Elmira area hospital is a proud member of the Children's Miracle Network and I had a true upstate experience as the snow began to fall upon my arrival.
Lead by staff members Linda, Alene and Bernadette, we toured the hospital and learned about how CMN has been part of their development and growth. Arnot Ogden has a very close-knit staff and the benefits of that became clear as I talked with unit nurses and staff. An energy of comfort and family was everywhere, particularly on the Neonatal Care Unit where I met the sweetest little thing I've ever held!
I also stopped by the pediatric floor to say hello. One young woman invited me to sit for a while to watch Halloween movies and talk about costumes. Meanwhile, her father played tennis on a portable Wii unit across the room. Arnot has a fleet of portable entertainment units ranging from video games to movie libraries for patients and their families. A custom pillow case on the bed was yet another example of how Arnot goes out of their way to bring at-home comforts to patients during their stay.
Patients come from as far as three hours away to receive care at this hospital, which is a testament to the quality of not only their medical expertise but their environment and comforts. Through my entire tour I noticed a constant sense of calm in the halls and on the floors. Thank you to Alene, Linda and Bernadette for showing me around! I am so impressed with the personable nature of each person I met during my visit. I will see you tonight at the gala (stay tuned!)
You can help me support this hospital. Help me raise money for Children's Miracle Network to benefit their New York State hospitals, just like this one. Learn how here!
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