My Little Waiting Room Celebrates First Birthday
Happy Birthday, My Little Waiting Room!
Click here to watch a video about the festivities.
There was cake, cupcakes, and an appearance by Gladys the Therapy Dog. And, there were plenty of reasons
to celebrate. In its first year, the drop-in child care
facility provided more than 4,600 hours of care for parents visiting Providence
St. Vincent Medical Center. The demand for hospital-based child care has been
so great that My Little Waiting Room recently expanded its hours.
“We are absolutely thrilled by the response. Families tell us providing
drop-in child care takes the stress out of their visit to the
hospital,” said Amy Paterson, co-founder of My Little Waiting Room.
“Whether it’s their own medical appointment, or to visit a loved one,
My Little Waiting Room helps parents focus on why they are here.”
Paterson
and co-founder Melissa Moore came up with the idea for My Little
Waiting Room following Paterson’s personal experience battling breast
cancer. Paterson’s son was a toddler during the year that she faced
more than 140 medical appointments.
“We knew there was a need – we just didn’t realize how big the need was,” says Alex Jackson, chief operating officer for Providence St. Vincent. “My Little Waiting Room truly makes a difference for families visiting the hospital.” In the past year, My Little Waiting Room cared for more than 1400 children.
To meet families’ needs, My Little Waiting Room recently expanded its hours. It is now open 40 hours a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Visits from therapy dogs are another welcome addition to My Little Waiting Room. “The children’s faces light up when the therapy dogs drop by,” said Melissa Young, My Little Waiting Room program coordinator
Child care at My Little Waiting Room is offered to hospital patients and visitors for free, with a suggested donation of $5 per family per visit. To make an appointment or for more information, please call 503-216-6597 or click here.