Scope
Summer 2000
U.N. Under-Secretary-General makes gift to Children's Hospital
 |
|
| Kim
Rawson, Children's Hospital spina bifida clinic case manager, helps
14-year-old Jesse through the set-up of the new computer at Laurel
Park House, part of a $50,000 donation by Under-Secretary-General
of the United Nations Joseph Verner Reed. |
On January 6, the director and case manager of the Loma Linda University Children's Hospital spina bifida clinic delivered a big surprise to young patients at the Laurel Park House special care children's home.
The surprise, a new Dell computer, was purchased with a portion of a $50,000 donation given to LLUCH by Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Joseph Verner Reed.
The computer generated great excitement among the residents of Laurel Park House. The children waited expectantly while clinic director Ravindra Rao, MD, and case manager Kim Rawson hooked up cords and cables and turned on the power.
Perhaps most interested was 14-year-old Jesse. "He takes learning really seriously," says Joni Petersen, RN, BSN, nurse administrator and co-owner of the special care children's homes. "What a difference it makes in his life to learn some computer skills. This really provides some long-term opportunities for him."
She also believes that the computer will make learning fun for the rest of the children and encourage their academic skills.
The remainder of the donation by Ambassador Reed will be reserved for patients who, for example, need new prostheses or braces that are not covered by their insurance companies.
"Children with spina bifida have multiple medical challenges needing lifelong follow-up," says Dr. Rao, who is also an associate professor of pediatrics in the School of Medicine. "They have multiple needs, sometimes requiring expensive equipment or intervention. This donation allows us to meet these children's needs, whether they be medical or educational."
[Scope, Summer, 2000 contents]
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