"Even though my son Tommy is 14 and six-foot-two, he’s still a kid. He needs a kid’s hospital."

by Brenda, mother of 14-year-old Tommy

Even though he's 6'2",
Tommy still needs a kid's
hospital.

Our pediatrician recommended The Children’s Hospital when we brought up Tommy’s nose "issues." See, Tommy has broken his nose seven times. He’s an extreme skier, skateboarder, plays lacrosse, and rides motocross. In other words, he’s a 14-year-old boy. All the breaks had mended, but they had left his nose crooked and made it difficult to breathe. During a routine sports physical, Tommy’s pediatrician recommended we go to the Ear, Nose and Throat specialists at The Children’s Hospital.

When you go to The Children’s Hospital, you know it’s all about kids. What I didn’t realize was how prepared they were for teenagers. They really put Tommy in control of his treatment and empowered him to make decisions. When it was decided that reconstructive surgery was the best option, Tommy felt confident and comfortable. It really helped him relax—it helped me relax.

It’s wonderful to have doctors there who specialize in adolescent sports medicine, who take into account things such as growth patterns. Everyone who helped during Tommy’s surgery was just great. Even though Tommy is "man-sized" at six-foot-two, he wasn’t expected to be an adult. It was a wonderful experience that I don’t think we would have had in an adult hospital.

Read more about teen health in The Children's Hospital (TCH) News, April 2005 issue: Adolescent Medicine Staff Relate to Teens On Their Level