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Time to “Top Off” Children’s Hospital this Wednesday

Employees are invited to help celebrate the “Topping Off” of Penn State Health Children’s Hospital three-floor expansion on Wednesday, Oct. 24, from 10:30 a.m. to noon in the Tree House Café. The beam will be placed atop the Children’s Hospital at 11:30 a.m. Refreshments will be provided to attendees.

During the past three weeks, patients, staff, faculty, students, donors and legislators have had the chance to sign the last two steel beams that will be placed atop the 126,000-square-foot addition. Many staff members took the time to share why they signed the beam. Here are just a few of their stories:

  • “The beam symbolizes a strong structural, integral piece that makes up a lasting, trusted foundation as a part of a team of beams, just as we, on the Women’s Heath Unit and NICU, are! We are eager, excited and looking forward to providing our community with a new, beautiful facility to complement our great staff!”

­                ― Melissa Adams, Women’s Health

  • “As a Penn State alumna, expanding the Children’s Hospital represents a physical manifestation of the hard work students involved in the Penn State Dance Marathon (THON) work toward, as the expansion will surely assist patients involved with Four Diamonds (even if not exclusively).The expansion demonstrates to the Penn State community and beyond that our organization is determined to provide the best care to those in need.”

                ― Lauren Deegan, Neurology

  • “I am a mother who has a son with brain cancer. We need to continue to fight the fight and find the cures that our children need to survive.”

                ― Tammy Shea, Cancer Institute

  • “My daughter was born prematurely 20 years ago and spent her first few months of life in the NICU. She is now a college student. To me, the expansion project is an opportunity for Penn State Health to provide world-class care to many more premature and sick infants, giving them a chance for a bright future.”

― Doreen Katzaman, Radiology

  • “My son, Cody, was treated at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital when he was a child. The quality of care was superb. A short story…on Thanksgiving Day, he was allowed to eat. A nurse heard him tell me he wanted a grilled cheese sandwich. I tried to explain that a full Thanksgiving meal was the order for the day. His nurse pursued the issue. Lo and behold, at lunch time a full meal arrived. However, when the lid was lifted from the plate, there in all its glory was a beautiful grilled cheese sandwich! This is a testament to the dedication and ‘patient first’ attitude that I see every day at Hershey! I want to sign in honor of the dedicated employees and their pursuit of excellence!”

                ― Cheryl Bealer, WOCN

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