Newsroom
Intensive Therapy Helps Ellie Defy the Odds
Ellie Wilson was a typical active toddler at 16 months old. And then she wasn’t. “She met all her milestones but then she started limping on her left leg,” explains Jill Wilson, Ellie’s mother. “Three weeks later, Ellie could no longer walk, stand or crawl. Within six weeks, she lost her ability to use her arms, too. It just came on so fast.”
New Ranken Jordan Board Leader and Members Announced
2022 ushers in a new chair and new members to Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital’s board of directors.
Positivity and Passion Earn Young Nurse the DAISY Award
The most important lesson Emily Smith, RN, has learned as a nurse at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital it to just “go with the flow.” And she shares that wisdom with every nurse she trains. “It’s good to have a plan but it’s also a valuable skill to make the best of whatever is thrown at you because you never know what’s going to happen each day,” Emily explains. “Plans change and that’s OK. It’s all about having a positive attitude and rolling with the punches.”
Making Spirits Bright with Santa for Siblings
Each year, Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital partners with Fire Truck O’Toys to host a Santa for Siblings event just for siblings of patients at the hospital. “We are a holistic hospital so we work to support families and siblings as well as patients,” explains Tricia Sievers, the Ranken Jordan volunteer manager who created the annual Santa for Siblings event in 2014. “Family members are often so focused on their child who is a patient that their other children don’t get as much attention. Santa for Siblings is a special time just for siblings so they know they’re appreciated, too.”
Gateway Classic Cars Brings Hope and the Joy of Christmas
Gateway Classic Cars is hosting its annual Holiday Open House once again this Saturday, Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Ranken Jordan and Gateway Classic Cars would like to invite fellow car enthusiasts to join us in the return of this gloriously fun holiday get-together. Let us celebrate and help Fire Truck O’Toys make a multitude of children’s dreams come true as we collectively break records stuffing the firetruck to its brim.
Aiming High with a Dual Career
You won’t find Gabe Wood, BHS, RRT, barking orders at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital in his role as a respiratory therapy educator. But if put him on an airfield, this U.S. Air Force Reserve technical sergeant will be confidently leading soldiers in lighting the runway and wiring complex electrical systems anywhere necessary.
New Endowment Fund Helps Children Transition Home Safely
Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital is thrilled to announce that it has received a gift of over half a million dollars to grow its endowment and establish a new restricted endowment fund to facilitate patients’ transition home.
Ranken Jordan Welcomes New Board Members
Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital welcomed three new members to its board of directors in August 2021. These include Michael Hart, David Hatfield, and Robert Pritts. In addition, Bill Willhite, former board member and immediate past chair, has been appointed as Emeritus Director. Willhite is managing partner and co-founder of WILsquare Capital, a private equity firm. The Ranken Jordan board of directors provides mission-based leadership and strategic governance to support the hospital’s life-changing work that gives kids the best chance for recovery.
Celebrating the Heart of a Champion
It’s not often when a name perfectly aligns with a person’s character. But Barb Champion is an advanced nurse practitioner who is a genuine champion for the children she cares for at Ranken Jordan, especially those with complicated burns and wounds. Because of Barb’s tireless dedication (she has even come in on her day off to care for particularly complex patients), her co-workers nominated her as a DAISY Award winner in 2021. It was no surprise to them when she was selected as a winner but it was to Barb.
Ranken Jordan Opens Magical Outdoor Therapeutic Playground
Spending time outside in nature offers proven health benefits for the mind and body. Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital has taken that concept to magical heights by creating a new Activity Canyon right in its own backyard complete with hobbit holes, animal tracks, log steppers, a wheelchair accessible merry-go-round, bongo drums, whispering trees, a tea pot garden and more. These whimsical features inspire curiosity and exploration to motivate children during therapy and play.
Horticulture Therapy: Top 10 Sensory Plants
Sensory exploration of plants can provide a sense of calm, deepen our connection with nature and remind us to slow down and enjoy the details of plants. Jeanne Carbone from the Missouri Botanical Gardens joined us for a webinar highlighting the Therapeutic Horticulture team’s Top 10 Sensory Plants.
Ranken Jordan Celebrates 80 Years of Play for Healing
A year-long celebration kicked off today recognizing the 80-year anniversary of present-day Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital, a unique facility that helps children with complex conditions transition safely to home.
Keep up with everything going on at Ranken Jordan.
“I still think about how Ranken Jordan changed my life.”
— Kiland Sampa, Inpatient Jul-Nov 2013, Outpatient Dec 2013-Dec 2014