Phoenix Children's: Beyond Patients, Just Kids

Phoenix Children's hospital is a place where young patients are recognized for more than their medical conditions. It’s a space where children are encouraged to pursue their dreams and maintain a sense of normalcy amidst challenging circumstances.

A Focus on Individuality

The hospital emphasizes treating children as individuals with unique personalities, aspirations, and futures. Staff strive to create an environment where patients feel seen, supported, and empowered to be themselves.

Jacquie's Dream of Snow

Nine-year-old Jacquie, a patient diagnosed with sickle cell disease shortly after birth, dreams of becoming a scientist. “I would make it snow. I honestly have never seen snow. But that would be a miracle if that actually happens!” she exclaimed. Her mother, Danielle Okezie, expressed gratitude for the hospital’s attentive care, stating, “We truly are blessed…a lot of it is because of the care and the responsiveness and the attentiveness that they give her.”

Dalton's World Series Ambition

Eight-year-old Dalton, a math enthusiast, has set his sights on owning the Arizona Diamondbacks. Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, Dalton has undergone multiple heart procedures, including three major surgeries in the last three months. Despite taking over a dozen pills daily and receiving two injections each day, he remains optimistic. When asked if he could help the Diamondbacks win another World Series, his family confidently responded, “One day!”

Hope and Normalcy

Dalton’s mother, Krista De Micheli, shares a message of hope for other families facing similar challenges: “There is hope. And there is normalcy outside of the hospitals. And if you can look past that, it is well worth it.” Dalton’s willingness to redo his first Kidcaster segment demonstrated his determination and resilience.

Building Connections

Phoenix Children’s fosters a strong sense of community among families. Doctors share their personal phone numbers, nurses remember patients by name, and families support one another. Danielle Okezie noted, “You just form bonds easier…You just know how to hold space for one another. And in the ten minutes that you may meet them, you feel like, okay. I’m seen. And I’m taken care of. And there’s people that care.”

Finding Themselves

The hospital provides a space for children to express themselves freely. Reginald, for example, spontaneously began dancing, transforming the hospital hallway into his personal stage. Phoenix Children’s aims to provide a place where children like Reginald, Jacquie, Dalton, Sophia, Laine, and Evelyn can simply be themselves – not patients, but kids.