SHAYNA: LITTLE REBECCA NEEDED HELP.
SHE FOUND IT TEMPORARY HOME AT FRANCISCAN CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL.
ANTHONY: THAT HAS BEEN A CASE FOR OTHER YOUNG CHILDREN FOR NEARLY 70 YEARS.
>> IT HAS BEEN TWO MONTHS AND BABY REBECCA STILL CALLS FOR -- CALLS FRANCISCAN HOSPITAL HOME.
BORN AT 23 WEEKS, SHE WANED -- WEIGHED ONLY ONE POUND SEVEN OUNCES.
>> I HAD A COMPLETELY HEALTHY PREGNANCY.
EVERYTHING WAS GOING GREAT AND THEN IT WAS NOT.
SHE CAME FAST AND FURIOUS INTO THE WORLD.
>> PREEMIES PILL MANY OF THE BEDS AT THE FACILITY.
HERE THEY ARE GIVEN THE NUTRITION, MEDICAL TREATMENT AND PHYSICAL THERAPIES THAT WILL BE CRITICAL FOR THEIR SURVIVAL.
PARENTS WAIT AND WATCH.
>> EVERYONE HAS BEEN SO WONDERFUL.
AND HAS BEEN SO MUCH FUN THESE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS BECAUSE SHE REALLY IS JUST DEVELOPED MENTALLY AND HITTING THE STAGE IS WHERE SHE IS FINDING HER HANDS AND SHE IS EATING AND
REALLY INTERACTIVE.
SHE COMES ROLLED OVER THE OTHER DAY.
>> FOUNDED IN 1949, FRANCISCAN CHILDREN’S MISSION IS TO BE THE NEXT UP FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE RECEIVED ACUTE CARE OTHER HOSPITALS, WHETHER IT IS A TEENAGER RECOVERING FROM A HEAD
INJURY, OR AN ADOLESCENT WHO ATTEMPTED SUICIDE, FRANCISCAN MEETS THEIR NEEDS.
>> ONCE THEY GET THROUGH THEIR NEEDS OF TREATMENT IN THE HOSPITALS, THEY COME TO US FOR EXTENDED STAYS.
SOMETIMES 40 TO 60 TO 80 DAYS.
THERE ARE CHILDREN WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A YEAR OR TWO.
>> WHEN THEY ARE BORN PREMATURELY THEY HAVE LUNG DISEASE.
>> AMY IS THE HOSPITAL’S CHIEF NURSING OFFICER.
IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR HER, LOOK FOR THE BABIES.
>> THE LUNGS ARE NOT MATURE ENOUGH SO THEY HAVE TO GET A TRACHEOSTOMY, WHICH HELPS THEM BREATHE.
THEY ARE ATTACHED TO A VENT UNTIL THEIR LUNGS CAN GROW AND DEVELOP, THEN WE WANE THEM OFF.
>> BB REBECCA GETS ALL HER THERAPY HERE.
>> SHE IS SEEN BY PHYSICAL THERAPY, SPEECH AND RESPIRATORY HAVE BEEN THE TWO THAT HAVE PLAYED MAJOR ROLES FOR HER.
>> REBECCA’S PARENTS ARE HOPING SHE WILL BE STRONG ENOUGH TO GO HOME BEFORE LONG.
>> BEING HERE MAKES US FOR COMFORTABLE OF BEING COULD -- OF BEING HOME AND KNOWING WE ARE HER PARENTS.
>> THEY NEEDED FRANCISCANS CHILDREN’S WHEN THE EMPTY THE BAR HAPPEN.
>> MY SON HAD A TOO MEDICAL BRAIN INJURY WHEN HE WAS TWO AND A HALF YEARS OLD.
HE FELL OUT OF A THIRD STORY WINDOW, SO WE SPENT ALMOST TWO AND A HALF MONTHS HERE AND 2004.
>> AT FIRST, HE WAS NOT SURE HIS SON WOULD SURVIVE.
>> IT IS TERRIFYING, BUT THE BEAUTIFUL THING ABOUT FRANCISCAN IS PEOPLE HERE ARE SO SUPPORTIVE . WE FELT LIKE WE HAD A FAMILY HERE.
>> 10 YEARS LATER JACOB WAS BACK AT FRANCISCAN’S CHILDREN.
>> I WAS AT A CHRISTMAS PARTY AT A TRAMPOLINE PARK AND I CANNOT REALLY JUMP.
>> SHE HAD A SYNDROME WHERE THE NERVE STOP TALKING TO ONE ANOTHER FROM THE BRAIN.
THE BEAUTY OF JACOB IS THAT EVERY DAY IS A GIFT.
THE FACT THAT HE IS STILL WITH US AND ABLE TO DO ALL THAT HE IS ABLE TO DO BECAUSE OF FRANCISCAN, IT MAKES IT SPECIAL.
>> FOR SOME YOUNG PATIENTS, THE STRUGGLE IS ACHIEVING MENTAL HEALTH.
>> ONE OF THE MOST UNFORTUNATE OUTCOMES OF UNTREATED MENTAL ILLNESS IS SUICIDE.
TREATMENT IS ABSENT FOR AN ENTIRE PORTION OF THE POPULATION.
>> SUICIDE IS THE SECOND LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG CHILDREN AGES 10 TO 18.
HERE IN THE MENTAL HEALTH UNIT, PATIENTS WORKED IN GROUPS AND FOCUS ON THEIR ISSUES.
>> IF YOU HAVE A CONNECTED ADULT, A PARENT, A TEACHER, A COACH TALKING TO THE CHILD ABOUT THE SORTS OF FEELINGS AND ABOUT SUICIDE, THAT IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE CAN DO TO PROTECT THE
CHILDREN.
>> DEMAND FOR FRANCISCANS SERVICES CONTINUES TO RISE.
NOW THE HOSPITAL IS TRYING TO RAISE $100 MILLION TO FUND ITS WORK.
>> THE DEMAND IS OUT THERE.
FROM THE HOSPITALS TO THE KIDS, TO THE FAMILIES WHO NEED THE MONEY AND WE NEED THE SPACE TO DO IT HERE.
WE LOVE TO DO IT.
ANTHONY: FRANCISCAN IS THE ONLY POST ACUTE CARE HOSPITAL IN NEW ENGLAND SERVING THE MOST MEDICALLY COMPLEX CHILDREN.
SHAYNA: BABY REBECCA’S PARENTS SAY SHE IS NOW HOME AND THRIVING.
SHE IS MAKING GREAT PROGRESS.
SHE IS HAPPY AND EATING SOLIDS.
SHE IS GROWING THE PERFECT MOHAWK.
ANTHONY: MASSACHUSETTS NEEDS NURSES, AND THEY ARE MEETING THAT NEED.
>> I THINK A NURSING DEGREE HAS BECOME A SPRINGBOARD.