Investing in the future: a nurse’s perspective

Children’s Memorial nurse Mary Anne Beddome is one of many hospital employees who give back to ensure children continue to receive the best possible health care.

Children’s Memorial Hospital employees dedicate their lives to caring for kids every day. Whether they provide hands-on patient care or support services, their efforts have a far-reaching impact on the lives of our patients and their families. Many hospital employees also give to the hospital through their financial support, and their contributions have been essential to fulfilling the hospital’s mission.

One such supporter is nurse Mary Anne Beddome, a family care specialist in the hospital’s Division of Otolaryngology. Mary Anne has been a nurse at Children’s Memorial for more than 30 years, and shares her thoughts on the importance of giving and in supporting Heroes for Life: Campaign for Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

Children’s Memorial is the only hospital I applied to after college, and the only place I ever wanted to work. Over the years, I have had the privilege to care for many children who were born with, or diagnosed with terrible, life-threatening diseases, and who have faced their illness with strength, courage, dignity and love. Their parents and families have done the same. After seeing children, their families and my colleagues dig deep for strength, I wanted to give something extra, too, to support the hospital’s programs, services and people who do so much for children. I firmly believe that without the dedicated staff of Children’s Memorial, many of these children would not have had successful outcomes. In fact, many of them come here after they ran out of answers at other hospitals. Sometimes, we are their last hope.

When my own children were younger, they, too, were patients here. While their illnesses were not life-threatening, I was still extremely grateful for the opportunity to see, from the perspective of a parent, how well they were treated. It reaffirmed my appreciation for Children’s Memorial. I knew, based on my experiences of caring for so many children over the years, that this was the right place for them to be— the place where kids come first.

When you believe in something, you want it to be the best. It is worth giving that little something extra to help make that happen. I work here because I believe in the mission of the hospital. I donate because I have witnessed the fulfillment of that mission, and I want to see it continue in Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago for all who need our care for years to come.