An extra dose of hope

Most people never think about hospitals. I’ll admit that I never paid much attention either until I started working here several years ago. Very quickly, I began to realize what a special place Arnold Palmer Hospital truly is. Seeing all of the children who come here for treatment brings two emotions to the surface. The first is uncertainty because I can’t imagine my daughter getting sick. I get scared when I think about her tiny little body having to fight off serious illness or undergoing surgery.

But the second emotion that springs forth is hope: hope for every child that we’re able to care for and walk alongside. This hope comes from knowing the capable hands and hearts that care for children here.

The hospital building itself is not what makes this place special; the people make this place come to life. It’s the people here who offer the hope that seems to be in short supply as you watch your child wheeled into surgery or begin their first dose of chemotherapy. The people here bring that extra dose of hope with them each day as they come to work to care for sick children. It’s those people that have propelled a fairly young children’s hospital to be ranked among the best in the country.

Arnold Palmer Hospital was recently ranked as one of “America’s Best Children’s Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report in their annual best hospital rankings. Our Orthopedics program and our Cardiology & Heart Surgery programs were nationally ranked. This marks the third year that Arnold Palmer Hospital has been honored as one of the best in the country.

In moments like this, I hope more people start to think about the world-class children’s hospital in their backyard. Central Florida is extremely fortunate to have Arnold Palmer Hospital, and I know that if my daughter ever needs medical care this is where we’ll be. Join us in celebrating this special recognition that demonstrates just how fortunate we are to call Central Florida home.