Eddie the Excavator on the construction site of the new care tower at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
Pediatric patients recently gathered at the windows of Brenner Children’s Hospital to watch a piece of construction equipment, which staff has named Eddie the Excavator, tear down a parking deck to make room for the new care tower at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center.
A young patient wears a hard hat and watches Eddie the Excavator from the 9th floor of Brenner Children’s Hospital.
“This was a fantastic event for the children at our hospital,” said Alisa Starbuck, D.N.P., president of Brenner Children’s. “Eddie was so interactive – the children got to ask him questions, watch him work and even eat a watermelon. The whole crew was down below to wave to the children, so this was just a fabulous event for our children.”
A young patient and one of her nurses wear hard hats and watch from the 9th floor of Brenner Children's Hospital.
“Our staff is always looking for ways to get the children involved in activities,” said Tom Pranikoff, M.D., surgeon-in-chief at Brenner Children’s. “This was a perfect opportunity for our young patients to think about other things, look out the window, get out of bed and distract them from their illnesses.”
Brenn, one of the Brenner Pup Crew mascots, visiting patient Brantley Corns and his family.
“It was a blessing in its own little way to occupy his time like that when he was confined to his room,” said Curtis Corns, father of Brantley Corns, a patient at Brenner Children’s.
Brenner Children's teammates pose with Brenn, one of the Brenner Pup Crew mascots.
“We are so thankful to our construction contractor, Brasfield & Gorrie, for helping us bring this piece of heavy equipment to life for our children,” said Bill Payne, associate vice president of planning, design and construction at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist. “Even big kids, like us, had a lot of fun with this.”
Media contact:
Joe McCloskey, jmcclosk@wakehealth.edu