Dawn | Today is the Day!
The new expansion at Packard Children’s lights up the night sky in the early hours on Patient Move Day. An incredible milestone more than a decade in the making has finally arrived.
7:05 a.m. | First Outpatient Arrives
Nine-month-old Nolan Murphy, the first patient to check in at the welcome desk in the new Main lobby, is greeted by Dennis Lund, MD, chief medical officer, and given a Build-A-Bear.
9:06 a.m. | Patient Move Begins
The carefully planned move kicks off with a pop of confetti and a hurrah. One patient will be transported every four minutes from the original building (now called the West building) to the new Main building. William Aquino-Portillo, 10, is the first patient to cross the threshold of his new room, cheered on by hospital CEO Chris Dawes.
9:22 a.m. | With the Utmost Care
Jordy Gonzalez-Perez, 10, has spent four months at Packard Children’s. Today, he is the fourth patient in the cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU) to be transferred to the new hospital. Jordy’s move requires special care and eight care team members working together, while an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine supports his lung function and breathing.
9:31 a.m. | I Opened the Doors
Jordy settles into his new room with the help of staff wearing “I opened the doors” T-shirts.
11:01 a.m. | Who Wants Pizza?
In the Harvest Café, a wood-fired pizza oven is open for business—serving one pizza every three minutes.
11:04 a.m. | Courageous Cameron
It’s now 2-year-old Cameron Harris’ turn to start his transport. Cameron has spent more than 525 days in the hospital, with his mother, Nicola, and two sisters, 16-month-old Alivia and 4-year-old Karlene, by his side. (Read more about Cameron.)
1:36 p.m. | 91 Patients Safely and Successfully Moved!
The Command Center issues the final call on the overhead speakers: All transfers have been safely and successfully completed. Cheers from transporters, nurses, physicians, and other staff members ring through the halls. The new Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford is officially open!
Patient Move Day Highlights:
- 91 patients all safely and successfully moved
- Every 4 minutes, another patient transport begins
- Staff shirts in 12 colors identify each team member’s role
- 500+ staff members involved in the carefully orchestrated move
- 300 Build-A-Bears given to patients
This article originally appeared in the Winter 2017/2018 issue of Packard Children’s News.
Photographs by Paul Sakuma and David Hodges/DNK Digital.