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Grace Macmillan and Mekenna Simis came up with the concept of butterflies and trees for the new design of the hospital's radiology room. |
The idea came after a rare October snowstorm that barreled up the U.S. East Coast and left millions without power for up to a week. Shriners Hospitals for Children® — Springfield offered their auditorium to employees and families as a place of refuge during storm recovery efforts.
With schools closed for a week, Grace Macmillan, a patient and daughter of Kathy Macmillan of the hospital's radiology department, stayed and played in the hospital’s auditorium. She noticed that one of the X-ray rooms needed a kid's touch, “a touch of Grace”. Grace's vision to redecorate the X-ray room included a big tree, lots of color and butterflies. Grace asked her best friend and classmate, Makenna Simis to help. Makenna is also a patient and is the daughter of Cindy Simis of the prosthetics and orthotics department.
During their school vacation, Grace and Makenna met with Jessie Hagerman of the hospital's child life department and John Palivoda of the engineering department, to discuss their ideas for the design of the X-ray room.
The girls had a lot of fun working together decorating the room. Hagerman helped them make their vision a reality by providing supplies and decorating ideas. Palivoda painted the walls of the room, which coincidentally reflected some of the hospital's badge colors of green and yellow. He also cut and carved out a six foot wooden tree.
The radiology room is now more kid-friendly for all patients at the pediatric orthopaedic hospital, thanks to a couple of girls with big imaginations!