Children's program

During the holiday season, we know many people want to give to children who receive care at our hospital. We offer these ideas so you can make sure your gift makes the biggest impact.

From a young age, Deb always knew her work would someday revolve around children. She began working at Grand River Hospital (GRH) in the children’s inpatient unit more than 15 years ago and now works full time caring for children with cancer.

Christena Hudson is grateful for the care GRH's children's program and its clinics have provided for her son Alex. Handed to him by a GRH nurse, a Care Buddies teddy bear has helped make a world of difference in Alex's on-going visits for care.

Story courtesy of Grand River Hospital Foundation, first published in the Waterloo Region Record

For Jessica Socha, her career in Grand River Hospital's children’s program and the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is like coming full circle.

Sleeping like a baby takes on a very different definition in Grand River Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). GRH uses the best evidence to care for premature babies whose bodies may not have matured enough to sleep safely without support.

Nancy Jones has spent 23 of her 36 years in physiotherapy at GRH. She works with the hospital’s youngest patients, providing her skills and support in GRH’s children’s programs and with the neonatal intensive care unit.

Premature babies in hospital who may not be getting enough breast milk will benefit from a new donor milk bank at Grand River Hospital, a first for Waterloo Region hospitals.

Sometimes, the simple act of breathing can be very hard for those in hospital with complex health needs. Thankfully, patients benefit from the skill and care of people like Braden Le Souder and his colleagues.

Cristina Peter is eager to share her twin passions of caring for children and providing exceptional cancer care. Cristina is a registered nurse in GRH’s Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) satellite clinic. 

Grand River Hospital is bringing vastly-improved technology to a childhood rite of passage: having one’s tonsils removed.

New infant warmers are making a difference in Grand River Hospital’s childbirth program and neonatal intensive care unit. The warmers are critical to the hospital’s neonatal resuscitation program.

For Tommy Sing, exceptional care is about looking out for someone when they’re at their most vulnerable. Tommy works in both the children’s unit and the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after starting his career as a registered nurse at GRH in 2011.

Dr. Lisa Brown could have completed her pediatric residency anywhere. But Waterloo Region was too good to pass up.

GRH is hosting 60 medical learners a year in its children’s clinical teaching unit. Clinical teaching units are important in both providing care and bringing the latest in education and research to supporting the needs of patients.

Waterloo Region's kids are lucky to have GRH registered nurse (and kid at heart) Kristine Grobelny helping them get back to good health.

Isabella Thomson is a problem solver who people can count on to guide them to a “new normal”. She is a social worker in GRH's surgical, childbirth and children's programs.

Some young patients in GRH’s Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario’s (POGO) cancer clinic for children got a special treat today as they spent some time with Mr. and Mrs. Claus. The visit happened through “Clarky’s Kids”, a partnership in support of children with cancer with former Kitchener Ranger and current Columbus Blue Jacket David Clarkson. 

GRH’s neonatal intensive care unit was there to care for Blake Morton in his early days. That’s why the 17 year old was so compelled to give back to the unit this holiday season.

Mary Louise McNitt brings 30 years of nursing care and extensive experience as a mom together to provide the best support for new moms at GRH.

With her warm demeanor and smile, it’s easy to see why Mary Thibault is such a friend to young patients at GRH. Mary is a child life specialist in the hospital’s busy children’s program. 

At the tender age of four, Evan Conway knows he wants to be a firefighter. Evan has shown the bravery needed for firefighting through a more than two year journey with leukemia. He was happy to celebrate as the Kitchener Fire Department brought a truck to GRH’s KW Campus to mark his final treatment for the disease.

GRH has passionate advocates for breastfeeding, including paediatricians like Dr. Cecile Davey. Dr. Davey has always had a strong interest and passion for paediatrics – specifically neonatology or the care of newborns. Whether she is providing medical assistance and restoration to a child’s health or providing support for the family, Dr. Davey brings her passion with her each step of the way.

Young patients who receive care provided by Patti Bambury can rest assure that they are being cared for by someone with a wealth of compassion and experience. Patti has been a nurse for over 36 years, beginning her career in the United States before returning to Canada.  She now works in the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) clinic at GRH.

If your child has to stay in Grand River Hospital, they’ll have a special friend in registered nurse Jenn Lambert. You might say it’s a family thing.

Lynn Rogers provides her expertise as a registered dietitian in GRH's childbirth and children's programs.

GRH pediatrician Dr. Bruno DiGravio has been dedicated to making a difference for his young patients while building medical education in Waterloo Region.

Have you been called about donating an activity book for a hospitalized child? Sorry, we neither need nor use them at GRH...