They treat Auggy as if he was their own. They have great specialists. I don’t know where we would be without them.

Two-year-old August Todd has spent more time in the hospital since his premature birth than he has spent at home. His complex health issues include hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain) and short bowel syndrome.

“The staff at Bronson Children’s Hospital is like a second family to him, he’s been there so long,” explains Auggy’s mom, Ashley Thompson. “They treat Auggy as if he was their own. They have great specialists. I don’t know where we would be without them.”

In addition to pediatric doctors and nurses, those specialists include child life and art and music therapists. These services are funded through Bronson Health Foundation, and address the physical, emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual needs of children and their families. The specialists help patients cope with the challenges of hospitalization, procedures, trauma, illness, and disability, which has proven to lower stress and pain levels.

“Auggy is a very happy baby,” says Ashley, “and music and people help make him that way. When Suzanna the music therapist visits, he clicks, blows kisses and beat boxes as a way of expressing himself.”

In addition to the people, the environment surrounding young patients in the pediatric unit is also designed with children’s growth and healing in mind. From the Camp Bronson playroom

to the murals that help spark the imagination throughout the halls, Bronson Children’s Hospital helps young patients feel like the kids they are.

“It gives kids a chance to be treated equally compared to healthy kids — for people to hear, see and understand them. He’s not sitting in a room being bored. He has people loving on him and interacting with him every day,” says Ashley.