One-year celebration held at Niswonger Children’s Hospital
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“Over the past year, there has rarely been a week that has gone by when someone – a parent, a grandparent or a patient – hasn’t stepped up to me and told me what kind of difference this place has made in
their life,
” Niswonger said before the large crowd gathered inside the lobby of the
hospital. The Greeneville philanthropist said supporting the hospital and
having it available to the 200,000 children in the four-state region it
services helps him with his goal of ensuring children are able to learn and be
successful.
“Healthy kids can learn about anywhere, but what options will really sick kids
have if they aren
’t well,” he said.
Niswonger Children’s Hospital opened in March 2009 as the replacement facility for The Children’s Hospital at Johnson City Medical Center, which dated back to 1992, when JCMC
worked with East Tennessee State University to create the first hospital for
children in the Northeast Tennessee/Southwest Virginia region. Niswonger
donated $10 million to the construction, with a total of more than $20 million
being raised by Mountain States Foundation toward the total cost of nearly $36
million.
“As we look back to 1992, over the years, we’ve seen a huge amount of growth in our children’s hospital,” said Dennis Vonderfecht, president and CEO of Mountain States Health Alliance, the parent company of Niswonger Children’s Hospital. “There are a lot of exciting things here that make a difference to the children
and parents of the region.”
One of those parents is Grace Ann Hance, whose 4-year-old son Henry has been
undergoing treatment for cancer since he was 7 months old. Hance said that over
the last year, Henry has practically taken up residence at Niswonger Children
’s Hospital as part of his treatment, and she feels the facility has been a
blessing during her son
’s illness.
“It has changed our lives, and we are grateful for the work done here,” the mother said to the crowd. “We are so impressed with the attention to detail put into this hospital … having all of the services available here meant that our family has been able
to have our life together. That would not have happened had this hospital not
been here and been available to us.
”
Hance said through three surgeries and three rounds of chemotherapy, her son was
able to have his sisters with him to keep him company. He
’s been able to have other family members regularly around during difficult
times, and most importantly, a medical staff here locally who knew his needs.
“Every parent should know, on the day you need someone standing by when your
child is in crisis, this hospital is here, and it is excellent,
” the mother said.
With music provided by East Tennessee Children’s Choir and a cake designed in the image of the hospital, officials also
unveiled the large, bronze statue of Scott Niswonger
– a licensed commercial pilot – as a young boy launching a model plane with his dog, Doc, running beside him.
The Greeneville businessman, who was unaware that the statue was being created,
said it and the entire facility for him represented
“hope” for all those who came to the hospital.
“Regardless of where you come from, who you are, or how much money you make or
don
’t make, when you walk through that door, everyone is going to receive the best
health care that is possible for your child,
” Niswonger said.
Pictured Above:
Scott and Nikki Niswonger with his surprise statue.
