Twenty-two colorful acrylic butterflies dangled over an outdoor playground that featured an oversized toy xylophone and drums: just some of the fun features designed to help soothe the fears and anxieties of hospitalized children.
Child Life Zone, a 3,300-square- foot, state-of-the-art therapeutic and education play area, was unveiled Saturday at Denver Health Medical Center, designed to be a place where sick children can simply be kids.
Members of the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation and the Troy Aikman Foundation, which built the $2 million play area, were there for the opening — along with Brooks and Aikman themselves.
“Trust me, you’re gonna be very happy what it does for our kids,” country singer Brooks told a large and cheering audience made up of hospital administrators, doctors, nurses, support staff, children, parents, politicians and members of both Broncos and Avalanche teams.
The Child Life Zone at Denver Health is the seventh in the U.S. Six others have been built in Oklahoma City, New York City, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Fort Worth, Texas.
The gift was opened Saturday during Denver Health’s 150th anniversary and becomes part of the hospital’s Denver Emergency Center for Children, which opened in 2008.
“Denver Health cares for 40 percent of Denver’s children, and 90 percent of them are poor,” said Dr. Patricia Gabow, chief executive of Denver Health. “That’s why these gifts are so important. This can make a difference in their lives.”
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Aikman started his foundation in 1992 with End Zones, an interactive play area for sick children, and joined forces with Brooks in 2002.
The Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation, which is based in Wheat Ridge, was founded 10 years ago with the help of 67 professional baseball players. Professional soccer, basketball and hockey players and bull riders have since joined the effort to help children.
“It’s meant for them to have a laugh, have a smile, to be kids,” Aikman said.
The Child Life Zone includes a Thunder Resource Room (named after the Broncos mascot) filled with computers and a recreation room where children can produce videos that can be shared with children at other Zone centers.
The second floor includes a play kitchen. Its carpet functions as a life-size game board.
Child Life Zone staff have advanced degrees in pediatric medicine, authorities said. The Child Life Zone and Denver Emergency Center for Children are administered separately from the main hospital.
Before 2008, adults and sick children were mixed together in the emergency room. Children could be exposed to adult patients who were intoxicated, in restraints or both.
“It’s scary for kids, they’d be juxtaposed,” said Dr. Katie Bakes, a pediatrician who heads the children’s emergency center.
“We want to work with families and their siblings who have critically ill loved ones. Child Life is able to engage them to take that fear away.”
Annette Espinoza: 303-954-1655 or aespinoza@denverpost.com
