Hospital housekeeper, 4-year-old patient become 'best friends'

Watson cleaned the boy's room every day during his stays and their friendship grew.


A housekeeper at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital has made a best friend in a 4-year-old frequent patient, according to an article on the CNN website.

Cooper Baltzell spends a lot of time in the hospital because of his Hirschsprung disease, a rare, inherited condition affecting the body's digestive system. Cooper becomes the mayor of the fifth floor during his stays and was driving a toy car down the hospital corridor, handing out candy to the staff, when he met 57-year-old Gregory Watson, a housekeeper at the Minneapolis facility.

Watson was doing a discharge when Cooper approached and asked: "Sir, do you want some candy?" 

Watson cleaned Cooper's room every day during his stays and their friendship grew. Watson said he feels it's part of his job to be friendly to the families and the children who sometimes have to endure painful procedures. He said Cooper is outgoing and always has a good attitude.  "He's the coolest kid I ever met," Watson told CNN.

The feeling is mutual. "He's my best friend," Cooper said.

Read the article.



May 3, 2019



Recent Posts

The Role of Positive Distraction in Pediatric Design

Positive distraction by itself does not heal, but it can aid the healing process by addressing the mental well-being of an individual.


Healthcare Waste is Fueling America's Debt

As healthcare spending surpasses $5 trillion annually, facility leaders are under pressure to confront operational inefficiencies head-on.


Prairie Lakes Healthcare System to Rebrand Following Sanford Health Merger

The transition of name and branding will occur in phases beginning in late June and is part of the “Together for Good” journey.


How Digital Technologies Are Reshaping Performance in Healthcare Facilities

AI can hyper-optimize hospital operations, change the patient experience and make data-driven intelligence a foundation of hospital design.


The Role of Plumbing in Healthcare-Associated Infections

Water and plumbing systems are a dangerous source of pathogens and bacteria, so the CDC has created a set of guidelines to develop a proper water management program.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.