Published: May 10, 2016
Miracles do happen, just ask Heidi McGowan of Lansing, whose son, Garrett, is the Sparrow Children Center’s Miracle Child of 2015.
While Garrett, 13, and his family concentrated on fighting his serious illness, Sparrow and local trade unions joined for a mini-makeover of the McGowan’s Lansing home.
Facilitated by Sparrow, the union members donated their time to build a ramp for the wheelchair-bound Waverly Middle School eighth grader and to fix his home’s electrical wiring to accommodate his life-saving medical equipment.
"We are truly blessed and appreciative of everything they have done to help us. I cannot say thank you enough,” said Heidi McGowan.
Garrett has been diagnosed with Cavernous Malformations, a cluster of tiny abnormal blood vessels in his brain stem that have begun to bleed. His condition has worsened over the years and Garrett is now in a wheelchair.
"It is a rewarding feeling to help someone and provide them with a better quality of life,” said Kevin Klingler, Director, Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters, whose members built the ramp.
The giving didn’t stop there. Electricians from IBEW Local 665 fixed the electrical wiring inside Garrett’s house to be able to use the equipment that alerts Heidi McGowan if Garrett is having a setback.
The project reflects Sparrow’s strong partnership with local labor unions and our shared focus on quality Patient care.
At Sparrow, our vision is to be recognized as a national leader in quality and Patient experience. Our mission is to improve the health of the people in our communities by providing quality, compassionate care to everyone, every time. This project reflects both.
“Sparrow not only focuses on Patient care while in the hospital – what we did for Garrett shows Sparrow’s commitment to Patient care and well-being when they leave the hospital and go home,” said Claire Corr, Sparrow’s Labor Liaison, who helped coordinate the work.
Sparrow is a leader in caring for children. The first hospital in mid-Michigan to offer a dedicated children’s unit, Sparrow is home to the region’s only full-service pediatric emergency department. As the region’s only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, Sparrow provides the most advanced technology and treatment options in pediatric and neonatal care.
Choose Wisely. Choose Sparrow.