Possible hospital closures upsetting

It upset me when I first read that Shriners Children's Hospital in Spokane was one of six possibly scheduled for closure. It still does.

I am just about as paranoid when I see someone with a physical disability as I am about skin cancer.

My personal experience with skin cancer involved having my nose removed down to the cartilage. I was so fortunate to have an excellent dermatologist locally and another in Spokane.

When I see a child with a condition making it difficult for them to walk, I wonder why their parents do not arrange for a free screening sponsored by Shriners. Referrals are made to one of the 22 Shriners hospitals. There are 20 in the United States, one in Canada and one in Mexico.

Shriners hospitals provide orthopedic care, spinal cord injury rehabilitation, and burn and rehabilitative specialties. Cleft lip and palate care is also available. There is no charge to the patient or family.

It is stressed that decisions have not been made to close any Shriners hospitals. Applications are still being received as illustrated with screening evaluations held at Flathead Valley Orthopedic Center in Kalispell April 18. Don Slaybaugh and Jerrel Hudson were co-chairmen for the Shrine Club.

Shrine Temples in Montana are Algeria in Helena, Al Bedoo in Billings and Bagdad in Butte.

It was reported 865,000 children have been treated in Shriners Hospitals since they were started in 1922. Impressive numbers.

Shriners International headquarters are located in Tampa, Fla.

I would be remiss if I did not mention Daughters of the Nile. These ladies spend hours sewing a variety of items for Shriners hospitals.

We laugh with Shriners riding their funny little cars, scooters or bathtubs in our parades. They also have colorful Oriental bands, clowns, mounted patrols and calliopes in other areas. These same men sponsor the Shrine circus and other events to pay for Shriners hospitals.

The following paragraph sums it all up:

It is the message of Shriners Hospitals for Children to: Provide the highest quality care to children with neuromusculoskeltal conditions, burn injuries and certain other special health care needs within a compassionate, family centered and collaborative care environment; provide for the education of physicians and other health care professionals; and conduct research to discover new knowledge that improves the quality of care and quality of life of children and families. This mission is carried out without cost to the patient or family, and without regard to race, color, creed, sex or sect.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News