OHCA Spring/Summer 2016

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Spring/Summer 2016 The Oregon Caregiver 9
sub-acute unit. It’s very similar to Skype. “On our end, we
bring in a kind of laptop on wheels, but it has attachments
to it. It has a very precise camera that can see details like
the bruising on a hand. You’re able to attach a stethoscope
so the physician on the other end can hear the breath sound
and the lung sounds,” said Cochrane. She also said there
are other attachments such as an otoscope. This technology
will allow Providence caretakers to more quickly make
diagnoses and give treatment to their patients.
Being involved with the local community is also important
for the success of the program and the care of the children.
Each year students from Central Catholic High School help
support a prom for the children. “All of our children get
prom dresses and suits and ties. The girls help them do their
hair and makeup. There’s chair dancing, good music, and
there’s always a king and queen,” said Vance.
Other regular outings include going to the mall, the movies,
the Saturday Market, OMSI, and the zoo and rides on the
Max. “Without our volunteers from the community it would
be very difficult for us,” said Cochrane. According to Vance,
Providence usually needs one to two people per kid to make
field trips possible.
Some of the kids at the center are even part of Boy Scout and
Girl Scout troops. Doing their part to give back, the center’s
Girl Scout troop serves soup at a homeless shelter a couple
times a year. “They serve as much as they can. Sometimes
they can’t do much but they can push their switch that says
‘have a nice day,’ or ‘merry Christmas,’ depending on what
the season is,” said Vance.
It isn’t just the staff and the center that helps the kids at
Providence. Each year members of the hospital’s professional
office park help the kids get ready for the Junior Rose
Parade. “The workers create all the cardboard cutouts or the
decorations that go on the wheel chairs for the theme,” said
Vance. They start the parade on Sandy Boulevard and are
usually the third or fourth group in the parade. It’s a big
event for the families and everyone involved.
“We march the kids through the parade and seeing the
responses from the observers warms my heart every time,”
said Cochrane.
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FEATURE
An annual tradition, CMFC has participated in the Jr. Rose Parade for more
than 20 years.
Photo credit:LukeDeLong
A CMFC employee plays music for the kids and their families during a Christmas celebration.
Photo credit:LukeDeLong