16Mar
The former patients that we’ve heard from frequently ask, “have you heard from?” Absent patient registers to tell us who was here, we’ve opened this space to try to meet that need. If you were here, and are trying to locate another patient, we hope you’ll find this page helpful. Caution to our commenters — this is a public space. Plan your comments accordingly. That said, we do hope to help you make the connections you are seeking.
There have been a couple of posts made to the Farmington Enterprise site. You can find them if you search “Michigan Hospital School” on that site.
Tags: Patients
06Mar
On March 6, 2009, the Rotarians of the Rotary Club of West Bloomfield were presented the history of the early children’s hospital, including photographs from the Botsford Commons collection, and the Farmington Community Library Heritage Collection.
One member mentioned she had been sent to the hospital in her younger years as she was about to assist with fundraising for polio research, and the fundraising organizer felt she should see first hand what happened to the children that were unfortunate enough to have that diagnosis.
The Rotary Club of West Bloomfield is raising Pennies for Polio and was invited to attend our Reunion with this effort. We’re happy to support Rotary in their efforts to raise funds to meet Rotary International’s goal of worldwide polio eradication.
Tags: Pennies for Polio, Rotary
21Jan
On Thursday, January 29, 2009, Generations at Botsford members were treated to a bit of local Farmington history…the story of the Michigan Hospital School! The campus which once served as a Farmington base for this hospital is now Botsford Commons Senior Community. Two of the three original hospital buildings remain — the Albert Kahn-designed buildings. The hospital dates back to 1919, and finds its origins in the late 1800s in a woman by the name of Blanche Van Leuven Browne. Original photographs, discovered in recent years in storage spaces, were available for viewing — and what a story they told! For more information, contact Kimberly Gimmarro at (248) 426-6951 or kgimmarro@botsford.org.
21Oct
On Wednesday, October 22, 2008, Kimberly Gimmarro, Executive Assistant and campus historian for Botsford Commons, delivered a presentation on the history of the Farmington children’s hospital at the October meeting of the Farmington Historical Society.
Many thanks to Brian Golden, President of the Farmington Historical Society for both the invitation to share, and for his work at the Reunion event on September 13, 2008. Mr. Golden videotaped the entire event, including selected narrative responses provided by the former patients during the “remember your hospital,” narrative part of the event.
Tags: Farmington Historical Society
16Sep
At our first Welcome Home reunion event, held September 13, 2008, we asked those present to share their story. To prompt their personal recollections of time spent at the children’s hospital, we provided a brief list of questions:
- When were you diagnosed and how did you arrive here?
- Describe a typical day.
- Which staff do you recall and why?
- What do you recall of the grounds?
- Where did you go on outings?
- What do you recall of the food? What was your favorite meal? What was your least favorite meal?
- What was the most mischievous thing you did during your stay at the hospital?
The answers were as varied as the attendees!
If you’d like to share your story, please send it to: Kimberly Gimmarro, Executive Assistant, Botsford Continuing Care Corporation, 21450 Archwood Circle, Farmington Hills, Michigan 48336. Don’t forget to include a phone number and return address.
Tags: Story
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