More than a dozen pediatric patients and their families attended the Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital’s 10th birthday party recently.

The celebration of the region’s only children’s hospital included canvas painting activities, courtesy of Lehigh Valley Art Spark. Birthday party guests also decorated lab coats that will eventually be displayed in the hospital.

At the end of the celebration, patients, families, caregivers and staff enjoyed individually wrapped cupcakes and sang “Happy Birthday!”

Building on more than 40 years of providing pediatric care, the children’s hospital was founded in May 2012 and recently welcomed a new 24-bay children’s emergency room and expanded pediatric intensive care unit.

“It’s an exciting time of growth and development for our program as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of our accreditation as a children’s hospital,” Anne Baum, Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital president said. “We look forward to celebrating more milestones in the future.”

Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital provides care in more than 30 specialties and general pediatrics and is home to the region’s only children’s surgery and cancer centers.

Lehigh Valley Health Network operates the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center with pediatric qualifications.

“Our caregivers and colleagues at the children’s hospital are passionate about providing children in our community with high quality specialized care close to home,” J. Nathan Hagstrom, MD, Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital physician in chief said. “Providing specialized pediatric care includes having dedicated spaces and resources just for kids so they feel welcome and comfortable.”

The children’s hospital officially turned 10 May 22. Local high school students with the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley helped mark the occasion by decorating the sidewalk outside the children’s hospital with chalk art.

In late May, local Dunkin’ locations donated $1 to area children’s hospitals, including Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital, for every iced coffee sold on Dunkin’ Iced Coffee Day.

Lehigh Valley Reilly Children’s Hospital has teamed up with the Lehigh Valley Zoo to continue the 10th birthday celebration. Every Saturday through Sept. 3, the first 100 children (age 2-11) at the zoo will get a voucher for a free Dippin’ Dots.

Lehigh Valley Health Network includes 13 hospital campuses, four in Allentown, two in Bethlehem, one in Easton, one in East Stroudsburg, one in Hazleton, two in Pottsville, one in Lehighton and one in Dickson City; 28 health centers; numerous primary and specialty care physician practices; 20 ExpressCARE locations including the area’s only Children’s ExpressCARE; pharmacy, imaging, home health, rehabilitation and lab services; and preferred provider services through Valley Preferred.

Additional information is available by visiting LVHN.org or following us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.

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