The new hospital is slated to open November 2 and current Banner Health patients will move at that time to the new facility in the East Valley, and will provide a broad spectrum of care for all types of children’s needs. The center will be inspired by children’s concerns and preferences, rather than an adult’s viewpoint of what children need. The facility’s expansion will expand from 146 to 248 beds, providing each child with state-of-the-art care in their own rooms. The overarching theme of the hospital is based on literature that ties healing with nature - the rooms, lobbies and feeling will follow that trend. Best of all, children will receive the opportunity to keep up with their education while in the hospital through a built-in learning center and with the help of teachers.

The hospital was named May 20 at the hospital grounds in Mesa in front of hundreds of friends and staff of the hospital and Banner Health, the Cardon family, elected officials and Valley V.I.P.’s.

Peter S. Fine, Banner Health C.E.O. spoke about the philosophy of Banner Health and its new endeavor, and Andy Kramer, President of the Banner Health Foundation honored the Cardon family and their contributions to the hospital. Wilford Cardon discussed his past with children’s healthcare and how amazing treatment and care helped him make a full recovery after being struck with polio as a child. Of the Cardon family, 15 of the 17 grandchildren have been born in the current facility. The children were also present at the event to treat the crowd to a rendition of “If You’re Happy And You Know It.”

The event’s celebrity headliner, Cindy Crawford, an advocate of children’s healthcare and programs and friend of Will Cardon, also spoke at the unveiling. She shared a personal story about how her 4-year-old brother died of a now-curable kind of leukemia. She stressed that what we contribute to healthcare may not be visibly constructive now, but makes a real difference in the long-term scope of things.