About

At McLane Children's, we understand that children are not mini-adults, and their healthcare requires specialized equipment, training, and support programs. From smaller tools to our Child Life program, everything at McLane Children's is designed specifically with children and families in mind.


Area of Greatest Need

When you give to the area of greatest need at McLane Children's, your gifts could be used to support any of the following initiatives. 

An emergency delivery and specialized care in the NICU helped little Lynora make her grand debut. Learn more.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

McLane Children's flagship NICU, located in Temple, is the only Level IV NICU between Dallas and Austin, and is one of only twelve NICUs in the state of Texas to earn this highest designation. 

The 48-bed unit cares for approximately 800 infants each year, including the most fragile and premature newborns, as well as full-term newborns diagnosed with serious or life-threatening conditions. 

Your gifts to the NICU support vital life-saving technology and monitoring equipment, specialized training for care providers, and support for parents and families during one of the most stressful times of their lives. 

Support the NICU


Other Philanthropic Opportunities

Leah Woodward, CCLS helps a child take the blood pressure of a doll during medical play to help him feel more in control. Learn more in "A day with the Child Life Team."

Child Life

Our Child Life program helps children and families deal with the stress and anxiety that often accompany healthcare experiences. Through play activities, relaxation and stress management, and opportunities to socialize with other children, Child Life helps to normalize the hospital experience and provides emotional support for children and their families.

The Child Life program relies heavily on philanthropy. Many of our activities, supplies, and each of our summer camps are funded by your generous gifts to help children deal with medical treatment in a positive way.

NEWS IN CHILD LIFE

Thank you, CHA and The Toy Foundation!

McLane Children's was one of 19 children's hospitals nationwide, and one of just two in Texas, to receive a $20,000 grant from Children's Hospital Association (CHA) and The Toy Foundation to help purchase sensory toys for our young patients. This is the second year McLane Children's has received the grant.

Research has shown that sensory toys help:

  • Decrease procedure times by distracting young patients from potentially overwhelming stimuli
  • Increase patient cooperation with procedure requests
  • Decrease anxiety and stress for both the children and their caregivers.

Support Child Life

 

Pawsitive Pals

Your gifts could support the work of our two furrest employees, Lorenzo and Gigi. These specially trained facility dogs offer comfort and snuggles to patients in the hospital and specialty clinic.

Lorenzo works with the Child Life team, helping kids feel more normal and less stressed while in the hospital. He can serve as a distraction to patients undergoing procedures, assist with physical and occupational therapy by playing or going for a walk with patients, or comfort patients or families dealing with a difficult diagnosis or unfortunate news.

Gigi partners with the Social Work team in the Emergency Department, comforting kids who have experienced trauma. She offers therapeutic support and a sense of safety, helping patients open up to the staff caring for them. Read more about Gigi's work

Support Pawsitive Pals


Children's Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH)

Meet our 2022 CMNH champion!
Danny Agee had emergency brain surgery at McLane Children's to relieve pressure on his brain caused by a tumor. He'll spend 2022 helping to advocate for the charitable needs of the local CMN Hospital that saved his life.

McLane Children's is your local Children's Miracle Network Hospital! CMNH raises funds and awareness for 170 member hospitals nationwide. Donations stay local to fund critical services, equipment, and charitable care. Since 1983, CMNH has raised more than $5 billion, most of it $1 at a time.

Find out more about how you can partner with us through CMNH!

Visit CMNH