For over twenty years, The Children’s Hospital...

For more than twenty years, The Children’s Hospital at the Medical Center of Central Georgia has been the primary source of healthcare for sick and injured kids from more than 29 Central and South Georgia counties. Here, each child, regardless of ability to pay receives world-class care, specifically designed for pediatric patients.

Part of what makes the design so special is the child-friendly, family-centered approach our professionals take to healthcare. This method encompasses every aspect of care including staff, physical surroundings and even medical equipment used. The Children’s Hospital understands the needs of children differ greatly from those of an adult.

Funds raised from the Reindeer Run this year will not only support these life-saving services, but also help purchase specific “wish list” items used in various departments of The Children’s Hospital. Past support from the race has made it possible to complete crucial projects for the hospital, including establishing a Pediatric Intermediate Care Unit, which has recently opened in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. These additional six beds serve patients whose illness or injury is not severe enough for intensive care, but too critical to be cared for on the general pediatrics floor.

As a not-for-profit hospital, The Children’s Hospital relies on your support to continue to provide the best possible healthcare for Central Georgia children close to home. Thank you for your participation in the 17th Annual Reindeer Run and Santa Stroll. You are helping the next generation of Central Georgian grow healthy and strong!

The Children's Hospital Service Area.

Amarion’s Story

Amarion Cromer is not your ordinary 5 year old—in fact, he has overcome obstacles that many of us could not imagine since the day he was born. He was born with a life threatening condition called Pulmonary Atresia. Pulmonary Atresia is a terminal heart defect that constricts the flow of blood through the heart. His mother Teresa Cromer describes, “it is kind of like needing a water hose, but you only have a straw to work with.” Amarion is a frequent patient at The Children's Hospital for treatments and checkups. His pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Brian Cardis, says it is remarkable that he is doing as well as he is today

Larry, Amarion, Teresa, Kyley, Daniel and Josh

Two years ago, doctors preformed a procedure call uniflocalization where a tube was inserted in Amarion’s heart that would help circulate the blood and joins the vessels. With the help of this surgery, the love and support he receives at home and the treatment he gets at The Children's Hospital he has survived when many had their doubts. “Amarion was not expected to live to the age of two, he is now five year old,” says mother Teresa.

Though Amarion has a major medical condition to battle, as well as secondary conditions that make day to day life challenging Teresa says, “He does not complain. He is always happy and loves to have his siblings around him.” Amarion is not the only child in his family that has used the services of The Children’s Hospital. His three older adopted siblings were all born with special needs or medical conditions. Daniel, 10 years old, has autism, 7 year old sister was a premature infant and has cerebral palsy and epilepsy and 5 year old Larry, has brittle bone disease. “The hospital staff has been great in working with me and the children to ensure all of us feel comfortable. It means the world to me that they not only care for the patient, but for the family. I know that if any of my children are in the hospital and I have to go home to take care of the others, we are in good hands,” remarks Teresa.