Ranken Jordan helps kids get better faster and gets them home again.

Even when home is very far away.

A pediatric bridge hospital is a rare place.

And a very necessary place.

As medical advances are saving more sick and injured children, we see an increasing need for a comprehensive program of transitional care that includes intense therapy and daily recreation. Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital’s innovative Care Beyond the Bedside healthcare model gets kids out of their hospital bed and back on the bridge to recovery.

There’s no other place like Ranken Jordan. Our hospital helps really sick and medically complex kids transition from acute care hospitals to home. Because of our unique mission and care model, patients and their families come from all over for the opportunity to receive the very best transitional care.

Two boys and their bridge stories:

Dmytro Yakym,

Date of birth: Nov. 8, 2002

HOME:

Borislav, Ukraine

DISTANCE:

5,150 miles to Ranken Jordan

Some bridges span an ocean for our patients who have come from Africa, Asia and Europe. Dmytro’s little town in Ukraine is halfway around the world and he has flown across the Atlantic Ocean to seek treatment at Mercy Hospital and therapy at Ranken Jordan.

Dmytro has cerebral palsy and has endured multiple orthopedic surgeries and recent eye surgery. The Ukrainian native has excessive bone growth on his hips resulting in some pain and reduced mobility, but Dmytro radiates joy and enthusiasm as he faces life’s daily challenges. Ranken Jordan has helped him regain his strength and Dmytro has returned the favor by reminding us of the privilege of fulfilling our mission to consider first the physical and emotional needs of our children.

During his three extended visits to the United States since 2012, Dmytro has been an outpatient and participated in Ranken Jordan’s physiatry clinic with Dr. Eugene Evra. He also has attended several of Dr. David Anderson’s monthly orthopedic clinics at Ranken Jordan. Dmytro has been sponsored by the Ukraine Partnership Foundation and St. Louisan Joe Privott. Joe says Ukrainian doctors will send monthly progress reports to Drs. Evra and Anderson, along with other doctors. Current treatment includes oral anti-inflammatory medication. Dmytro will turn 12 in November.

Ryan Schulte

Date of birth: Feb. 10, 2002

HOME:

Lake St. Louis, MO

DISTANCE:

26 miles to Ranken Jordan

Ryan Schulte has been an outpatient or day-treatment patient since 2008. He has cerebral palsy. Ryan is a motivated kid with lots of athletic ability. He plays Challenger Baseball and does winter sports in the Disabled Athlete Sports Association (DASA). He’s taking swimming lessons and hopes to be on the DASA swim team. Ryan also does high-intensity training once a week. Since his last surgery, he has gotten stronger every day and become more independent. Ryan’s mother, Lynn, says “…he’s now getting in the car and climbing stairs by himself.” Ryan is routinely standing without assistance and walking much more because he no longer has pain! Ryan turns 13 in February.