W. Keith Brenton

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He’s ten years old, red-headed, freckle-faced, and he likes soccer, baseball, basketball and swimming.

But his favorite thing to do is working in the garden.

In June, 1987 while he was doing something else children like to do — riding his bicycle — his life took a downhill turn and almost ended when he collided with a car. This active, talkative boy fell suddenly silent.

He was revived and stabilized, then rushed to Arkansas Children’s Hospital aboard the emergency helicopter transport Angel One.

While he was still in a coma, emergency rom technicians, nurses and doctors worked to restore the use of his limbs — including a leg which was, in their words, “broken to pieces.” His parents were present for many of the procedures, while staff members explained them. They never gave up.

He was in our Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for two weeks, and a few weeks later, his silence ended: he came out of the coma. Soon, he was able to start therapy in our Rehabilitation Center and began to rebuild his young muscles. He returned to school last year, working hard in spite of the fact that his rehabilitation was not yet complete. Like his parents, he never gave up.

He knows life is going to be uphill from now on. But he also knows that, justas he helps the plants in his garden, there will always be someone around to help him grow.

And his dad says, “I just thank God every day that I have my son.”

Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Where love can move mountains.

YOUR CHILDREN ARE OUR CHILDREN.
8th and Marshall Streets Little Rock, AR 72202-3591 370-1100

The first ad in this series, (“Equestrian,” left) was written by Creative Director Ralph Patterson, and my task for the remaining three was to continue the narrative writing style and word count. “Your Children Are Our Children” was the positioning line I created for the client, which was retained for many years (and even borrowed later on by another children’s hospital elsewhere, I understand). This series of four ads featured beautiful done-by-hand pastel illustrations made from photographs at a time before PhotoShop made that easy.

249 Spring Street • Eureka Springs, AR 72632
wryterkb@gmail.com

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She likes to do many of the same things that other 9-year-old girls like to do: play with her Barbie dolls, her cat, and her little brother. A shy child, she is a Brownie, and enjoys taking walks in the woods, reading, and playing piano.

When she developed a fever, the music had to wait. Her pediatrician, who had trained at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, thought she should be examined by a specialist he knew there. Within hours, she was diagnosed as having an advanced case of neuroblastoma, a kind of cancer that affects the nervous system.

Surgery was performed, supplemented by radiation, chemotherapy, and a bone marrow transplant.

To ease what must have been a frightening experience for child and parents, her doctors, nurses and therapists always explained what they were doing and why; answered questions; even saw to it that her mom and dad could be with her through every procedure except surgery. But children need security at times like these—especially bashful children—so it was no problem for her to take her blanket into surgery.

“We were all scared, but pleased,” her parents say. “You can never give up. The staff at Children’s always keeps trying… and they made us feel like one big, happy family.”

So on his birthday last spring, it came as a great present but no surprise that his orthopaedic device was removed and he walked away from Arkansas Children’s Hospital on his own two straightened legs.

She’s doing well—healthwise, and at school—and our staff members who see her every six months say that she is outgrowing her shyness.

And that’s music to our ears.

Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Where love can move mountains.

YOUR CHILDREN ARE OUR CHILDREN.
8th and Marshall Streets Little Rock, AR 72202-3591 370-1100

The first ad in this series, (“Equestrian,” left) was written by Creative Director Ralph Patterson, and my task for the remaining three was to continue the narrative writing style and word count. “Your Children Are Our Children” was the positioning line I created for the client, which was retained for many years (and even borrowed later on by another children’s hospital elsewhere, I understand). This series of four ads featured beautiful done-by-hand pastel illustrations made from photographs at a time before PhotoShop made that easy.

249 Spring Street • Eureka Springs, AR 72632
wryterkb@gmail.com

(Click to enlarge graphic in new tab/window.)

He was born in Arizona 11 years ago and loves to hunt and fish and hike through the woods.

But for this easy-going kid, the going has never been easy.

At nine months old, he contracted a form of meningitis which stunted the growth of his bones and teeth and caused his legs to bow out. Two operations, in Arizona and Oklahoma, were unsuccessful.

For most of his life, trying to keep up meant being as determined to stand pain as he was determined to stand.

Three years ago, his family moved to Arkansas and in 1988, they came to Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Our orthopaedic specialists — using an innovative procedure practiced by only a handful of surgeons in America — strove to succeed where others had failed.

His parents stayed with him in his room whenever they wanted. Physicians clearly explained procedures and progress. Caring nurses and therapists eased their concerns. And their son stayed active through the Child Life program. We all watched him fight.

So on his birthday last spring, it came as a great present but no surprise that his orthopaedic device was removed and he walked away from Arkansas Children’s Hospital on his own two straightened legs.

And now, instead of spending his life trying to fight his way out of the woods, he’s spending a lot more time playing in them.

Arkansas Children’s Hospital
Where love can move mountains.

YOUR CHILDREN ARE OUR CHILDREN.
8th and Marshall Streets     Little Rock, AR 72202-3591     370-1100

The first ad in this series, (“Equestrian,” left) was written by Creative Director Ralph Patterson, and my task for the remaining three was to continue the narrative writing style and word count. “Your Children Are Our Children” was the positioning line I created for the client, which was retained for many years (and even borrowed later on by another children’s hospital elsewhere, I understand). This series of four ads featured beautiful done-by-hand pastel illustrations made from photographs at a time before PhotoShop made that easy.

249 Spring Street • Eureka Springs, AR 72632
wryterkb@gmail.com