Memphis, Tenn., July 3, 2002 - P.D. Parrot, Baptist’s pediatric mascot, helped deliver red, white and blue felt stovepipe hats, designed by California hat designer Sheri Schrier in honor of America’s birthday, to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis’ pediatric patients and staff today. More than 30,000 hats will be given to young patients across the country to celebrate America’s birthday by coordinating a mass “crowning” in participant hospitals in all 50 states during the week of July 4. Baptist Memphis is the only hospital in the state of Tennessee selected to join in the celebration of Happy Hats day.

The Happy Hats for Kids program, founded in 1991 by Sheri Schrier after the loss of her younger brother, father and grandmother to cancer, was created to bring happiness to children hospitalized with cancer, AIDS and other life-threatening diseases. Happy Hats is in 55 hospitals nationwide and has given nearly 200,000 handmade hats to sick children all over the country. Happy Hats are made by hundreds of volunteer prison inmates in various institutions across the country.

Baptist Memphis offers comprehensive pediatric services, including a separate pediatric emergency department with 24-hour care, the Hardin Pediatric Center (inpatient unit), P.D.’s Perch (outpatient diagnostic and procedure center), a headache clinic and a pediatric audiology center. Baptist’s pediatric emergency room, inpatient unit and outpatient center are designed in a kid-friendly jungle theme and feature a child life specialist, who uses pre-procedure education, medical play, play therapy, distractions and patient and family support to prepare children for any hospital surgeries or procedures.

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