Estimated read time: 1-2 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — Patients and staff gathered Wednesday morning for a ribbon-cutting ceremony, celebrating Primary Children's Medical Center's new Jazz-themed Interventional Radiology Suite.
Accompanying the new décor, the Utah Jazz players and mascot made their yearly visit to the children undergoing treatment there.
After working together since the early 1980s, The Utah Jazz and Miller family partnered with the hospital to make the experience more comfortable for the children. The renovations include oversize player and mascot photos, signed memorabilia, and autographed ceiling tiles, and video greetings from the Jazz players.
"We know how important it is to create a welcoming, child- friendly environment, and healing environment. And what better way to do that than to surround children with the images and colors and mascot of our own Utah Jazz?" said Randy Rigby, president of the Utah Jazz.
I think we have some great athletes that do a lot, but our heroes to us also are the young boys and girls fighting even bigger battles. It puts life in a whole new perspective.
–- Randy Rigby, President of the Utah Jazz
Katy Welkie, the chief executive officer at Primary Children's Medical Center, also talked about how the new decorations have impacted the children and their parents.
"When children come here, they are obviously very worried, very nervous, and sometimes even frightened; and their parents have that same level of anxiety," said Welkie. "And when they come in the door, you can see this excitement. And that anxiety and fear gets replaced by excitement and discovery as they come into the room."
Rigby explained how much the yearly visit impacts not only the patients, but the players as well.
"I think we have some great athletes that do a lot, but our heroes to us also are the young boys and girls fighting even bigger battles," said Rigby. "It puts life in a whole new perspective."
