From Signing Building Beams to Building Memories: Debra's Journey at Connecticut Children's
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"Some things come full circle."
For Debra, a veteran team member at Connecticut Children's, this rings true as she reflects on her journey from signing the first steel beam for the original hospital in 1996 to preparing to sign another beam for the new 8-story patient tower set to open in Fall of 2025.
Debra vividly remembers the excitement surrounding the first beam signing.
"I remember the excitement of everyone at Newington Children’s Hospital," she recalls. "Trying to think of what to write and picking a color of marker. The beam was quite large and brought in on a trailer."
Reflecting on what she signed on the beam, Debra fondly remembers leaving a special message for a close friend's daughter, Kara, who was celebrating her 10th birthday. "The beam came on her 10th birthday, October 17," Debra shares. "So, it was 'Happy 10th Birthday Kara.' I surprised her by doing this and making the double-digit birthday even more special." Today, Kara is a mother herself. Her three children are currently patients of Connecticut Children’s making this memory even more significant for Debra.
From her early days as a secretary in Neurology to her current role in Information Solutions (IS), Debra has seen Connecticut Children's evolve and grow. "My first role was as a secretary," she recalls. "Less than two years later, a two-step jump opportunity came up, and I moved into Nursing administration. From there, I went on to payroll assistant, and eventually, our little four-person data processing department evolved into the IS department we have today."
For Debra, signing the original beam was a memorable experience, but signing another beam for the new tower holds a special significance. "I guess it is because at that time of the original signing, I never expected it to ever happen again," she reflects.
Debra's journey from signing building beams to building memories at Connecticut Children’s is a testament to her dedication and commitment to our organization and its vision of transforming children’s health and well-being as one team.
Looking ahead to the new tower, Debra is eager to see how far Connecticut Children's can go.
"I think it is the same as the first move to Hartford," she says. "Let's see how far this venture can go."
As Debra prepares to sign the beam for the new tower, she cherishes the memories of Newington Children’s Hospital (NCH) and the camaraderie among colleagues. "It was so small you knew most staff, at least the ones who worked your shift," she reminisces. "When I mentioned the beam signing to the NCH Facebook group, they reminded me of the trees. Many staff planted the seedlings they were given and still have the now full-grown trees."
When asked what Debra will sign on the new steel beam for the tower, she says she’ll certainly sign her name, but as for anything additional, “you need to put thought into history and really find something meaningful that will stand the test of time.”
Debra's journey from signing building beams to building memories at Connecticut Children’s is a testament to her dedication and commitment to our organization and its vision of transforming children’s health and well-being as one team. The signed steel beam will be permanently placed in the penthouse of the new tower at a special topping off ceremony to be celebrated on National Superhero Day in April. The signatures will be viewable to the public for years to come.
