LEBANON, N.H. (WCAX) – There’s going to be a new playground at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center thanks to a 12-year-old boy who says the hospital saved his life.
Elliot Perry on Monday helped in the groundbreaking for a new interactive play area on the Lebanon campus. Perry was born three months premature, which led to serious health complications that he continues to get regular care for through Dartmouth Health.
As a way to say thanks for that care, Perry raised money for the play area in one of DHMC’s courtyards. Thanks to Perry, a similar playground has also been built at Dartmouth Health’s clinics in Manchester.
“What they do is great, but at points, still coming up to the hospital, whether you are being transported in an ambulance or coming up in your car, it’s a scary thing. You are hearing all these noises that you may have never heard before, seeing all these new things. Some things can be happy, some things can be scary. The reason I’m building these playgrounds is to make the hospital visit more fun,’ Perry said.
The Elliot Perry Foundation has well surpassed its initial fundraising goal of $121,000 for the two playgrounds. The foundation also works with veterans and helps provide opportunities for less fortunate kids.