Young patients sign off on new University of Iowa children’s hospital

IOWA CITY - When 15-year-old Austin 'Flash” Schroeder walked in to a crowded room Wednesday hoping to sign a beam that will become part of a new children's hospital, he got a surprise.

Managers of the $292 million University of Iowa project were wearing his symbol - a lightning bolt - on their hats. And they wanted their picture taken with him.

'It's crazy, I'm very excited,” Austin said after joining dozens of other pediatric patients and family members in signing one of the beams that later this month will be installed in the new 563,250-square-foot UI Children's Hospital scheduled for completion in summer 2016.

'It's an honor,” the cancer patient said.

'We are getting to see what this is all about,” said Jason Miller, Children's Hospital project manager for the university. 'It's emotional.”

Austin, of Coralville, was diagnosed with the rare and aggressive lymphoblastic lymphoma one year ago and has undergone six different chemotherapy regimens after relapses and continued cancer spread. He was sent home about a month ago with hospice care, but he's battled back with the support of friends, families, and doctors, his parents said.

Craig Schroeder said he and his wife, Stacy Schroeder, don't view their son's treatment as having failed. Instead it gave them more time.

'We celebrate life … we're all here,” Schroeder said. 'And he made it easy on us. He's been awesome - the best.”

He said Austin's UI doctors have been 'unbelievable” in researching new treatment options, and he believes the new hospital will make it possible to do even more.

Being adjacent to the university's Kinnick Stadium will make the Children's Hospital even more special to its young patients, Schroeder said.

'Every kid here would love to be a Hawkeye,” he said, adding that getting to watch football games from a prime view inside the new hospital's upper levels could give patients an escape.

Kendra Daufeldt, 32, of Muscatine, said she hopes not to spend much time in the new hospital with her 2-year-old son, Hayden, recently diagnosed with a form of brain cancer. But she came down to sign the beam in her son's honor because of what the hospital has done for her family and for others.

Other members of the public will get the chance to sign beams during an event April 25 before the beams are hoisted into the new hospital and hidden from view. But hospital officials wanted to make sure patients unable to attend that event got the first opportunity.

'It's supposed to be the new Children's Hospital,” said patient Tori Vogel, 14, after signing. 'So it's a no-brainer to have the kids involved.”

RAISE THE BEAM

When: Anyone can sign the beam from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 25. The beam will be raised into place from 2:30 to 3 p.m.

Where: Krause Plaza at Kinnick Stadium, 825 Stadium Drive, Iowa City

Details: The event will be live-streamed at www.uichildrens.org/raisethebeam. Those who can't attend can submit their name to be signed by visiting the website by April 20.