The walls have become a jungle – at least in the outpatient burn center at Community Regional Medical Center. Instead of stark, scary walls, the lobby and some rooms now sport colorful jungle animals, vineyards, a fire station, fish and other child-friendly scenes that put children at ease during painful procedures.

Thanks to donor-investors Dave and Anne Bush and their matching pledge to the burn center these kids now have friendly distractions during treatment.

Dave Bush, president and owner of David A. Bush Inc. – which operates Bush Construction in Hanford – and his wife Anne have pledged to match any gift made to pediatric and young adult burn care up to $500,000. Since the campaign began, more than $950,000 has been raised. Their goal is to raise more than $1 million to help these young survivors.

The revamped rooms are just one way that the Bushes and other donor-investors are benefitting kids in the Valley’s only comprehensive burn center between Los Angeles and Sacramento. Local company O’Keeffe’s Inc., SaftiFirst also gave two Starlight Fun Centers to the outpatient burn center. The mobile entertainment units are equipped with the latest in gaming technology – a Nintendo Wii-U™, Wi-Fi and TV/movie streaming capabilities. The units can be wheeled to the bedside for kids to use while being treated. The gift was facilitated by the Starlight Children’s Foundation who partners with Nintendo of America to design and custom build the fun centers and then place them in hospitals.

See how you can be a part of the Bush matching gift.

Jennifer Avila-Allen reported this story. Reach her at MedWatchToday@Communitymedical.org.