If a child has a dream, it becomes our dream too

What began as a relationship between one doctor and one family 125 years ago has grown into Gillette Children’s—one of the world’s most respected hospitals treating children with brain, bone, and movement disorders.

How did this happen? This success is due to a clear mission, compassion, and, most importantly, people.

Dr. Arthur Gillette knew about the power of people when he met our first patient, 10-year-old Royal Gray and his parents on October 27, 1897. He saw Royal as a child who deserved the best medical attention and help to achieve a full and rewarding life. Dr. Gillette used his skills and training to help Royal with his medical condition, but he did something more—he listened to the Gray family and formed a partnership to push boundaries and transform a life.

From the very beginning the care at Gillette focused on potential and possibilities. If a solution doesn’t exist, we build it. If a question is unanswered, we research it. If a child has a dream, it becomes our dream too.

A focus on the whole child

Gillette is honored to be the first hospital in the United States for children who have disabilities. We’re proud to build on the foundation started by Dr. Gillette, co-founder Jessie Haskins, and all the early medical professionals, staff members, and supporters who helped us ensure children living with complex medical needs and disabilities would receive equitable medical care and opportunity.

Gillette is driven by purpose and a mission to serve the whole child—not only their medical condition.

Gillette’s Cerebral Palsy Institute

As we begin our next 125 years of service, we continue to fulfill the gaps in care other medical groups cannot or will not fill. Gillette is building on its strong commitment to caring for children who have cerebral palsy (CP) through new developments in research, innovation, advocacy, and the clinical excellence of our physicians and providers. Our Cerebral Palsy Institute harnesses generations of research data and clinical expertise to better understand, diagnose, and predict the progression of cerebral palsy.

The research done through the Cerebral Palsy Institute will be at the forefront of scientific discovery, positively impacting not only our patients but also countless children across the globe.

Illuminating the future

Fueled by the curiosity, compassion and dedication of our teams, Gillette has stayed the course for 125 years. We are focused on some of the toughest challenges in pediatric health care.

As we marked our 125th anniversary this year, we focused on innovation, advocacy, and celebration. Our theme was “Illuminate the Future” to highlight the warm light of hope and care we offer families who are often experiencing uncertainty.

Helping children live their story

Gillette exists to serve children. We help them write their own story.

Ruth Evelyn (RE), who was born without arms, wants to pedal into her future on a bike so Gillette prosthetists built a special harness to help her steer and travel down her own path.

Wes dreams of becoming an athlete and won’t let a diagnosis of cerebral palsy keep him from working towards his goal.

Michael works with Gillette therapists to use a special walker and gain strength so, despite living with cerebral palsy, he can dazzle and impress people with his basketball skills.

Everyday children and families come to Gillette seeking answers and searching for care. As Dr. Gillette did on that very first day in 1897, our providers sit down with a family to talk about possibilities and dreams. A person-to-person connection is forged, a plan crafted, a future charted.

Thank you to the parents who put their trust in us, the children who share their dreams with us, and to you—for caring about the Gillette story and helping us to ensure we’re here beyond the next 125 years.