Celebrating the Magic of Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital

Today, we celebrate the 10th birthday of our iconic blue building, Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. We are so proud of our many achievements and the many lives touched.

The legacy of our remarkable children’s hospital and pediatric services began much earlier, when a handful of passionate, skilled pediatric specialists in the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s started building capabilities in children’s specialties, including neonatal, cardiac and intensive care. 

These pioneers were true visionaries because they saw the need decades ago for specialized care for our youngest patients. Without them, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital would not be the vital community resource it is today, offering world-class medical and surgical care for infants, children and adolescents.

Our first full-service children’s hospital opened in 1993 after hospital and physician leaders committed $44 million, including $5 million from Rich and Helen DeVos, to build the Helen DeVos Women & Children’s Center at Butterworth Hospital. The 10-story tower brought together women’s health services, The Birthplace and a dedicated children’s hospital with a larger neonatal intensive care unit.

As demand for pediatric care soared and the children’s hospital’s reputation, expertise and specialty offerings continued to expand, plans to build our 14-story, $286 million Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital were launched with the help of contributions from more than 6,000 donors. It opened in January 2011.

Today, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital is one of just 220 children’s hospitals in the country, and among its many accolades, HDVCH has been recognized for nine consecutive years in U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospital rankings.

The real magic, of course, isn’t the buildings but the people. Every day, our teams at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital are making a difference in children’s lives. From advanced therapies and lifesaving procedures to groundbreaking research and tireless compassion and kindness, our physicians, nurses, and care team members at HDVCH work hard every day to inspire hope and help kids grow up healthier and happier.

It’s the reason we’re all here—to improve health, inspire hope and save lives. Thank you to our amazing teams and for the trust that our patients, families and communities place in us each day. They motivate us to keep reaching higher. Here’s to many more birthdays—and countless possibilities!