Alex Vicars is an eight-year-old student at Miller Perry Elementary School in Kingsport. One thing that sets Alex apart from her classmates is that she spends every Monday at the outpatient pediatric oncology clinic inside Niswonger Children's Hospital.
Alex doesn't let her cancer treatment get in the way of being a regular kid. Like many children her age, she enjoys crafts and her pets. Her love for art was noticeable when a committee selected her artwork to feature on a holiday greeting card in one of two holiday projects to raise money for Niswonger Children's Hospital.
When asked what she thought about her artwork being chosen, she said it made her happy. Somewhat shy talking to strangers, she did open up to discussions about the pizza dietary just brought her for lunch. "I only asked for a piece, and they gave me a whole (personal) pizza!"
Alex's grandmother, Peggy Williams, who brings Alex to the clinic when her mother has to work, called the new children's hospital "wonderful." Having used the pediatric oncology clinic and inpatient services at the former children's hospital inside Johnson City Medical Center, Williams praised the oncology team of doctors, nurses and child life specialists who continue to care for Alex.
The level of care is the same, but says things now are so much simpler at Niswonger Children's Hospital, which opened in March 2009 as a replacement facility for The Children's Hospital at JCMC. "You don't get lost. Everything is all in one place," Williams said.
