BOSTON, MA (WBZ-AM) -- Each month, "WBZ Cares" highlights a worthy non-profit organization, and tells the story of what that organization does for the community. This month WBZ profiles the Franciscan Children's in Brighton, serving children and adolescents with complex medical, mental health, and educational needs.
Franciscan Children's President and CEO John Nash says what they do, is very specialized.
"The services we provide are unique in this city. We are probably one of seven or eight different hospitals across the country that provide on the medical side, the type of care we do, which is post-acute care for children with complex medical needs," said John Nash, President and CEO of Franciscan Children's
And the kids who come to Franciscan Children's face some serious life challenges.
"A majority of our children are mentally dependent. They are kids that have, in some cases premature infants. Who were born with lungs that are not capable of breathing at this stage of the game. So essentially, we rehab them. Teach them how to breathe, teach them how to eat," Nash said.
Among those under the care of Franciscan Children's, Angela Massimo son Massimo, who was born premature, and suffered serious cardiac and neurological damage.
"He couldn’t roll over on his own. He couldn’t eat. He couldn’t breathe. He was on a vent and he was just so fragile, that you couldn’t even move him," Carosella said.
So they came to Franciscan Children's, where Massimo received extensive care.
"You know, from day one we were really surprised, I mean they had, PT and OT and Speech Therapy and we are thinking, “ya know this kid is laying there how can you be doing any kind of therapy? But it paid off," she said.
Now Massimo is 11-and-a-half years-old, and enjoying life.
"He’s great, he’s well adjusted, in a public school, he is independent, ya know he can walk on his own," she said.
CEO John Nash says helping kids, like Massimo, is job one.
"That’s what we are about and what we do really well." she said.
For more information about Franciscan Children's, go to wbz1030.com/wbzcares.