Shriners Parade 06/21/03

Shrine Hospitals

The Shriners Hospitals for Children is a network of pediatric specialty hospitals, founded by the Shrine, where children can receive excellent medical care free of charge to their parents.

There are 18 orthopaedic Shriners Hospitals, 3 Shrine Hospitals dedicated to treated children who have suffered severe burn injuries, and one that treats orthopaedic, burn, and spinal cord injuries.

There are 20 Shriners Hospitals in the United States, and one each in Canada and Mexico, which serve as major referral centers for children with complex orthopaedic and burn injuries.

I am not a Shriner, or even a Mason, but having served as a paramedic for more than 20 years in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, I have seen firsthand the good that these hospitals do for children whose parents would otherwise never have been able to afford the necessary care provided.

-- Ken Anderson, Editor, Magic City Morning Star