'Blue Birds' Help Thousands of Young Hospital Patients

HOUSTON - A group of women in the Houston area has helped create an organization, where the ladies lend their time, expertise and funds to help sick children. They have created a neurological department at Texas Children's Hospital where patients are treated for everything from Down Syndrome to Cerebral Palsy and Epilepsy to severe headaches.

It is the women in blue, who make all the difference. They are the success behind The Blue Bird Circle at Texas Children's Hospital. Patients seldom miss their appointment, because of the volunteer's friendly reminders.

Sandy Frick, who is a 'Blue Bird,' tells FOX 26 News that this is an opportunity to be where people are in need -- a place where they can touch the souls and hearts of mothers, fathers and children.

Pat Lucas explains the history behind the organization.

"Our original founders back in 1923 wanted a symbol that would show a true meaning of the organization, which portrays the blue bird as a symbol of happiness. The circle around it is a continuing circle of love the members felt they wanted to express," says Lucas.

Beautiful and even adorable, paintings of blue birds fill every wall in the rooms and halls of The Blue Bird Circle Clinic. All of the artwork is created by children for children to enjoy.

"It's very expressive, and it's a therapeutic thing for children too, so it's a pleasure to be able to display it for them," says Lucas.

Each volunteer arrives at the clinic approximately once a week, to lend a helping hand.

"We can applaud the mom for how pretty her little girl is today. Usually our children in wheelchairs don't have people walk up and say that often, so moms will have a tear in their eye. You've noticed their child," says Frick.

The women of The Blue Bird Circle see a lot of tears at the hospital since medical conditions are often severe.

"I hugged a mom the other day, saw a tear coming down her cheek. Afterward, she said, 'I didn't have anybody, but you were here with me.' We don't know the past or future, but we're here making a difference," says Frick.

Karen Litel shed a few tears herself when her son was first treated for seizures. His condition has since improved, but she wanted to give back to the organization and clinic that so positively impacted her family's life, so she became a 'Blue Bird.'

"We can interact with the kids and really help them know they're okay here. It makes me happy to know these parents leave with hope, knowing they're getting the best care in the world," says Litel.

Pat Gilmore, another 'Blue Bird,' stopped by FOX 26 Morning News Extra and shared her story. The smile in her eyes when she describes the group is all that anyone would need to see to know how very much this organization means to this group of volunteers.

Children are getting the help and tender loving care that they need through the 'Blue Birds' and their skilled doctors and nurses.

Dr. Robert Zeller is the medical director of the clinic. He has been working with the group since it formed in 1923. He says there is no possible way the clinic could operate without them.

"We couldn't see the 20,000 visits without them. They're both financially supporting us and they support us in the clinic from scheduling everything to checking the patients out, they're amazing!," exclaims Dr. Zeller. He cannot seem to praise the volunteers enough.

Dr. Zeller says he is incredibly thankful for the volunteer's dedication to the neurological patients at Texas Children's Hospital.

The group also operates a Blue Bird Circle Resale Shop on West Alabama Street in Houston. Proceeds from the store help fund ground-breaking neurological research. It is the perfect combination --shopping and helping a great volunteer organization at the same time.

The Blue Bird Circle can certainly use help from the public.

On the Web:

The Blue Bird Circle -- http://www.thebluebirdcircle.com/