But when three out of their four sons suffered a broken bone, Claire and Ryan learned something important: for a busy family, finding the right place for fracture care makes all the difference.
Claire and Ryan were first introduced to Shriners Children’s New England when their son, Oliver, broke his femur when he was 2. The first orthopedic provider they saw just wasn’t the right fit. “Oliver was so young, and the office environment was not well-suited to his needs,” said Claire. “After talking with friends and people in the community, we switched to Shriners Children’s. We were so happy with the care he received.”
Two years later, Claire and Ryan found themselves back in the ER. This time, their oldest son, Bennett, broke his collarbone. According to Claire, they knew exactly where to turn. “After Oliver's positive experience, we immediately chose to follow up with Shriners Children’s New England,” she said. “His collarbone break was severe, and Shriners Children’s gave us the opportunity to monitor his healing with frequent follow-up visits instead of rushing into surgery. In the end, he fully healed on his own and didn’t need surgery.”
Believe it or not, one of Bennett’s younger brothers, Cruz, suffered a fracture two years after his. Cruz broke his wrist the day after Christmas, a week before the whole family was scheduled to leave for vacation. In disbelief, Claire and Ryan again called Shriners Children’s New England after leaving the ER. According to Claire, their commitment to seeing patients quickly gives families peace of mind. “Scheduling is very easy. When you call and speak to someone in reception, they are kind and patient and committed to getting your child seen as soon as possible.”
There is nothing ‘scary’ about being at Shriners Children’s, which is such a relief for me as a mom, because I don't want my child to be stressed out or scared when they are already injured and in pain.
Cruz was seen two days later by Shiners Children’s New England physician assistant Adam Iwanski, PAC. “Adam took the time to review our options for treatment and was willing to work around the unique needs we had,” said Claire. “Cruz was seen for X-rays and cast changes before we left for vacation, giving me a sense of relief that he was being monitored closely and was healing properly.” Adam determined that Cruz was ready for a waterproof cast prior to their departure, ensuring he wouldn’t miss out on any vacation fun.
At every appointment for all three boys, Claire appreciated the child-focused, caring environment at Shriners Children’s New England. “The staff is friendly and welcoming, and they all have great demeanors when working with patients,” she said. “There is nothing ‘scary’ about being at Shriners Children’s, which is such a relief for me as a mom, because I don't want my child to be stressed out or scared when they are already injured and in pain.”
The fracture care team at Shriners Children’s New England knows cast care for active children can be a challenge, and they are always available to help. “When you have a child in a cast, it can feel like a big responsibility to keep it clean and protected,” Claire said. “Whenever we encountered an issue with Cruz’s cast, we were always seen quickly. The problem was resolved without me feeling like I had failed because I didn't take care of the cast well enough.”
Even though they hope not to need to return any time soon, Claire and Ryan encourage other families to make Shriners Children’s their first call for fracture care. “I would strongly recommend any family needing care for their child's broken bone to go to Shriners Children’s,” said Claire. “Being seen in a setting designed specifically for children makes the experience so much less stressful.”
Cruz and his three brothers stand together in their lacrosse gear.
