Frank Bailey Eagle Scout Project

When I was 11 years old, I was hospitalized with what they thought was appendicitis, The doctors ran a few tests like blood work and an ultrasound. But it turned out that I had mesenteric adenitis—which is basically strep throat, but for your stomach. I was lucky.

The fathers of two of my soccer teammates were doctors and they happened to be working at the hospital that day. But, from that experience, I know how scary it can be—both for kids, and their parents—to be in the hospital.

Also, when I was 10, I had a friend, Emily who got cancer. For two years, she was in-and-out of hospitals until she died. Watching her and her family go through that was hard and I wished I could’ve done more for them.

So, for my Eagle Scout Project, I plan on making backpacks for children and caregivers at the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital (UNMCH). The backpacks will contain clothes and toys for infants and youths that are long-term patients at UNMCH, and personal hygiene products and snacks for their adult caregivers.

This project not only enables me to help sick kids, and their families. It also gives me the opportunity to work in and around the hospital. I’m keen to see how healthcare works in action as I hope become an orthopedic surgeon, so that one day I can help many, many more patients.