When we rushed my infant daughter Sofina to the children's hospital with a suspected heart problem I was amazed to see the team of pediatric specialists waiting for us when we arrived in the emergency department.

I was so grateful pediatric cardiologist Sam Lacina, MD, was there. He quickly diagnosed what was wrong and started treatment that saved my daughter's life.

Since that day eight years ago I have come to appreciate the difference of a hospital that specializes in children.

Nowhere else in West Michigan would I have found a multidisciplinary team that included pediatric specialists in emergency medicine, cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery, anesthesiology, radiology and pediatric critical care medicine. In addition, Sofina received care from nursing, respiratory therapy and pediatric clinical pharmacists.

As frightened parents of a critically ill newborn we were comforted by the depth and breadth of Sofina's medical team. But we were also overwhelmed, worried, scared and wondering about her future.

Just as comforting, the medical team understood that and helped us cope. The doctors took lots of time to sit with us, to answer our questions, and to explain what was going on in terms we could understand.

My friend Dr. Jeri Kessenich is the director of the pediatric residency program here, and learning to listen to families is part of the training because parents know their child best. She says, "with children's medicine, there is no substitute for time. Our goal is to be in continuous conversation with our patients and their families."

I am wondering what your experiences have been with a child's illness and what wisdom you can share about helping parents to cope.