Errol M.
Yelp
I'm a little surprised no one has commented on this place. As far as I'm concerned, if your child needs specialized medical treatment, the Children's Medical Center is the Eighth Wonder of the World.
My daughter was here for two months. What she needed wasn't available in Austin, and her doctors referred us here. Her mother and I alternated weeks staying in Dallas, so one of us could be with her. It turned out to be a successful stay.
The CMC provided a list of nearby lodging, and most of them offered extended-stay packages and shuttle service to the Center. We did use a recommended hotel, but wound up using our cars to zip on Harry Hines Blvd for commuting, which was more convenient that scheduling a shuttle two or three times a day. We could have used I-35, but the everyday drivers on that particular stretch of freeway seemed truly nuts.
The CMC has two multilevel visitor garages connected to the Center by walkways and elevators, kind of like a mall, and we took advantage of their books of discounted parking garage tickets. You'll also do a lot of walking in and around the CMC, because the place is huge.
My daughter's main complaint--aside from having to be there--was dealing with the inevitable boredom of an extended hospital stay. Hey kid, been there, done that. For what it is, the CMC is pretty innovative: Playscapes, celebrity appearances, a big recreation/arcade-type room sponsored by Troy Aikman. Thank you, Troy Aikman.
The only time I've been a bored inpatient in hospital was during a long and slow Thanksgiving week in Austin, where I got a plate of turkey slices and extended TV hours; my daughter's ward had a grand Thanksgiving celebration for the patients, their parents, and staff in a decorated auditorium. It was touching, and a significant day for all of us.
One final point: The total bill from here was just under $70K. Every so often, I wonder how different the outcome would have been if we didn't have health insurance. Insert your own political message here. Will it matter? People are going to believe what they want to believe.