The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital

Remembering First Lady Barbara Bush

The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center was named in honor of first lady Barbara Bush for her long-standing commitment to children's issues around the world. It takes a great deal of support to start a children’s hospital. It was clear when the hospital was founded in 1995 that Mrs. Bush, a well-known advocate for literacy and the well-being of young people and part-time Maine resident, was someone who could help lead the way.

Both President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush were there when the children’s hospital inpatient unit opened in 1998, and both George and Barbara Bush took an active interest in the hospital over the years.

Mrs. Bush visited many times, including on her 86th birthday in 2011, when she read patients a favorite children’s book, “Learning to Ski with Mr. Magee” by Maine author Chris Van Dusen. In addition to promoting health, Mrs. Bush was also a strong advocate for children’s literacy and learning programs. Through efforts like the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, Mrs. Bush helped empower children and families to succeed by embracing reading.

Maine Medical Center is extremely proud to support Barbara Bush’s legacy through The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. In recent years, we have sought to honor and sustain that legacy of support by establishing The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital specialty license plate program. When the former first lady learned a patient was helping to gather signatures in support of the license plate effort, she wrote him a letter of encouragement and later spoke with him over video chat.

Today, The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center is a testament to the first lady’s unwavering passion for the children of Maine.

"Children need and deserve the very best care possible, and they will find it here..."
– Barbara Bush, 1995

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You Can Help

Honor Barbara Bush's legacy and support children's health by making a memorial donation to The Barbara Bush Children's Hospital at Maine Medical Center.