Ric Hammons
Ric Hammons
Family Advisory Council member Ric Hammons
"The family-centered care approach makes such a difference in our experiences when we are in the hospital's care, as we always feel as we are part of a team that truly cares about my children." – Ric Hammons
Erica "Ric" Hammons became a parent member of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CenterFamily Advisory Council in 2008. Ric's two sons, Brody and Bryce, have been patients at Cincinnati Children's since 2004.
"I’ve had three beautiful children. I feel so blessed to have had each one of them. Sadly, there has been some sadness with each of my children," Ric explained. Brody was born with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a fatal muscle disease. Ric's daughter Berklee died as a result of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. Bryce spent 2 months in the Regional Center for Newborn Intensive Care / RCNIC and is currently experiencing other medical concerns.
"I have learned from my children that every day is a gift that I truly cherish. I love each one of them more than anything in the world and want to continue to dedicate my life to living with purpose and being truly present in the wonderful moments of their lives," Ric said.
Ric's children have been patients in various Cincinnati Children's services; including:
"In all of my experiences with these departments I am continuously grateful for the care given to my children with their unique needs," Ric said. "The doctors, nurses, Child Life, customer service, etc., all have played a part of making our experiences with Cincinnati Children's fantastic. I am so impressed by the number of individuals who come here from all over the world to get services from this amazing facility that is right in my town," Ric said.
"I was so honored to be asked to be part of the Family Advisory Council so I have the opportunity to give back to the hospital that provides such amazing care of my boys. I look forward to being able to provide the council with any insight, ideas and experiences that I have to improve the care provided by our hospital," Ric said.
"The family-centered care approach makes such a difference in our experiences when we are in the hospital’s care, as we always feel as we are part of a team that truly cares about my children. For Cincinnati Children's to continue to provide family-centered care, it is critical to have the input of individuals who have experiences with the hospital in helping guide the hospital in making the best possible decisions to involve families in those processes," Ric noted.
As a member of the Family Advisory Council, Ric said she hopes to build on the work of her predecessors in continuing the work to improve family-centered care. "I believe I have many experiences with various clinics and good relationships with hospital staff." Ric is a practicing speech language pathologist in the school system, as well as a parent of children with special needs. "I enjoy working with others to problem-solve using creative ideas and strong communication skills," she noted.
