WakeMed Children's Hospital to open this weekend

WakeMed's much-heralded Children's Hospital & Heart Tower will open this Sunday with a big grand opening and dedication celebration.

The free event includes live music, the always cute teddy bear clinic, arts and crafts, tours of the new facility, and (probably the big draw for kids) tours of the critical care truck and helicopter. The event is from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

I'll have more about the new children's hospital later this week in an interview with Dr. Mark Piehl, the new hospital's medical director. But I'm told the new hospital already is attracting specialists in the treatment of children.

WakeMed broke ground on the project about two years ago. The children's hospital comprises the tower's 34,000-square-foot, fourth floor. There are 45 beds, all in private rooms, with the exception of two sibling suites. The project was made possible thanks to the WakeMed Fondation's Just for Kids Kampaign.