Celebrating the Completion of the Betty Higgins Palliative Aquatic Center
What began as an ambitious idea has become something truly special. After a full year of planning, design, and construction, the Betty Higgins Palliative Aquatic Center is now complete — and already making an impact.
The new center adds a meaningful dimension to the care George Mark provides. Designed with patients and families in mind, it offers a safe, restorative place where children can move freely, feel supported, and experience the comfort that only water can bring.
This milestone represents far more than the end of a construction project. It reflects the dedication of so many who shared one goal: to create a space that honors the spirit of hope and healing that has guided George Mark Children’s House since the beginning.
Just days before our annual fundraiser, KPIX CBS News anchor Juliette Goodrich featured a sneak peek report on the new facility, offering the community an early glimpse into what the center would soon mean for patients and families. During the Autumn Celebration, guests were moved by a heartfelt video featuring three George Mark mothers, each sharing how the aquatic program had touched their family’s journey in powerful and deeply personal ways. Later, KTVU-Fox2’s Cristina Rendon aired an insightful piece that captured both the purpose of the center and the meaning it holds for our community — a fitting lead-in to a day filled with gratitude and reflection.
It Takes a Village
A project like this could never be done by one team alone. It took an entire community — people with different skills and responsibilities, all working toward the same vision.
Our clinical team and aquatic RNs shaped the design with insight and compassion, ensuring that every detail would meet the needs of our patients. The Advancement Team built and nurtured the relationships that made this vision possible, connecting generosity with purpose. And it goes without saying — not a single tile was set without the steadfast support of our philanthropic community. Their belief in what George Mark stands for turned a dream into something real and lasting.
The project team managed the intricate coordination that comes with a major construction effort — from permits and timelines to the thousand small decisions that test patience, require quick problem-solving, and occasionally lead to sleepless nights, but ultimately bring a building to life.
And, of course, the builders, vendors, and craftspeople brought their expertise and care to every inch of the space. Together, they turned a dream into something lasting — a place that will serve families for years to come.
Staff Members and Families Come Together
As October came to a close, staff and family members gathered at Ruth’s Café to mark this long-awaited achievement as one George Mark community.
CEO Shekinah Eliassen spoke to the heart of the moment, acknowledging the years of vision, planning, and teamwork that brought the aquatic center to life. “This has been a long time coming — built on many years of vision, hope, dreaming, planning, and hard work,” Shekinah said. “This aquatic center lies at the heart of George Mark’s mission: to ensure the best possible quality of life for the children and young adults who come here, and to make sure they have their best days while they’re here.”
TJ Nelson, who leads the aquatic program, spoke about Sheila Pyatt, a retired George Mark RN who established the original aquatic therapy program and whose vision continues to shape the work today. “We’re here today not only to celebrate the aquatic center, but to celebrate Sheila,” TJ said. “We can’t thank her enough for her vision and her heart. As the aquatic team, we’ll forever tell the world about what she started. This pool — and the program she built — will last forever.”
In the presence of her family, friends, and mentors, Sheila was presented with the Hummingbird Award, which honors individuals and organizations whose compassion, creativity, and service have made a profound impact on the George Mark community.
The gathering ended with laughter, stories, and a shared meal. Around the tables, staff from every department sat side by side, talking easily and enjoying the chance to pause and reflect. There was genuine pride in the air, not the loud kind, but the quiet satisfaction of people who know they’ve accomplished something meaningful together.
A Community Celebrates
That same afternoon, the celebration continued with the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the Betty Higgins Palliative Aquatic Center. Present were members of the build team, funders, George Mark’s Board of Directors, and longtime friends of the House, including Bill Remick, the original architect of George Mark Children’s House.
Among those who lent their voices in reflection was Dr. Kathy Hull, founder of George Mark Children’s House, who spoke about the significance of this new chapter and what it means for the House’s ongoing story. “We’ve been here twenty-one years, and this really says, ‘Look at us — we’re still here, still growing, and still expanding our services.’ To be able to do this kind of upgrade after all these years shows the strength of our mission and the heart of this place,” Kathy said.
As the ribbon was cut, applause filled the room. The light caught the water, and for a moment, everyone stood quietly — not just admiring what had been built, but remembering why it was built.
The Betty Higgins Palliative Aquatic Center now stands as both a tribute and a promise: a reminder that when people come together with compassion and persistence, they can create something that changes lives.
“Look at us — we’re still here, still growing, and still expanding our services.”
– Dr. Kathy Hull, GMCH Founder
A New Dream Takes Shape
Now that the Aquatic Center is complete, focus turns to another longtime dream — the creation of an inclusive, all-abilities playground just outside the new facility. The first phase of construction is already underway, and as with every project at George Mark, it will take many hands, generous hearts, and a great deal of love to bring it to life.
This next chapter will once again call on the dedication of our teams, the strength of our partnerships, and the generosity of our community. With continued support, the playground will become another space where every child — regardless of ability — can play, explore, and simply be a kid.
Another dream is taking shape. And, as always, it begins with the same foundation that built George Mark: compassion, collaboration, and care.
