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One Woman’s Vision
Breath of Life Children’s Center Makes a Difference
in the Lives of Katy Kids
© Katy Magazine - Katy, Texas 2005
September 15, 2005
By Karren Jaggers
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As a child, Denise Owen remembers how not having enough money for necessary medical care impacted her family. When she recognized the need for low cost health services in the
Katy area, she founded Breath of Life Children’s Center so that no child in our community would have to go without proper medical care. A licensed vocational nurse, Owen founded the Breath of Life Children’s Center clinic in 1999
in response to the limited resources available to children of parents with little or no health insurance.
“The mission of Breath of Life is to provide children with an improved quality of life through easily accessible healthcare and guidance,” says Owen. The center provides preventative care, vaccinations, and acute care services for
ear infections, nosebleeds, asthma, high fevers, and other child related illnesses. The clinic’s preventative services include well-child checkups, school physicals, and walk-in clinics for their annual Back to School Immunization
Drive. The donation fee for each vaccine is just $10 per vaccine, if the family is able to pay. Christus St. Catherine Hospital has partnered with the clinic to provide ancillary services such as lab work and x-rays when needed.
Last year, the clinic provided healthcare services to over 4,000 uninsured or underinsured children. This represents a 24% increase over the previous year’s figures. Due to the large number of layoffs in recent years, the clinic
has seen a dramatic increase in families who are no longer covered by medical insurance. The clinic is a 501 (C) 3 non-profit children’s public charitable organization.
Breath of Life sustains itself through grants and donations from the community and foundations. The support of friends, churches, hospitals, and others also help keep its doors open. The clinic has launched a capital campaign to
purchase land to build a much-needed larger facility to meet the growing health care needs of children in the Katy/West Houston area. The clinic is located at 21715 Kingsland Boulevard, Suite 103 in Katy. If you are interested in
volunteering or making a donation to Breath of Life Children’s Clinic please call 281-398-7353. How you can Help
Breath of Life’s Wish List
- • Lollipops
• Band-aids (colorful, characters)
• Sealed, over-the-counter children’s medications
• Reception room videos
• New Christmas gifts (beginning in November.)
• Multi-line telephone system
• Fax machine
• Copy machine
• Postage machine
• Small office furniture
• Basic office supplies
• Financial donations
To donate, please call 281-398-7353.
Karen Jaggers is a freelance writer and community volunteer.
She lives in Katy with her husband and two children.
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