MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A new chapter for the children's hospital, as Le Bonheur celebrated its 58th birthday and they opened the doors to their brand new hospital. Hundreds lined up for a parade and ribbon cutting ceremony.

Planning started five years ago for a new, state of the art children's hospital. Tuesday was the culmination of years of planning, building, fundraising, and eventually celebrating! Now, the community has a new jewel shining in the middle of Midtown.

Alyssa Adair is back at Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. This time, she's not a patient, but a participant in a major milestone.

"If it wasn't for this hospital, my little girl wouldn't be here," parent, Sherman Adair said.

It's the story of hundreds of Mid-South children whose lives were saved inside the walls of Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. Many of them back to see a new chapter in the story of healthcare for kids. Tuesday morning, a parade in front of both the old and new hospitals took place with where hundreds of people braved the heat, and lined the street.

President/CEO Meri Armour said, "We had over 1500 people out there in 90 degree heat, I guess that tells you what this means to the community, it's amazing."

The new $340M, 610,000 square foot hospital is now the largest children's hospital in Tennessee. More than $100M was donated by the Memphis and Mid-South community, making it the largest fundraising campaign in the city's history.

"We really do believe it when we say this is a gift for the community, from the community. We're the only children's hospital around, and it's pretty darned nice, they can count on us, and we can count on them," Armour said.

The Adair family, like so many who shared in the celebration, said they wouldn't have missed out on this day.

Parent Kerry Adair said, "It's a part of my family. We spent Alyssa's first Christmas, her first Thanksgiving, her first New Years, Halloween, so its part of my family."

Armour said this is only the beginning, and there are many great chapters still to come in Le Bonheur's amazing story.

Sherman said, "It's my life, it's my hope. I have the peace of mind that if something happens again to my little girl that I can drive 60 miles up the road and there are doctors who care to make a difference."

The hospital does not open to patients until late September. The 255-bed hospital will nearly double the current space for patient care, research and teaching.