Some however, say it's too much. They say it would take away from their neighborhood.

A city planning committee and citizen advisory panel approve of the plan. But a city hearing examiner does not - and recommended the City Council not approve it, without conditions.

Now supporters of the expansion are taking their campaign public. Hundreds of them rallied at City Hall to let council members they support the expansion plan.

They held signs, they shared stories, and they presented their evidence as to why Children's Hospital should be able to make its full expansion.

Longtime volunteer Phil Smart Sr. said the hospital absorbed $350,000 of free care in 2003. This year, he said, it's on track for providing $100 million in free care.

Yet many still oppose the expansion in the form proposed by the hospital.

The Laurelhurst Community Club said it's never been against Children's Hospital expanding - it just wants to see a reasonable expansion. It doesn't want to lose any of the affordable housing in the area and the club said it doesn't want the hospital's campus to cross Sand Point Way.

But Carin Towne said, "As a resident of Laurelhurst, I can tell you I have never waited on Sand Point or waited on 45th to get in and out of my neighborhood. What I waited on was a bed for my sick child, that is what I waited on."

Carin and her husband Jeff waited hours for a bed on the day Children's doctors told them their 2-year-old had cancer.

And when they finally got a bed, only a thin curtain separated them from another patient and family who watching sports.

Carin said, "And so as Jeff and I wept just around the corner, they were cheering their sports team."

She said that scene played out over and over, as they spent more than 100 nights at Children's.

After 16 months of fighting, Ben died in December - at the age of 3.

Carin said, "And what makes me so upset is this group that has been so vocally in opposition to its expansion are the same people who, if it was their child or their grandchild, would be screaming and yelling and hollering for the best care."

There's no doubt Carin and others will continue hollering for Seattle City Council to approve Children's full expansion plan.

Council members must make their decisions on this issue, based on the hearing examiner's record, which includes public testimony.

Children's Hospital would like to be approved this fall, so it can start applying for building permits in January.

For more information:

• City Council news release about the hospital expansion request

• Short Q&A about the hospital expansion process, produced by Seattle City Council

• "Think of the neighbors!" - a Feb. 12 entry in The Stranger's Slog

• "Rally for Children's Hospital" - Aug. 18 entry in the Stranger's Slog