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American Family Children’s Hospital ANNUAL REPORT 2007 ON THE COVER: Five-year-old Sora Baker of Janesville enjoys playing in the leaves and soaking up some autumn sunshine. Sora has been treated for cystic fibrosis at the American Family Children’s Hospital since being diagnosed as a newborn. Now in kindergarten, Sora is a delightful little girl who especially loves to play “make believe.” Building Pride Dear Friends, Over the last several weeks, I spent some time reflecting on our accomplishments in 2007 and a theme began to emerge. It is best captured by the word “pride.” I see pride come to life in the eyes of every patient, family and visitor when they see the world-class American Family Children’s Hospital for the first time. Together, we achieved our dream of building this amazing, award-winning facility in 2007, and we could not have done it without your unyielding support. I am proud to be a member of such a caring and generous community—one that appreciates the needs of children and families enough to give its time and money toward the creation of a hospital unlike anything seen before in the region. The generosity of our community—which spans the entire state of Wisconsin—reflects a giving culture that values every child from the small to the tall. When school kids bring in their piggy banks, lemonade sale proceeds or dedicate their birthday gifts to the children’s hospital, one cannot help but feel an enormous sense of pride. I am also proud of our staff that tirelessly comes to work every day to provide the very best care for our children. I am blessed to work with a large group of professionals who are so completely committed to our mission. Last but certainly not least, I am proud of our patients and their families who fight every day to overcome the enormous challenges that life has put before them. They not only fight to heal themselves but, in so doing, find the time and energy to care about others who have to face similar or other obstacles. We value their advocacy and encourage them to continue to speak up and improve the care and service we provide at the American Family Children’s Hospital. I am pleased to share the stories of just a few of our patients with you in this 2007 Annual Report. Every child that enters our doors touches our hearts, and I believe these stories will touch yours. I am proud to have served as interim vice president of such a remarkable organization. Once again, thank you for your commitment to the American Family Children’s Hospital. Sincerely, Jennifer Brazelton Interim Vice President - 2007 Kade Vance 2 AFTER A LIFE-THREATENING CAR CRASH Kade loves life on the farm atching 10-year-old Kade Vance putter around the family and shut the door. I said, ‘You don’t have to shut the door to tell me farm, one almost sees a Norman Rockwell painting come that he died.’” Wto life. Kade was born to roam the farm, and it is hard to imagine him growing up in any other environment. Kade refused to succumb, however. A few hours later, Pediatric Trauma Coordinator Lynne Sears, RN, MS, put her hands on Jill’s A week before his 7th birthday, however, Kade’s life hung in the shoulders and looked her straight in the eye. balance after being gravely injured in a horrible car crash along New program eases with his sister, Karsen, and their dad, Dave. On a drizzly, November “He is not going to die!” afternoon in 2004, Dave was driving the two kids from their rural stress for children in Not quite sure if she could believe Sears’ assurance, Jill told herself Delavan farm to Janesville in search of a birthday present for their she could handle any outcome short of planning her son’s funeral. the E.R. mom, Jill. Kade’s injury report was truly numbing: a severe closed head injury, Michael Kim, MD, is passionate Just before reaching a hilly, obstructed intersection, another driver bruising in his lungs and liver, facial lacerations and a neck injury. He about kids. Hired in October 2007 heading south at 70 mph came out of nowhere, blew through the was on life support for the first two weeks. Slowly, Kade began to as Director of UW Health Pediatric stop sign and smashed straight into the Vance’s car. understand what he heard, but it would be months before he could Emergency Medicine, Dr. Kim is speak or eat food by mouth. He would not start walking again until the first American Family Children’s “He is truly a miracle boy who brings so much joy to last summer—some 30 months after the crash. Hospital physician who is trained and everyone.” board certified in pediatric emergency —Lynne Sears, RN, MS Supported by an incredibly strong family and Children’s Hospital medicine. Pediatric Trauma Coordinator specialists in trauma, neurosurgery, physical/occupational/speech therapies and rehabilitation services, Kade has made an amazing “We see about 7,000 children a year Immediately after the Vance’s car turned end-over-end repeatedly, recovery. in our Emergency Department,” Kim Kade was thrown about 40 feet from the vehicle. Dave and Karsen, says. “With specialists on staff trained who also would sustain severe injuries, remained in the car before it “Kade has come a long way from those first weeks and continues to in pediatric emergency medicine, we finally came to a stop. improve,” Sears says. “He is truly a miracle boy who brings so much can ease some of the distress that joy to everyone.” After an initial stop at Mercy Hospital in Janesville, Kade was rushed any child or family encounters by by ambulance to what is now the American Family Children’s Kade’s mom, Jill, agrees. coming through the E.R. doors.” Hospital in Madison. “Despite everything,” she says, “we have been very fortunate. It Kim, whose research focuses on “I was convinced he was going to die on the way to Madison,” has also made us better people because we don’t take things for pain management, is excited about recalls Jill. “When we got there, I remember someone sat me down granted.” growing the program and anticipates hiring additional pediatric emergency medicine physicians in the near future. 3 Hudson LePine 4 $670,000 RAISED DURING RADIOTHON Hudson’s family gets new outlook hen Madison’s most popular morning radio team— Elizabeth, her husband Andy, and Hudson spent that evening at Connie and Fish of Z104—began hosting the 39-hour home, waiting. WCure Kids Cancer Radiothon in 2005, childhood cancer was not something Connie or Fish had previously spent much time “I remember crying in the car for those families on the thinking about. radio and just seven hours later, we became one of “We both love kids, but neither of us are parents,” says Connie. those families.” Kristina’s star shines —Elizabeth LePine, Mother “When we started talking to these kids and their families on the air about what they have been through and what they deal with, it really forever “It was 9:22 p.m. when the phone rang,” Elizabeth says. “I answered opened our eyes—not only about childhood cancer, but about how When 9-year-old Kristina Schultz of it and our doctor said, ‘Mrs. LePine, Hudson’s blood work came much Fish and I could make a difference.” Marshall, Wisconsin, passed away in back and we think he might have leukemia. I’m sorry to tell you this April 2007 following a six-year fight What a difference it has been! More than $670,000 was raised over the phone, but you need to come to the hospital right away.’” from listeners during the three-day 2007 Radiothon to help support with leukemia, Z104’s Connie and patients and families through better clinic facilities and more pediatric A diagnosis of acute lymphoblastic leukemia was confirmed the Fish knew right away what had to cancer research at the UW. next day. be done. “It really is an awesome experience,” adds Fish. “We give everything “I remember crying in the car for those families on the radio,” says “Fish and I fell in love with Kristina we have for three full days and yet Connie and I still can’t begin to Elizabeth, “and just seven hours later, we became one of those and her family when we first met imagine what these beautiful kids and their moms, dads, brothers families.” the Schultzes back in 2005,” says and sisters go through in the hospital and at home.” Connie. “When she passed away just Hudson’s cancer treatment will continue until 2009, when he begins a month before last year’s Radiothon, kindergarten. He also has received extensive treatment for a blood Consider the story of one mom, Elizabeth LePine of Sun Prairie. there was no choice but to dedicate clot on his brain. Despite it all, his prognosis is good. “My 3-year-old son, Hudson, had fractured his leg in early April the 2007 Radiothon to Kristina.” “Hudson has been through a lot, but he has made an excellent 2006,” Elizabeth remembers. “A few weeks later, a fever started Despite undergoing two bone marrow coming and going, which was followed by an ear infection. Another recovery and is doing well,” says Kenneth De Santes, MD, Hudson’s transplants, years of chemotherapy week passed, and he suddenly started tripping in the yard and not UW Health oncologist.

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