Spring Issue 2009
A Day in the PECKHAM CENTER for CANCER and BLOOD DISORDERS Rady Children’s Magazine is published twice a year for the friends of Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. Its goals are to provide information on past and upcoming events of interest, to update readers on significant news, programs and research, and to show how community support and involvement are Page 3 making a difference in the lives of the children and families in our care. We value your comments and suggestions — 858/966-5965.
Chair, Board of Trustees Rady Children’s Hospital Betsy Boaz Penny A. Dokmo and Health Center Barbara J. Brown Board of Trustees 2009 and Edgar D. Canada, M.D. Daniel T. Carter, C.P.A. President & Chief Executive Officer Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego Henry Chambers, M.D. Kathleen A. Sellick Board of Directors 2009 Richard Chen Mary A. Crowley Penny A. Dokmo (Chair) Chief, Medical Staff Darlyn Davenport Lisa A. Barkett Pages 5 Alvin H. Faierman, M.D. Penny A. Dokmo Kurt Benirschke, M.D. Alison Gildred Rady Children’s Magazine is published David Brenner, M.D. David B. Gillig, FAHP by the Creative Services Department at John G. Davies, Esq. Mark A. Grant Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, Alvin H. Faierman, M.D. William R. Hamlin 3020 Children’s Way, San Diego, CA Marye Anne Fox, Ph.D. Carlee Harmonson John M. Gilchrist, Jr. 92123-4282 Ronald D. Harper, Sr. David F. Hale Nancy G. Henderson, Esq. Editorial Board: Lucy L. Killea, Ph.D. Paul J. Hering Gail R. Knight, M.D. Doug Holmes David B. Gillig, FAHP Catherine J. Mackey, Ph.D. Richard M. Libenson Senior Vice President Santiago Munoz Scott J. Mubarak, M.D. Foundation Executive Director Michael P. Peckham Craig Nichols James E. Olson, CLU, ChFC Sybilla Green Dorros Harry M. Rady Michael P. Peckham Theodore D. Roth Editor Matthew A. Peterson, Esq. James F. Vargas Cathy C. Polk Sybilla Green Dorros Scott N. Wolfe, Esq. Sally L. Manchester Ricchiuti Judy Minich Lloyd Rowland Pages 8-15 Lisa Petrillo William B. Sailer, Esq. Writers Ex-Officio Daniel J. Schreiber Gabriel G. Haddad, M.D. Kathleen A. Sellick Phyllis Snyder Carlos Delgado Herbert C. Kimmons, M.D. Ben Metcalf Christian F. Tresse Anthony E. Magit, M.D. Stacey Valencia Diane Yohe Margareta E. Norton Contributors Angela Wachtmann Thomas Page, M.D. Ray Warren Marjorie Peck, R.N., Ph.D. Lisa Wilcox-Cassidy Susan Bailey Cathy C. Polk Jill N. Young Creative Services Team Leader Kathleen A. Sellick Anne Zouvas
Mike Carnevale Rady Children’s Hospital Designer Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation Foundation Honorary Trustees Board of Trustees 2009 Jean E. Hahn Hardy David Hebble Paul D. Harter Bob Ross James F. Vargas, Chair Joyce F. Klein Dave Siccardi (page 20 bottom) Trish L. Alessio Joan Waitt Pages 16-19 Photographers Marla B. Black
Visit our website at: www.rchsd.org On the cover: Toddler Katelyn Deverman, who is battling a rare form of leukemia, has been hospitalized for months at Rady Children’s. Meet Katelyn and the other patients who were treated at the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders on February 6, 2009 (see pages 8-15). Page 25 A Message from the CEO
A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO s someone who supports Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, It is because we care about each life — every child — that we Ayou are a person who cares for kids. That’s why I need to tell remain committed to our growth. Our new Patient Care Pavilion you in advance: This issue of Rady Children’s Magazine will touch (pages 16-19) is vital so that we can ensure that we are here for your heart like never before. families in the future. We reach out to the world to help keep children safe (page 29), because if we can protect even one child We — as an organization and as individuals — clearly believe in our from abuse, then we are doing the right thing. responsibility to bring health, hope and healing to our community’s children. As you spend a day with us in our Peckham Center for And it is because of our commitment to children that we are diligent Cancer and Blood Disorders (pages 8-15), meet the children, and in maintaining our financial strength, even in this challenging hear their stories, you will see how important that responsibility economy. We are ready for the future, and we are humbled and really is. honored by those of you who continue to generously support us. It’s easy, sometimes, to focus on the number of children who come Together, we are bringing our message of health, hope and healing to us — the facts and figures. We help thousands of families every to families every day — one child at a time. year. Our impact on the community is real. We make a difference and feel honored to do so. With warm regards, The truth is, though, that the difference we make is felt one child at a time. Viewing our work through the eyes of a family coping with cancer helps keep everything in perspective. Their stories will inspire you. Kathleen A. Sellick President and Chief Executive Officer Annual Meeting 2009
Annual Meeting 2009 This year, we let the kids do the talking!
ho said an Annual Meeting can’t be fun? On January 27, Rady Children’s volunteer leadership and most generous supporters gathered Wat the Hyatt Regency La Jolla for a very different kind of meeting — one in which children participated in most of the presentations. Twelve-year-old former patient Keri Jucha (see also page 26) joined Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation Chair Jim Vargas to celebrate philanthropy, a message made all the more moving by Keri’s personal commitment to raising money. “I am just one person — and a young one at that,” she told the group. “And yet I was able to raise $7,700 dollars with my jewelry fundraiser. You are a much bigger group. I know that all together you will all be able to make a big difference in the lives of children who find themselves in the Hospital.” President and CEO Kathleen Sellick took the stage with 14-year-old Patrick Ivison to talk about the future — she in a seat and Patrick in his wheelchair. Together, they discussed everything from the changing economy to Rady Children’s commitment to research and becoming a world- class organization. “We will always care about the kids in our community first,” Patrick explained. “It’s just very cool that we’ll be helping kids all over the world, too.” From the financial news — Rady Children’s achieved its best operating performance in 2008 — to the many stories of children on the table tops and video screen, to the presentation of the Thomas F. Carter Leadership Award (see page 28), it was a day that put the focus right where it belongs — on kids!
Three patients who presented at the Annual Meeting (from left) Steve Ohrnstein, Keri Jucha and Patrick Ivison, with Rady Children’s President and CEO Kathleen Sellick. Other patients, ranging from 3 years old to teens, participated via pre-recorded videotaped messages.
New Board of Trustees Chair Penny A. Dokmo John G. Davies, Esq., who has served as Chair of Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego Board of Trustees for the last two years, handed over the reins to the new Board Chair, longtime supporter and leader Penny A. Dokmo. “Today, as I have listened to our leaders — and our patients — I am more proud than ever before of my relationship with Rady Children’s,” she said, “This meeting has reminded us all of the real reason we do all we do: It’s for the children. Their voices help guide us in all we do.”
2 Rady Children’s Magazine Medical Excellence & Research
Rady Children’s Physicians Honored
ady Children’s 640 physicians are on the Rforefront — treating patients, training interns, residents and fellows, attending conferences, publishing articles and books, conducting research, promoting programs to keep kids healthy and, above all, offering compassionate care and hope to families in San Diego. Each year, at our Annual Meeting, our Board of Trustees selects just a few of these outstanding physicians to recognize them for their achievements. Patient Steve Ohrnstein (see opposite page) helped present the awards to the following physicians: Excellence in Clinical Care: • Dr. John J. Lamberti, Jr., the Eugene and Joyce Klein Director of Rady Children’s Heart Institute, as well as the Director of the combined Division of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery for Rady Children’s, Children’s Specialists of San Diego and UCSD. • Dr. John W. M. Moore, Director of the Division of Cardiology at Rady Children’s and professor at Award-winning physicians (from left to right) Drs. John W. M. Moore, Erin Stucky and the Schools of Medicine for UCSD and UCLA. Gabriel Haddad. Not pictured: Dr. John J. Lamberti, Jr. These two world-renowned physicians are dedicated to transforming Rady Children’s Heart Institute into a top-tier comprehensive pediatric cardiac center. Dr. Lamberti started working at Rady Children’s in 1978. Later, after leaving to practice at Cornell and Stanford, Dr. Lamberti returned to Rady Children’s in 2005. Dr. Moore is a specialist in Interventional Cardiology who began working at Rady Children’s in 1991. Together, Drs. Lamberti and Moore have been instrumental in recruiting new physicians, purchasing new technology and developing the hospital’s Catheterization Lab. Drs. Lamberti and Moore are now focused on bringing a Heart Transplant Program to Rady Children’s. Excellence in Teaching: • Dr. Erin Stucky, Director of Graduate Medical Education, Rady Children’s. Dr. Erin Stucky has been tireless in her support of residency training and in her drive to improve the educational experience at Rady Children’s, the only pediatric teaching and research hospital for our region. Since 2001, Dr. Stucky has been the Director of Graduate Medical Education. She is also the Director of Rady Children’s Hospital Medicine fellowship program (see page 7). In 2006, Dr. Stucky received the Society of Hospital Medicine’s Award for Outstanding Service in Hospital Medicine and, last year, she received the Teaching Attending of the Year Award. Excellence in Research: • Dr. Gabriel Haddad, Chair of the Department of Pediatrics at UCSD and Physician-in-Chief at Rady Children’s. Dr. Haddad, who was elected to the elite Association of American Physicians this year, is internationally known for his research on the cellular and molecular effects of low oxygen on a variety of susceptible and key target organs. His work will ultimately translate into new or better therapies to benefit children suffering from acute or chronic breathing and lung disorders. Dr. Haddad has published more than 250 original papers in high-impact journals and has received continuous funding from the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development for more than 25 years.
Rady Children’s Magazine 3 Medical Excellence & Research
The Golden Boy Young Patient Becomes Ironman
hen Brad Golden was only 2, doctors found a rare cyst choking the main blood supply to his brain. It was inoperable, they said back Win 1985. his family was committed to doing everything they could and found him the miracle he needed. Neurosurgeons successfully removed a large portion of the cyst, but the toddler still faced danger especially from elevated cerebral pressure that caused him to suffer seizures for another 10 years. “He would say, ‘Mommy, I’m having an earthquake,’” recalled his mother, Sunny Golden. As a kid, Brad was always on the move, climbing and jumping and kicking, though his body was unready for rough and tumble. Since one blow to the head would be fatal, he spent years in a protective helmet, explaining to curious kids, “I broke my head.” While pushing the envelope physically, his medical condition presented other challenges mentally; he suffered from short-term memory lapses. School officials tried to steer him into special education, but his family refused to limit his options. “We never told him he couldn’t do something,” said Sunny, who became so grateful for the work at Rady Children’s for both her sons, she became an active volunteer and, eventually, Auxiliary President. Brad’s father, Brian, has donated countless hours of his time and expertise as a volunteer veterinarian for the Hospital’s Canine Therapy program. Brad never stopped pushing for more challenges, so doctors finally allowed him to compete in swimming and golf. Brad took off and became a star in both. He started surfing, he earned his Eagle Scout badge. He learned to drive. Brad not only finished high school, he earned an engineering degree and landed a job at energy company Solar Turbines. Epic accomplishments, all, but still not enough for Brad. What motivates him? “Getting a second chance at life,” says Brad. “And appreciating every minute afterward.” At 25 he’s now a full-fledged Ironman — competing in grueling races that involve biking 112 miles, swimming 2.4 miles then running a full marathon, 26.2 miles. His life list is studded with amazing goals, including competing in Ironman Hawaii, racing up volcanoes, qualifying for the U.S. Open Triathlon and camping on a glacier. Brad Golden, former miracle baby, has done everything in his power to ensure an earthshaking future.
Brad Golden when he was a young patient at Rady Children’s in the 1980s and the “Golden Boy” today.
4 Rady Children’s Magazine Medical Excellence & Research
Camera in a Pill Futuristic Technology Helps Doctors Diagnose Disorders
t isn’t much bigger than a vitamin. But inside this Ipower-packed pill is an amazing piece of technology: A miniature camera that takes more than 50,000 snapshots as it travels through the body. In February, gastroenterologists at Rady Children’s began using the PillCam® capsule for the first time as a diagnostic tool to evaluate the small intestine. “The PillCam is an exciting technology because it allows us to acquire images of the entire small bowel, without surgical intervention,” said Mary Abigail Garcia, M.D., pediatric gastroenterologist at Rady Children’s and UCSD. “The procedure is painless, does not require anesthesia or sedation, and does not subject a patient to radiation exposure.” Fourteen-year-old Catherine Hattrup was the first patient at Rady Children’s to have the procedure, called a capsule endoscopy. Some patients have trouble swallowing the large pill, but not Catherine. “It was really easy,” she said. “It was just like swallowing a regular pill.” Wire leads with sensors on the ends were attached to Catherine’s abdomen and connected to a recording device worn on a belt around her waist. The pill took about eight hours to move through the small intestine, transmitting two pictures per second to the recorder. Cindy Hattrup, Catherine’s mom, said that during that time Catherine “went home, waited a couple hours, had some chicken nuggets, then kind of kicked back and watched TV.” Later in the day, Cindy and Catherine returned with the recorder. Xenia Hom, M.D., pediatric 14-year-old patient Catherine Hattrup prepares to swallow a PillCam® capsule (above). The gastroenterologist at Rady Children’s and UCSD, PillCam® capsule, about the size of a large vitamin, contains a miniature camera, light, then downloaded more than 50,000 color images transmitter, and batteries. onto a computer, which compressed them into a video. Dr. Hom and Dr. Garcia will evaluate the video to determine the next step in treatment. With more capsule endoscopies planned, this new technology offers the promise of bettering the lives of our patients through a method that’s non-invasive and, as Catherine puts it, “pretty cool.”
Rady Children’s Magazine 5 Medical Excellence & Research
Meet Our New Lena Sefton Clark Orthopedics Fellow
he legacy of Lena Sefton Clark is reaching far Tbeyond the century mark. Mrs. Clark built a strong foundation for our hospital philanthropy through the annual Charity Ball, now a century old (see page 20). In 2007, her family created the Lena Sefton Clark Endowed Fellowship in Pediatric Orthopedics to keep her ideals alive. The endowment creates a perpetual source of funding to support education, training and research for generations of physicians to come — and the countless children they will care for. That generational reach is especially true Lena Sefton Clark Fellow Meghan N. Imrie, M.D. (center) pictured with (from left to for this year’s fellowship awardee, Dr. Meghan N. Imrie. right) Dennis Wenger, M.D., Director, Pediatric Orthopedic Training Program; Kathleen Sellick, Rady Children’s President and CEO; Mary Clark, representing the Sefton Clark The Bay Area native trained at University of California- family; and Scott Mubarak, M.D., Director, Rady Children’s Division of Orthopedics. San Diego Medical School and served her residency at Stanford University, following her father and grandfather into orthopedics. “I love kids, and in pediatric orthopedics you get to work on every part of the body. You get to see pretty immediate and long-lasting effects,” says Dr. Imrie. So passionate is she about medicine, she worked her way up the hospital hierarchy by starting as an orderly mopping floors and transporting patients. That was in between training as a competitive gymnast, a sport she continued to compete in while completing her undergraduate degree at Yale. Dr. Imrie’s notable research includes investigation of dysplasia in breech births and ACL reconstruction (knee ligaments). As she said, “It’s wonderful that Mrs. Clark’s family is giving their support to help train better orthopedists.”
Rady Children’s Rady Children’s Ranked in Top 25 Bernardy Center Also by Parents Magazine Nationally Ranked ady Children’s was ranked as one of the top 25 children’s he Helen Bernardy Center for Medically Fragile Children, Rhospitals in the United States. The survey, which ranked TRady Children’s convalescent hospital, was ranked by more than 200 children’s health centers nationwide, was U.S. News & World Report as one of “America's Best Nursing compiled by Parents magazine. Rady Children’s was one of Homes.” The rankings were announced March 11, 2009 on the only three West Coast hospitals among the top 30 in the magazine’s website. country. Only 27 out of more than 15,000 nursing homes nationwide Even higher on the rankings was our Orthopedics department, received this honor. Our 59-bed Center was named in honor of earning top honors as No. 6 in the nation. The complete its former Director, Helen Bernardy, as a result of a generous survey appeared in the February 2009 issue of the mass- gift from the Waitt Family Foundation. It was the only center circulation magazine. honored in California, and one of only three pediatric facilities honored across the country.
6 Rady Children’s Magazine Medical Excellence & Research
Rady Children’s Hospital Medicine Program Hospitalists Provide Special Expertise to Inpatients
e have the longest-running Pediatric Hospital Medicine Children’s former Chief of Staff (2006-2008), is Director of the “Wprogram in the United States,” says Erin Stucky, M.D., Division. Director of Graduate Medical Education at Rady Children’s (see Rady Children’s fellowship program in Hospital Medicine was page 3), with evident pride. Rady Children’s division was set up in established five years ago, with the mission to train future leaders in 1978 by Dr. Irvin (Buzz) Kaufman, long before Hospital Medicine Hospital Medicine. It’s one of nine such programs in the U.S. and became commonplace in both pediatric and adult hospitals Canada and the 3rd oldest. There are currently two Hospital nationwide. Medicine fellows at Rady Children’s who will be graduating Hospitalists are physicians who manage a patient’s care in the in June. hospital — from admission through discharge. Their presence Rady Children’s Division of Hospital Medicine has been very allows busy Primary Care Physicians to turn over care of their successful during its three-decade history. The program has grown hospitalized patients to these specialists. Each patient on the in and around the San Diego community, with Rady Children’s Hospital Medicine service has a single hospitalist to monitor and current 12 hospitalists providing inpatient care on our campus, as coordinate the care received from various caregivers, leading to well as at Sharp Grossmont Hospital and Palomar Medical Center in improved quality of care. collaboration with the community. In addition to patient care, hospitalists at Rady Children’s are also “The 12 of us are on just about every Rady Children’s committee involved in clinical quality, teaching, research, advocacy and because we believe in improving the healthcare system for leadership related to hospital medicine. Some of Rady Children’s children,” states Dr. Stucky, underscoring the role the hospitalists current leaders, including Dr. Kaufman, Chief Medical Officer and play in all aspects of hospital care, from quality improvement to Senior Vice President for Health Affairs, and Dr. Herb Kimmons, information technology. “Our goal is to make every hospitalization President of Children’s Specialists of San Diego, began their careers as smooth, safe and efficient as possible.” at Rady Children’s as hospitalists. Dr. Cindy Kuelbs, Rady
Rady Children’s Physician Hospitalists and Fellows (from left to right): Alicia Cantu, Ami Doshi, Laurie Bernard-Stover, Erin Stucky, Weijen Chang (UCSD Internal Medicine/Pediatrics), Wendy Wright, Sara Marchese, Cindy Kuelbs, Jenna Rosenthal and Christopher Cannavino (Infectious Diseases and Hospital Medicine Fellow). Not pictured: Julia Beauchamp-Walters, Edward Epstein, Daniel Hershey, Keith Vaux, and Heather Pierce (Fellow).
Rady Children’s Magazine 7 Cover Story
t’s every parent’s nightmare and it happened 145 times last covered in the media, these disorders can be equally frightening Iyear. Oncologists at Rady Children’s had to deliver the or life-altering. devastating news to parents that their child had cancer. That day Whether the diagnosis is cancer or a blood disorder, the families becomes the first in a long journey — a journey to fight what quickly become “experts” on their child’s condition, and well must seem like a scary C-monster to children and grownups alike. versed in medical jargon and the routine of the hospital. Rady Cancer is the #1 diagnosis at the Peckham Center, but patients Children’s becomes their home for days, weeks and even months also come for the treatment of blood disorders — hemophilia, at a time. On the following pages, you’ll meet some of these sickle cell disease and von Willebrand’s disease. Although less courageous patients and their families.
8 Rady Children’s Magazine A Day in the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
TLC for Parents Parent Liaisons This special program, which was founded by Lisa Peckham (see page 10) and funded through philanthropy, was created in 1994 to help guide families through the unfamiliar and often frightening journey of childhood cancer. Most of the Parent Early Morning Liaisons, like Gloria Rucobo, have lost children to cancer; in Gloria’s case, it was her 11-year-old son At dawn, the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders is eerily quiet. Only a few who passed away in 2006. Since Parent of the hospitalized patients are stirring in their cribs and beds. Most have a parent within Liaisons have been in their shoes, families hand-holding distance on a special foldout sleeper chair. instinctively respond to their By 7:00 a.m., the day-shift nurses begin huddling with the night nurses to prep themselves on empathetic connection. the essential facts and figures they’ll need as the guardians of 21 seriously ill children. They detail the every measurement of “their kids.” “...He was up half the night... she had a fever spike...” The hallways slowly begin to come alive with the sound of voices and the arrival of breakfast trays. Most of the shades on the windows remain drawn tightly shut. On a unit where heart-wrenching drama occurs daily, it is often expressed privately. In front of the patients, parents and visitors wear their game faces. Conversation stays upbeat. But look closely and, sometimes, in the quiet hallways or in the Parents Center, their guard comes down. From the nursing station, a nurse looks up to see a woman carefully close a patient’s door and back away, her whole body slumping as if she’s lost the will to stand. The nurse calls out a greeting and the woman drifts over, leaning heavily on the counter. The nurse stands up and reaches out to embrace the now weeping woman. On this day there will be many, many more hugs exchanged by patients, families and caregivers, as if charging the batteries of hope and strength from each other.
Wearing child-friendly scrubs, night- and day-shift nurses convene in their cozy lounge. In front of little lockers decorated with photos of loved ones, the night shift preps the day shift on the status of “their” patients.
7:30 am
The newest arrival, one of the two
Rady Children’s Magazine 9 A Day in the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
TLC for Patients Mid-Morning Child Life Specialists By mid-morning, the tempo has changed dramatically. The Carley Copley Being treated at a hospital can be a very scary Outpatient Clinic is open and staff are checking in patients for chemotherapy, experience for youngsters and a stressful one for blood work and checkups. Last year, there were 13,921 such visits to this busy their parents and siblings. Child Life Specialists, who clinic. are professionally certified, help patients and their families cope with the hospital experience. Among their Some of Rady Children’s hematologists and oncologists are busy seeing clinic roles, they help children get ready for a frightening patients; others are on rounds of the 21 inpatients. medical procedure; provide diversionary activities; visit classrooms to help classmates understand the In one of the inpatient rooms, 19-month-old Katelyn Deverman is on the move. illness of a returning student; supervise She is a live wire toddler — all action, all curiosity. For months, she has been playroom activities; and teach children hospitalized with a rare form of leukemia. Now she is confined to her room with a relaxation techniques. stomach “bug,” which is not at all unusual for a kid with a compromised immune system. Her 8-month pregnant mom, Krystal, and dad, Todd, do their best to keep her occupied with boxes and boxes of toys and books. But, today, even Dr. Seuss’ Hop on Pop is not having its usual calming effect.
At left, Katelyn "comforts" her doll. Above, Dr. Deborah Shiff examines 12-year-old Ivanna Ford who has been previously treated for cancer. Today, Ivanna comes in for a quick checkup before heading back to her 6th grade classroom.
Our Generous Donors: The Peckham Family The Peckhams have been longtime supporters of Rady Children’s. Nancy and Peter Peckham founded the Palliative Care Program. Daughter-in-law Lisa founded the Parent Liaison program (see page 9) and later began H.O.P.E.S. (Hematology/Oncology Parents Extending Support). Son Michael brought Fantasy on Ice to San Diego (see page 23). Gifts from the Peckham family totaling $10 million support critical cancer and blood disorder programs, as well as the construction of the new Peckham Center (see page 16 -19).
10 Rady Children’s Magazine A Day in the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
Late Morning
A constant stream of children and family members flow into the outpatient clinic, which peaks in volume between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. These families are used to waiting and come equipped with bags of snacks and diversions, coloring books, electronic Gameboys. The kids, even the toddlers, know the drill. In swoops “Super McKee,” a 4-year-old outfitted in a shiny blue superhero cape made by his grandmother for days like today. “So he can be brave,” explains Super Mom, Laura. Early this year, Harrison (“McKee”) Thorsen was diagnosed with a blood disorder known as ITP (Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura). Inside his tiny body, a battle of good vs. evil rages. His body is kicking out good platelets, mistaking them for something foreign. He comes to Rady Children’s to make sure the good guys win. Sweet, shy, Nathaly Gonzalez has already been whisked into the Treatment Room for chemotherapy. She sits and waits with her aunt, her tote bag at the ready with art supplies and books. Though a big girl of 10 now, Nathaly clutches her treasured pink blankie. It offers a thin measure of comfort against the cancer which she has been fighting since May 2006. As lunchtime approaches, clinic staff start eyeing the Valentine’s Day cake brought in earlier that morning by patient mom Rita Ford. “I just like to do it to thank everybody for our wonderful care,” says Rita, whose been baking her fancier-than- a-bakery cakes monthly during the last five years that her 12-year-old daughter, Ivanna (see opposite page), has been treated for cancer.
TLC for Patients Healing Arts As the name suggests, Healing Arts are various art forms that help create an optimum environment for healing. These are particularly important for young patients who may have a limited understanding of what is happening to them in the hospital. Rady Children’s has three such programs — the Music Program, the Arts Program and the Storyteller Above, "Super McKee," outfitted in a Program. All three programs, which are 100% shiny blue cape, tries valiantly to smile as dependent on philanthropy, help create the he anticipates yet another blood test. At kid-friendly atmosphere that is the right, Nathaly Gonzalez keeps busy with her art while she waits for her hallmark of Rady chemotherapy session to begin. Children’s.
Our Generous Donors: Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary, which was founded in 1953, a year before the hospital itself opened, has consistently been one of our top fundraisers. Last year, the Auxiliary raised $6.9 million for Rady Children’s (see page 23). The Auxiliary members have a special place in their hearts for cancer patients and proceeds from many of their events — including Fantasy on Ice, their annual winter gala, the Rancho Santa Fe Unit’s gala and the La Playa Unit’s Celebration of Champions — specifically benefit the Peckham Center.
Rady Children’s Magazine 11 A Day in the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders TLC for Patients Integrative Medicine This program, funded by a family foundation, Early Afternoon started in 2005. It is a holistic program that goes Riley Spiering arrives early for his 1:30 p.m. MRI. He was diagnosed with acute beyond the incredible advances in research and myeloid leukemia (AML) at age 6 in July 2004. His case was unusual because he medicine to help every aspect of a child’s care. received two sibling-to-sibling bone marrow transplants from two of his four Nutritional counseling and education are offered for brothers. He had been doing great and was even off all his meds for the last six hematology and oncology patients in both English and months. Spanish. Services include healing touch, massage, acupuncture, mind/body skills, nutrition Then a mass developed in his education, and yoga for hematology/oncology stomach. Was the cancer back? And and chronic pain patients, their families, if so, what does this mean? When and the staff who serve them. Riley comes back to the crowded clinic waiting room after his MRI, his oncologist, Dr. Jennifer Willert, crouches down to look him in the eye and create a zone of intimacy. “You take it easy this weekend, you hear?” Dr. Willert has Riley’s mom, Laurie, on speed dial and will be back in touch when the results come in. Laura is understandably anxious. “I should listen to Riley more. Riley never gets upset.”
Riley Spiering arrives at Rady Children’s appropriately dressed in sweat pants, rather than jeans. The 10-year-old explains to those who do not possess his knowledge of technology, “You can’t wear anything with metal in the MRI.”
Excellence in Patient Care The Peckham Center is the region’s only facility for pediatric bone marrow and blood cell transplantation. The Center, in conjunction with the University of California, San Diego, recently received accreditation from the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) for the Bone Marrow Transplant Program. Last year, seven children had bone marrow transplants. Riley Spiering received bone marrow and blood cell transplants from his two older brothers (see above).
12 Rady Children’s Magazine A Day in the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
Mid-Afternoon
Twelve-year-old James Vincent (“Vince”) Reilly began limping during baseball season, but said nothing about the pain. He was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in his left leg. It’s the most common type of bone cancer, and the sixth most common type of cancer in children. The incision made to remove the tumor goes from Vince’s knee to his muscular upper thigh. “We’re still learning what this might mean,” explains his dad, Jim, as he contemplates Vince’s future. In the hallway, Jim is pacing, trying to burn off his anxiety. He briefly chokes up, but refuses to let this get the best of him. Vince has a favorite nurse, Sarah Goodwin, whom he calls “Princess Sarah.” They have a special connection and even share the same January birthday on the flip side (she was born in 1979, he in 1997). Such close, personal relationships often develop quickly in a unit where every day is a battle for life. By mid-afternoon, Vince and his mom, Vickie, are walking the hallways. He’s on crutches but determined to get out of bed and move. They play ping-pong and then Vince heads off for a grueling hour of physical therapy. Baseball season is gearing up...
TLC for Teens SOMBFAB Some of My Best Friends Are Bald (SOMBFAB), now in its 18th year, is a unique teen support group set up by oncology nurse Amy Crisman. The group meets monthly and also has special events, such as excursions and beach parties. A popular prom night, hosted by the Friends of Twelve-year-old Vince Reilly spends Scott Foundation, is held for all those teenagers most of the morning in his room who missed their own big night or who think resting. By mid-afternoon, he is ready to get moving — to play ping- they might not be well enough to attend pong, to have physical therapy and their next one. to roam the hallways on crutches.
Excellence in Patient Care The staff at the Peckham Center includes 11 hematologists and oncologists, two Nurse Practitioners, 90 registered nurses, six nurse case managers, one educator and two full-time translators. The psychosocial team includes two psychologists (one bilingual), six psychology interns, four social workers, three Child Life Specialists and two Parent Liaisons. Evaluation of tumors, blood banking and other services are provided by the hospital’s pathologists. Rady Children’s HomeCare provides services and supplies to the patient’s home after discharge.
Rady Children’s Magazine 13 A Day in the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
Late Afternoon
Five-year-old Wesley Overton’s saga seems more like a trauma than cancer. The Friday before, Wesley’s mom, Heather, took him to the San Diego Zoo to keep him distracted while they awaited results of a scan. Seven days later, he was going home from Rady Children’s, minus one kidney. Within that one week, surgeons had removed a 14-centimeter tumor (a cancer known as Wilms’ Tumor) and the kidney in which it had developed. Unlike his parents struggling to keep their composure, Wesley seemed non-plussed. Throughout the terrible drama and their week-long battle, they focused on practicing positive visualization exercises. “We focused on Wolverine because he has super healing powers,” explains Wesley’s dad, John. “Everyone said they had never seen anybody heal so quickly.” Like many parents in the Peckham Center, they’re willing to try just about anything to save their child.
Five-year-old Wesley Overton's appearance belies the fact that he has just had a kidney removed. At left, Dr. Willert examines him, while later (below) Child Life Specialist TLC for Patients Andrea Frenken distracts Wesley while a Volunteers nurse performs a medical procedure. Rady Children’s volunteers give the most precious gift of all: Their time. Last year, volunteers donated 39,650 hours of their time, equal to a $715,683 gift. Fifteen teens and adults volunteer in the Peckham Center — playing games with patients, providing support to families or helping hospital staff. Another 48 people volunteer in the Starlight Activity Room. Thirty volunteer dogs in our Canine Care Therapy Program make regular playroom visits to the Peckham Center.
Excellence in Research Rady Children’s is involved in 72 research studies for 13 different types of cancer and cancer-related diseases. In July 2007, a collaborative alliance was established between Rady Children’s, UCSD and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Rady Children’s is also a member of the 240-institution, international Children’s Oncology Group (COG). Through research and clinical trials, researchers hope to continue to improve cure rates and the quality of life for children and adolescents, locally and globally.
14 Rady Children’s Magazine A Day in the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
Early Evening
Wesley is the lucky one. Additional patients were admitted to the Peckham Center this day, but Wesley gets to leave. Some will stay Surviving Cancer through the weekend; others will stay the next Cancer is the leading cause of death by week and the week after that. The Peckham disease among U.S. children. Last year, there Center begins to quiet down again, except for were 10,730 new cases of cancer diagnosed in the sound of the dinner cart rolling down the children from birth to 14 years of age. Leukemias hallways. and central nervous system tumors account for more than half of new cases. Many of the caregivers — doctors, fellows, residents, interns — have gone home for the During the past 30 years, mortality rates have day. The day nurses are still here, but they are declined dramatically. The combined five-year undoubtedly looking forward to the end of survival rate for all childhood cancers has their 12-hour shift. By 7:00 p.m., a fresh crew improved from less than 50 percent of night nurses will arrive to start another before the 1970s to 80 cycle of care. percent today. While many caregivers have gone, Child Life Specialists and volunteers are still making their rounds. One volunteer, 18-year-old Alesha Thomas, who herself is a Rady Children’s Orthopedics patient, has just arrived for her shift. Another young volunteer plays with little Katelyn as her parents take a much-needed break. Katelyn has her own pink table where she can color; tons of toys crowd her crib and every surface of the room. Everyone who walks through Katelyn’s decorated door is charmed by the little pixie with the giant spirit. Katelyn’s spirit is symbolic of what goes on day in and day out in the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders. It’s the spirit of compassionate care exuded by the caregivers. It’s the fighting spirit of the families as they battle their children’s monsters. It’s the spirit of empathy and support flowing freely from family to family. Above all, it’s a spirit of hope. On this day, February 6, 2009, during a typical 12-hour shift in the Peckham Center, some battles end in a draw, but many others are won.
Wesley is all smiles (top two photos) as he prepares to leaves the hospital. As this day comes to an end, a young volunteer entertains little Katelyn (above), as 18-year-old volunteer Alesha Thomas (left) arrives for her shift.
Our Future: The New Peckham Center Both the inpatient rooms and the outpatient clinic for hematology and oncology patients are currently housed in the original, 1954 hospital building on Frost Street. By the end of 2010, these will move to a new and expanded Peckham Center in the Patient Care Pavilion now under construction (see pages 16-19). The new Peckham Center will feature 38 private rooms with advanced air filtering equipment, 12 outpatient exam rooms, as well as treatment and procedure rooms.
Rady Children’s Magazine 15 Giving
Our New Patient Care Pavilion Reaches Half-Way Mark On these four pages, you’ll witness the phenomenal progress being made on the construction of our new Patient Care Pavilion. More importantly, you will see the faces of some of our donors — Erna and Andrew Viterbi, Amy and Mitchell Robins, and Paige and Joe Bezdek — and their families as they watched the fruits of their philanthropy beginning to take shape.
ur new Patient Care Pavilion is undoubtedly Othe most exciting construction project in Rady Children’s 55-year history. It will stand four stories tall and be made of concrete, steel and glass. But it is more than just a building — it is a symbol of the heart and soul of our mission. This new Patient Care Pavilion is, by far, our largest construction project. The 279,000 square- foot building will be double the size of the Rose Pavilion, which itself was considered gigantic when it opened in 1993. It is also, by far, our most ambitious. But, as Kathleen Sellick, Rady Children’s President and CEO, has said, “This is not just a wonderful new expansion. This is not a choice. This is how we will fulfill our mission to care for the children who need us.” Rady Children’s expansion will indeed ensure that we can care for every child who needs us. It will provide much-needed facilities and a larger safety net for the growing number of children who will call San Diego home for decades to come. In the good news department, the new Patient Care Pavilion is now taking its place in Rady Children’s skyline and can be seen from I- 805. Construction has reached the half-way mark.
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When the Viterbi, Robins and Bezdek families visited Rady Children’s between October 2008 and January 2009 to sign their names and messages on walls and beams of the new building, they definitely had to use their imaginations. They had seen renderings of what the new Patient Care Pavilion will look like, but at that time, it was little more than a steel structure. Since then, progress has been steady — on time and on budget. By midwinter, the pre-cast concrete panels were installed on the first and second floors and scaffolding was in place to complete the stucco exterior. The installation of the windows will continue from now through June.
Erna and Andrew Viterbi: A Groundbreaking Family Three generations of the Viterbi family gathered together at the construction site of the new Patient Care Pavilion to celebrate their commitment to Rady Children’s. At the end of 2008, Erna and Andrew Viterbi made a $6 million gift to the hospital. Andrew Viterbi, a co-founder of communications giant Qualcomm, and his family have spent their lives as groundbreakers and have given back in countless ways through the Viterbi Family Foundation of the Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego. This wonderful gift is being recognized through the naming of the new hematology/oncology outpatient clinic as the Viterbi Family Outpatient Clinic for Cancer and Blood Disorders. “Erna and I hope that, by contributing to the construction of the Patient Care Pavilion and the Cancer Care Center at Rady Children’s, we can improve the lives of the children in our community,” said Andrew Viterbi. “These are the children who need it most — those who require expert medical care to not only survive, but thrive.”
Rady Children’s Magazine 17 Giving
The first floor containing the Warren Family Surgical Center will be more than 70 percent complete by early Spring. Also on the horizon will be the structural steel going up on the pedestrian bridges linking the Rose Pavilion to its new neighbor, and the elevators will be operational by this summer. April will be a roof-raising month. The roof will be put on and the stucco will be applied to the precast concrete
In celebration of the indelible spirit of Sean The Robins Family: Inspiring Youth Lewis Robins, there will soon be a special haven — the Seany Room — in our new Patient Care Pavilion for teenagers. Teens struggling with cancer will have a center of their own. Sean’s love of music helped inspire him during his seven-year fight with Ewing’s sarcoma, a form of bone cancer. After his passing in 2006, just before his 23rd birthday, his parents, Amy and Mitchell Robins, launched The Seany Foundation (www.theseanyfoundation.org) and a record company, Seany Records, in his memory. “He was a pioneer who fought until his final hour for his own life and the hopes of inspiring an image of strength in all humans who suffer through cancer,” his parents write on his website. “We carry his flame of hope and empathy.” In January, Amy and Mitchell Robins, along with other members of the family, including Sean’s younger sister, Emily, signed the walls and beams in the new Patient Care Pavilion where the Seany Room will be located.
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walls that were installed in late winter. And with the roof on, our new Patient Care Pavilion will be heading into the home stretch for completion in 2010. In the meantime, some of the fenced off areas between the old and the new parts of the Hospital will be removed. This will allow more public access to the landscaped areas and our popular Leichtag Family Healing Garden — just in time for spring blooms.
The Bezdek Family: Giving to Care for Newborns As one of the earliest major donors to the hospital’s new Patient Care Pavilion, Paige and Joe Bezdek led the way in the effort to care for future generations of San Diego’s children, particularly those who may need Rady Children’s new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). During their visit, the Bezdeks put their mark on the place where this new 32- bed NICU will be located. The Bezdeks’ generosity includes a new patient room named in honor of their daughter, Elizabeth (Libby), who received life-saving emergency care and open-heart surgery as a newborn in 2005. A portion of their gift included the creation of a named endowment that enables NICU staff and therapists to purchase baby bonding items, such as voice recorders for parents to play at the bedside. “Today, thanks to the heroic efforts of the nurses, doctors and surgeons at Rady Children’s, Libby is a healthy and energetic child who delights her parents and younger sister,” her parents said.
Rady Children’s Magazine 19 Giving
San Diego’s Charity Ball Turns 100! Gracious... charming... captivating... enthralling... delightful... and, above all, young-at-heart... These are just some of the adjectives used to describe the grande dame who celebrated her 100th anniversary on Valentine’s Day. It’s not a person, but an amazing tradition — a formal, black tie dinner and dance that dates back to 1909. The Charity Ball may have turned 100, but it has certainly not lost any of its luster or its old-world charm. Nearly 700 guests dined in the Crown and Coronet Rooms, tastefully decorated with velvet and six-foot high centerpieces. A video showcasing the history of the Charity Ball was shown and a quartet of musicians from Forever Plaid sang the Charity Ball Song. Thirty-two of the past Chairmen were introduced as they paraded in and were invited with their partners to dance the traditional first waltz, the Blue Danube, played by Society Beat. Our thanks go to all the past Chairmen and their hard-working committee members who made this year’s Charity Ball such a success. The evening netted $350,000, including a challenge match of $100,000 from the Rady family, earmarked for our new Patient Care Pavilion (see page 16-19). The incredible generosity of our Charity Ball donors will help ensure that Rady Children’s has everything it needs to care for our community’s children.
SAVE THE DATE! 101st Anniversary Charity Ball, Saturday, February 13, 2010.
Past Chairmen pictured the night of the Centennial Celebration, many of them wearing the same gown they wore when they led their Charity Ball.
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North American Leadership Conference: Seattle, Washington, May 7, 2009 ext month, the 2009 North American Leadership Conference and Gala will be held in Seattle. It will be hosted by Honorary Chair NTom Brokaw, former anchor of “NBC Nightly News” and the author of four best-selling books, including The Greatest Generation. The Gala will feature a performance by music legend and ten-time Grammy winner Natalie Cole. Other highlights of this North American Leadership Conference and Gala will include presentations by three prominent pediatric physicians, scientists and researchers, as well as private, behind-the-scene tours of the greater Seattle area, including the Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery, the Olympic Sculpture Park and the Seattle Art Museum. This world-class event is an annual benefit of Children’s Circle of Care Membership and has a rich history of wonderful leadership, philanthropy and entertainment.
Hillary Rodham Clinton Bill and Melinda Gates Jamie Lee Curtis Washington, D.C., 1995 Seattle, 2001 San Diego, 2005
Prime Minister Jean Chretien C. Everett Koop, M.D. Oprah Winfrey Toronto, 1997 Philadelphia, 2002 Chicago, 2006
Anne Murdoch H.R.H. Prince Andrew, Duke of York Sir Elton John Los Angeles, 1998 Vancouver, 2003 Boston, 2007
Teresa Heinz President George W. Bush and Jack and Barbara Nicklaus Chicago, 1999 Mrs. Laura Bush Denver, 2008 Washington, D.C., 2004 James Taylor Tom Brokaw
Honorary ChairsBoston, 2000 Seattle, 2009
Don’t Miss the Beach Boys’ Good Vibrations! he Children’s Circle of Care annual Fall Reception will be held at Humphrey’s by the Bay on TSeptember 24, 2009. This year’s concert will feature the Beach Boys. The Beach Boys’ first hit was “Surfin’ U.S.A.” It soared to the top of the charts in the 1960s. Since then, the Natalie Cole group has been on a roll with songs immortalizing the Southern California lifestyle — cars (“409”), sun Tom Brokaw (“Fun, Fun, Fun”) and surfing. Stay tuned for some really “Good Vibrations” at Humphrey’s this fall! Join Children’s Circle of Care! hildren’s Circle of Care is a special group of philanthropists who give $10,000 or more to Rady CChildren’s. Please consider joining this very special group of philanthropists. A generous gift of $10,000 helps Rady Children’s: • To care for the region’s sick and injured children, including the 51 percent who have little or no private medical insurance. • To create a family-centered healing environment with healing gardens, musicians, magicians and more. • To purchase state-of-the-art equipment, such as one neonatal isolette for a premature infant or one pacemaker for a child with a congenital heart defect. • To provide non-reimbursed programs and services, like our Child Life Specialists (see page 10). To learn more about becoming a member, please call Katie Ward at 858-966-8510.
Rady Children’s Magazine 21 Giving
A Brave Soldier Leaves Quiet but Powerful Legacy
osef Fisher was a gentleman who lived with Jgreat taste, surrounded by his exceptional collection of objets d’art collected from his world travels. He passed away at age 84 last November in Rancho Bernardo, as quietly as he lived. One of his last acts surprised even those who knew him well: He left behind an estate valued at more than $1 million, donated entirely to Rady Children’s. Mr. Fisher grew up in St. Louis. He fought in World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater, receiving multiple medals with bronze battle stars. His wartime travels sparked his interest in Asian art. A lifelong bachelor, Mr. Fisher worked for decades at the upscale apparel manufacturer Alex Colman of California. “He was a true gentleman,” recalls one of his oldest friends, Arlene Strunk of Huntington Beach. His ashes were scattered at sea, while his legacy will help strengthen Rady Children’s mission to care for all children who need us. Mr. Fisher’s planned giving was quiet, but powerful.
Creating Your Own Legacy
magine a world where every child could enjoy childhood to the fullest. That is the ideal future you invest in today, and every day, by Iincluding Rady Children’s in your will or living trust. By investing in San Diego’s most precious resource — its children —you can create a powerful legacy. Such gifts to Rady Children’s will pass free of state and federal “estate taxes,” and in some cases provide additional income to your family. You can structure your bequest in a variety of ways: Outright (specific) bequest: This is a gift of a particular amount of money or item of property. Residuary or percentage bequest: The residue of an estate is the amount remaining after all specific bequests have been distributed. You may also leave Rady Children’s a percentage of your estate. Contingent bequest: You can name Rady Children’s as secondary beneficiary in the event your primary beneficiary is not alive. Trust for spouse: If you place a portion of your estate remainder in a trust for your spouse or partner, the trust remainder will be distributed to Rady Children’s only after your spouse has passed. Life income plan: A charitable remainder trust in your will provides an income to your beneficiaries for life, or for a term you specify, with the remainder going to Rady Children’s. You can restrict any of these gifts to an area you are passionate about or you can make the gift unrestricted, allowing Rady Children’s to address its most urgent needs. You can also create an endowment that will follow your wishes in perpetuity. For more information about including Rady Children’s in your will or living trust, please contact Elise Webster, Director of Planned Giving, at (858) 966-7537.
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Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary
utdoor ice skating at Horton Plaza has become a Oholiday tradition for San Diegans and out-of-town visitors alike. This last season, from November 2008 to January 2009, more than 30,000 skaters of all ages came to enjoy Fantasy on Ice, an annual fundraiser of Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary. Every year, countless couples become engaged on and around the ice. It is double happiness for these couples and for Rady Children’s. Last season’s Fantasy on Ice raised $123,500 for our hematology and oncology patients at the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders (see pages 8-15). Michael Peckham originally brought the rink to San Diego, our Rockefeller Center of the west. Partners in this Fantasy on Ice was a special treat for the nieces of Auxilian LeAnn Rytz. The 3-year-old effort were the Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation; twins, Mikayla and Kacy Stoner, both patients at Rady Children’s, were able to share NBC 7/39; KPBS; 102.1 FM; KPRI; Border Billboard; the exhilaration of gliding across the ice in their wheelchairs. Also taking a spin are AMN Healthcare; Wal-Mart; Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves dad, Kyle Stoner (kneeling), and their mother, Laura (center back), and sister, Haylee. & Savitch; 104.5 FM; Radio Latina; the Irvine Company Office Properties; and SENTRE Partners.
nspired by her young daughter’s love of great Iworks of art, Auxilian Rowena Treitler, Chair of this year’s annual winter gala, chose “Masterpiece Gala” as the theme. A record crowd of 250 dined and danced to the music of NRG at the elegant U.S. Grant Hotel, raising $15,000 to support the Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Rady Children’s. The gala was sponsored by community partners Keystone Roofing Inc. and Heidi J. DeBerry Inc. Its priceless moments included artist Chris Rowena Treitler, Chair of the event, Kepler painting canvases while guests looked on, as she prepares to welcome guests and an auction of a one-of-a kind prize, the to the Auxiliary’s “Masterpiece Gala.” autographed and framed 18th-hole flag where the legendary Tiger Woods won the 2008 U.S. Open golf tournament here at Torrey Pines.
Rady Children’s Magazine 23 Giving Making Miracles
Fun Fundraising for Children’s Miracle Network hough a generally dignified professional, Angie Lasagna proved willing to try anything for Rady Children’s — even pony rides for Ther colleagues. Angie Lasagna works for USA Federal Credit Unions, a CMN Credit Unions for Kids supporter, that found great success with a very novel and very fun fundraising approach: an annual carnival for grownups. This year, in addition to game booths and exotic food (deep fried Twinkies!), she plans to bring in rides and invite neighboring businesses as well. USA Federal Credit Union was among the Children’s Miracle Network corporate partners and their customers who contributed more than $9 million nationally in 2008.
Miracle Balloons: A Lofty Way to Go his year, our Miracle Month of May partners include Costco, RiteAid, Dairy Queen, IHOP, TBlockbuster, Auntie Anne’s, Roundtable and Credit Unions for Kids. So look for those colorful CMN balloons to climb up to the ceiling, and remember that every balloon means another donation to the network hospitals that collectively treat 17 million children per year.
MiracleEvery day, Rady MakersChildren’s works in its utmostOur to easeMidst the suffering of children. We can’t do it without Miracle Makers, the hundreds of people — grownups and children alike — dedicated to helping our efforts by raising $500 or more annually. Meet some of those Making Miracles.
Children Helping Children: Bishop’s Dance Marathon Raising money the old fashioned way, that’s the twist on the Bishop’s School Dance Marathon. It’s the 1920s-style updated with a 21st century vibe to benefit Rady Children’s. The 5th annual student-run event this winter brought more than 300 students to dance the night away. Dancers must stay on their feet for eight hours. To inspire them, organizers remind them: “By committing ourselves to stand for eight hours, we can come to understand a little better what these kids go through, while proving our support for them.” Altogether, the private school’s middle and high school students raised $18,095.
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Helping Hearts: Max and Jake’s Big Race This is a story all about heart. At only 14 months old, Max underwent open-heart surgery to repair a hole in his heart. Then the little boy who moved in across the street, Jake, at age 2, also underwent open heart surgery. Through these tough times, the two boys and their families forged an ironclad friendship. The boys are now 8 and 5 and, last year, their moms, Jerilyn Hammerstrom and Paula Cook, launched Max and Jake’s Big Race. It’s a fundraising footrace and celebration of life that leads hundreds of participants through Mission Trails Regional Park. In their inaugural year 2008, they raised $38,000. Jerilyn and Paula added a Loving Little Hearts Wine Tasting fundraiser on the Friday before this year’s big race. And on February 22nd, some 576 people raced in Mission Trails Regional Park or joined the smaller kid-sized footrace. Max and Jake, the little kids with the big getting-healthier hearts, helped raise nearly $45,000.
Cows Raise Cash for Rady Children’s They’re more than just livestock: these cows are art. We’ve got a herd of 40 life-sized fiberglass bovines starring in CowParade La Jolla, a unique public art installation featuring smile-making designs like iCow (just plug in your iPod) and Alternative Energy Vehicle (a cow with wings). So far, more than $25 million has been raised for charities in 50 cities worldwide. Catch our local CowParade, now through June 15th in downtown La Jolla and at Rady Children’s. Grazing on our campus will be Shaya’s Dream, painted by our patients and Eduardo Parra whose design was inspired by the life of a 16-year-old patient. At the end, the artsy quadrupeds will go on the block, as all cows must, with auction proceeds to benefit Rady Children’s and the San Diego Zoo.
Shaya’s Dream, our fanciful fundraising cow, “grazes” in the Kiwanis courtyard behind Rady Childrenís Medical Office Building.
Rady Children’s Magazine 25 Giving Meet Three Junior Miracle Makers
Teenager Ross Fledderjohn
Teenager Ross Fledderjohn was sitting around watching TV when his mom, Sue, came in and started talking about how important Miracles are. As in Miracle Makers. Ross knew what great work they do in Rady Children’s emergency and orthopedics divisions, after his misadventures on bikes, surfboards and skateboards. And he knew his mom thrived on her Hospital Auxiliary work. So Ross said, “Cool.” To his friends he talked up Miracle Makers, how miracles don’t belong just to grownups. With friend Ryan Smith they formed M2 (Miracle Too). Their fundraiser: Backyard Movie Night. To lure donors, they scored prizes like a new computer and Led Zepplin T-shirts. They served teen cuisine (hot dogs) and screened, “School of Rock.” They were a hit, surprising themselves by raising $1,010. Now with a track record and positive buzz, they’re working on more events, says Ross, “If we start planning earlier, we can make this really big.”
Pre-Teen Keri Jucha One day she’s hiking, the next she’s heading for emergency neurosurgery. Yet within months, Keri Jucha was back playing league soccer. After a sinus infection struck her brain, she received life-saving surgery at Rady Children’s. She healed not by crying, but creating. She created necklaces, bracelets and earrings which she started selling to benefit the Hospital (keriskreations.net) and raised $8,000 for portable DVD players plus a complete big-screen theatre system for the playroom. Focusing on making the world better, along with herself, aided her recovery, says Keri, now 12. “Everything happens for a reason, and good things always come out of bad things.” She’s earned awards and poise from her many speaking engagements on behalf of Rady Children’s (see page 2) — including opening for singer Frankie Valli at the 2007 Children’s Circle of Care Fall Reception. As Keri prepares for her bat mitzvah, the Hebrew traditional passage into adulthood, she’s fundraising for laptops for the playroom where she found such solace.
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And the Youngest Miracle Maker
The miracle happened one beautiful summer day when 7-year-old Abby Smith looked up to see her mother crying. She was crying for 7-year-old Max, who had just lost his valiant fight against cancer. Only that spring Max and Abby had run in Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary’s La Playa Unit’s Celebration of Champions together, and played like happy hummingbirds as they made paper airplanes and let them soar. Abby jumped off her mother’s lap and returned with all the money she had in the world — $20 — and said, “This is to help children so they won’t hurt anymore.” Edith, the Auxiliary’s Carmel Valley Unit’s chair, dried her tears and together, mother and daughter began transforming their sorrow into hope for others. Abby created beautiful drawings to send to everyone she knew to raise even more money. So kids won’t hurt any more. She worked for months, and raised $1,000 and then $1,020. Abby Smith, 2nd grader, proves no miracles are small.
Rady Children’s Magazine 27 Volunteerism The Thomas F. Carter Leadership Award Honoring Extraordinary Volunteer Leadership The Fink, Hamlin and Vieira Families
Receiving the 2009 Thomas F. Carter Leadership Award are (from left to right) Mari Hamlin Fink, Michael Fink, Vickie Fink Barrett, Jane Hamlin, Bill Hamlin, Betty Hamlin, Glen Vieira and Lisa Hamlin Vieira.
he Thomas F. Carter Leadership Award recognizes extraordinary Ball Committee, and Bill and Jane have served as Miracle Makers Tvolunteer leadership at Rady Children’s. This year, the Award Gala Co-Chairs. honored three families — the Fink, Hamlin and Vieira families. It’s Mari Hamlin Fink served as chair of the La Playa Unit — twice — the story of three wonderful siblings and two amazing mothers — and has been Auxiliary President. She’s a past Co-Chair of and how they are all connected in the spirit of philanthropy and Celebration of Champions and one of very few women who have volunteerism. been both Auxiliary President and Charity Ball Chair. One of these remarkable mothers, Betty Hamlin, is a member of Mari’s husband, Michael, also grew up in a culture of altruism. His Rady Children’s Hospital Auxiliary and supports many Hospital mother, Pat Fink, was past chair of the Loma Unit and was the activities. She has also instilled in her family a true desire to help Auxiliary President in 1970. She, too, was the rare and wonderful others. leader who, like her daughter-in-law Mari in the years to follow, was Her children — Lisa Hamlin Vieira, Bill Hamlin and Mari Hamlin both Charity Ball chair and Auxiliary President. Fink, along with their spouses — have all had a profound impact at In addition to their invaluable gifts of time, these three families have Rady Children’s. been generous in other ways, giving through the Charity Ball, Lisa Hamlin Vieira is a past chair and current member of La Playa Miracle Makers Gala, and a myriad of Auxiliary projects, including Unit of the Auxiliary and an active supporter of Charity Ball. Her Celebration of Champions, Union-Tribune Kids’ NewsDay and husband, Glen, is a steadfast supporter of Lisa’s many leadership Fantasy on Ice. roles. In other words, these wonderful families represent — in every way Bill Hamlin is a Past Foundation Board Chair and remains a devoted — what it means to support Rady Children’s, and Rady Children’s leader on many Hospital and Foundation committees. Bill’s wife, Board of Trustees is proud to honor them with the Thomas F. Carter Jane, is a member of the Auxiliary and a past member of the Charity Leadership Award.
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Rady Children’s Chadwick Center for Children and Families’ 23rd Annual San Diego International Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment
his conference is one of the most comprehensive venues for learning about child maltreatment “Tas there is in the United States — or perhaps even the world,” said Sharon Copper, M.D., a consultant with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Dr. Copper was one of the 1,950 people from 33 nations who attended the 23rd Annual San Diego International Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment held in January. This annual conference is hosted by Rady Children’s Chadwick Center for Children and Families, a world leader in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of child maltreatment and family violence. “Conferences like this help reinvigorate people so they can go back and face the hard and vital work they do day-after-day,” said Charles Wilson, Chadwick Center’s Executive Director. A wide range of topics at this year’s conference included: stopping domestic violence, investigating Internet sex crimes against children and accurately diagnosing serious child injuries. Sue Cox, Director of Trauma Services at Rady Children’s, presented on the topic of serious child injuries in San Diego during the last 25 years. “This is an opportunity for experts to get together to network and focus on best practices,” she said. “This conference is incredible.” Chadwick Center Executive Director is Honored Charles Wilson holding the ongratulations to Charles Wilson, MSSW, Executive Director of the Chadwick Center for “Outstanding Professional Award” Children and Families at Rady Children’s and holder of the Sam S. and Rose Stein Endowed presented to him by the American C Professional Society on the Abuse Chair for Child Protection. In recognition for his work in the area of child abuse and maltreatment, of Children. Charles Wilson was awarded the “Outstanding Professional Award” in the nation by American Professional Society on the Abuse of Children during the 23rd Annual San Diego International Conference on Child and Family Maltreatment.
The Chadwick Center Garners Support from United Way he Chadwick Center recently received $1,000,000 in funds from the United Way of San TDiego County. One of the United Way’s three areas of focus is child abuse and neglect. United Way’s support will help the Chadwick Center continue to provide valuable services to children, families and professionals. Among the Chadwick Center’s services that will benefit from United Way’s support are forensic interviewing; specialized trauma counseling services; and the Kids and Teens in Court Program. Funds will also be used to establish a three-year Pediatric Child Abuse Fellowship and to train 90 community therapists on how to implement evidence-based trauma mental health treatments that have been proven successful in multiple research studies.
Rady Children’s Magazine 29 Advocacy
Helping to Keep Kids Healthy and Safe: Rady Children’s Center for Healthier Communities for Children
ady Children’s is dedicated to more than helping children when they are sick or injured — we want to help keep them healthy and Rsafe. That’s what our Center for Healthier Communities for Children is all about. During the past 12 years, more than 100 community partners have joined with the Center to improve maternal and infant health, child and adolescent safety, oral health, nutrition and healthy lifestyles and positive youth development. Here is a sample of just four of the Center’s programs.
FACES for the Future
ACES for the Future is a career development Fand academic support program for under- represented high school students who are interested in a career in health care. Established at Hoover High School in October 2008 through grants from Price Charities and The Hervey Family Fund at The San Diego Foundation, students participate in health career preparatory courses and Regional Occupational Programs (ROP). Presenters from different hospital departments go to Hoover once a week to inform students about their specific jobs. Students participate in clinical rotations where they observe clinical procedures and shadow health professionals in a variety of departments. As a senior, they are assigned to a department they’re interested in for a focused internship. Once students complete their ROP courses and clinical rotations, they will receive ROP Certification. FACES also provides comprehensive support, which includes one-on-one and group education, academic tutoring, career planning, and preparation for college entrance exams and applications. “The students are excited to be part of a program modeled after what education in the 21st century should look like,” said FACES Program Manager Maria Malo. “They learn outside the four walls of a classroom and it makes it real for them.”
Rady Children’s Safety Stores he Injury Prevention Program Tencompasses many programs to prevent injury including Kohl’s Family Safety Days, Safe Kids San Diego, safe routes to school programs and weekly car seat inspections at the hospital. The program operates Safety Stores in the lobby of Rady Children’s Plaza, at the hospital’s Rose Pavilion Gift Shop and at the City Heights Wellness Center. The stores provide safety products and education to families. A mobile Safety Store that uses the Safe Kids Vans provides products and information to rural and inner city areas of the county. “More children die from injury than any other disease or congenital disorder,” said Mary Beth Moran, Injury Prevention Program Manager. “The Safety Stores provide education and products to minimize risk due to injury in your home, in your car and while enjoying recreational activities.”
30 Rady Children’s Magazine Advocacy
Home Visits for Dental Patients
he Anderson Center for Dental Care, established in 1996, Tprovides professional and community education, advocacy, research and support for children with special needs. Through a contract with the San Diego Regional Center for the Developmentally Disabled, Anderson Center staff provides home visits for Regional Center clients with special needs. During a home visit, the special needs child’s mouth is examined and the staff discusses findings with the parent or caretaker. Staff also refers the child for dental care when appropriate. The staff works with the parent/caretaker to offer specific techniques to make brushing easier and provides a toothbrush that is easier for the child to use. “This unique collaboration provides time most dental professionals do not have to sit with caregivers and work on solving each child’s individual needs,” said Anderson Center for Dental Care Program It is important for parents to know how to check their Manager Susan Lovelace. special needs child’s mouth to make future dental visits easier and to check for obvious signs of problems.
Health Coaches Program
he Health Coaches program, launched in 2007 with Tthe generous support of Price Charities, strives to increase positive health behaviors and knowledge in high school and middle school students in order to decrease the incidence and prevalence of obesity. Eleventh grade Hoover High School students receive more than 50 hours of training about healthy nutrition and physical activity, as well as the risks and complications of obesity. They also get hands-on experience coaching middle school students. The middle school students, called Health Heroes, meet regularly with their Coaches. There are weekly group sessions that include nutrition education, physical activity and food preparation. Coaches and Heroes complete nutrition and physical activity assessments and track their progress throughout the project. The students all participate in field trips that support their learning, including hikes around San Diego County, scavenger hunts in local grocery stores, fitness training and rock climbing at local facilities. “The Health Coaches program provides a great leadership opportunity for high school students and also a chance to improve their own health as well as the health of others,” said Phyllis Hartigan, program manager for the Center for Healthier Communities for Children’s Obesity Initiative.
Keep Your Child (Water) Safe rowning is the leading cause of death for San Diego County children ages 1 to 4. Download Water DSafety tips from our website, www.rchsd.org, and become a “Water Watcher,” an adult designated to watch kids who are in or near water.
Rady Children’s Magazine 31 Calendar
Lights Cameras Miracles The 2009 Miracle Makers Gala oin Rady Children’s for an evening of Hollywood-inspired entertainment! We’ve Jscripted an amazing evening that’s sure to get rave reviews — from fabulous food to five-star fun — all while focusing on the miracles that your support of Rady Children’s makes possible every day.
2009 Miracle Makers Gala Co-Chairs: Toni and Kent Aden, The Otay Ranch Company Jill and Hank Chambers, M.D., Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego Diane and Luke Faulstick, DJO, Inc. Melissa and Christian Tresse, Bernstein Global Wealth Management
Save the Date Rady Children’s 2009 Miracle Makers Gala Saturday, June 6, 2009, reception starting at 6:00 p.m., Hilton San Diego Bayfront Come enjoy a starring role in this uplifting and inspirational event. Don your red carpet attire for cocktails, dinner and dancing the night away. For more information, please visit www.MiracleMakersGala2009.kintera.org or contact Annie Evans at 858-966-7775 or [email protected].
Shamu — and YOU — Make a Real Splash to Help Kids
t was a whale of a good time: More than 2,100 participants (triple the Inumber from last year’s event!) gathered October 4, 2008 for the 2nd Annual Shamu & You Family Walk at SeaWorld to fundraise for Rady Children’s. Nearly 90 teams from all over our community, including presenting sponsor San Diego County Credit Union, participated in this fun walk. The walk helped raise more than $86,000 to benefit children and families at the Rady Children’s.
Save the Date 3rd Annual SeaWorld Shamu & You Family Walk presented by San Diego County Credit Union Saturday, October 3, 2009, 8:00 a.m. — SeaWorld The Walk will begin at 8:00 a.m. at the South Shores boat ramp and will offer a 1-mile and 4-mile course through SeaWorld and the adjacent area. All proceeds benefit Rady Children’s. To register, visit www.ShamuAndYouFamilyWalk.kintera.org or call 858-966-5988
32 Rady Children’s Magazine Physician Accomplishments
The 11th Annual Celebrity Classic Golf Tournament April 23 to 26, 2009, Morgan Run Resort and Club, Rancho Santa Fe The Celebrity Classic continues in its eleventh year and features celebrities from sports and entertainment. This annual golf tournament benefits Rady Children’s. Visit www.sdcelebrityclassic.com or call 858-836-0133.
Miracle Month of May Throughout the month of May Corporations and organizations throughout San Diego, including Costco, RiteAid, Dairy Queen, IHOP, Blockbuster, Auntie Anne’s, Roundtable Pizza and Credit Unions for Kids, fundraise for Rady Children’s during the entire month (see page 24). Call Mindy Collins at 858-966-8597.
Rady Children’s 8th Annual Radiothon April 30 to May 2, 2009 In this special fundraiser, Clear Channel San Diego radio stations broadcast live from Rady Children’s, with phone lines manned by volunteers from the Kiwanis Clubs of San Diego and Foresters. Contact Corporate and Community Development Department at 858-966-5988.
Kiwanis’ Miracle Mile of Quarters Saturday, May 2, 2009, 7:00 a.m. - all day — Rady Children’s Hospital Join the Kiwanis for their annual red-carpet event, including pancake breakfast and barbecue lunch. Open to the public. Contact Dawn Ivy at 858-966-7793 or [email protected].
Children’s Miracle Network Broadcast Saturday, June 6, 2009, 6:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Watch Cox Communications — San Diego’s Channel 4 and see miracles happening at Children’s Miracle Network affiliate hospitals, as well as locally here at Rady Children’s in San Diego.
Little Race Saturday, August 15, 2009, Chula Vista Yacht Club Watch the wackiest inflatable boat race at the 18th Annual Little Race benefiting the patients of Rady Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Contact Corporate and Community Development Department at 858-966-5988.
Union-Tribune Kids’ NewsDay Tuesday, October 20, 2009 The 20th annual Kids’ NewsDay, a special edition of the San Diego Union-Tribune, will be sold by volunteers on street corners throughout San Diego. All proceeds benefit Rady Children’s. Call the Union-Tribune Kids’ NewsDay Hotline at 858-966-4965.
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If you receive an extra copy of Rady Children’s Magazine, please call Donor Services at 858/966-7749 so we can reduce our mailing costs.
Saturday, October 3, 2009 To register, visit www.ShamuAndYouFamilyWalk.kintera.org or call 858-966-5988