Maddie's Journey

2008 ANNUAL REPORT OF PHILANTHROPY Maddie’s Journey FROM THE DAY HER SURVIVAL WAS IN QUESTION, TO THE DAY WE SPENT WITH HER AT PHILADELPHIA’s independence hall. NAtionwide children’s hospitAL Twenty weeks before the day she was born, Maddie’s journey took an unexpected turn. 2008 ANNUAL REPORT OF PHILANTHROPY At 20 weeks into Emile’s second pregnancy, when Ten days after Maddie was born, cardiothoracic a routine ultrasound revealed a birth defect called surgeon, Dr. Mark Galantowicz and The Heart Dandy Walker, Emile and Chris Sower knew there Center team began the open-heart procedure at would be anxious days ahead. What the Sowers – 6 a.m. Seven hours later, Dr. Galantowicz emerged and doctors – didn’t know was that this birth defect from the operating room and told Maddie’s parents would be the least of Maddie’s medical challenges. that the operation was a success. One hurdle cleared: more to follow. For the next 20 weeks, the pregnancy went as planned and Maddie was born near her original Two days after successful heart surgery, Maddie due date. Then, during a routine examination, was still unable to keep food down. While it is not physicians at the birth hospital detected a uncommon for patients to experience difficulty heart arrhythmia. As a precaution, they made taking nourishment following heart surgery, her arrangements for Maddie to be transferred to parents grew concerned. Physicians ordered a Nationwide Children’s Hospital. CT scan and they discovered a bowel obstruction. Yes, Maddie was rushed into surgery again. But Upon her arrival, neonatologists examined Maddie 30 minutes into the operation, the surgeon walked and discovered a serious heart condition. In the into the waiting room with devastating news for most blunt terms possible, Maddie had been born Maddie’s parents. with two holes in both chambers of her heart. And her aorta was one-tenth the size it needed to be to pump blood effectively. Maddie was prepared for the open-heart surgery that was needed to save her life. 3 WHEN ASKED RECENTLY H O W M ADDIE WAS DOIN G , Chris replied – “Maddie is growing up a normal, energetic kid, which is all we ever wanted for her.” 2008 ANNUAL REPORT OF PHILANTHROPY The surgery revealed that Maddie had Necrotizing surgeries, as neurosurgeon, Dr. Edward Kosnik, Enterocolitis (NEC) and that 99 percent of her small worked to find the perfect placement of the shunt, intestine was infected. NEC is a newborn condition which was made more difficult because of her heart involving severe injury and destruction of the condition and the NEC. intestines. If at least 20 centimeters of Maddie’s small intestine could not be saved, she would not survive. Under normal circumstances, most people would assume that this was the end of Maddie’s saga. But At this point, Dr. Donna Caniano, surgeon-in-chief, it was not. entered the picture with world-class surgical skills and the sheer determination to do everything Physicians now addressed the hemangioma that possible to save Maddie’s life. She placed Maddie on developed on the left side of Maddie’s face. Much aggressive antibiotics and scheduled the surgery that more than the typical skin surface redness, Maddie’s would determine her fate to take place in 36 hours. hemangioma was an aggressive, but benign tumor that extended deep in her facial tissue. Without Dr. Caniano’s plan was to examine every one of the proper treatment, it would spread throughout approximately 250 centimeters of tissue in Maddie’s Maddie’s brain and spinal cord. But pediatric plastic small intestine and save every centimeter possible. surgeon, Dr. Greg Pearson, used aggressive steroid All while Maddie’s life hung in the balance. And her treatments to reverse the tumor’s growth. The parents waited down the hall. threat to Maddie’s spinal column was averted and follow-up laser treatments corrected the redness. An entire day passed before Dr. Caniano emerged from the operating room and reported to Emile and Although Maddie’s family has since moved to Chris that although she had removed 75 percent Philadelphia, they return to Nationwide Children’s of Maddie’s small intestine, she saved enough for for follow-up care with Dr. Caniano, the physician Maddie to survive. Future challenges remained, but they will never forget. In fact, if the family has their Maddie had cleared a huge hurdle. way, Dr. Caniano will be an honored guest when the patient she refers to as Miraculous Miss Maddie Maddie was less than two weeks old and had graduates from high school. already survived two major surgeries. Now, correcting the original birth defect became more Maddie is now a happy and healthy three-year-old. difficult than anticipated because of complications Made possible by skilled physicians and caregivers at associated with all of Maddie’s unforeseen issues. Nationwide Children’s. And made possible by you, our valued donors and friends, who help us take What physicians thought would be one procedure children like Maddie on journeys to good health. to correct the problem actually became multiple 5 2008 ANNUAL REPORT OF PHILANTHROPY On the following pages we would like to recognize our donors for their vision, compassion and tremendous support. Thank you for reaching out to children in need and for making it possible for us to provide the care they all deserve. FOR PERSPECTIVE ON HOW FAR MADDIE HAS COME, WE SHARE THESE PHOTOS THAT WERE TAKEN OF HER AS SHE FOU G HT TO SURVIVE IN THE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT NATIONWIDE Children’s. 2008 ANNUAL REPORT OF PHILANTHROPY Change Their Tomorrow* $250,000 to $499,999 Mrs. Joan P. Wallick American Lung Association of Ohio See page 35 for description The Estate of Elinor M. Bayer Alfred L. Willson Charitable Fund of The Rupert Rennison Beetham, Jr. Family The Estate of Frank Bayer The Columbus Foundation Big Bear Stores Drs. Mark and Barbara Galantowicz WWHO TV John & Helen Brookhouse Fund of The $1,000,000 or MORE Eunice Lilley Harrington Trust Sarah Windels Ziegler Columbus Foundation Abercrombie & Fitch Gale Hitchcock Dr. Donna A. Caniano American Electric Power Company The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation CenBen USA Health Care Foundation American Electric Power – Ohio The Robert E. Jones Trust Fund Cumulative Giving ** Paul D. and Elyse M. Chambers ICON International Battelle See page 35 for description John W. Champion Fund Kohl’s Department Stores Dr. Donna A. Caniano of Cumulative Giving Champions for Children The Estate of Mabel Mertz Children’s Miracle Network Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Chlapaty/ Nacht Hilbrands Rackoff Families Fund Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Chlapaty/ Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. The Herbert Penney Trust Advanced Drainage Systems $10,000,000 or MORE Circle of Friends Mrs. Jeanetta B. Pyle The Estate of Juanita Collier Abercrombie & Fitch The Estate of Tillie E. Coleman Mr. Robert N. Shamansky Limited Brands & Limited Brands The Estate of Juanita Collier Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation Dr. William E. Shiels, II Foundation Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation The Columbus Foundation Sunny 95, WSNY and the Columbus The Memorial Tournament The Columbus Foundation The S. O. Conover Family Radio Group Nationwide and The Nationwide The S.O. Conover Family The Estate of Juanita R. Curran Time Warner Communications Foundation Cure Kids Cancer Radiothon The Development Board of Nationwide Turner Construction Company TWIG of Nationwide Children’s The Estate of Juanita R. Curran Children’s Hospital WBNS 10TV Hospital The Estate of Hester F. Dysart Greif, Inc. Abigail and Leslie Wexner Evening of Hope G. Dana Harrington Trust $100,000 to $249,999 Mr. and Mrs. John F. Wolfe The Estate of John C. Fergus Huntington Bank John and Nancy Abbott Grange Insurance Companies JPMorgan Chase & Co. Drs. Steve and Jamie Allen $5,000,000 to $9,999,999 Greif, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Jeffrey, II Mr. C. Joseph Arbogast Battelle G. Dana Harrington Trust Mr. and Mrs. C. Robert Kidder Mr. and Mrs. David M. Aronowitz The Estate of Gale Hitchcock The Estate of Harriet D. Lattimer Dr. and Mrs. John A. Barnard Children’s Miracle Network Honda of America Mfg., Inc. Limited Brands & Limited Brands The Estate of Catherine Blankenship The Development Board of Nationwide Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Jeffrey, II Foundation The Estate of Frances B. Byers Children’s Hospital Joseph A. Jeffrey Trust Fund Mae L. McCorkle/The Bill and Mae John P. Cheatham, M.D. and Sharon L. Rose and Dedger Jones Mr. and Mrs. C. Robert Kidder McCorkle Foundation Hill, ACNP Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Kobacker Kinder Key of Nationwide Children’s John G. McCoy Childhood Surgical Specialists IPA, Inc. Mr. Philipp D. Nick and Family Hospital The Memorial Tournament Mrs. Robert F. Cooper Robert F. Wolfe and Edgar T. Wolfe Kohl’s Department Stores Mr. and Mrs. M. Cameron Mitchell Dr. and Mrs. Carlo Di Lorenzo Foundation Mr. Richard Solove and Ms. LaDonna The Kresge Foundation Nationwide and The Nationwide DJO, LLC Cary-Solove The Estate of Harriet D. Lattimer Foundation Easton Community Foundation The R. David Thomas Family The Estate of Gladys P. Lee Mr. and Mrs. James R. Oldham, Sr. Dr. Timothy F. Feltes and Ms. Tami Tween Brands, Inc. The Longaberger Company & Mrs. Elizabeth M. Ross Knight Wolfe Enterprises, Inc. Longaberger Foundation Ellen and David J. Ryan Fidelity Investments The Bill and Mae McCorkle The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Fraternal Order Of Eagles Linden Aerie $2,500,000 to $4,999,999 Foundation, Inc. Richard J. and LaDonna Solove 2252 & Auxiliary American Electric Power Company Mrs. W. R. McCorkle The R. David Thomas Family Robert B. Hurst Fund of The Columbus American Electric Power – Ohio Mr.

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