Champions THE MAGAZINE OF ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION
THANKS TO YOU, KIDS LIKE KADEN LOOK FORWARD TO BRIGHT, HEALTHY FUTURES
AUGUST 2017
In June, U.S. News & World Report released the 2017–2018 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings. Thanks to your strategic investment in clinical care and nursing excellence, Arkansas Children’s Hospital ranked in four specialties—the most ever! The Arkansas Children’s specialties highlighted include: • Pediatric Cardiology & Heart Surgery, ranked No. 37 • Neonatology, ranked No. 38 • Pediatric Pulmonology, ranked No. 47 • Pediatric Urology, ranked No. 48 Arkansas Children’s has an unyielding commitment to place children at the very center of everything we do. These national rankings are evidence that we are progressing with our mission of championing children. And your support makes this great work possible. Thank you! Children who are ill and injured need expertise a typical adult hospital cannot provide. Age-tailored approach to care, support of the whole family, and specialized procedures and equipment are all unique to a children’s hospital. There are roughly 36 freestanding children’s hospitals in the United States, and when Arkansas Children’s Northwest opens in Springdale in January 2018, Arkansas will have two medical facilities designed specifically to meet the needs of children like Kaden and Danae, whom you’ll meet in this edition of Champions. To truly impact children’s health, we need to reach more children in more ways where they live, learn and play. That’s where you—our loyal supporters— make a difference. With your help, Arkansas Children’s is fundamentally improving children’s health in Arkansas and beyond. Your support is an excellent investment in the future of this state. You will always be proud of making the world a healthier, safer place for children. Thank you for being a champion for children!
Marcy Doderer, FACHE President and CEO Arkansas Children’s
CHAMPIONS STAFF: Editor Becky McCauley Contributing Writers Ashley Leopoulos, Becky McCauley Design C. Waynette Traub Photographers Robert Alamond, Daniel Moody
Arkansas Children’s Foundation Board of Directors Chair Marcy Doderer, FACHE Vice Chair Charles B. Whiteside III President Fred Scarborough, CFRE Treasurer Jason LaFrance
Pat Allen Ritter Arnold Sharon Bale Ginger Blackmon Frances Buchanan Stuart Cobb Steve Davison Kirk Dupps Harry C. Erwin III Kim Fowler Hayden Franks, MD Sharilyn Gasaway Robin George Mike Gibson Sonja Yates Hubbard Jason LaFrance Sharon Lamb Jim McClelland Mandy Macke Barbara Moore Beverly Morrow Cindy Murphy Jake Nabholz Marshall Ney Terry Quinn Jennifer Schueck Belinda Shults Jennifer Smith Claudia Strange Celia Swanson Emeritus Directors Robert G. Cress Don Edmondson Henry Rogers, MD
*Current as of July 31,2017
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LOOK BeforeYou Lock
It can happen to anyone. Even the most attentive person can become distracted and forgetful. Unfortunately, sometimes this leads to children being left alone in cars, which can quickly become fatal. Each year, nearly 40 children across the country die from heatstrokerelated deaths after being left alone in vehicles. The Injury Prevention Center at Arkansas Children’s Hospital is committed to reducing vehicle-related and other injuries, deaths and disabilities in Arkansas through service, education, innovative research and advocacy.
Because of you, the Injury Prevention Center is changing the landscape of safety for children in Arkansas and beyond.
Here are the facts about this devastating, avoidable tragedy:
104º
17%
TEMPERATURE AT WHICH A CHILD’S ORGANS START TO SHUT DOWN
10
MINUTES
it takes a car to heat up 20º
ACT
54% CHILDREN FORGOTTEN BY CAREGIVER
CHILDREN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BEHIND
37
CHILDREN DIE PER YEAR
after being left in a hot vehicle
A
29%
CHILDREN PLAYING UNATTENDED IN CAR
void heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child alone in a car. Not even for a minute. Keep cars locked to prevent children playing unattended in vehicles.
C
reate reminders such as placing a briefcase, purse or cellphone next to the car seat.
T
ake action if you see a child alone in a car. Contact 911 immediately.
Your support of the Injury Prevention Center at Arkansas Children’s Hospital makes kids better today and healthier tomorrow. giving.archildrens.org | 800-880-7491 WWW.GIVING.ARCHILDRENS.ORG • CHAMPIONS • AU G U ST 2 0 1 7
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BEADS & A BRIGHT FUTURE Your Support Gives Kids Like Kaden Expert Pediatric Care BY ASHLEY LEOPOULOS
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| AUGU ST 2017 • CHAMPIONS • BETTER TODAY. HEALTHIER TOMORROW.
W
hile filling out her 2016–2017 calendar and taking online college courses from her hospital room, 18-year-old Kaden Peebles was making bright plans for her future while receiving chemotherapy at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. She was also adding another bead to her collection. Diagnosed in 2015 with Ewing Sarcoma, a bone cancer, Kaden understands the inner strength it takes to fight cancer. That’s why, when diagnosed with secondary acute myeloid leukemia caused by the chemotherapy used to treat the bone cancer, she was more than ready to meet the challenge. Kaden refuses to let cancer slow her down. “All the little kids who are doing the same thing I am, fighting cancer,” explains Kayden. “They are smaller and still smiling and playing. Cancer is not interrupting their childhood. If they can fight cancer, then so can I.” A special program called “Beads of Courage” helps patients like Kaden keep their positive attitudes and fighting spirits. For each needle stick, chemo treatment and other significant event in their treatment, kids receive a bead.
Some children accumulate thousands of beads— to date, Kaden has almost 1,800. Despite being confined to her hospital room for a month at a time following each treatment, Kaden didn’t let the walls of the hospital confine her voice. Through video, she made special appearances at events around the state to share her story. With a robust social media following, Kaden has been spreading the word about pediatric cancer, blood disorders and the need for bone marrow donors. Kaden received a bone marrow transplant in the spring of 2017 and is now cancer free. She considers February 23, 2017, the day she received her bone marrow transplant, as her second birthday. “Get tested, swab your cheek and be a lifesaver,” says Kaden. “I don’t know my donor, but she’s an amazing person. She gave me a second chance at life. I wouldn’t be here without her.” As for her future plans, Kaden is going to college to be a child life specialist and wants to someday return to ACH as a member of the team. Your support helps give kids like Kaden a bright, healthy future. Thank you for being a champion for children.
IN KADEN’S WORDS Beads of Courage is a program at children’s hospitals for kids to earn color-coordinating beads for each thing they have to do during treatment. I have approximately 100 ft. of beads. Here are my statistics from 109 days of chemo: 586 antibiotic/antifungal infusions 197 nights in the hospital 155 blood products 37 dressing changes 111 clinic visits 169 needle pokes 74 scans and tests 26 ER visits and ambulance rides 2 lumbar punctures 6 bone marrow biopsies 5 line/port removals/insertions
12 operating room visits 1 tumor biopsy 32 radiation zaps 27 treatment-related eye exams 37 days of IV nutrition 22 times sedated 46 nasal scopes with ENT 2 cancers 1 bone marrow transplant 1 fungal infection 1 faithful GOD @ Nashville, Arkansas
1,788
BEADS AND COUNTING WWW.GIVING.ARCHILDRENS.ORG • CHAMPIONS • AU G U ST 2 0 1 7
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JOY
A Child’s
Thanks to You, Danae is Living a Vibrant, Full Life BY ASHLEY LEOPOULOS
D
anae’s eyes widen with joy as she sees the playground before her. She quickly runs to the tallest slide, grabs the skirt of her black-and-white dress and swiftly makes her way down the slide. Nothing stops Danae from living a vibrant, full life. Eight years earlier, Isabel and Miguel Lopez waited for their unborn baby’s prognosis. The Lopez family learned their third daughter Danae would be born with Down syndrome, a chromosomal condition causing growth delays and developmental disabilities. “At Arkansas Children’s Hospital, we learned how to best care for and understand our daughter,” says Miguel. “Many kids with Down syndrome have cardiology issues, and physicians were concerned about the murmur they found. The cardiology evaluation came back great, and the next time we traveled to ACH from our home in Springdale was for her one-year-old checkup.” Thanks to donors like you, Danae receives the checkups and care she needs close to home at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital Lowell Clinic. When Arkansas Children’s Northwest opens its doors in 2018 in Springdale, Danae will begin visiting the new hospital for her cardiology checkups. “Danae has been the biggest joy and blessing we’ve received,” says Miguel. “Arkansas Children’s is here for every child and family who needs them. As for our family, we are forever grateful for and satisfied with the excellent care our daughter has received.”
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Because of you, kids like Danae receive expert pediatric care where they live, learn and play. To help champion children, please return your gift in the enclosed envelope today.
WWW.GIVING.ARCHILDRENS.ORG • CHAMPIONS • AU G U ST 2 0 1 7
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BY BECKY MCCAULEY
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CIRCLE OF FRIENDS Tireless Network of
rkansas Children’s Circle Volunteers Announces of Friends members are some of the most passionate, Largest Gift Ever dedicated, talented volunteers working on behalf of children and children’s healthcare in Arkansas today. Because of the tireless work of the approximately 400 members, COF was able to announce their largest gift to date in July—$827,963— which will benefit several programs at Arkansas Children’s. This historic gift is a direct result of Circle of Friends’ commitment to helping change the landscape of healthcare for children in Arkansas. Circle of Friends began in 1983 when a group of women joined forces to create a support organization for Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Today, this statewide network of 10 chapters helps provide care close to home for the children of Arkansas.
Circle of Friends members work to promote children’s health through education, advocacy and fundraising for Arkansas Children’s, the state’s only pediatric health system. In all, COF chapters have raised more than $14 million to fund a number of programs and services: Arkansas Children’s Research Institute Circle of Friends Clinic Community Outreach
Kids Care After-Hours Resource Line Nursing Excellence Statewide Network of Care
Circle of Friends members champion children by helping make them better today and healthier tomorrow. To find a Circle of Friends chapter near you, call the Arkansas Children’s Foundation at 800-880-7491.