THE MAGAZINE OF ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
CAN YOU IMAGINE A HEALTHIER TOMORROW FOR ALL CHILDREN?
Your generous support through the holidays and all year long brings joy, hope and healing to patients and families at Arkansas Children's.
Your Generous Gifts Dear Champion for Children, Happy Holidays to you and yours! In this special issue of Champions, we’re celebrating how your support delivers joy to patients and families during the holidays and all year long. We’re also celebrating two special patients as they both fight courageously against a terrible disease. In a children’s hospital, joy is one of the best medicines. On pages 4–5, you’ll learn how your support creates joy for patients and families at Arkansas Children’s through art and music, schoolwork, a special holiday “store,” and cuddles with some adorable four-legged volunteers. Can you imagine a child you love battling cancer? On pages 6–7, you’ll read about a mom’s experience, in her own words, as she shares a difficult but profound moment in her daughter’s cancer journey at Arkansas Children’s. In this moment, the Gill family’s lives changed forever…and they are forever grateful for your support. You might remember reading about Abigail Wells in the March/April 2020 issue of Champions. Because of you, Abigail is reaching for the stars and continues to inspire us all with her tenacity and positive attitude. Turn to pages 8–9 to read an update on Abigail as she takes on her senior year and looks forward to a future filled with promise. And finally, on pages 10–11, Scott Biggs of Northwest Arkansas shares his passion for volunteerism and dedication to the patients and families at Arkansas Children’s Northwest. His gift of time and a warm, larger-than-life personality brighten the day for everyone who walks through the hospital doors. Your gifts provide joy and life-saving pediatric care that help deliver on the promise of a healthier tomorrow for children in Arkansas and beyond—thank you. You are a true champion for children! I wish you and your family a wonderful holiday season filled with good health and happiness.
Arkansas Children’s Foundation Board of Directors Chair Jason LaFrance* Vice Chair Jake Nabholz* Treasurer Charles B. Whiteside III* President Fred Scarborough, CFRE* Ritter Arnold Sharon Bale Nancy Benton Ginger Blackmon Frances Buchanan Stuart Cobb Steve Davison Marcy Doderer, FACHE* Harry C. Erwin III* Kim Fowler Sharilyn Gasaway* Robin George* Sonja Yates Hubbard Brandi Joplin Mandy Macke Jim McClelland Trisha Montague Barbara Moore Beverly Morrow Cindy Murphy Marshall Ney Lynn Parker Terry Quinn Sue Redfield
Fred Scarborough, CFRE President, Arkansas Children’s Foundation Chief Communications Officer & Development Officer, Arkansas Children’s Executive Vice President, Arkansas Children’s
Kate Schaffer Jennifer Schueck Michael Shelby Belinda Shults* Isaac Smith Claudia Strange Celia Swanson Joe Tucker
CHAMPIONS STAFF: Editor Becky McCauley Writer Becky McCauley
*Executive Committee
Designer C. Waynette Traub
Current as of November 1, 2021
Photographers Beth Hall
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• CHAMPIONS • BETTER TODAY. HEALTHIER TOMORROW.
YOUR
SUPPORT PROVIDES
JOY
Your support of the Festival of Stars Toy & Donation Drive provides joy for patients and families at Arkansas Children’s. Can you imagine a child you love being in the hospital during this special season? While most of us are enjoying the holidays with loved ones, these kids and families often feel isolated, lonely and stressed. Your support of the Festival of Stars Toy & Donation Drive helps provide joy to our patients and families during the holidays by stocking the shelves of the Snowflake Shoppe—a special holiday “store” where parents and caregivers can choose up to six gifts each for their hospitalized child and siblings at no cost! This year’s Festival of Stars will be held Friday, December 10, on the Arkansas Children’s Hospital and Arkansas Children’s Northwest campuses. Visit archildrens.org/festival for more information. Thousands of toys and monetary gifts are donated every year through your generosity. Because of you, the holiday season is brighter for children and families at Arkansas Children’s:
$319,000
200+
IN TOYS AND DONATIONS given to Arkansas Children’s during last year’s Festival of Stars
18
YEARS OF COLLECTING TOYS AND DONATIONS through Festival of Stars
179
VOLUNTEERS HELP at Festival of Stars and the Snowflake Shoppe in a typical, non-COVID year
FAMILIES RECEIVED GIFTS through the Snowflake Shoppe last year
UP TO GIFTS PER PATIENT AND SIBLINGS are chosen by parents and caregivers free of charge
COVID-SAFE DONATION DROP-OFF LOCATIONS this year on the ACH and ACNW campuses
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Toy & Donation Drive • Radiothon Friday, December 10 • 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
archildrens.org/festival or (800) 880-7491 TOY AND DONATION DROP-OFF LOCATIONS Little Rock Arkansas Children’s Hospital 6 Children’s Way
Springdale Arkansas Children’s Northwest 2601 Gene George Blvd
BENEFITING ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S
GIVING.ARCHILDRENS.ORG • CHAMPIONS • NOV E M BE R / DE C E M BE R 2 0 2 1
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CAN YOU IMAGINE
THE POWER OF
During the holidays and all year long, the power of joy at Arkansas Children’s changes lives…because of you. BY BECKY MCCAULEY
W
ith your support, the Child Life and Education and the Volunteer Engagement departments provide joy for patients and families every day at Arkansas Children’s. Whether it’s the in-hospital school that helps patients keep up with their schoolwork, music therapists and artists-in-residence who help children express their creativity no matter their illness or injury, or four-legged friends who provide love through the T.A.I.L.S. (Therapeutic Animal Intervention Lifts Spirits) program, joy at Arkansas Children’s is only possible because of you.
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“Hospital volunteers stop by to ask if we need anything. The Child Life department uses dolls to explain to Willow what’s happening to her. And we have dogs at home, so a visit from one of the T.A.I.L.S. therapy dogs means so much to Willow.” —Bri any Gill, Willow's mom
• CHAMPIONS • BETTER TODAY. HEALTHIER TOMORROW.
SCHOOL DAYS AT ARKANSAS CHILDREN’S Arkansas Children’s cares for the sickest children in our state. Throughout their treatment, many of these kids have long hospital stays that keep them out of school and disrupt their learning. Through the in-hospital school at Arkansas Children’s, boardcertified teachers help children in all grades stay caught up with their homework, so they can look forward to returning to their own school without the worry and stress of falling behind. This wonderful program is only possible because of you. HEALING THROUGH ART AND MUSIC Two artists-in-residence—Elizabeth Weber and Hamid Ebrahimifar—work with patients at Arkansas Children’s to create colorful, healing artwork. Whether it’s making a masterpiece out of popsicle sticks, finger-painting on a sheet of newsprint or creating a work of art to be featured on an Arkansas Children’s Hospital Auxiliary Holiday Card project item or greeting card, Elizabeth and Hamid spend their days bringing joy, bright colors and smiles to children and families. During visits at the bedside, Arkansas Children’s board-certified music therapist, Andrew Ghrayeb, encourages patients to play instruments, sing, listen to music and discuss song lyrics, or write and record their own compositions. For families of terminally ill or heart transplant patients, Andrew often sets a recording of the child’s heartbeat to music as a special remembrance. Creating art and music can help kids express themselves and cope with their feelings of anxiety, loneliness and isolation that often result from chronic illnesses and long hospital stays—especially during the holidays. And sometimes, it’s just fun to play with paint or bang on an instrument!
FURRY FRIENDS DELIVERING SMILES There’s just something about dogs. Dogs bring smiles to our faces and can make instant friends of complete strangers. The warm, wet noses, cuddly hugs and sweet, trusting natures of our T.A.I.L.S. canine volunteers can turn a scary hospital visit or stay into a joyful experience and a warm memory for patients and families at Arkansas Children’s. Because of your support, the T.A.I.L.S. dogs and their volunteer handlers make their rounds several times a week, visiting with patients and families and brightening their days. Our T.A.I.L.S. dogs even sport their own official Arkansas Children’s badges! FESTIVAL OF STARS TOY & DONATION DRIVE Festival of Stars is held each December on the campuses of Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock and Arkansas Children’s Northwest in Springdale to collect toys and monetary donations. The toys bring joy to patients during the holidays through the Snowflake Shoppe, a special “store” held just before Christmas where parents and caregivers can choose up to six gifts each for their hospitalized child and any siblings at no cost. Volunteers and staff members will even wrap the gifts so parents can concentrate on what’s most important…giving their kids a bright holiday season. Visit archildrens.org/festival or turn to page 3 if you would like more information about this fun, festive event. Making kids smile during the holidays and all year long is an important part of healing at any children’s hospital. These are just some of the many ways your support helps provide joy for patients and families at Arkansas Children’s.
Thank you for bringing joy to patients and families. From everyone at Arkansas Children’s, we wish you and your loved ones the joy of the season! GIVING.ARCHILDRENS.ORG • CHAMPIONS • NOV E M BE R / DE C E M BE R 2 0 2 1
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IN A MOM’S OWN WORDS
Can you imagine watching your child fight for her life? Your support helped Brittany Gill through one of the most difficult days in her young daughter’s cancer journey at Arkansas Children’s.
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t was a beautiful, sunny day as my 3-year-old daughter, Willow, and I drove to her appointment at Arkansas Children’s. My husband, Jon, works out of state, so it was just Willow and me. She was scheduled for one of her many treatments for leukemia. Willow had been battling cancer for a while, and her treatments had become part of our normal routine. Never in a million years could I have imagined what was about to happen. We had been at the hospital for several hours when, during Willow’s treatment, the nurse said to me, “Why don’t you take a break...go get something to drink?” I headed out of Willow’s room knowing our precious little girl was in good hands. When I returned about 20 minutes later, I noticed the hallway was filled with Arkansas Children’s team members. It took me a second to realize...they were gathered around Willow’s room. I worked at a hospital for 10 years, so when I spotted the crash cart, I knew… Willow was in serious trouble. I remember the crowd parting to let me into our daughter’s room. It was the WILLOW GILL scariest, most devastating sight I have ever seen. I will never forget it. AGE 3 Willow was surrounded by people...shock pads on her chest to restart her HORSESHOE BEND heart…a “bag”—a manual resuscitator—on her face to restart her breathing. My first thoughts are still seared into my brain... Not today. Please, God, don’t take her today. This is not how I want her story to end. I rushed to Willow’s bedside and had an overwhelming feeling that I needed to touch the nurse who was working to save my daughter. I think I was trying to transfer all my prayers into her hands. I reached out and rested my hand on her back. It felt like time stopped. I’m sure it was just a few minutes but it felt like life was in slow motion. I still have the shirt she wore that day that says, “Let’s go play in the garden,” and I’ll cherish that shirt forever. She had on a little toy stethoscope that she had been playing with because she wants to be a doctor when she grows up.
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• CHAMPIONS • BETTER TODAY. HEALTHIER TOMORROW.
Above: Willow with her parents, Jon and Brittany, and big brother, Rowan, at a 2019 holiday fundraiser organized by Brittany benefiting the cancer program at Arkansas Children’s.
I held my breath…and waited for my world to collapse. Then, when Willow started breathing again, I think I did too. That’s when all the emotions hit me at once. Suddenly I had the most terrifying thought… I almost lost my child. Thankfully, the Arkansas Children’s team is amazing. I’m forever in their debt for doing the incredible job they were called to do. It’s a hard job, and they give everything they have to kids like Willow. Because of the generous support of people like you, they make a difference in the world…every day, they make a difference. Kids are fighting cancer and other serious illnesses and injuries right now at Arkansas Children’s. I feel like I have to pay it forward because that day could have gone very differently—we could not have our daughter here with us. Which is why I wanted to share Willow’s story with you. Thank you for your life-saving support of Arkansas Children’s. My daughter is here today because of you.
You make a difference for kids like Willow and moms like Brittany. Thank you for providing expert pediatric care for kids in Arkansas and beyond! Brittany Gill, Willow’s mom
GIVING.ARCHILDRENS.ORG • CHAMPIONS • NOV E M BE R / DE C E M BE R 2 0 2 1
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Reaching for the Stars Your generous support helps a remarkable Central Arkansas teen look toward a bright future filled with promise. BY BECKY MCCAULEY
I
magine being a teenager faced with an unimaginable choice—lose your leg to amputation or possibly face another bout with cancer. Now imagine you love to run track. This is exactly what happened to 17-year-old Abigail Wells. Abigail, whose huge, infectious smile and sunshiny personality light up a room, was diagnosed with an aggressive bone cancer in April 2019 when she was 14 years old. It started with a mass on her leg and soon spread to her lungs. She began chemotherapy treatments at Arkansas Children’s a few weeks later.
Tears of Happiness In July 2019, Abigail faced her biggest challenge yet— she made the heart-wrenching choice to have her lower leg amputated at Arkansas Children’s. She sometimes struggles with the consequences of a decision no child should ever have to make. “I thought losing my leg was a sacrifice worth making in order to continue my life without worrying about the cancer coming back. And I didn’t want to put my family through it ever again,” says Abigail. “Sometimes I wonder if I made the right decision. It’s hard, and it usually takes me a few days, but in the long run I realize that, yes, I did make the right decision.” Earlier this year, Abigail was able to make a triumphant return to one of her first loves, thanks to your generous support. In April, she competed in her first track meet in two years! Abigail reflects on that big day: “After I crossed the finish line, I burst into tears. The whole situation was surreal to me. Just two years before that, I was being 8
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Top: Abigail represents her senior class as a member of the homecoming court. Middle: During treatment.
ABIGAIL WELLS AGE 17 LITTLE ROCK
Abigail with her proud parents, Isaiah and Tammy, at an Arkansas Children’s event. diagnosed with cancer. Now I was able to say I was cancer free, and I was running like I did before. “I wasn’t crying tears of sadness because I came in last place…I was crying tears of happiness at how far I had come.” Abigail’s journey back to running was fraught with challenges, but the promise of the joy it would bring kept her focused on her goal of competing again.
• CHAMPIONS • BETTER TODAY. HEALTHIER TOMORROW.
I realized the challenges I have aren’t the same as the challenges they have, and the ones they have aren’t the same as the ones I have…because everyone has their own challenges.” —Abigail Wells
She says that, after her diagnosis, she had to let go of a lot of things she enjoyed, but running track was one constant she could keep in her life. “I pushed through physical therapy and made sure I did my exercises every day. Then I started walking, then jogging and finally running,” says Abigail. “I had to relearn all the basics, but this time with a prosthesis. It was way harder than I thought it would be because I didn’t realize how much pain there would be or how long it would take for me to be able to bear putting pressure on my leg. And my times in track are not the same as they used to be, which is sometimes hard to accept.” Abigail often has to take breaks from running to put her health first. She’s not able to attend every practice because of pain in her leg, which she feels keeps her from reaching her full potential. But she displays remarkable maturity in facing her adversities. “At first it was hard to see everyone else doing it so easily. They’re able to make it through whole practices, and they don’t have a leg they have to adjust,” says Abigail. “One day I couldn’t bear it, but then I had to realize this is my situation, and if I love running, this was just something I would have to deal with. Then I realized the challenges I have aren’t the same as the challenges they have, and the ones they have aren’t the same as the ones I have…because everyone has their own challenges.”
A Bright Future Although she’s not always able to participate in track as much as she’d like, Abigail is determined to make the most of her senior year and take advantage of all the opportunities presented to her. Out of more than 600 students, Abigail was one of five seniors chosen by the principal and school counselors to receive the Principal’s Award in recognition of her many accomplishments—high academic achievement, in-school service and community volunteer service— throughout her high school career.
She was also awarded a scholarship through CARTI, whose recipients are current or former pediatric cancer patients and can be used toward any expenses at the school of her choosing. “The scholarship helped me believe I actually have a chance at this college stuff,” says Abigail. “It gave me a lot of hope. It was encouraging that, with everything I went through, there are resources out there for me.” And, on top of all that, Abigail was chosen to represent her senior class as part of her high school’s homecoming court. “Sometimes I can be a little hard on myself,” says Abigail, “and not recognize all the good things and just look at all the bad things. All of these things show me how much I’ve really accomplished over these last couple of years.” Abigail is excited for all the changes coming her way in the next year. After graduation, she plans to attend college with a major in political science, and eventually on to law school, in pursuit of a career in advocacy. “I have a big desire right now to advocate for people with disabilities and all minority groups, possibly going into the health sector,” explains Abigail. “I just know I want to make an impact through law in some way.” A desire to make a positive impact for others runs in the family. As vice president of clinic and diagnostic services at Arkansas Children’s, Abigail’s mom, Tammy, sees first-hand how your support helps kids like her daughter receive life-saving pediatric care every day. She and her husband, Isaiah, are understandably proud of their amazing daughter. “Abigail is a rockstar,” says Tammy. “She’s never asks, ‘why me?’ She says the cancer is a part of her story, but not her whole story. And if she can help anyone else along or after her journey, that’s what she wants to do. Abigail’s taught me, more than any other life experience, how to deal with hard things.”
Your support give kids like Abigail a bright future full of dreams. Thank you for everything you do for kids at Arkansas Children’s! GIVING.ARCHILDRENS.ORG • CHAMPIONS • NOV E M BE R / DE C E M BE R 2 0 2 1
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WHY I SERVE
A Heart
of Gold
Scott Biggs of Springdale gives his time, heart and soul to serve the patients and families at Arkansas Children’s Northwest. BY BECKY MCCAULEY
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ithin the first few minutes of meeting Scott Biggs of Springdale, you feel like you’ve known him forever. This warm, engaging quality is what makes Scott such a valued volunteer at Arkansas Children’s Northwest (ACNW). That, and the fact that he’s willing to take on any task. Whether he’s greeting patients and families at the front entrance, touring visitors through the hospital or handing out popcorn at a fundraiser, Scott loves it all and is always ready to jump in with a smile.
Scott's Inspiration Scott’s compassion and inspiration for his volunteerism, aside from the patients and families he serves at ACNW, stem from a painful experience. Many years ago, Scott and his wife, Marilyn, lost a child. At the age of 3½ years, the couple’s daughter, Brandi, was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). RMS is a rare type of cancer that forms in soft tissue, usually skeletal muscle tissue or hollow organs such as the bladder or uterus, and most often affects children. Sadly, Brandi passed away after a six-month battle. Since then, Scott has been determined to give back. Then a heart attack at his 50th birthday party strengthened Scott’s determination to make a difference for others. “I’m only here by the grace of God,” Scott says. “I believe God was not through using me for his glory, and one of those great privileges was to be a volunteer at Arkansas Children’s Northwest. I’m a very fortunate man to be able to be at this hospital. It’s an incredible place.” Shortly after Scott began volunteering at ACNW, he had an experience that reaffirmed what he already knew—he was right where he was supposed to be. Scott’s 18-month-old niece, Olivia, had contracted a severe infection, and was rushed to ACNW by her father, Scott’s younger brother. Scott recalls with tears in his eyes. “I met my brother 10
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and niece at the hospital, and I witnessed the team in the Emergency Department in action. They were like a machine. There were 11 people standing around the table working on this little girl…and they saved her life.” “If she hadn’t come to Arkansas Children’s Northwest, she would not have made it,” Scott continues. Scott’s niece was flown to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, where she remained for a week. Olivia is now 4 years old. She is healthy and thriving and, according to her uncle, “She is a cutie!” Scott’s personal experiences drive his dedication to ACNW. He began his volunteer “career” at ACNW after 43 years working for his family’s company, Packaging Specialties, Inc., based in Fayetteville. Scott and Marilyn lived in Richmond, Virginia, for four years before moving back to Northwest Arkansas permanently in 1979, where the couple raised three children, Brad, Jared and Hailey. Scott retired in 2017 and soon discovered he needed something meaningful to fill his time. Scott remembers when he first realized ACNW was the place he wanted to be. “I took a tour of the hospital right after it opened. I remember being in total amazement of the place. After we finished touring the infusion center on the fourth floor, I looked at my tour guide and said, ‘I’ve got to do this…I’ve got to be a volunteer.”
Serving Patients and Families Scott began volunteering at ACNW at the beginning of April 2018. Since that day, he has given more than 1,600 volunteer hours to serve the children and families at ACNW. The onset of COVID-19 in March 2020 kept Scott out of the hospital for seven months, but thankfully he was able to return in October 2020 when ACNW resumed the volunteer program. And he was glad to be back! Currently, Scott greets patients and families in the second-floor surgery waiting area.
• CHAMPIONS • BETTER TODAY. HEALTHIER TOMORROW.
JJ Lockhart, patient care manager for ACNW Surgical Services, has this to say: “Scott is fully dedicated to the families and patients at ACNW. He goes above and beyond to make sure they have everything they need. He is an asset to my team!”
Special Moments at ACNW Scott loves to tell stories about his time volunteering at ACNW. He grins as he recalls the Arkansas Naturals baseball team visiting patients. “I was touring the Naturals around the hospital to meet the patients. One little girl, with her mom there, was sitting in her bed with about 20 different nail polishes lined up on her bedside table. Before I knew it, one the players, who was about 6’ 5”, put his hand down on the table and said, ‘I’d like two coats and a clear coat, please!’ He came back the next year for a tour, and told me it took him about six months to get it all off.”
“These are the moments you have when you volunteer… they’re special,” says Scott. Scott and Marilyn are also philanthropic supporters of ACNW. Scott says, “I tell them to use it the best way possible.” The Biggs’ generosity recently funded a pair of virtual reality goggles to help distract patients during needle sticks and other procedures. But Scott’s personal favorite are the flags and flagpoles that greet everyone who enters the parking lot at ACNW. When asked about what Scott loves in his new gig, he says, “It’s just the people and how they treat patients, how they care. You’re so lifted up as a volunteer. Everyone at ACNW, from top to bottom, thank you for all you do. It makes me want to do as much as I possibly can. They’re kind enough to let me come to ACNW and volunteer.”
Thank you, Scott, for everything you do for the patients, families and team at Arkansas Children’s Northwest. To volunteer, call (479) 725-6986 for ACNW and (501) 364-1825 for ACH. GIVING.ARCHILDRENS.ORG • CHAMPIONS • NOV E M BE R / DE C E M BE R 2 0 2 1
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CAN YOU
IMAGINE hearing a child you love has cancer?
JOIN US TODAY. Make your gift to champion children like Kendryck. Your gift of $25, $50 or more to Arkansas Children’s will help kids like Kendryck get better today and be healthier tomorrow. Visit giving.archildrens.org, call (800) 880-7491 or send your gift in the enclosed envelope.