OF TOMORROW MADE POSSIBLE TODAY
HOPE
BUILDING A TOWER OF
Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, Navicent Health Opening Spring 2019
For 30 years, Children’s Hospital, Navicent Health has been the destination for children who need care and comfort because of illness or injury. We are a place where no child is turned away, regardless of their family’s ability to pay. Now, imagine a new place where broken bones are still healed, premature babies are still cared for, and cancer patients still celebrate remission…but with state-of-the-art technology, more specialists, and a first-class facility that matches the level of care we’ve provided since 1987.
How We Are Caring for the Future The Navicent Health Foundation is committed to a capital campaign that will philanthropically support the construction of a new, 100,000-squarefoot Children’s Hospital tower that will connect to the existing 60,000-square-foot facility. This modern and technologically advanced environment will include: Pediatric Emergency Room, Equipped With an Observation Unit Pediatric Surgical Center, Equipped With Robotics and a Spinal Navigation System Pediatric Radiology and Imaging Services Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Complete Renovation of the General Pediatric and Pediatric Critical Care Units Café, Gift Shop, and Chapel
This new facility will continue to provide hope to the 45,000 patients who visit each year and will match the excellence of the pediatric services currently offered. Not only will we have 160,000-square-feet dedicated to pediatric care, but we’ve also carefully considered future expansions with the option of additional floors. 03
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GIVING
EACH YEAR YOUR
ALLOWS US TO
Provide over $1.1 million in pediatric charity care
Maintain 3 Pediatric Transport Ambulances, each traveling over 100,000 miles
Welcome 45,000 patient visits
Perform over 2,400 surgeries
Care for over 700 critically ill infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Treat over 4,000 inpatient admissions
Did You Know? We are the only dedicated, comprehensive pediatric facility in our region. We have over 30 trained, board-certified pediatric specialists. Our Pediatric Residency program has trained more than 90 pediatricians, half of whom practice within 80 miles of Macon. We are one of the first nationally recognized pediatric palliative care programs in the country. We treat all children, regardless of their family’s ability to pay.
We want to introduce you to
MITCHELL, HARRISON, MAXWELL, TAYLOR, FLEMMING, AND MATTHEW
We are the first children’s hospital in Georgia to perform pediatric robotic surgery. We care for patients from almost every county in Georgia and many other states annually. 02 • ch ild r e n s h o s p it a l n h . o rg
Each of them are here today because of support from people like you.
MITCHELL 16 years old, Warner Robins
While practicing for the county championship, Mitchell was struck in the head with a baseball. The ball fractured his skull and his brain began to bleed. He had a seizure on impact and was rushed to the pediatric ER at Navicent Health.
“I’m just glad I didn’t have to go to Atlanta. I was able to stay close and my family was with me. It avoided a lot of stress for everyone. The whole time I was there, they were checking on me every 30 minutes. There were nurses who weren’t even caring for me who stopped by to see how I was doing. I felt very cared for.” Mitchell “When you hear about the Children’s Hospital, in the back of your mind you don’t think you’ll ever need it, but it was there for us when we needed it most. Being treated at a facility designed for children is different. I immediately knew we were in the right place. After only a few short days, Mitchell was released, and it was even more special to us being that it was on Easter Sunday. Although it is an everyday job for the staff at the Children’s Hospital, they are the real heroes. They made our entire stay, from the moment of arrival in the Pediatric Emergency Room through the discharge process, such a calming and positive experience. We are forever grateful for the care we received and the kindness shown to our family.” Missi, Mitchell’s Mom
Four weeks later, Mitchell was able to watch and cheer on his team who won the county championship!
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HARRISON AND MAXWELL 2 years old, Atlanta
When Portia was 32 weeks pregnant with twins, she went into premature labor. She was immediately prepped for an emergency C-Section and her twins were rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NNICU) at Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, Navicent Health.
“While Harrison and Maxwell were in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, I spent every moment I could with them. They would wheel me in there and teach me how to bond with them from a distance. It’s truly world-class care, and I didn’t have to travel far to see my babies. This is a place of hope. So many things could have gone wrong, but I never felt scared – their team took all of the fear and anxiety out of the process.” Portia, Harrison and Maxwell’s Mom
Harrison and Maxwell are now thriving, active toddlers.
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TAYLOR 16 years old, Macon
At just 11 years old, Taylor was diagnosed with an extremely rare cancer of the digestive system, for which there is currently no effective chemotherapy treatment. Two years later, she was diagnosed with severe scoliosis and required surgery. Luckily, Taylor was a candidate for the Mazor Spinal Navigation System, a robotic guidance system that is less invasive and has a shorter patient recovery time. Less than a year after her successful spine surgery, Taylor faced another surgery to remove the recurrent stomach cancer.
“I was extremely nervous. I was worried how these surgeries would affect her future. Taylor was an avid horseback rider. I was fearful that after everything she’d been through, she wouldn’t be able to continue riding horses and doing the things she loves.” Kelly, Taylor’s Mom
Taylor continues to have CT scans every six months, but she’s doing well – and most importantly, she is back to riding horses again!
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FLEMMING 9 years old, Macon
When Flemming was 13 months old, she had her first seizure. By the time she was 4, she was having over 80 seizures a day. Under the care of the Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, her medical team discovered that Flemming had petit mal epilepsy, ADHD, and dyslexia, and immediately started treating her to reduce her seizures.
“Navicent Health is like a second family; they feel like Flemming is their child, too. When Flemming arrives for treatment, she’s immediately greeted by the Child Life Specialists – they are her favorite people! They play iPad games together, sing, color, and discuss what she’s having done that day. Flemming and I both are immediately put at ease. They are there anytime we need them, and we need them a lot. We truly have a care provider for life. Flemming always tells her friends that she’s headed to the brain doctor, so they can make her brain feel better!” Stacy, Flemming’s Mom
Flemming is doing great today and her seizures are well-controlled with medication, and she’s carefully monitored throughout the year. When Flemming isn’t at Navicent Health, you can find her cheerleading, dancing, or playing softball, tennis, or basketball.
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MATTHEW 3 years old, Tifton
When Matthew was born on August 21, 2014 in Tifton, Georgia, he wasn’t breathing and lost blood quickly. His brain and other vital organs went without oxygen for the 30 minutes it took to resuscitate him. Matthew was immediately rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital, Navicent Health, where the neonatologists begin an intervention called total body cooling, which is an induced hypothermia. He rested under a cooling blanket for 72 hours. His treatment had to be administered within hours of delivery to avoid death or disability. If Matthew had to travel an additional 90+ miles to Atlanta, the total body cooling treatment would not have been an option, and the outcome would’ve been totally different.
“The initial diagnosis was incredibly heartbreaking. All we pictured in Matthew’s future was wheelchairs and feeding tubes. Thanks to the exceptional care Matthew received in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, we are looking at a future of sports and homework. Without the total body cooling therapy, we would not be where we are today. We believe that God healed Matthew through the staff and cooling blanket, which was made possible through the generosity of donors.” Matt & Jodie, Matthew’s Parents
Over the next three weeks, Matthew defied all odds. His follow-up MRI showed complete healing with no trace of the initial brain damage. Matthew continued to receive followup care from Beverly Knight Olson Children’s Hospital, Navicent Health for the first year of his life, and today his life looks much like you would expect a 3-year-old’s to be.
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HOPE
WILL YOU PROVIDE
FOR OUR CHILDREN?
Each day we welcome sick and injured children into our care. They are rushed in by scared, apprehensive parents and cared for by teams of compassionate, knowledgeable, and specialized providers. This is made possible by generous donors like you.
THESE STORIES AREN’T POSSIBLE WITHOUT YOU. You can make a difference.
You helped Mitchell’s fractured skull heal. You helped him return in time to watch his team win the county baseball championship.
You can help change lives. You can serve the children of today while building a legacy for future generations. You helped Taylor beat cancer twice and have a successful spine fusion surgery. You helped her ride horses again.
You helped Harrison and Maxwell recover from premature births. You helped put their parents’ minds at ease.
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DREAMS OF TOMORROW MADE POSSIBLE TODAY childrenshospitalnh.org | 478-633-4483