A Letter from the Foundation

Spring is often associated with new beginnings and this issue of the Foundation Newsletter is full of new updates, fresh ideas, and innovative technology.

I am excited to share with you the Honda Center for Gait Analysis and Mobility Enhancement. Using 3D motion capture – the same technology used to make video games and movie special effects – our gait analysis lab helps understand how children with orthopedic and neurological conditions move, how we can better treat them, and how we can reduce an individual’s risk of injury.

Steve Testa President, Nationwide Children’s Hospital Foundation

May was national Mental Health Awareness Month and On Our Sleeves hosted a sold-out 5k that included 1,000 runners and other participants that raised more than $145,000 for the movement for pediatric mental health. You’ll get more updates on that wonderful event in this issue.

You will also learn about a heartwarming toy drop-off opportunity. Children who are in the hospital are still children. They want to play, to imagine, to have fun. Toys help patients get through the difficult days so this effort will bring a smile to so many children.

We are so grateful for your support and help in giving our patients the most innovative care. Nationwide Children’s is on the cutting edge of care because of your commitment.

Thank you for everything,

Steve Testa

Where Are They Now?

Hudson is a very active 15-year-old. He’s a huge sports fan, especially of Ohio State football and basketball. He also loves horseback riding, having started in the saddle when he was only 4, and he has a wall of ribbons to show for his work! Karate, swimming, snorkeling, miniature golf, biking, and snow tubing are other favorites, as well as just about any video game he’s allowed to play!

While these activities seem typical for a healthy and active boy, Hudson is anything but typical. At birth, Hudson had a stroke, leaving him with left hemiparesis, weakness of one entire side of the body.

Over time, Hudson progressed well with regular Botox injection treatments. These injections helped to relax the muscles in Hudson’s leg and stretch his heel cord to assist with movement. While the injections were successful for a long time, persistent growth spurts made it necessary to increase the frequency and dosage. As a result, Hudson’s parents started investigating alternatives which included Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) surgery, a more permanent solution. SDR is a complex and invasive surgery that corrects muscle spasticity by disconnecting a portion of the sensory nerve rootlets in the spinal canal that are sending abnormal signals to the muscles. This reduces messages to the muscle and allows for better muscle control.

Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy surgery is offered by only a handful of pediatric hospitals and few surgeons are trained in the technique. Jeffrey Leonard, MD, Chief of Neurosurgery and the Surgical Director of the Neuro-Oncology Program at Nationwide Children’s, has years’ experience with the SDR procedure and leads the SDR Program at Nationwide Children’s. Patients from around the country come to Nationwide Children's for this procedure and stay for two weeks after to begin physical therapy.

Dr. Leonard holds the Robert F. and Edgar T. Wolfe Foundation Endowed Chair in Neurosurgery.

To determine if Hudson was a good candidate and would benefit from SDR, he was evaluated at the Honda Center for Gait Analysis and Mobility Enhancement. The extensive personal mobility assessments made possible at the Gait Lab, coupled with multi-disciplinary evaluations allowed experts to craft a personalized care plan for Hudson, helping his parents with decisions related to Hudson’s treatment.

Hudson had successful SDR surgery in May 2019 – a few days shy of his 11th birthday. Hudson’s mom shared that he continues to thrive and is a “great” brother to his younger sister, Laurel, and passionately “coaches” her at every gymnastic meet during her season. When he isn’t busy running, riding a bike, or playing basketball, Hudson is a straight-A student that loves history and math while excelling in science and technology.

There's More.

If you would like to support and ensure much needed funds are available for innovative research and medical care such as Hudson recieved at Nationwide Children's, visit: