1. family and parenting
2. children

children’s progress
fall 2012
serving children through philanthropy
14
From The Heart
A family shares their
journey to save their
newborn daughter
4
Building on the Promise
Akron Children’s
announces $200 million
expansion project
12 A Night to Remember
2012 Charity Ball
From
The Heart
letter from the executive director
Dear Friends,
At Akron Children’s Hospital, we treasure
the many ways in which you support our
organization – from golf outings to charity
walks to the culture of gratitude our own
team of doctors is creating in the Physicians
for Philanthropy group.
We appreciate your creativity and commitment to helping
the hundreds of thousands of patients receiving care
through our hospital network every year.
In this issue of Children’s Progress, you’ll learn about
some of the unique ways that people are helping Akron
Children’s. In our special holiday spread, you’ll find
information about several events that celebrate the
season and raise funds for the hospital. You’ll also learn
how the Mahoning Valley community came together to
bring the gift of play and healing to our Beeghly campus
with the creation of Alex’s Playground. And you’ll hear
the story of a group of mothers who help us in a special
Officers
foundation board members
Philip H. Maynard
Chairman
William H. Considine
President
Michael P. Trainer
Treasurer
way – by sharing their families’ stories on the hospital’s
blog, inside.akronchildrens.org, as hospital “mom
bloggers.”
The promise you make to our hospital is something we
don’t take lightly. Let us show you how we’re upholding
our promises to all those we serve through our “Building
on the Promise” campus transformation. You’ll find out
how you can be part of the exciting expansion project
we’re undertaking in 2013 that will change the way we
deliver care to the families we’re privileged to serve.
Great things are happening at our hospital – they’re all
possible because of you.
Thank you for your continued support.
Zoilo
JJohn
h Z
il
Executive Director
Akron Children’s Hospital Foundation
William W. Cushwa Jr.
Manager
The Braveheart Group LLC
John P. Delaney
Vice President and Co-Owner
G.D.S. Express Inc.
John T. McBride, MD
Vice Chair, Department of Pediatrics, and
Director, Robert T. Stone MD Respiratory
Center
Akron Children’s Hospital
Mrs. James McCool (Diana)
Paul M. Dutton
Member/Partner
Harrington, Hoppe &
Mitchell Ltd.
Gregory J. Michalec
Senior Vice President of
Sales and Marketing
Superior Beverage Group
Valerie A. Geiger
Senior Vice President, Corporate Banking
PNC Bank
Gregory A. McDermott
President
First Merit Insurance Group
Richard R. Grigg
Chairman, Board of Directors
Akron Children’s Hospital
Mark W. Oelschlager
Portfolio Manager
Oak Associates Ltd.
James P. Berry
SiebertKeck Insurance Agency (Retired)
Raymond Hexamer
CEO
First Communication
Frank Bevilacqua
President/Co-owner
Winer and Bevilacqua
Willard T. Holland
Partner
Expand Interactive
Ernest Pouttu
President & Chief
Executive Officer
Harwick Standard
Distribution Corp.
David A. Bouffard
Vice President, Public Relations
Sterling Jewelers Inc.
Patrick James
Chairman
Hawthorn Manufacturing Corp.
Adam A. Briggs
Financial Advisor
Briggs Financial Group
Keith Kennedy
Director
WKDD Radio
Elizabeth A. Clark
President
Friends of Akron Children’s Hospital
Rajeev Kishore, MD
Director, Allergy-Immunology
Akron Children’s Hospital
Robert B. Cooper
Director, Licensed Real Estate
CB Richard Ellis Inc.
Kara H. Lewis
President
Winslow Asset Management Inc.
John P. Crow, MD
Pediatric Surgeon
Akron Children’s Hospital
Robert M. Littman, CPA, MT
Director
SS&G Financial Services Inc.
Thomas R. Crowley
Chairman of the Board
Gasko Products (Retired)
Mrs. Robert W. Malone (Paula)
President
Women’s Board of Akron Children’s Hospital
Michael E. George
Secretary
John D. Zoilo
Executive Director
Directors
John R. Adams
Wealth Management Advisor
Northwestern Mutual Financial Network
Allen L. Ryan Jr.
Director of Corporate Affairs
Covelli Enterprises
James D. Showers*
Vice President
Strausser Development
James Sisek, Esq.
President & CEO
Farmers Trust Company
Mrs. Willis S. Zeigler (Patricia)
Member
Women’s Board of Akron Children’s Hospital
Honorary Director
Willard R. Holland
Chairman and CEO
FirstEnergy Corp. & Pennsylvania
Power Co. (Retired)
* Deceased
features
14From the Heart
A family shares their journey to save their
newborn daughter
4 Building on the Promise
04
Building on the
Promise
06
Acts of Generosity
08
Planned Giving
12
Save the Date
22
Of Note
24
Memorial and
Tribute Gifts
Akron Chilldren’s Hospital embraces
a philosophy of family-centered care.
We believe that every child has the right
to world-class medical care, regardless
of a family’s ability to pay.
Member, Children’s Hospital Association
(CHA).
Member, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals
children’s progress is published
quarterly by the Akron Children’s
Hospital Foundation
One Perkins Square
Akron, OH 44308-1062
330-543-8340
An Equal Opportunity Employer
President and CEO
William H. Considine
Executive Director, Foundation
John D. Zoilo
Editor
Anne C. Merchant
Contributing Writers
Becky Badar
Linda Beck
Daryl Dirham
Gretchen Corp Jones
Jacqualynn Lallo
Holly Pupino
Jill Wodtley
Contributing Photographers
Brian Palmer Photography
Julie M. Pawlowski
Lew Stamp
Ted Stevens
Tiffany Swift
Graphic Design
Dawn Tindal and Assoc. Inc.
Printing
Star Printing Co. Inc
©2012 Akron Children’s Hospital
All rights reserved.
Akron Children’s Hospital realizes
that individuals enjoy learning
more about our services, programs
and developments. We also
fully respect the privacy of our
patients. If you do not wish to
receive fundraising materials from
Akron Children’s Hospital, you may
make the request by sending your
name and address to the Akron
Children’s Hospital Foundation,
One Perkins Square, Akron, Ohio
44308. We will use our best
efforts to honor such a request.
departments
from our cover
Building on the Promise
Courtesy of HKS
Akron Children’s announces $200 million
campus expansion project
Akron Children’s Hospital recently launched a
$200 million expansion of its Akron campus to
meet the current and future needs of children
and their families.
Called “Building on the Promise,” the
expansion project is the result of significant
growth in the hospital’s patient volumes and
services.
“Our plan builds on the same promises we
made in 1890 when we opened our doors,”
said Bill Considine, president and CEO of
Akron Children’s Hospital. “We treat each
child as our own. We treat others as we would
want to be treated. And we turn no child away
regardless of the ability to pay. This expansion
will ensure our ability to care for the next
generation of children.”
The centerpiece of the plan – a critical care
tower near Locust and Exchange streets will
include:
• A new neonatal intensive care unit with
individual rooms for each of the hospital’s
tiniest patients and their parents. The
current Level III NICU is nationally ranked
but has outgrown its space.
• A new emergency department with enough
room to meet current and future patient
volumes. Annual visits of more than 60,000
strain the hospital’s resources in a facility
built to accommodate 44,000.
• Dedicated outpatient surgical suites to
accommodate a more than doubling of
outpatient procedures in the past 20 years.
• Additional space to accommodate future
growth in key clinical programs.
4
CHILDREN’S PROGRESS | FALL 2012
Integrated Process Design
For the past few months hospital leaders,
patient families, physicians, nurses, and
clinical staff have been meeting regularly with
architects, builders and the hospital’s in-house
experts in Lean Six Sigma process improvement
to plan the new space.
The process, known as “Integrated Lean Project
Delivery,” is expected to improve productivity,
eliminate waste, and enhance the overall patient
experience. It is expected to reduce costly
change orders in the construction phase and
the project’s overall cost.
“We plan to build flexibility into our design so that we can be prepared for the changing healthcare
environment,” said Grace Wakulchik, chief operating officer. “For example, we are designing our new neonatal
intensive care unit so it can become a pediatric intensive care unit or even general patient rooms if our patient
volumes and patterns change.”
Department teams, in conjunction with the architects, are using small scale models, including paper dolls,
to design their floors. Blueprints will be tested in full-scale mock-ups constructed
cted in a local warehouse.
This will allow doctors, nurses and patients to walk down hallways, enter exam
m rooms and reach
for supplies – catching potential problems – well before the real construction begins.
Construction will begin in the spring of 2013 and will be completed in 2015. For more information
about the Building on the Promise expansion plan, visit pinterest.com/akronchildrens
childrens or
bit.ly/buildingcampaign.
In addition, the plan calls for:
• Expanding the Ronald McDonald House of Akron
to accommodate the hospital’s growth.
• A new six-level, 1,200 space parking deck,
already under construction.
• A new “front door” for the hospital – a childfocused patient and visitor welcome center that
will streamline access to the campus.
trauma cases and children
hildren needing
the most critical care,”
e,” said
Considine. “We hope to have
the support of the community
ommunity –
from the business sector
ector to the
many individuals who
o have been
touched in some way
y by the
work we do at Akron Children’s
on a daily basis.”
Two-thirds of the cost of the project will be covered
through public financing and internal reserves.
Philanthropy will play a key role in the success of
the campus expansion. The hospital plans a capital
campaign to raise $50 million for the critical care
tower and $10 million for the Ronald McDonald
House expansion.
While Akron Children’s has made continual
improvements, it has been 22 years since the
hospital last undertook a major capital campaign.
“Our patient volumes have increased significantly
and we are seeing patients from farther distances.
Our main campus will always be the place for
AKRONCHILDRENS.ORG/GIVING
5
Scan the tag above or visit
youtube.com/akronchildrens
to watch the latest videos
documenting the Building on
the Promise expansion project.
Acts of generosity
Members of the Ohio CycleWorks Charities sign a check for $45,000 which was donated to Akron Children’s
Hospital on Sept. 15.
A Race Across America
In an epic race this summer, eight cyclists
from Ohio CycleWorks Charities set out to
ride their bikes from California to Maryland
in Race Across America and raised more
than $45,000 for Akron Children’s Hospital.
Members of the Ohio CycleWorks Charities
team include Brian Ray, Michael Feichter,
Shawn Aker, Brain Zupanic, Matthew Geis,
Scott Garchar, Terry Horner and Jody
Demaline. The team unanimously decided to
raise money on behalf of Akron Children’s to
show their gratitude for the hospital.
“Two of the racers, both Brian Ray and I, have
had children who spent considerable time
at Akron Children’s Hospital,” said team
member Scott Garchar. “In both cases, our
boys were young and scared, and so were
we. They received tremendous care while at
Akron Children’s and this was a way we could
give back.”
honor of Jake, a close family friend who was
having a crucial surgery the day the race
started.
“Many of our sons have played baseball
together with Jake, so it was only fitting to
honor him,” explained Garchar. “What was
most encouraging were reports we received
during the race from Jake’s father. His
surgery went well, and his progress was
better than expected.”
The team traveled the 3,000 miles from
Oceanside, Calif., to Annapolis, Md., in just
six days. Being greeted by more than 50
family members and friends as the team
crossed the finish line was a moment that
Garchar will remember forever.
“It was loud and crazy as we reunited with our
families,” Garchar said. “Many of us cried
with joy as we hugged our spouses, fiancées
and children.”
In addition to raising money for the hospital,
Ohio CycleWorks Charities chose to race in
6
CHILDREN’S PROGRESS | FALL 2012
The Gift of Play
A community joins forces to create
a lasting legacy
On Aug. 29, the heart of Akron Children’s Hospital
Mahoning Valley Beeghly Campus beat with excitement
as it celebrated the opening of Alex’s Playground – an
outdoor play area created for patients and their siblings.
It was a pivotal moment for Allison and Mark Vistein
and their family. The playground was named in honor
of their son, Alex, who spent his brief life in Akron
Children’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) before
passing away when he was only six days old.
“After Alex died, people began giving us money,” said
Allison. “We didn’t need or want the money, but we
weren’t sure what to do with it. Mark and I agreed that
although Alex’s life was short, we wanted his impact
and legacy to live on for years to come.”
A community comes together
The Visteins approached Akron Children’s Hospital
Mahoning Valley with the idea of building a playground
in Alex’s name. They wanted to give back so that other
children would have a place to play and have fun, and
they made the initial gift for the project with the funds
they received.
The hospital looked for additional support to turn the
idea into a reality. The answer came in a $125,000
grant from The Hine Memorial Fund of the Youngstown
Foundation – one of the oldest community foundations
in the country. The Hine Memorial Fund allocates
program and capital support to nonprofit 501(c)(3)
agencies that assist children with medically diagnosed
disabilities, ages 21 and below, who are residents of
Youngstown and vicinity.
“This generous donation brought this project to life,” said
JoAnn Stock, director of development at Akron Children’s
Hospital Mahoning Valley. “Without the foundation’s
support, none of this would have been possible.”
Through the grant, the monetary support from the
Visteins, as well as other gifts from individuals and local
organizations, the hospital raised more than $160,000
to support the playground project. After the equipment
arrived, more than 100 volunteers – including Home
Depot and Green Building Pros employees; members of
the Aut Mori Grotto, Austintown Rotary, Hine Memorial
AKRONCHILDRENS.ORG/GIVING
7
Built in memory of Alex Vistein, who died six days after his birth,
Alex’s Playground on Akron Children’s Beeghly campus is a
child-friendly, therapeutic tool for patients and their siblings.
Fund Distribution Committee and Junior League of
Youngstown; Vistein family members and friends; and
hospital staff – participated in a weekend-long
playground build this summer.
The playground enhances the child-friendly atmosphere
on the campus and serves as a therapeutic tool for
children requiring physical, occupational and speech
therapy at the hospital’s rehabilitative services
department. Able to accommodate children with
wheelchairs, leg braces, crutches and other barriers
that usually leave them sidelined at a traditional
playground, the new play area also features sound
and visual stimulation for children with hearing or
vision loss.
“Alex’s Playground provides children a much-needed
sense of normalcy through outdoor fun,” said Stock.
“We’re very fortunate to have this on our campus, thanks
to the support of the Youngstown Foundation, the
Vistein family and friends, and the rest of our Mahoning
Valley community.”
Support Alex’s Playground
If you’d like to permanently recognize a special child in
your life, you can purchase a block that will be engraved
with their name and displayed in Alex’s Playground.
Your donation will not only help support our playground,
but provide a lasting tribute to a special child (or
children) in your life. Call 330-746-9122 for more
information.
planned giving
Year-end tips for charitable giving
Giving to Akron Children’s Hospital before the
end of year provides many benefits to you
as a donor. Tax incentives may enable you
to do more than you realized was possible,
even improving your own financial position
in the process. The availability of the income
tax deduction helps a charitable person be
even more generous. As the year draws to a
close, below are some things to consider when
making your year-end donations.
Cash is convenient and provides you with
an income tax deduction when itemized on
your income tax return. The gift must be
postmarked by Dec. 31. The IRS requires the
postmark to be before midnight on Dec. 31 in
order for you to take the charitable deduction
on your 2012 tax return.
Use your credit card to make the gift. Get
the deduction now, and pay the bill no earlier
than a month from the date of the gift, or at
your convenience. If your credit card provides
frequent-flyer miles or other credits or points,
you get the tax advantages plus added benefits.
Donate appreciated stock held for more than
one year and derive an additional tax benefit:
avoidance of capital gain. Consider choosing
appreciated stock with the greatest capital gain
to take maximum advantage of this unique tax
benefit.
Sell stock that has lost value and donate the
proceeds. You can deduct the loss in value
(cost basis less current value) and derive an
income tax charitable deduction for the current
market value.
Share the proceeds. If you are not prepared to
donate all your shares of stock in a particular
company, donate the amount of shares that
will offset or reduce the gain when you sell the
remainder of shares and keep the proceeds.
Donate your IRA account. You can donate up
to $100,000 this year ($200,000 for a married
couple). The distribution goes directly from
your IRA account to the charity you select. You
report no income (and consequently receive no
charitable deduction). However, the distribution
will qualify as your required minimum
distribution. You must be older than age 70 ½
to take advantage of this benefit.
Donate an insurance policy that you no longer
find useful and receive a charitable deduction
for the cash value of the policy.
Match your gift with your employer’s
contribution. Many companies have matchinggift programs for charitable donations. Simply
enclose the company form along with your
donation, and we will take care of the rest.
If you would like additional information about
your year-end gift, please call Gretchen Corp
Jones, JD, director of principal giving at Akron
Children’s Hospital, at 330-543-4167 or visit
akronchildrens.org/giving.
8
CHILDREN’S PROGRESS | FALL 2012
grants
Akron Children’s receives $302,178
for fitness programming
Akron Children’s Hospital recently received
$302,178 to continue fitness programming for
children in the region.
The Kohl’s Future Fitness Club, made possible
by Kohl’s Community Youth Fitness and
Akron Children’s Hospital, is an effective,
low-cost, group weight management program
for children 8 to 13 years old that promotes
gradual and safe weight loss.
Participants learn healthy eating and fitness
habits as they participate in games and
other fun, non-competitive activities, such as
obstacle courses, relay races, circuit strength/
flexibility training and more. To date, Kohl’s
has donated more than $3.3 million to Akron
Children’s Hospital through this and other
initiatives funded by its Kohl’s Cares® cause
merchandise program. In 2012, the Future
Fitness Clubs expanded to three sites in the
Mahoning Valley, in addition to the existing
locations in Summit and Stark counties.
“Future Fitness Club sites have increased by
50 percent over the last three years,” said
Amy Chand, youth fitness specialist exercise
Representatives from local Kohl’s stores presented Akron
Children’s President and CEO Bill Considine with a symbolic
check for $302,178 following the Akron Marathon’s Kids’
Run on Sept. 29.
physiologist at Akron Children’s Hospital’s
sports medicine center.
The clubs are held at neighborhood recreation
centers and cost $30 for an eight-week
session. For more information, visit
akronchildrens.org/kohlsfitness.
Thank you for your generosity!
Each year, more than 90 special events are held to raise money on behalf of Akron Children’s
Hospital. Listed below are events held between June and September that raised more than $10,000.
> Hugs and Kisses, Hopes and Wishes Cookie Cookbook – $16,700
> Strides for Autism – $25,280
> LOPen Celebrity Golf Outing – $63,471
> Giant Eagle Register Campaign – $70,322
> Palliative Care 10th Birthday Celebration – $20,879
> 2nd Annual Clubs for Kids Golf Classic – $55,000
> Harness Race Rally – $60,000
> Miracles Promises Radiothon – $190,455
> Walks for Babies – more than $100,000
> Children’s Benefit Invitational – $37,753
Special thank you to our Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals partners in Akron and the
Mahoning Valley for their successful register campaigns!
> Rite Aid – $21,258
> Circle K – $120,001
AKRONCHILDRENS.ORG/GIVING
9
> Walmart
and Sam’s Club – $306,118
The most wonderful
time of the year
Akron Children’s celebrates the holidays
November and December mark a special time of year for the
hospital and our communities. As the holiday season draws near,
join our volunteers, board members and staff at several special
events benefitting Akron Children’s that are sure to get you and
your family into the spirit of the season.
Holiday Tree Festival
Nov. 17 – 25
John S. Knight Center – Akron, Ohio
The 31st annual Holiday Tree Festival will
once again turn the John S. Knight Center
in downtown Akron into a magical holiday
wonderland.
Featuring hundreds of decorated trees,
wreaths, holiday gifts, live music and
a raffle to win a new car, the festival is
a free gift to the community from the
volunteers of Akron Children’s Hospital.
Major underwriters of this year’s
event include Buckeye Corrugated, Inc.,
Jo-Ann Fabric & Craft Stores, Merrill
Lynch and The VanDevere Bunch.
All proceeds benefit Akron Children’s
Hospital.
The Holiday Tree Festival kicks off on
Saturday, Nov. 17, when William Considine,
president and CEO of Akron Children’s
Hospital, helps a former patient cut the
ribbon to commemorate the
e opening.
open
op
e ing.
en
From Nov. 17 through 25,, hours
hou
ours
r are:
rs
are
re::
Mahoning Valley Jingle Bell
Bash and Breakfast with Santa
Nov. 30 – Dec. 1
Covelli Centre – Youngstown, Ohio
Jingle Bell Bash
Friday, Nov. 30, 7 – 11 p.m.
Start your holiday season at this festive
event featuring wine and beer tastings,
food stations, live and silent auctions, and
a concert by Donnie Iris.
Tickets – $75
Breakfast with Santa
Saturday, Dec. 1, 10 a.m. to noon
Children from the Mahoning Valley
community can enjoy a special breakfast
with
th
h Santa
Santa
an
nta Claus
Cla
aus
u himself!
him
mse
elff!
Tickets
Children
(ages
cket
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etts – Adults:
Ad
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ts:: $20;
$2
20;
0 C
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en ((a
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$1
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• 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Monday
Wednesday
ay – Wedn
Wed
W
ednes
e da
es
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day
• 2 – 6 p.m. Thanksgiving
g
• 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. Fridays
and
Saturdays
sa
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nd
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• 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sundays
ys
For more information about
out tthe
he
2012 Holiday Tree Festival,
visit
al, vi
sit
akronchildrens.org/treefestival.
estivall.
10
C
CHILDREN’S
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PR
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GRES
SS | FAL
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F
FALL
L 2012
“A Children’s Holiday” Tree Lighting
and Anniversary Celebration
Thursday, Dec. 6
Akron Children’s Beeghly Campus –
Building C Atrium
The entire community is invited to Akron
Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley to celebrate
“A Children’s Holiday,” commemorating the
holiday season and the fourth anniversary of
the opening of the hospital’s Beeghly campus
in Boardman.
This free event begins at 5:30 p.m. and features
cocoa, carols, a special visit from Santa and
fun family activities like cookie decorating and
ornament making. At 6 p.m., guests are invited
to head outside and join hands around the
tree to sing “Jingle Bells” and cheer the final
countdown to the lighting of the holiday tree.
Children’s Tree Lighting Celebration
Friday, Dec. 7 – 5:30 p.m.
Akron Children’s Hospital – Atrium Lobby
The Women’s Board of Akron Children’s Hospital
invites you to attend the annual lighting of the
Children’s Tree.
The lighting celebration will feature the Miller
South choir and the Firestone High School
Madrigals, as well as visits from Ronald
McDonald and the Doggie Brigade. Akron
Children’s Hospital President and CEO William
m
Considine will introduce two children who will
have the honor of lighting the tree. After the
ceremony, guests will enjoy holiday cookies
and punch.
Purchase lights on the Children’s Tree!
Lights are sold individually or by the string.
Contact Lisa Millisor at [email protected]
or 330-239-2701 to receive an order form.
You also can download the form at
akronchildrens.org/childrenstree.
All acknowledgements will be included
in the event program and the permanent
Memory Book outside the hospital’s gift shop..
AKRONCHI
H LDR
LDRENS.ORG/GIVING
AKRONCHILDRENS.ORG/GIVING
11
“Holiday Hopes and Wishes”
Luncheon
Friday, Dec. 14
Mr. Anthony’s – Boardman, Ohio
On Dec. 14, attend the fourth annual “Holiday
Hopes and Wishes” luncheon and help the
Mahoning Valley neonatal intensive care unit
(NICU) and special care nursery.
With doors opening at 10 a.m., the event features
a holiday basket raffle, a luncheon, special treats
from the Holiday Bake Shoppe and a raffle for a
new iPad.
Since its founding in 2008, “Holiday Hopes and
Wishes” – hosted by the Kids’ Crew of Akron
Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley – has raised
more than $40,000.
Tickets are $35 each.
To learn more about these events, please visit
akronchildrens.org/events.
save the date
A Night to Remember
2012 Charity Ball and Presentation pays tribute to event’s history
The time-honored traditions of the annual
Charity Ball and Presentation, hosted by the
Women’s Board of Akron Children’s Hospital,
aim to pay the highest level of “thanks” to
those who serve our community.
For years, the occasion has recognized
families for outstanding volunteer activities
in our community, providing them an
opportunity to present their daughters and
granddaughters to society.
A family affair. Many families have deep connections to
the Charity Ball. Ashley George is pictured here with her
father, Philip, at the 2011 Charity Ball. Ashley’s grandmother,
Rosemarie George, founded the annual Harness Race Rally,
and several of her aunts were presented in previous years.
This year marks the 110th anniversary of
the Charity Ball and the 62nd year in which
debutantes have been presented. To mark
this significant occasion, this year’s elegant
evening will pay homage to all Akron-area
debutantes – past and present – and to the
city itself. There also will be a tribute to the
long-standing partnership the event shares
with Goodyear Hall before moving to a new
venue in 2013.
“Hundreds of debutantes have been
presented at Goodyear Hall with fond
memories lasting throughout the years,”
said Connie Nolte, event chairperson. “This
year, our focus is twofold: to honor our
41 debutantes and their families, and to
acknowledge the lasting legacy of this event
by recognizing our past debutantes.”
12
CHILDREN’S PROGRESS | FALL 2012
Making a Statement. Elegance and grandeur
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always shine through at each Charity Ball. In 1980,
a
alw
tthe Women’s Board transformed the hall into a
spectacular sea of lights.
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ta
49 debu
Former Chairperson Polly Chase is one of
the many volunteers looking forward to the
heightened nostalgia at this year’s ball.
“It’s going to be very special,” said Chase.
“I’ve been involved with this event for 35 years,
and it’s a wonderful tradition.”
And while Chase said that the event has
weathered many changes throughout the
years, one thing has always remained a
constant.
“When the evenings are over, the girls are
always so grateful they had the opportunity
AKRONCHILDRENS.ORG/GIVING
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A Grand Affair. More than 100 years ago, guests at one of the early
Charity
Balls in 1898 display the fashions of the time as they mingle
Ch
with their escorts.
to be a part of it, because they enjoyed
having a special evening with their fathers
and grandfathers,” said Chase. “It really is
such a worthwhile event. I’m so glad we’re
holding on to it.”
Attention Past Debutantes
Please contact Jessica Jones at 330-543-5019
or email [email protected] at Akron
Children’s Hospital for more information
about the 2012 Charity Ball.
FROM
THE
HEART
A family shares their
journey to save their
newborn daughter
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Rebekah Plant is an ordinary
1-year-old.
She laughs, she coos, she cries. Her parents, Chris and
Sarah Plant, say that their precocious daughter never
sits still. With a curiosity as wide as her infectious smile,
Bekah has a keen knack for adventure – whether it’s
making friends with a complete stranger on an elevator
or conversing with the birds that sit outside her kitchen
window.
It’s hard to imagine that this ordinary child shares an
extraordinary connection with Akron Children’s Hospital –
that is, unless you happen to catch a glimpse of the hairthin scar on her chest. When Bekah was born with a rare
heart defect, the entire Akron Children’s family – from
Youngstown to Akron to Boardman – came together to
help save her tiny, broken heart.
A heart-breaking discovery
Bekah was born five weeks ahead of schedule on Nov.
12, 2011, weighing 5 pounds, 9 ounces. After months of
preparation and a miscarriage scare, Chris and Sarah
were elated that their first child had finally arrived. Their
happiness, however, was overshadowed when Bekah made
a tiny grunt that caused the attending nurse to rush out of
the room with their daughter cradled in her arms.
Sarah and Chris Plant hold Bekah before the
surgery to repair her heart. “We were as ready
as we could be when two nurses told us it was
time for surgery,” Sarah wrote about the day of
Bekah’s heart surgery.
“She dashed down
the hall with a little
girl we had barely
seen. I knew they
weren’t coming
back.” - Sarah Plant
“She dashed down the hall with a little girl we had barely
seen,” said Sarah. “I knew they weren’t coming back.”
Bekah was transported to Akron Children’s special care
nursery at St. Elizabeth’s in Youngstown, Ohio. There,
doctors discovered that Bekah had two congenital heart
conditions known as ventricular septal defect and atrial
septal defect.
More specifically – she had two holes in her tiny heart.
The heart conditions also caused Bekah to experience
pulmonary hypertension, a condition in which high blood
pressure in the arteries of the lungs forces the right
side of the heart to work harder than it normally would.
Her heart wouldn’t be able to continue pumping if left
untreated. Over time, the pressure would build up in her
lungs and be too great to bear. After Bekah was placed
on a ventilator, R. Peter Vande Kappelle Jr., MD, pediatric
cardiologist at Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning
Valley’s Heart Center, talked to Sarah and Chris about
the one option that could save Bekah’s life: open heart
surgery.
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CHILDREN’S PROGRESS | FALL 2012
AKRONCHILDRENS.ORG/GIVING
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Bekah Plant went home from the hospital following the
heart surgery that saved her life in March 2012. “The
first time we left the hospital, we left knowing that
Bekah was simply going home to grow a little before her
return for heart surgery. This time, we knew we were
leaving, for real,” Sarah Plant wrote in her blog.
“I expected him to tell us that we could hold
her and say goodbye,” said Sarah. “When
they said ‘surgery,’ we were just happy and
relieved that they could help her.”
The Plants soon found themselves in the
transport process yet again, this time to the
neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Akron
Children’s Hospital.
Learning to heal
For the next 10 weeks, the NICU became the
Plant’s new home. Sarah and Chris diligently
watched their daughter stabilize and grow
healthy enough to come off the ventilator and
prepare for surgery. They recall how, during
this time, they witnessed “everyday miracles”
performed by the nurses, doctors and staff
who helped take care of Bekah.
“Each and every person spent time with us,
loving us in a way that only a caretaker of
small children can,” said Sarah. “They held
our hands, patted our backs, and looked
at us with understanding and kindness as
we faced every hurdle. They sang songs to
Bekah. They knew when to comfort us, and
when to leave us to sit quietly. They were
exactly what we needed. Because of them,
we could be exactly what Bekah needed:
parents.”
The Plants also found support through
hospital donors, especially those who
helped fund the services at the Reinberger
Family Center, where the Plants stayed on
several occasions before going to the Ronald
McDonald House.
“It was such a help to be able to stay there
and not pay a few hundred dollars to stay in
a hotel to take care of our child,” said Sarah.
“We have such an overwhelming feeling of
gratitude toward all the people who support
not just the Reinberger Family Center, but the
hospital as a whole.”
Chris and Sarah also became adept at a
new set of skills they would need to take
care of Bekah at home before her surgery in
March. They learned how to perform tasks
like inserting Bekah’s feeding tube, drawing
and giving medicine, and learning to measure
every bottle with the precision of a chemist.
Even though they were more than prepared
when Bekah was discharged on Jan. 21, 2012,
the Plants weren’t without their own set of
fears.
“I was terrified,” said Sarah. “I had a total
mental meltdown during rounds the day
before. I tried to explain why I was crying –
that I was nervous to be alone with Bekah,
that I wasn’t sure I could really handle it all
on my own 24 hours a day, every day, until
surgery. I’m not sure if Bekah’s doctors and
nurses had to take a class in how to handle
semi-crazy parents, but if they did, they
must’ve gotten an A+. They gave me the
assurance that we would be ok.”
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CHILDREN’S PROGRESS | FALL 2012
“As scary as our experience was, Akron Children’s
really was a great place to be. We want Bekah to
grow up knowing all the fantastic things that happened
to her and to us because of the hospital.” - Sarah Plant
Mending a broken heart
The morning of March 6, the Plants returned to
Akron Children’s for Bekah’s open heart surgery.
Heart Center surgeons Philip Smith, MD, PhD,
and Michael Spector, MD, and their medical team
performed a four-hour procedure to mend the
holes in her heart, placing a specialized patch
over the larger hole and sutures to repair the
second, smaller hole. As a precaution, they also
performed a procedure known as a PDA ligation,
where they severed and tied-off a blood vessel
in the heart that typically disappears on its own
after birth.
As Sarah sat in the waiting room with her
husband and her family, she recalled the
remarkable sense of calm they experienced.
“We really were expecting them to come out and
say it went well, and they did,” said Sarah. “Dr.
Smith never left room for doubt that anything
would go wrong. We were more worried about
how she would do coming off the ventilator in the
days following the surgery.”
After the successful surgery, Bekah stayed in the
pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for a little
more than a week. Then, it was time for her to
return home as a new and entirely healed baby.
“We were expecting a more gradual change, even
though people kept saying that we’d be bringing a
different baby home,” said Sarah. “But, we soon
found out that she wasn’t tired all the time and
had more energy – she was eating and playing
more. She immediately started to pick up on her
development and learning, too. It was such a total
difference; it was a bit of a shock.”
Sharing their story
During Bekah’s illness, Sarah started to write
about her family’s experience on Akron Children’s
blog, as a mom blogger. At first, it was a way to
keep family and friends informed about Bekah’s
condition. But, the blog soon transformed into an
avenue for assurance, letting everyone – including
herself – know that things were going to be ok
and that good work was taking place at Akron
Children’s Hospital.
“Getting to share our story was a way for us to
spread hope, but also a way for us to look back
and see how far we’ve come,” said Sarah.
And while Sarah continues to blog today, her
stories take a much different form than when
she first started. Today, Sarah’s posts share the
story of a happy, healthy and friendly Bekah
and her daily adventures, her routine visits to see
Dr. Vande Kapelle at the heart center in Boardman,
and her family’s continual appreciation for Akron
Children’s Hospital.
Now a healthy, active 1-year-old, Bekah loves
to laugh and play. You can keep up with her
progress by reading her mother’s blog at
bit.ly/follow-your-heart.
AKRONCHILDRENS.ORG/GIVING
19
“As scary as our experience was, Akron Children’s
really was a great place to be,” said Sarah. “We
want Bekah to grow up knowing all the fantastic
things that happened to her and to us because of
the hospital.”
Mom bloggers capture the joys a
The Akron Children’s blog,
inside.akronchildrens.org,
features inspirational patient
and staff stories, as well as
information about health and
parenting, hospital news,
fundraising events and more.
One of the strategies behind the
blog is to encourage followers
to share their own experiences
at Akron Children’s Hospital.
This includes three mom
bloggers who regularly share
their stories as they face their
child’s serious illness. In addition
to Sarah Plant, the other bloggers
include Megan Pollock who is
raising a young child with spina
bifida; and Sarah Sanford, the
mother of two adopted children,
Jane and Jude. Jude has multiple
special needs, including cerebral
palsy and sensory processing
disorder, which require frequent
trips to Akron Children’s.
By sharing their personal
experiences, these mom bloggers
give hope to other parents facing
similar situations. Documenting
their journey can also be
therapeutic, helping them process
complex emotions, as well as
celebrate their child’s successes
and milestones.
Share your story
Through the Inside Children’s
blog, we’ve created an online
community that provides
inspirational patient and staff
stories, as well as information
on health and parenting topics,
hospital news, fundraising events
and more.
Share how Akron Children’s has
touched you and your family, or
follow the latest posts by visiting
inside.akronchildrens.org.
Megan and Jordan Pollock
Megan Pollock and her son,
Jordan
In February 2011, Megan and Randy
Pollock of Seville were anxiously
awaiting the birth of their first
child when an ultrasound at 20
weeks showed their unborn baby’s
backbone and spinal canal had not
closed properly, a condition known
as spina bifida.
They quickly learned that after
delivery, their baby would be
transferred to Akron Children’s
neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)
and undergo back surgery.
While meeting with genetic counselor
Melonie Michelson, Megan asked if
Akron Children’s offered a website
where she could post updates to
friends and family regarding their
baby’s condition.
“We are very active in our church, so
I thought it would be a good way to
let everyone know how our baby is
doing,” said Megan.
Although Akron Children’s does
provide patients with free websites
through CaringBridge, Michelson
asked Megan if she’d also consider
blogging about her experience on the
hospital’s blog. She agreed, knowing
this was a way to turn her child’s
illness into something positive.
“I knew there must be a reason for
our baby to have spina bifida and
this was God’s way for us to help
others,” said Megan, who began
blogging in April 2011, seven weeks
before her son, Jordan, was born.
Since then, she has chronicled the
weeks leading up to her delivery,
Jordan’s stay in the NICU, and the
ups and downs of parenting a child
who has a serious medical condition.
The name of her blog is “Labor of
Love.”
“It’s been great to look back and see
how much Jordan has progressed,”
Megan said. “Sometimes when
there have been set-backs, it’s
easy to dwell on that, but the blog
has allowed me to put things in
perspective and focus on what
Jordan can do.”
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CHILDREN’S PROGRESS | FALL 2012
s and fears of parenting
Blogging has also helped Megan process the
tremendous amount of information she and Randy
received about spina bifida, Jordan’s prognosis and
the treatment he requires.
“Before Jordan was born, we toured the NICU and
met with so many doctors. It was overwhelming,”
said Megan. Yet when the time came for Jordan to
be transported to Children’s, she felt remarkably
calm and relaxed.
“Writing about all of the information we were given
was a really good way for me to think through what
was going to happen and to mentally prepare for
Jordan’s medical journey,” Megan said.
To follow Megan, go to bit.ly/labor-of-love.
Sarah Sanford and her children,
Jane and Jude
agencies for kids with special needs, Sarah wishes
she could have followed a parent blogger in a
similar situation to gain some of that insight.
Through the blog, she’s connected with several
parents of kids with special needs, including new
and old friends, and is thrilled she’s been able to
help them face their own challenges.
Sarah majored in English and has always enjoyed
writing. “Blogging has helped me keep things
in perspective. It’s also created awareness on a
personal level for our friends who wanted to ask
about our infertility or the adoption process, but
didn’t know what to say,” she said.
The blog has also provided a way to capture Jane’s
hilarious observations, which Sarah refers to as
Janey-isms. She knows that one day her children
will be able to look back at the blog and their life
together as a new family.
To follow Sarah, go to bit.ly/jude-blog.
Adoptive parent and mom blogger Sarah Sanford,
of Akron, can relate to hectic households. When she
and her husband, Vance, were unable to conceive,
they adopted Jane, now 5, and her little brother,
Jude, age 2.
Jude has multiple special needs, including cerebral
palsy and sensory processing disorder, so most
days are consumed with numerous doctor and
therapy appointments between Akron Children’s,
Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board
and the Cleveland Sight Center. Although doctors
weren’t sure if he’d be able to walk or talk, Jude is
now walking and learning new words.
As a fan of Akron Children’s Facebook page, Sarah
is also a frequent commenter. When the Public
Relations staff asked her to share her family’s story
through the blog, she jumped at the chance.
“I thought it would be a great way to raise awareness
for disabilities and adoption, especially domestic
adoption,” said Sarah, who, like Megan, also began
blogging in April 2011. The blog is named “Hey
Jude!”
Because she had to learn first-hand how to navigate
the complex system of health and social service
Sarah and Jude Sanford
AKRONCHILDRENS.ORG/GIVING
21
of note
Presentations
Bruce H. Cohen, MD, FAAN,
Director, Division of Neurology,
presented “Therapeutics and Targets
for Mitochondrial Disease” at the
Pediatric Neurology Symposium,
American Academy of Neurology,
Annual Meeting Scientific Session,
New Orleans, LA, April 2012;
“Summary of Scientific Advances in
Mitochondrial Diseases: UMDF 2012
Scientific Meeting,” at the UMDF
2012 Symposium, Bethesda, MD,
June 2012; “Mitochondrial Disorders”
at the UMDF Conference for Medical
Professionals, Patients and Families
Northern California Chapter of the
UMDF, Sacramento, CA, July 2012;
“Autism and Mitochondrial Diseases,”
at the Sutter Pediatric Neurology
Group, Sacramento, CA. July 2012;
“Mitochondrial Disorders: A General
Overview for Geneticists and
Genetic Counselors” at the
Regional Genetics Conference at
the University of California, Davis
Campus, Sacramento, CA, July
2012; “Advanced Genetic Cases
in Mitochondrial Disease” at the
Department of Genetics at the
University of California, Davis Campus,
Sacramento, CA, July 2012; “E&M
Update: Maximize Revenue, Minimize
Mistakes” at the American Academy
of Neurology Webinar broadcasted
in July 2012; “Genetic Testing For
Mitochondrial and Other Neurogenetic
Disorders” at the Blue Cross/Blue
Shield CareSource Advisory Group
Meeting, BlueCross/BlueShield
Headquarters, Chicago, IL, July 2012.
Joseph A. Congeni, MD, Medical
Director, Sports Medical Center
presented “Hand, Finger, Wrist Injuries
and Ankle Injuries Including Stress
Fractures” at the Aultman Primary Care
Update, Canton, Ohio, April 2012;
“Concussion Recognition, Evaluation
and Management” and “Hand, Wrist,
Ankle Sprains and Mimics” at the
Ohio NAPNAP, Twinsburg, Ohio,
April 2012; “Difficult Cases from
Deep in the Trenches” at Changing
Our Game Plan: Ensuring Our Future
Ohio Athletic Trainers’ Assoc. 2012
Annual Symposium, Fairlawn, Ohio,
May 2012; “Recognition, Evaluation
& Management of Concussion” at the
Hometown Huddle, ProMedica Toledo
Hospital, Toledo Children’s Hospital,
Sylvania, Ohio, May 2012. “Health
and Safety Issues in Youth Football”
at NFL/USA Football Youth Football
Summit National Football League,
Canton, Ohio, July 2012; “What’s
the Big Deal with Concussions?” at
the Summit-Portage County Football
Officials, Akron, Ohio, August 2012;
“Recognition, Evaluation and
Management of Sports Concussions”
and “Case Studies: Musculoskeletal” at
Saint Elizabeth’s Hospital, Youngstown,
Ohio, August 2012.
Sarah Friebert, MD, Director, Pediatric
Palliative Care presented, “Pediatric
Palliative Care: Putting Standards
into Practice,” National Hospice and
Palliative Care Organization, National
Audio-conference, September 2012;
“Top Strategies for Early Integration
of Palliative Care for Children with
Cancer,” Center to Advance Palliative
Care, National Audio-conference, July
2012; “Mission Possible: Integrating
Pediatric Palliative Care into the
Subspecialty Care of Children with
Serious Illness” at the University of
Maryland Medical Center Pediatric
Grand Rounds, Baltimore, MD, June
2012; “State of the Art and Science
in Pediatric Palliative Care: Arrive
Early and Stay Late” at the Society of
Hospital Medicine Annual Conference
(HM12), San Diego, CA, April 2012;
“Pediatric Standards to Improve
Organizational Quality Across the
Lifespan” at the National Hospice
and Palliative Care Organization
Management and Leadership
Conference, National Harbor, MD,
March 2012; “Spirituality in the Dying
Child/Child with Terminal Illness”
at Nationwide Children’s Hospital,
Columbus, OH, February 2012.
Mohammed M. Khalifa, MD, Director,
Medical Genetics and Metabolism
presented “The New Genetics and
Personalized Medicine” and “Genetics
Mechanism of Cancer” at the 4th
International conference of Medical
Genetics, Kuwait, April 2012;
“Investigating KBG Syndrome: Partial
Deletion of ANKRD11 Results in the
KBG Phenotype Distinct from the
16q24.3 Microdeletion Syndrome”
with Jennifer Stein, and Swaroop
Aradhya at ESHG, June 2012.
Greg Omlor, MD, Director, Division of
Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Center,
presented “Pediatric Sleep Disorders”
at the Barberton Child Guidance office,
Barberton, Ohio, August 2012.
Robert Stone, MD, Associate
Chair, Department of Pediatrics,
presented “Spastic CP in an
Intellectually Competent Patient” to
the BioInnovative tech group at Akron
Children’s, September 2012.
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CHILDREN’S PROGRESS | FALL 2012
P. Cooper White, MD, FAAP,
Director, Locust Pediatric Care Group,
co-presentedand was a panel
participant for the “Medical Home,”
at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital
Grand Rounds, Columbus, Ohio.
September 2012.
Publications
Michael T. Bigham, MD, Pediatric
Intensive Care Physician and Medical
Director, Transport Services, wrote
“Heliox in Children with Croup: a
Strategy to Hasten Improvement” with
Kline-Krammes S, Reed C, Giuliano
JS Jr, Schwartz HP, Forbes M, Pope J,
Besunder J, Gothard MD, and Russell
K. Air Med J. May-June 31(3):131-7,
2012; “Transport Disposition Using
the Transport Risk Assessment in
Pediatrics (TRAP) Score” with Kandil
SB, Sanford HA, Northrup V, and
Giuliano JS Jr. Prehosp Emerg Care,
July-September;16(3);366-73. Epub,
March 2012; “Transport Handoffs of
Care: A Channel for Improved Quality
of Care” with Wiengart C. American
Academy of Pediatrics, Section on
Transport Medicine, July 2012, P9-11.
Bruce H. Cohen, MD, FAAN,
Director, Division of Neurology, wrote
“Mitochondrial Translation Inhibitors
in the Pharmacopeia. Biochimica
et Biophysica Acta Gene Regulatory
Mechanisms,” with Saneto RP in
2012. “Coding Issues: Evaluation and
Management for Neuro-Oncology
Visits” in Continuum, 2012. “An
Unusual Form of Superficially
Disseminated Glioma in Children:
report of 3 Cases,” in J Child
Neurol. 2012 Jun;27(6):727-33 with
Agamanolis DP, Katsetos CD, Klonk
CJ, Bartkowski HM, Ganapathy S,
Staugaitis SM, Kuerbitz SJ, Patton DF,
Talaizadeh A; “Gliomas in Childhood.”
for Neurology in Practice Series.
Neuro-Oncology with Roger J. Packer,
David Schiff (eds). Wiley-Blackwell,
Hoboken, NJ, 147-156 (2012).
Joseph A. Congeni, MD, Medical
Director, Sports Medicine Center,
wrote “American Academy of
Pediatrics’ Baseball/Softball Policy
AKRONCHILDRENS.ORG/GIVING
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Statement” with Rice S in Pediatrics,
volume 129, number 3, March 2012;
”Cardiac Effects of Ergogenic Aides
and Supplements” with Benjamin
H, in Sports Cardiology Essentials:
Evaluation, Management and Case
Studies. Ed. C.E.Lawless and Ed.
Springer Science Business Media,
2011. Chapter 20: 371-385.
Mohamed M. Khalifa, MD, Director,
Medical Genetics and Metabolism,
wrote “Genotype-phenotype Analysis
in Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia due
to P450 Oxidoreductase Deficiency”
with Nils Krone, Nicole Reisch, Jan
Idkowiak, Vivek Dhir, Hannah E.
Ivison, Beverly A. Hughes, Ian T. Rose,
Donna M. O’Neil, Raymon Vijzelaar,
Matthew J. Smith, Fiona MacDonald,
Trevor R. Cole, Nicolai Adolphs, John
S. Barton, Edward M. Blair, Stephen
R. Braddock, Felicity Collins, Deborah
L. Cragun, Mehul T. Dattani, Ruth
Day, Shelley Dougan, Miriam Feist,
Michael E. Gottschalk, John W.
Gregory, Michaela Haim, Rachel
Harrison, Ann Haskins Olney, Berthold
P. Hauffa, Peter C. Hindmarsh,
Robert J. Hopkin, Petr E. Jira, Marlies
Kempers, Birgit Köhler, Dominique
Maiter, Shelly Nielsen, Stephen M.
O’Riordan, Christian L. Roth, Kate
P. Shane, Martin Silink, Nike M. M.
L. Stikkelbroeck, Elizabeth Sweeney,
Maria Szarras-Czapnik, John R.
Waterson, Lori Williamson, Michaela
F. Hartmann, Norman F. Taylor, Stefan
A. Wudy, Ewa M. Malunowicz, Cedric
H.L. Shackleton, and Wiebke Arlt
for J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2012,
97(2): E257-E267; “Subtelomeric
19P13.3 Microdeletions are Associated
with Multiple Congenital Anomalies,
Gastrointestinal Dysmotility, Learning
Disability, Developmental Delay
and Dysmorphic Features,” with
Paddibhotla S, Stein J, Harris LL,
Kearney DL, Probst F, Grange DK, Bull
MJ, Vance GH, Scharer GH, Bacino C,
Stankiewicz P, Kang SH Cheung SW
and Patel A. in AJMG, 2012; “Partial
Deletion of ANKRD11 Results in the
KBG Phenotype Distinct” from the
16q24.3 Microdeletion Syndrome with
Jennifer Stein, Lance Grau, Valery
Nelson, Jeanne Meck, Swaroop
Aradhya, AJMG, 2012.
Awards and Honors
Bruce H. Cohen, MD, FAAN, Director,
Division of Neurology, was named
Chairman on the External Review
Board, Department of Defense
Neurofibromatosis Consortium in
2012.
Joseph A Congeni, MD, Medical
Director, Sports Medicine Center,
member, America’s Best Children’s
Hospital Orthopedic Working Group;
board member, American Board of
Pediatrics; member, Sports Medicine
Examination Committee; member,
University of Akron Nutrition/Dietetics
Programs Advisory Board; member,
Ohio American Academy of Pediatrics
Home & School Health Committee;
associate team physician, University
of Akron; medical adviser, WAKRAM Radio-Weekly Sports Medicine
Segment; medical adviser, Akron Area
Christian Youth Organization/CYO;
team physician, for the Archbishop
Hoban High School; contributor,
WAKR-AM Radio’s “Hot Topics in
Sports Medicine.”
Sarah Friebert, MD, Director, Pediatric
Palliative Care, received the American
Hospital Association Circle of Life
Award for Innovation in Palliative Care,
2012.
Jeffrey D. Hord, MD, Director,
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, was
elected to chair the American Academy
of Pediatrics Section on Hematology/
Oncology, and is also chairing the
Leadership Team to oversee a new
alliance between the AAP section
on Hematology/Oncology and the
American Academy of Pediatrics
Section on Hematology/Oncology.
Mohamed M. Khalifa, MD, Director
of the Medical Genetics and
Metabolism, was guest speaker at the
4th International Medical Genetics
Conference in Kuwait, April 2012.
memorial and tribute gifts
Gifts received June 1, 2012 - August 31, 2012
In Celebration of ...
Annabelle Catherine Dies
Mrs. Connie J. Nolte
In Honor of ...
Sammy Alfled
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Christina Bates
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Melissa Braden
Mr. Donald Abert
Dominik Micheal Corbett
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Samuel M. Gillis
Mr. Mark Oldfield
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Joey Karam
Mrs. Kathy Brown
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Dr. and Mrs. Douglas Desatnik
Philip H. Maynard
Standard Printing Company
of Canton
Evangelia Rose Meckel
Ms. Joanne Vogley
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Harper Thomas Bressler
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Colin M. Parker
Dr. and Mrs. Michael G. Parker
Taylor M. Parker
Dr. and Mrs. Michael G. Parker
Debbie Pleli
Stephanie Pleli
Mackenzie Schneider
Ms. Shari Schneider & The
Jackson-Schneider Teddy
Bear Drive
Peter Rees Stentz
Ms. Nancy Carpenter
Tom & Bonnie Tubaugh
Mr. John Hunsicker
Meryl Weaver
Ms. Jane Moldovan
Alyssa Zumbo
Mr. Donald Cole
Akron Children’s Hospital
Palliative Care
Dr. Sharon R. Irwin
Vanguard Charitable Endowment
Program
In Memory of ...
Bobby Allega
Mr. and Mrs. Michael D. Allega
Gap Foundation Gift Match
Program
Alena Aloisi
Mrs. Sharon Aloisi
Gino Altieri
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Aleo
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce A. Basom
Ms. Edith D. Bell
Mr. and Mrs. James D. Bolf
Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Donatelli
Mr. and Mrs. Vincent
Frammartino
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry L. Hawkins
Mr. and Mrs. Adam A. Holtz
Mr. and Mrs. Roger H. Jones
Ms. Deborah S. McGuire
Mr. and Mrs. Robb A. Moretti
Mr. and Mrs. John E. O’Verko
Ms. Betty L. Peercy
Ms. Maria E. Sain
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P.
Verderico
Mrs. Beth Weiser
Fantastic Sams
Jeremiah Baldwin
Ms. Marjorie Baldwin
Robert M. Benson
Dr. and Mrs. John R. Hansel
Betty Jane Blazer
Mr. and Mrs. Charles T. McShane
Stanley M. Bober
Mr. and Mrs. Greg K. McMains
Nicole Bodjanac
Mr. and Mrs. Reinhardt Webel
Josephine Joyce Boggs
Mr. and Mrs. Carl M. Hammons
Ms. Shirley C. Saxton
Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Mike Vermeulen
Ms. Kimberly D. Woods
American Centrifuge
Manufacturing LLC
Anonymous
James Braden Bostick
Mr. Mark A. Watson
Tommy Brett
Ms. Rosemary Brett
Ann Brock
Mr. Mark A. Watson
Ann M. Brown
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin M. Blakely
H. Peter Burg
Mrs. Eileen Burg
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CHILDREN’S PROGRESS | FALL 2012
William G. Burke
Mr. and Mrs. Louis J. Adams
Ms. Leslie A. Burton
Mr. and Mrs. Anthony A. Colao Jr.
Ms. Deborah DiNicola
Green Massotherapy
Mr. Forest S. Hoot
Ms. Paula A. Land
Mr. Carlo Maltempi
Ms. Mary Frances Nicholas
Mr. Vincent J. Paris
Ms. Marilyn E. Petroski
Patricia Ann Burns
Mr. and Mrs. Patrick T. Wells
William Burns
Mrs. John D. Kramer
Angelo Cesta
Mr. and Mrs. John F. Corcoran
Baby Chiera
Ms. Linda Chiera
Larry K. Churchman
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Bailey
Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Bowers
Ms. Carol Churchman
Mr. and Mrs. Edward A.
DiCresce
Mr. and Mrs. Philip F. George Sr.
Mr. and Mrs. Adam A. Holtz
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Madden
Ms. Jean McCurry
Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. Orlowski
Ms. Dyana R. Parker
Mr. Thomas B. Plazo
Mr. and Mrs. David H. Stoller
Elio Ciccolini
Ms. Bonnie Ciccolini
Christopher Clark
Mrs. Virginia R. Payne
John N. Cusma
Mr. Robert Longworth
Mr. and Mrs. Tom Longworth
Mr. and Mrs. Philip H. Maynard
Joanne Daverio
Folk Charitable Foundation
AKRONCHILDRENS.ORG/GIVING
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Matthew Allen Day
Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey A. Day
Elena Joy Dearing
Mrs. Carol J. Dearing
Karrie Rebecca Dodez
Mr. and Mrs. Mark A. Dodez
Felicia Ely
Mr. and Mrs. Frank S.
Astemborski
Mr. and Mrs. James G.
Casenhiser
Mr. Edward P. Delgado
Family & Friends of Felicia
“Lee” Ely
Ms. Michelle Guarino
Mr. and Mrs. Bob Holliday
Ms. Virginia Kucmanic
Lab Staff of Shannon Medical
Center
Mr. and Mrs. William Rankine
Mr. and Mrs. Barry W. Scholles
Venture Lightingg International Inc.
k
Helen Federonick
Ms. Janet L. Weaver
Abbey Foltz
od
Ms. Sylvia Wood
n
Tina M. Freeman
Mrs. Blanch I. Carlson
Mr. and Mrs. David J. Hilditch
Mr. and Mrs. Nick M. Loprire
rtner
Lauren Ellen Gartner
Ms. Nancy X. Gartner
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Xeller
Lester Geis
Ms. Emma Geis
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Maya Elise Gerrett
Ohio Farmers Insurance Co.
Ryan Gough
Mr. Scott Mason
Meredith J. Hampton
Mr. and Mrs. Greg K. McMains
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Mr. Dan Hendershot
Joseph E. Hirshberg
Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. Vieltrof
Willard D. Hodgson
Judy and Phil Pedrotty
Isabell Horning
Patricia and J. Harvey Graves
Family Foundation
David Lee Howson
Dr. and Mrs. Michael G. Parker
Andrew Leon Hudgins
Mr. Mark A. Watson
memorial and tribute gifts
Melvin D. Hughes
Detect Alarm Systems Inc.
Mrs. Mary Hughes
Ms. Carlyn L. Messina
Mr. and Mrs. Dorman J. Nobel
Ravenna Chapter No. 540
Mr. Donald R. Roberts
Spectrum Orthopedics Inc.
Mrs. Jain
Dr. and Mrs. Robert T. Stone
Courtney Johnson
Mr. Dale Heflin
Ginger Johnson
Mr. Dale Heflin
Joanne and Keith Jones’ three
beautiful daughters
Ms. Margaret A. Cikity
Habib Kakish
Mr. David M. Marchetta
Darryl Kollai
Mrs. Susan D. Kollai
Mildred Kovach
Ms. Janice M. Kovach
Frank Kovatch
Kovatch Castings
Victor Lazoran
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel B. Pren
Anthony Lettieri
Mr. and Mrs. Joseph C. Lettieri
Angela Lockhart
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel B. Pren
Gail Long
Mr. and Mrs. Greg K. McMains
Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Nackes
Women’s Board of
Akron Children’s Hospital
Frank A. Lukez
Alliance Community Hospital
Mr. and Mrs. Joel N. Bartis
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Bishop
Mr. and Mrs. John A. Blasiman
Mr. and Mrs. John C. Garrett
Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph F. Lukez
Mr. George T. Matthews
Dr. and Mrs. Robert L. Speer
Dr. and Mrs. E. J. Witmer
Sam Marchetta
Mr. and Mrs. James P. DeMarco
Hannah Mae McCaskey
Ms. Faith Jacobs
Evelyn McKinstry Wagner
Ms. Joyce K. Hamaker
Ridge Miller
Mr. David Mowls
Rose Montemaggiore
Mrs. Domenica Ruggiero
Keri Michelle Moore
Mr. Louis Vinez
James F. O’Neil
Mrs. John D. Kramer
Frank Pajak
Dr. and Mrs. Michael G. Parker
S
Sophie Pajak
Dr. and Mrs. Michael G. Parker
Hillary Parker
H
Dr. and Mrs. Michael G. Parker
Nancy C. Parry
N
Mr. and Mrs. James P. McCready
Dr. and Mrs. Michael G. Parker
D
David Lee Partin
Mr. and Mrs. Philip E. Partin
JJane Penrod
Mrs. and Mr. Kay D. Davis
J.H. Lease Drug Company
Ms. Jo Ellen Johnston
Mr. and Mrs. Robert S.
McCulloch III
Ms. Jennifer R. Woods
Richard M. Predl
Ms. Joyce K. Hamaker
Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Nackes
Women’s Board of
Akron Children’s Hospital
Roberta Provchy
Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Brennessel
Ms. Maureen D’A ngelo
Mr. and Mrs. George N. Michael
Mr. and Mrs. Paul F. Reese
Mr. and Mrs. Shawn J. Reese
Mr. Jeff Sanson
Mr. and Mrs. Peter C. Volas
Mr. and Mrs. Salvatore C. Zingale
Theodore Provost
Ms. Marvella Provost
JoAnn Reen
Ms. Mary Jo Chiarenza
Marsha E. Reutter
Mrs. Mary Jo Aho
Mr. and Mrs. Terry Bitecofer
Ms. Connie L. Claypool
Cuyahoga Falls Lions Club
Mr. and Mrs. Donald J. Hagarty
Mr. and Mrs. David L. Hawk
Mrs. Norma Hissong
Benny Rice, Doggie Brigade dog
Mr. and Mrs. John Rice
Caroline Rinaldi
Ms. Joanne Rinaldi
Lynn Robinson
Ms. Debbie Pleli
Robert Sawyer
Jeff Strainer
Anna Schrag
Mrs. Sarah Schrag
Billie Sekeres
Food Sciences Corporation
Nova Marketing Concepts
October-Design
Jerry Shaw
Mr. and Mrs. Greg K. McMains
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CHILDREN’S PROGRESS | FALL 2012
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Mr. and Mrs. James R. Bish
Mr. and Mrs. Brian Bishop
CourtView Justice Solutions Inc.
The Staff of Ellsworth Hill
Elementary School
Lt. Zachary M. Fidel
Mrs. Jennifer E. Filomena
Harwick Standard Distribution
Corporation
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel O. Hubach
Mr. Donald W. Maurer
Ms. Valerie Sebald
Mrs. Sheryl Sheatzley
Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Sherer
State Farm Insurance Companies
James D. “Jamie” Showers
Akron Area YMCA
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Andes
Ronald and Dorothy Barsarb
Mr. and Mrs. Michael R. Beiting
Mr. and Mrs. James E. Bye
and John Zeno
Ms. Carol P. Cessna
Ms. Anne C. Collins
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Considine
Cope Pharmacy
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Cox
Custom Canine Company
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis W. Edwards
Mr. George Elum
Judge Sheila G. Farmer
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Fulmer
Ms. Margaret J. Galehouse
Glenbeigh
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Gruber
Mr. and Mrs. Steven M. Helline
Henry B. Ball Company
Mr. and Mrs. Adam A. Holtz
Mr. and Mrs. William M. Hopkins
Ms. Barbara M. Kocher
Mr. and Mrs. John K. Krajewski
Mr. and Mrs. Marvin L. Laughlin
Layman Datri and Associates
AKRONCHILDRENS.ORG/GIVING
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Mr. and Mrs. Philip H. Maynard
Mr. and Mrs. Gregory A.
McDermott
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The Partners of Bruner-Cox LLP
Premier Bank and Trust
Mr. and Mrs. Leslie S. Radwany Jr.
Dr. and Mrs. Michael D. Reed
Rev. Paul J. Rosing
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Mr. and Mrs. William A. Scala Jr.
Mr. Michael S. Scalera
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Schumacher III
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Zollinger, Gruber, Thomas &
Company
Betty Silver
Women’s Board of
Akron Children’s Hospital
Donald Robert Singer
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Coming Together Stark County Inc.
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Women’s Board of
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Mrs. Eleanor Watanakunakorn
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Walter Wendschuh
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Have you signed up for
Developments, our electronic
newsletter, which features the
latest hospital news and links
to relevant podcasts and videos?
Scan the tag below or register
online at akronchildrens.org/giving.
calendar of events
november
december
Friday, November 16
Saturday, December 1
Holiday Tree Festival Preview Gala
John S. Knight Center
5:30 p.m.
Breakfast with Santa
The Covelli Center
10 a.m.
Saturday November 17 - 25
Holiday Tree Festival
John S. Knight Center
Times Vary
Monday, November 26
Project Ed Bear Auction
Quaker Station
5 p.m.
Friday, November 30
Jingle Bell Bash Holiday Blast Off featuring
Donnie Iris
The Covelli Centre
7 p.m.
Thursday, December 6
A Children’s Holiday & Anniversary Tree Lighting
Beeghly Campus, Building C
5:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Friday, December 7
Children’s Tree Lighting
Akron Children’s Hospital Atrium Lobby
5:30 p.m.
Friday, December 14
Holiday Hopes and Wishes
Mr. Anthony’s, Boardman
10 a.m.
Friday, December 28
110th annual Charity Ball
Goodyear Hall
6 p.m.
For more information about these events or
how you can become a special event coordinator,
contact: JoAnn Stock, director of development
at Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley,
at 330-746-9122 or Sara Lundenberger, special
events coordinator at Akron Children’s Hospital,
at 330-543-8037. For a complete listing of
all Akron Children’s Hospital events, visit
akronchildrens.org/events.
february
Thursday, February 7- Saturday, February 9
Have a Heart, Do Your Part radiothon
Times Vary
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