Thanks to our friends at KIIS FM, CHOC Rocked (literally) with many celebrity guests stopping by the Radio Lollipop studio and visiting patients up on the floors. Be sure to check out our website for even more photos and video: http://www.choc.org/radiolollipop/index.cfm?id=P00091
Every year, two special children lead 15,000 CHOC Supporters down Main Street, U.S.A. in the Disneyland® Resort in Anaheim California. These remarkable children remind us of how important CHOC Children’s is to our community. It’s for the children that we walk and it’s for them that CHOC makes miracles and Disney® makes magic!
We are honored to introduce you to the 2009 CHOC Walk in the Park Kid Chairs, sisters, Lauren and Stacie! Visit the CHOC Walk website to read their story. And be sure to register for this year’s CHOC Walk in the Park by visiting http://www.chocwalk.org. See you at the walk!
CHOC patients and I agree – we like bears! Major League Baseball (MLB) umpires hosted a caring Build-A-Bear Workshop® experience for CHOC oncology patients today. The umpires, joined by members of the Angels Strike Force, offered encouragement and Build-A-Bear Workshop stuffed animals to patients. Patients choose from a variety of pre-stuffed animals as well as clothing outfits for their new “furry friend”!
Thank you to our friends at UMPS CARE Charities for making this special event possible. The stuffed animals, especially the bears, brought many smiles to our patients today!
Founded by MLB Umpires, UMPS CARE Charities enriches the lives of at-risk youth and children coping with serious illness by providing memorable sports experiences, supporting pediatric medical care, and raising the awareness of foster care children waiting to be adopted. MLB Umpires have distributed more than 3,500 Build-A-Bears to children since the program began.
Not all heroes don capes, but around here, they do wear lab coats and scrubs! One of them is Dr. Sender, the medical director of the CHOC Children’s Cancer Institute. Read this incredible story highlighting his dedication and compassion, and you’ll see why he’s a hero in my book:
Shaun Tanner, a 6-foot, 250-pound 18-year-old, stood out on the oncology floor while being treated by Dr. Sender and the team for a rare sarcoma cancer. He loved CHOC – the kids, nurses and doctors, but hated the white walls in his hospital room and often commented that there was not much for someone his age to do in a children’s hospital, where he would benefit from aggressive pediatric protocols.
While Dr. Sender was hanging Shaun’s stem cells in preparation for his stem cell transplant in 2002, he promised the young man that he would create a teen environment and program at CHOC. Shaun lost his brave battle to cancer later that year, but Dr. Sender never forgot his promise. He created the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Program as part of the CHOC Cancer Institute, and recently helped celebrate the completion of the new AYA wing on the existing cancer floor. The wing includes three new patient rooms with individual televisions and PlayStations, in addition to the usual patient amenities; teen room with iPod docks and PlayStations; Hope Room, a resource area for patient/family use; school room; playroom; family lounge; staff lounge; conference room for multidisciplinary treatment planning; and storage space.
Shaun’s family was there for the celebration of the wing – they helped raise funds for it, and his dad commented that Shaun would have thought the new addition was “sweet.”
I am sure they would agree with me in calling Dr. Sender a hero!
In additon to the Tanners and their foundation Hugs from Shaun, I want to thank the other supporters of the new AYA wing: Anaheim Ducks, John McQuade, Weingart Foundation, Ralphs/Food 4 Less, Catherine Scrafield, OC Shoot for a Cure, Doris Covelli-Freitz, Kenneth and Eileen Norris Foundation and Allen Charitable Lead Trust.
Famous marine life artist Wyland came by CHOC Children’s Hospital yesterday for a very special art lesson with our patients. He taught them how to draw a sea turtle, a shark, a Pacific bottle nose dolphin and an 0rca. In addition to being generous with his time and talent, he donated a ton of books, including 100 Whaling Walls. The kids are still talking about the visit!
To my CHOC family – here’s wishing you a very happy hospital week. This is a perfect time for me to tell you how proud I am of everything CHOC has accomplished this year — the Silver Level CAPE Award, the affiliation with UC Irvine and our plans to build one of the most advanced children’s hospitals in the nation (just to name a few). Thank you for everything you do to advance pediatric healthcare.
Air Power Games 2009
I’d like to thank my friends at Kohl’s Department Stores for their $1 million total donation to the hospital at the recent 2009 Air Power Games. Kohl’s was the premier sponsor for the Air Power Games, which provided approximately 75 children with asthma the opportunity to compete in a variety of fun track and field events. The weather was great and it was so much fun! The event was a wonderful success thanks to the Kohl’s A-teams, a group of associates who volunteered from the Rancho Santa Margarita, Ladera Ranch, Irvine, Seal Beach, Santa Ana, Huntington Beach and Laguna Niguel Kohl’s stores.Congrats to the winners and see you next at next year’s competition!
As we celebrate Doctors Day at CHOC Children’s we take this opportunity to honor our physicians for their dedication to the children we serve. Each day they offer hope and healing through their compassionate and world-class care. Take a moment to visit our website and read about some of our docs and the amazing things they do for our kids: http://www.choc.org/100stories/index.cfm?keyword=docs
I have been known to showcase some smooth dance skills every now and again – not easy for a bear my size. There’s nothing like dancing, especially when combined with singing, to cheer one’s soul. That’s why I am counting the days until CHOC Follies XII: The Princess and the Prius, featuring more than 100 of Orange County’s society, business and civic leaders singing and dancing to raise funds for CHOC Children’s. This hysterical musical production will hit the Robert B. Moore Theater at Orange Coast College on April 2 at 8 p.m., April 3 at 8 p.m., and April 4 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. More information, including ticket prices and sponsorship opportunities, can be found at www.chocfollies.org.
