In June 2000, 13-year-old Madison Lyleroehr learned she had a severe curvature in her spine, and surgery was her only option for correction. She decided to finish one more semester of school before having surgery at Children’s Hospital in January 2001. By this

time, Madison’s curvature had increased to nearly 70 percent; however, the surgery was a success, and Madison was on her way to total recovery.

Madison was featured in the spring 2002 issue of It’s About Children (pictured here). In her own words, she described her experiences from the time she learned of her scoliosis, to the time of the surgery

at Children’s Hospital, through her recovery. After her experience, Madison decided to write a

booklet to help other scoliosis patients know what to expect from surgery and the lengthy recovery process. This booklet, distributed to patients at Children’s Hospital with upcoming spinal surgeries, is now in its

fourth printing. A talented

singer, Madison uses her favorite pastime to help others. In 2003, she hosted a fund raiser to celebrate the release of her first full-length album. Over $6,000 was raised for the Volunteer Ministry Center, a center for the homeless in Knoxville.

In 2005, Madison graduated first in her class from South Doyle High School. In summer 2006, Madison recorded and released her second full-length album and donated the proceeds of this album (over $4,000) to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Parkinson’s research is important to Madison because her grandmother died from the disease and her mother now has it. In April 2007, Madison met Michael J. Fox at a dinner honoring the fund raising efforts of her and others for the foundation (see picture below).

Now a junior studying under a Presidential Scholarship at Brandeis University outside of Boston, Madison is majoring in Sociology and minoring in French and Business. She is also involved in the Student Peace Alliance, the Adagio dance team and the student chorale, and she sings the National Anthem at the university’s home basketball games. She is spending the fall 2007 semester studying abroad at the Universite de Haute Bretagne in Rennes, France.

“I am forever indebted to the doctors, nurses and everyone else at Children’s who contributed to the success of my surgery and recovery,” Madison said. “Without their hard work and warm hearts, I would have never been able to achieve all the things I’ve achieved or live the life I am able to live. I am extremely blessed to have this hospital in my life, and it will always be close to my heart.”

By Jessica Chambers, Guest Relations Representative

&B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s Dennis Ragsdale Chairman Jeffory Jennings, M.D. Vice Chairman Michael Crabtree Secretary/Treasurer Bruce AndersonDebbie Christiansen, M.D.Dawn Ford Keith D. GoodwinSteven HarbLewis Harris, M.D.Dee Haslam Bob Koppel A. David Martin Dugan McLaughlinChristopher Miller, M.D. Steve SouthBill Terry, M.D. Laurens Tullock Danni Varlan

M e d i c a l S t a f f David Nickels, M.D. Chief of Staff John Buchheit, M.D. Vice Chief of Staff John Little, M.D. Secretary

C h i e f s o f S e r v i c e s Jeanann Pardue, M.D. Chief of Medicine Mark Cramolini, M.D. Chief of Surgery

A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Keith D. Goodwin President/CEOBob Koppel President/CEO EmeritusLaura Barnes, R.N., M.S.N., C.N.A.A.,B.C. Vice President for Patient Care Paul Bates Vice President for Human Resources Joe Childs, M.D. Vice President for Medical Services Rudy McKinley Vice President for Operations Jim Pruitt Vice President for Finance

A quarterly publication of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, It’s About Children is designed to inform the East Tennessee community about the hospital and the patients we serve. Children’s Hospital is a private, independent, not-for-profit pediatric medical center that has served the East Tennessee region for 70 years and is certified by the state of Tennessee as a Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center.

Ellen Liston Director of Community Relations David Rule Director of Development Wendy Hames Editor Neil Crosby Cover/Contributing Photographer

“Because Children are Special…” ...they deserve the best possible health care given in a positive, child/family-centered atmosphere of friendliness, cooperation, and support - regardless of race, religion, or ability to pay.”...their medical needs are closely related to their emotional and informational needs; therefore, the total child must be considered in treating any illness or injury.”...their health care requires family involvement, special understanding, special equipment, and specially trained personnel who recognize that children are not miniature adults.”...their health care can best be provided by a facility with a well-trained medical and hospital staff whose only interests and concerns are with the total health and well-being of infants, children, and adolescents.”

Statement of Philosophy East Tennessee Children’s Hospital

www.etch.com2

On the cover: Children’s Hospital’s Fantasy of Trees is coming soon. Read more about this holiday event on pages 6-7 and about patient Drew Franklin (with his sister, Madison) on pages 4-5.

NOWthenMadison LyleroehrMadison Lyleroehr

Madison today

Madison in our Spring 2002 issue

Madison with actor Michael J. Fox

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The James S. Bush Outpatient Care Center opened September 4 in the new Third Floor space above the existing Second Floor Outpatient Clinic. The Hematology/Oncology Clinic, which is being renovated, will remain in the existing Second Floor Clinic space. The new clinic (see pictures at left) houses the Diabetes clinic on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; the Cystic Fibrosis clinic on Wednesdays; Dermatology clinic on the second Monday of each month; Rheumatology clinic on the fourth Tuesday and first Thursday of each month; Metabolic clinic on the third Thursday of each month; Infectious Disease clinic by appointment; Gynecology clinic on the second Tuesday of each month;

and Multispecialty clinic on the third Tuesday of even months. The Third Floor clinic is also offering a new Weight Management clinic, which started September 26. A pediatrician with a Ph.D. in nutrition will work with clinic patients. Intensive evaluation is also performed by physical therapy, nutrition and psychology staff.The new clinic space offers 16 added rooms for outpatient services and the ability to offer extended hours for early afternoon appointments for children in school. “I anticipate all of the clinics to grow because of our added space and extended hours,” Lonna Lindsay, clinic nurse manager, said. “It will allow us to offer new types of clinics and have our existing clinics more frequently.”

By Bethany Swann, student intern

Children’s Hospital opens Third Floor Outpatient Clinic

Hospital partners with Press Ganey Children’s Hospital has established a partnership with Press Ganey Associates, Inc., to measure and improve patient satisfaction. The hospital joins nearly 1,500 other U.S. hospitals (nearly one-third of all hospitals) in regularly measuring patient satisfaction with Press Ganey, the industry leader. For many years, Children’s Hospital has conducted patient satisfaction surveying through an in-house program in the Community Relations Department. This in-house survey program was phased out in July to prepare for the Press Ganey program, which recently began. The staff of Guest Relations – Phyllis Culvahouse, Associate Director for Guest Relations, and Jessica Chambers, Guest Relations

Representative – will work directly with Press Ganey and now will be able to devote more time to their roles providing patient advocacy services at Children’s Hospital. Press Ganey develops and fields valid and reliable patient satisfaction surveys. The company’s comprehensive management reports provide national and peer group comparative information, and identify successes and opportunities for improvement. Nearly 70 percent of U.S. News and World Report’s Top 100 Hospitals are Press Ganey customers. Press Ganey’s clients have won a number of awards for quality, including the Sodexho Marriott quality award, the Malcolm Baldridge Award and the Consumer Choice Award.

Every year the Volunteer Leadership Council and Children’s

Hospital Volunteers present Children’s Hospital with several

monetary gifts to be distributed among various areas of the

hospital. The Volunteers’ latest gift of $60,000 from Gift Shop

proceeds will be used for the following:

• $25,000toSurgeryforaFacialNerveStimulator

• $15,000forFantasyofTrees

• $8,000totheLabBloodBankforaPlateletIncubator

• $6,644toChildren’sCornerattheRehabilitationCenter

for CUB FL19F Cribs

• $4,600toRespiratoryCareforCoughAssistDevices

• $756toSocialWorkfortheSpecialNeedsFund

The Leadership Council and Children’s Hospital Volunteers

are dedicated to continuing support of various projects,

departments and activities. For more information about the

Children’s Hospital Volunteers, contact the Children’s Hospital

VolunteerServicesOfficeat(865)841-8136.

By Leslie Street, student intern

Special thanks from Children’s HospitalChildren’s Hospital would like to extend its appreciation to

The Pool Place, Kingston Pike in Knoxville, for graciously allowingustoshootourcoverphotofortheWinter2007

It’s About Children magazine at their beautiful Christmas store.

B u l l e t i n B o a r d

Volunteers present gift to hospital

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Kristi Franklin will never forget the day her world came to a standstill. On September 11, 2006, Kristi’s son Andrew, called “Drew,” came home from a normal day of school with what was thought to be a bad sinus headache. They would soon learn that they could not have been more wrong. Drew asked for a Benadryl, which usually made his sinus headaches go away, and then he went to lie down. After about 10 minutes, Kristi and her husband, Tom, heard Drew crying. “I went to see what was wrong, and we couldn’t get him to talk to us,” Kristi said. “I sat him up and tried to get him to tell me what was wrong, but he looked right through me. Then he began vomiting.” Tom and Kristi immediately rushed Drew to the Children’s Hospital Emergency Department. After arriving at the Emergency Department, Drew became sick again, and his body went limp. The initial diagnosis was meningitis or encephalitis; however, blood work, two spinal taps and a CT scan did not show anything out of the ordinary. Drew was admitted to Children’s Hospital for further observation with hopes that he would start to improve on his own. However, the next day, it was difficult to wake Drew. At that time, Paul Jones, M.D., pediatric hospitalist, ordered an EEG and an MRI. Kristi remembers the devastation on Dr. Jones’ face when he came

to deliver the bad news: Drew had suffered a massive stroke on the left side of his brain, behind his left eye. The Franklins were referred to Dr. Keith Woodward, an interventional radiologist at Ft. Sanders Regional Medical Center who could perform a procedure that rarely has to be performed on children. The procedure offered a 10 percent chance of helping Drew. Dr. Woodward explained the procedure and said he would only try for one to two hours to repair the problem, because after that the risks would outweigh the benefits. Kristi and Tom were forced to make a quick decision about whether or not Drew would have the procedure, although it seemed to be his only chance for survival. “I knew it was the right thing to do, but I couldn’t bring myself to sign the paperwork; Tom had to do it,” Kristi said. Children’s Hospital chaplain Sandy Foster walked the family across the street to Ft. Sanders where the procedure would be performed. Drew was rushed through the underground tunnel that connects the two hospitals for quick and easy transport. After arriving at Ft. Sanders, Kristi and Drew’s older sister, Madison, went to see him before he was taken back for surgery. “I kissed him 100 times I know, told him to stay strong and come back to me,” Kristi said. “Since he loves skateboarding I promised to get him a Tony Hawk skateboard when we got home, but part of that deal was for us all to go home together.”

Madison, Drew’s older sister, remembers Children’s Hospital staff members doing everything they could to make Drew comfortable before surgery. “Right before my brother went into surgery, one of the nurses even walked with me to make sure I was OK,” Madison said. “She took the time to explain to me what was going on.” After about an hour in surgery, Dr. Woodward found the problem and began repairing the area. He performed an angioplasty, where he cleaned out the affected blood vessel. Drew’s problem was in one of his major arteries, the left middle cerebral. Medicine was injected into the artery multiple times through a catheter to dissolve the clot. Dr. Woodward then inflated a tiny balloon inside the blood vessel that opened up the blood vessel and allowed blood to flow through the vessel. Kristi and Tom remember being in the waiting room and feeling as if they were in a fog.Nolessthan50peopleremainedwiththeFranklins including family members, coworkers, their pastor, youth minister and chaplains from Children’s Hospital. “Every time someone came to give us an update, we would all hold hands and say a prayer of thanks,” Kristi said. Once the procedure was complete, Drew was transported back to Children’s Hospital and admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Dr. Woodward explained to the family that the next48-72hourswerethemostcriticaldueto swelling and other possible complications. Drew’s PICU room was filled with IV poles, monitors and sounds of a ventilator, all of which were keeping him alive. “It was scary seeing Drew, so small in such a big bed, but we were all just so grateful that he was alive,” Kristi said. The Franklins were overwhelmed by the amazing care Children’s Hospital provided not only to Drew but also to the whole family. Drew’s Pediatric Critical Care Specialist, Kevin C. Brinkmann, M.D., came to give the family an update on Drew’s condition. He sat with Tom until after 2 a.m. the first night looking over the MRI results. “Dr. Brinkmann stayed by our side all night and helped us take care of Drew,” Kristi said. Two days after surgery, Tom and Kristi’s fears once again became a reality. The swelling in Drew’s brain had greatly increased, which doctors feared would cause damage to the right side of his brain. After a few days of medicine to treat the problem, Drew’s brain swelling began to decrease, and the Franklins finally felt he was truly on the road to recovery. During Drew’s time at Children’s Hospital, 4

Drew and his sister, Madison

Drew

5

many caring friends and family came to visit, sent care packages and made frequent daily phone calls to check on his progress. “There were so many phone calls that it wasn’t possible to return all of them,” Kristi said. “Tom and I began changing the greeting on our voice mail every morning and night with an update on Drew’s condition.” A Children’s Hospital social worker who had spent time with the Franklins introduced them to CarePages, a free, easy to use Internet Service that helps family and friends communicate when a loved one is hospitalized or receiving care. The Franklins began using CarePages to post updates that were shared automatically with friendsandfamilyviae-mail.“Wewereable to help keep everyone updated on Drew’s progress and even post pictures of him,” Kristi said. “So many people left us messages and words of encouragement on Drew’s page.” Children’s Hospital had begun offering CarePages to its patient families just a few months before Drew’s stroke. Drew spent two weeks in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Children’s Hospital and one more week in a patient room. While still in the PICU, the Franklins were approached about rehabilitation options for Drew. It was still too early to know how the stroke had affected him cognitively, but the chances were not good for him to live the same life he had lived before. KristiandTommetNadineTrainer,M.D., pediatric physiatrist, at the Children’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center, to discuss the intense therapy Drew was going to need. “Dr. Trainer was so upbeat and positive; I loved her immediately. We decided that’s where Drew needed to be for his rehabilitation,” Kristi said. Drew left Children’s Hospital exactly three weeks after his parents brought him to the Emergency Department. He began rehab at Children’s Corner in the

Children’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center on October 4. At the time Drew was unable to talk or walk and communicated through “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” to say “yes” and “no.” He had no movement on the right side of his body and was in a wheelchair. After several months of intensive therapy Drew was walking, talking and regaining strength throughout the right side of his body. “He loves his therapists and even sang ‘Mustang Sally’ for his therapist Julie after he regained his speech,” Kristi said. The Franklins always believed Drew was going to recover, but they had no idea it would happen so fast. Kristi believes it was because of Drew’s great attitude, determination and the team that worked with him at Children’s Corner. Drew was even the first rehab patient to receive aquatic therapy in the center’s new indoor therapy pool, which opened inFebruary2007. Drew is back in school at Adrian Burnett andisthesamefun-lovingboyhewasbeforehis stroke. He has caught up to the fourth grade andhasbecomecompletelyleft-handedtocompensate for the limitation he still has on his right side. The Franklins expect great things from Drew and hope his story can impact the lives of others. “He has taught me so much,” Kristi said. “I am so thankful that we are in a town that has such a great Children’s Hospital with caring doctors, nurses and therapists.” Madison believes Children’s Hospital saved her brother’s life, and for that she’ll always be thankful: “I probably wouldn’t have my best friend if it wasn’t for them.”

– By Bethany Swann, student intern

Drew and his family with Star 102.1’s Marc and Kim

at the 2007 Radiothon

Drew in the PICU at Children’s Hospital

Drew Excerpts from Drew Franklin’s CarePage

1 — September 19, 2006 at 02:19 PM EDT Andrew had another good night last night and the doctors are now trying to get him off of the sleep medicine and let him slowly start waking up. We are still just taking things one day at a time and we just ask that you will continue to pray for Andrew’s full recovery. Please also continue to pray for the doctors and nurses taking care of us…5 — September 22, 2006 at 11:15 AM EDT Talk about miracles; we are blessed to have been seeing them everyday since we arrived. Good news everyone, Andrew is off of his ventilator and waking up!!!!!! He is doing so good, and it is so nice to see those big blue eyes this morning…8 — September 28, 2006 at 08:44 AM EDT … Andrew is out of PICU and is in room 220. He is doing great medically but we are having trouble getting him to cooperate with us. We really need him to start eating but he is being very stubborn. A lot of it is the medicine he has been on. There is still a lot of it in his system but he is very frustrated because he can’t talk or walk yet. He will get to stay here in Knoxville to do his therapy so that is great news. He will be at a place called Children’s Corner [at the Children’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center]. They are supposed to have an outstanding program so we are very excited and want to get started ASAP …14 — October 02, 2006 at 05:43 PM EDT Weareheadinghomeinabout30moreminutes!Canyoubelieveit?Wearesoexcited(canyoutell?).It’shardtobelieveAndrewcameintothis hospital on September 11 and we are leaving October 2. If you say 21days,itsoundslikealongtime,but3weeksseemstosoundbetter,especially with a major stroke like he had… 16 — October 04, 2006 at 05:09 PM EDT Well, today was the first day at Children’s Corner. We are so excited to be there; I just know this is the place for Andrew to be. We told him this will be his new school just until he is well enough to go back to Adrian Burnett and he seemed okay with it but looked at ABES [Adrian Burnett] when we passed by coming home and looked a little sad…35 — January 28, 2007 at 11:46 AM EST I just wanted to say thank you for continuing to visit Drew’s CarePage and for leaving us messages. It feels so good to know people are still praying for us. It’s like getting a present everytime there is a new comment. The meeting at school Friday was wonderful. I didn’t realize until then how much the school system is willing to do to help Drew get back to where he was before his stroke. There were so many people in the meeting and you could tell they were genuinely concerned for Drew and his education. They had to put a lot of hours, planning, and hard work into his return than I could have ever imagined and we are so grateful to each person involved. Please remember the doctors and nursesatChildren’sHospitalandChildren’sCornerRehabilitation--they are special people!37 — February 14, 2007 at 12:06 PM EST … According to his neurologist, Drew will be fine cognitively but his speech will take time to redevelop. He is doing much better with his words and is using fuller sentences now. We do still have to play charades from time to time when he is trying to tell us something but that will go away soon. He has returned to school and is adjusting well. It is hard for him because of the stroke plus the fact that he has missed over 4 months of school. Anyone would be behind, but I have faith that he will catch up …54 — August 19, 2007 at 09:50 PM EDT Andrew had a great first week of school. He has a wonderful teacher and the same wonderful CDC and resource instructors from last year. He ended a busy week at school with another hand therapy session on Friday and jet skiing Saturday on his Uncle Howie’s jet ski. It is truly amazing to think about all that he has accomplished in less than a year post stroke. This little boy is completely unstoppable! ... Once again, my son is teaching me life lessons…55 — September 14, 2007 at 08:50 AM EDT Canyoubelieveit’sbeenayear?Drewisdoingfantastic,gettingbettereveryday. He is really working hard to get his right hand going again --itwon’tbelong!Heisprogressingwellinschoolandworkinghardto get caught up. Last night we just had a wonderful, relaxing night together on the couch. It was a gift to be able to hold him. Last night was the 1 year anniversary of the day the stroke was discovered, and we were told we were losing him. Well, we’ve officially made it past the 1 year mark and will celebrate many more years to come. Thank you again fortheprayers--pleasecontinue.

In 2007, the Fantasy of Trees will have a decidedly Southern flavor as the 23rd annual holiday event showcases a theme of “Holiday Cheer Down South.” Highlights of the event at the Knoxville Convention Center November 21-25 will include decorations and designs that celebrate the many traditions found throughout the Southern States during the holidays - from a traditional country Christmas and a Big Orange “Vol-i-day” to jingle bells and jazz, and big city shopping sparkle.

Fantasy of Trees visitors can stroll through an enchanting forest of holiday trees, accessories, room scenes, door designs, Trees of Faith and “Adopt-A-Trees,” created and donated by local students. Guests will also enjoy an array of delicious creations in the Gingerbread Village, crafted with a variety of edible “building materials” by area bakers, chefs and children.

Each day entertainers from throughout East Tennessee will share their talents onstage by performing at the Fantasy Theater. While enjoying the trees, decorations, activities and entertainment, visitors can shop at the Holiday Marketplace for toys, clothing, accessories and holiday decorations. A family-oriented event, the Fantasy of Trees offers activities and fun for children of all ages, including favorites such as the beautiful 30-horse carousel and visits with Santa. This year, Fantasy

will welcome its one millionth visitor and feature new crafts for children and holiday boutiques for adults. Also new this year is the “Holiday Traditions” area, sponsored by Scripps Networks. Here, family members will have the opportunity to create a special holiday-themed craft together for only $5 per keepsake. At the Giving Tree, Fantasy of Trees guests will have an opportunity to make donations to “purchase” small items such as diapers, batteries, phone cards and Popsicles for Children’s Hospital patients. Everyone who participates will receive a paper ornament for their tree at home to signify their holiday contribution. Each evening the Fantasy of Trees will light a Christmas tree commemorating the nostalgic 1960s tree lighting at Miller’s Department Store on Henley Street each December. The nightly tree lighting began in 2004 at the event’s 20th anniversary in honor of the Knoxville tradition. Local television and radio personalities will join a hospital patient to light the tree each evening at 6:15 p.m. and at 3 p.m. Sunday.

Fantasy visitors will once again have the opportunity to win a beautifully decorated seven-foot tree or one of five second prizes of $500 shopping sprees, all donated by Target Stores of Knoxville. The raffle tree will be surrounded by a variety of electronics, children’s toys and games, holiday goodies and much more. Raffle tickets are only $5 each and will be available at the Fantasy

of Trees beginning Wednesday, November 21 and continuing through 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 25. Winners will be drawn immediately after ticket selling ends on Sunday afternoon. Since 1985, Children’s Hospital has received overwhelming community support for the annual Fantasy of Trees. Again this year, hundreds of businesses and individuals have participated in the Sponsor Program, which is vital to the success of each year’s show.

Special events at the Fantasy of Trees include:Gala Preview PartyTuesday, November 20, 7-11 p.m. Dance the night away at the season’s first and most festive party! Enjoy a delicious buffet, a private preview and sale of designer trees and holiday accessories, and shopping in the Holiday Marketplace. Festive attire is requested at this black-tie-optional event. Tickets are $150 per person and must be purchased in advance. Call the Volunteer Services and Resources Department at (865) 541-8385 to purchase tickets. The Gala is sponsored by the Cazana Family and Commercial and Investment Properties Company.

Babes in Toyland ParadeWednesday, November 21, 7 p.m. Don’t miss the first and only indoor holiday parade of the season as children from area child care centers show off their colorful costumes while parading to the sounds of the Powell High School marching band. The parade will include costumed characters like Shoney Bear, entertainers from Dollywood and a grand finale featuring Santa Claus. The parade is broadcast live on WVLT-TV Volunteer News from 7-7:30 p.m. and is sponsored by Dollywood.

Santa’s Senior StrollFriday, November 23, 9-10 a.m. Seniors and walkers of all ages can enjoy a one-mile walk through the splendor and sparkle of this year’s Fantasy of Trees. Tables will be set up with information on health topics of interest to seniors. Best of all, seniors 55 and over get a half-price admission of $5 to enjoy all of the Fantasy

6

23rd annual Fantasy of Trees to kick off with

“Holiday Cheer Down South”

of Trees when they arrive during Santa’s Senior Stroll. (This discount cannot be combined with any other discounts.) Santa’s Senior Stroll is sponsored by Baptist Senior Services.

Kris Kringle’s Kiddie Party Friday, November 23, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Join us for a free party just for preschoolers at the Fantasy Theater. Little ones will enjoy children’s activities and entertainment from Music-N-Motion, have photos made with Shoney Bear, enjoy snacks and receive a holiday goody bag. The party is sponsored by Knoxville Pediatric Associates and U.S. Cellular®. Seating is limited, so free tickets will be handed out the morning of the event at the Fantasy Theater.

The funds raised at this year’s Fantasy of Trees will purchase 25 IntelliVue MP50 Bedside Monitors for the Emergency Department at Children’s Hospital. Over the past 22 years, the Fantasy of Trees has raised more than $4.3 million for the hospital. This spectacular holiday event would not be possible without the more than 150,000 volunteer hours that make the Fantasy of Trees a reality year after year. Children’s Hospital would like to thank everyone who helps make this event a success, ensuring Children’s Hospital can continue to provide the best in pediatric health care to the children of this region. For more information about the 2007 Fantasy of Trees, visit www.etch.com/fantasy.cfm or call (865) 541-8385.

By Leslie Street, student intern

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2007 Fantasy of Trees Major Event Sponsors

Show

Tim

es Wednesday, November 219 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Thursday, November 22Thanksgiving Day

3 to 9 p.m.

Friday, November 23, and Saturday, November 24

9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday, November 25Noon to 6 p.m.

TicketsAdults: $10

Children ages 4-10: $5Children under 4: FREE

2007 Fantasy of Trees co-chair Stephanie Jeffreys, assistant co-chair Sarah Munsey and co-chair Sarah Beth Carlon (left to right).

Pediatrician Profiles

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Pediatrician Profiles

Age - 39Family - Wife, Kathryn Perry; daughter Natalie

(6); daughter Elisabeth (4); and son Davis (15 months)

Name of pediatric practice - Children’s Faith Pediatrics, Northshore

Age - 35Family - Husband, Cameron Blevins; son

William Ellis (2)Name of Pediatric Practice - Knoxville Pediatric Associates, Clinch AvenuePersonal Interests - Spending time with family and watching movies

Academic Background/Prior Experience B.A. - Wesleyan College, Macon, Ga., 1993M.D. - University of Tennessee, Memphis,

1998Intern ship and Residency - University of Tennessee, Memphis,

2001Other - Chief Resident at Le Bonheur

Children’s Hospital in Memphis

Academic Background/Prior Experience B.S. - University of Alabama,

Tuscaloosa, 1990M.D. - University of South Florida,

Tampa, 1994Intern ship and Residency - University of Alabama at Birmingham,

Birmingham, 1995-97

Why Pediatrics? I enjoy working with children. They are amazing to watch grow up and are resilient in the face of illness. Working with children guarantees that I’ll laugh every day.

Greatest Influence - My father. He was a successful ophthalmologist who sold his practice so he could move to Honduras and help the people of that country. The clinic he founded still serves the poor in the region seven years after his death.

Philosophy - I try to treat all my patients like I would want someone to treat my own children.

Proudest Moment as a Pediatrician - There have been many rewarding experiences during my career. I feel that perhaps the most rewarding aspect of being a pediatrician is the day-to-day interaction with families and knowing that as we watch them grow, we can be a positive influence on their lives.

Why Pediatrics? My sister had cystic fibrosis and died when she was 19. Her illness and courage helped me want to help other children as a career.

Greatest Influence - Family: my parents and my husband. My parents have always been very supportive of my life and my goals. My husband is also very supportive of my career and continues to help me do the very best job I can do.

Philosophy - One must love his/her job; maintain good nutrition and health; have happiness in one’s home life; and always have a strong sense of morality.

L. David Perry, M.D.

Barbara Summers Blevins, M.D.

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were not that many specialists here when I came,” he said. “The growth of our subspecialties is the biggest accomplishment of the hospital.” He mentions the addition of pediatric neurosurgery a few years after his arrival. “We have paid attention to and met the community’s needs,” he said, explaining that the hospital has carefully evaluated which specialties would be appropriate and beneficial for this community. Highly specialized services are best provided at centers where many patients are treated for the same condition each year; a hospital and surgeon who perform only a handful of a complicated surgery each year simply cannot excel at that surgery. Few children in this area need liver transplants, for example, so a surgeon who performed pediatric liver transplants locally would not have enough patients and the hospital simply would not have enough experience to best care for these children. The best option is to send these patients to another hospital where liver transplants are common. On the other hand, there is more than enough need locally for pediatric neurosurgery, so it was a valuable specialty to add at Children’s Hospital, enabling these children to be treated close to home. The major expansion project the hospital completed in 2005 to better serve our patients and increase capacity also stands out to Pruitt as a significant event. This project added 30 licensed beds, converted all inpatient rooms from semiprivate to private and enhanced the comfort of patients and families in myriad ways. Pruitt said he focused most of his career at two children’s hospitals for a simple reason: “Children’s hospitals, and East Tennessee Children’s Hospital in particular, are fun and exciting, growing and vibrant places. It’s rewarding; it’s nice to do long-lasting good, to be involved in something that is bigger than you.” While he will miss the people and the excitement of the hospital’s continuing growth, Pruitt said he won’t miss the “debits and credits and Excel spreadsheets” that come with the job. He is looking forward to moving back to Dayton, Ohio, where his wife, Lin, has already moved into their new house near their daughter and her family, which includes five children. The grandchildren – ranging in age from infancy to 14 years – will certainly keep them busy, and Pruitt notes he’ll also indulge his hobby of restoring old cars. Bob Koppel, President and CEO Emeritus of Children’s Hospital, for whom Pruitt worked most of his 15 years, said, “Children’s Hospital and I will miss a man who has been very instrumental in helping make Children’s Hospital what it is today. We wish Jim the very best in his retirement and express our profound appreciation for his contributions to our medical center.” Children’s Hospital President Keith Goodwin praised Pruitt for his dedication to the hospital’s finances for more than a decade. “Although I have only known and worked with Jim for a few months, I have been impressed with his knowledge and his fiscal responsibility in managing the finances of Children’s Hospital. I appreciate the strong financial footing the hospital is on, due in no small measure to his work over the past 15 years. Children’s Hospital has benefited greatly from his service.”

Editor’s note: See the next issue of It’s About Children for a profile of the hospital’s new Vice President for Finance, Rebecca (Becky) Colker.

After 15 years at the helm of Children’s Hospital’s finances, during a time period that included the landmark implementation of TennCare, Jim Pruitt is leaving the “debits and credits” behind and retiring to his native Ohio. Pruitt came to Children’s Hospital in 1992 to assume the role of Vice President for Finance, after having spent much of his earlier career at the Children’s Medical Center in Dayton, Ohio. Pruitt, who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration and is a certified public accountant, was the Chief Operating Officer at the Dayton hospital before coming to Knoxville. As Vice President for Finance at Children’s, Pruitt has been responsible for the financial operations of the hospital, including patient billing, general accounting, payroll and accounts payable. In addition, the departments of Information Systems (computer and telephone services) and Health Information Management (medical records) were under his supervision. Soon after Pruitt arrived in Knoxville, Tennessee embarked on a mission to provide health coverage to more citizens through the TennCare program. Just over half of Children’s Hospital’s patients each year are covered by TennCare. The implementation of the program back then, and its continued existence, have not been without problems, so TennCare has had a significant impact on Pruitt’s job these past 15 years. “TennCare has forced us to be a lot more efficient and to pay a lot more attention to the cost side,” he said. “Its low reimbursement has had some limiting effects, but it also has given us some advantages. We are a ‘great deal’ [in terms of the care we provide for the cost] and insurance companies recognize that – but there is nothing ‘cheap’ about our health care.” TennCare has not been the only big change at Children’s Hospital, of course. Over the past 15 years, the digital age has brought dramatic changes to the hospital and to financial management. Information has gone from paper to online. Much of the hospital’s financial transactions are electronic, so fewer paper checks are generated, and “we’re on our way to digitizing medical records,” he said. “The change is not just in finance – but everywhere in the hospital. Records, tests results and other information are electronic now.” Pruitt notes that the Financial Services Department has seen significant improvements in productivity because of the digital age: “We’re doing more with fewer people.” Hospital wide, a computerized productivity system is in place to manage staffing, ensuring that each department is appropriately staffed based on the number of patients in each area at any given time. While Children’s Hospital has changed substantially during Pruitt’s tenure, the changes he is most proud of do not pertain directly to his responsibilities. “There

Vice president retires to native Ohio

Continued on page 11

Jim Pruitt

Former patient now serves as

Board chair More than four decades ago, Dennis Ragsdale was so seriously ill that his doctors at the old Children’s Hospital on Laurel Avenue thought he might not survive. Treated for diphtheria, the then-four-year-old did pull through his illness and returned to good health. Ragsdale’s mother, the late Anne Ragsdale Regas, was so grateful that she started the Children’s Hospital Auxiliary (now the Children’s Hospital Volunteers) and served as the group’s first president. Because of Mrs. Regas’ extensive involvement in the Auxiliary, Ragsdale was often around the hospital during his childhood and into adulthood. He volunteered as a teen, and in the mid-1980s, he became one of the first business and professional members of the Committee For the Future. That involvement led him to a seat on the Board of Directors in 1999; since that time, he has served on the Development/Capital Campaign, Finance, Quality Management and Governance Committees of the Board and served for the past year as Vice Chair. In July 2007, he became Board chair, replacing retiring chair Jim Bush. Ragsdale takes over the Board chair’s position at a time when the hospital has seen several years of significant growth – both in number of patients and in physical size of facilities. Since Ragsdale joined the Board, the hospital has established and developed the Children’s West campus and completed the largest expansion project ever on the main Clinch Avenue campus. These projects have made the hospital’s services more accessible, more comfortable and more family-friendly.

“It’s been fun to be a part of this and to watch [the hospital] grow,” said Ragsdale, who well remembers the old hospital and the buy-a-brick campaign to help finance the new hospital in the late 1960s. “It’s been rewarding for my family to be a small part of that.” For now, he plans to focus the Board on strategic planning. “We have done a lot [of major projects and expansions] in recent years, and now it is time to take a step back and look at strategic planning for the area’s needs for the next five to 10 years, and how we can meet those needs. We won’t be project driven but rather plan-driven,” he said. “We’ve accomplished most of the previous strategic plans.”

Dennis Ragsdale

There is no such thing as a “typical” day in a hospital. Day in and day out, patients enter our doors for care, but each child is unique and each experience is different. However, within each day at Children’s Hospital, there are some common threads. One common thread is the training and experience of the hospital’s staff – no matter what situation arises, our staff is skilled and prepared to meet the challenge. For the next several issues of It’s About Children, we will profile some of our staff and highlight all our clinical areas. We hope it will give you a glimpse into life at Children’s Hospital.

INPATIENT MEDICAL AND OUTPATIENT SERVICES At Children’s Hospital, Medical Services encompass several major areas – the two general inpatient floors and the Outpatient Clinics. At any given time and for various reasons, a child may need to be admitted to Children’s Hospital as an inpatient. The inpatient medical units are located on the Second and Third floors of the hospital in the original tower and the new Goodfriend Tower. Physicians and nurses continuously monitor and treat inpatients 24 hours a day, seven days a week, according to their individual needs. Patient care assistants (PCAs) meet other needs of patients, and unit secretaries help to ensure everything runs smoothly. Children’s Hospital also provides comprehensive consultation, evaluation, diagnostic services and treatment for pediatric patients with acute, chronic and/or complex conditions through the Outpatient Clinics, located on two floors above the hospital’s Emergency Department. Several clinics for specific conditions are offered in the recently opened James S. Bush Outpatient Care Center on the Third Floor, including cystic fibrosis, dermatology, diabetes, gynecology, infectious diseases, metabolic diseases, multispecialty, rheumatology and weight management (see page 3 for pictures of the new space). The Hematology/Oncology Clinic remains on the Second Floor in the existing clinic space; it is currently being renovated. Registered nurses, patient care assistants and unit secretaries staff the clinics. Each specialized clinic also may be staffed with specialty physicians as well as staff from Nutrition, Social Work, Child Life, Rehabilitation or Respiratory Care.

Second FloorJill Green Jill Green has known she wanted to be a nurse since she was six years old. She married and had two children before going to college to get her nursing degree. Green now holds both an Associate’s Degree in Applied Science from

Hiwassee College and an Associate’s Degree in Nursing Science from Lincoln Memorial University. Green said, “When I first got my job at Children’s Hospital, I thought it was just a place where I would get some experience, then move on. That was nearly 12 years ago!” She did leave Children’s Hospital for a few months but came back after realizing how much she missed “her kids” at Children’s. One of her favorite memories from working at the hospital involves a young patient for whom Green performed infusion therapy. After learning he was going to the hospital to see “Miss Jill,” the boy turned to his mother and said, “But I don’t want my ‘confusion’ today.” Green now works on the Second Floor as a nurse doing outpatient infusion therapy, a process that involves using IVs to infuse fluids into immunosuppressed children to increase or suppress their antibodies. Green has done this job for two and a half years. During her time at Children’s Hospital, she has also worked on the Third Floor and was Clinical Leader for almost a year.

Denise Hall Denise Hall, a Unit Secretary on Second Floor West, did not originally plan on working at Children’s Hospital. While seeking employment at another facility, she was one of the applicants chosen for a new Unit Secretary classroom training program, and she began working at Children’s Hospital shortly after. The opportunity proved to be the perfect fit. “I have a passion for children, and I believe it’s my purpose to be the hub as a unit secretary at my work station,” Hall said. As part of her job, she has had the opportunity to train new graduate nurses on order entry and has been involved in educational opportunities specifically for unit secretaries at Children’s Hospital. For example, Hall lists the hospital’s New Unit Secretaries class and an annual Unit Secretaries’ Outreach Workshop for all unit secretaries from surrounding counties as some of the tools she has used to enhance her skills in this field. Hall’s favorite part of working at Children’s Hospital is interacting with the children she meets and the employees she works with every day. “After 20+ years, I still enjoy passing coworkers in the hallways because everyone shares a BIG smile and a ‘hello’,” Hall said.

Third FloorAmy Hill Amy Hill desired a career that would offer her the opportunity for different challenges and the joy and satisfaction of working with children and their families; she fulfilled this desire by pursuing a degree in nursing. Hill attended Clemson University where she received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. She now works at Children’s Hospital as a staff registered nurse on the Third Floor.

Hill enhances her nursing skills by participating in yearly staff development skill labs and testing. She also takes part in pediatric conferences and in-services when they are available. One of her favorite memories during her time as an RN at Children’s Hospital is treating a seriously ill patient who was under her care. “Over the course of taking care of him for several consecutive days of treatment, I was able to witness and experience his gradual improvement and eventual discharge home,” Hill said. “This experience reinforced my purpose and joy in being a nurse.” Hill chooses to work at Children’s Hospital because it allows her to work alongside excellent coworkers and offers the opportunity to take care of children in a pediatric environment. “I enjoy working at Children’s because of its willingness to continue to improve standards of practice and involve the staff with development and decisions,” Hill said.

Eric Chamblee Eric Chamblee never realized that a stay in the hospital would inspire him to make a career change and pursue a degree in nursing. Chamblee already had a degree in business management, but he found that the theory was more interesting than the reality. “I was looking for a career with more to it than just money,” Chamblee said. The care he received during his own hospitalization encouraged him to earn a nursing degree. Chamblee admits that the training, both in school and at Children’s Hospital, was intense. “Nursing school was without a doubt the hardest thing that I

ever did,” he said. Chamblee says Children’s Hospital works hard to move new graduates from being good at the theory, to being good in the real world. “We have to prove we are competent in all areas before taking care of patients,” Chamblee said. “It helps to cement proper technique and policy in our minds.” Chamblee remembers starting out at Children’s and meeting a little boy who was not happy to meet him. “After taking care of him for over a week, the little boy had gone from screaming to avoid having his blood pressure taken, to climbing out of the crib to hug me when I came in the room,” Chamblee said. He says that what keeps him coming back is the feeling he gets when he has earned a child’s love and trust. Working as a patient care assistant at Children’s Hospital was great training for Chamblee’s eventual transition to a registered nurse on the Third Floor. “The thing that really separates Children’s from the other hospital I worked at is the atmosphere and the teamwork,” Chamblee said. “People are willing to help each other out to get the job done, and you just don’t see that at many hospitals.”

life A day in the of Children’s Hospital

10

Denise Hall

Jill Green

Eric Chamblee and Amy Hill

11

The key to continuing the success of the hospital, Ragsdale believes, is maintaining the “amazingly good relationship” among the Board of Directors, the hospital Administration and the Medical staff. “All three work together very well for the benefit of the patients. That’s unusual, and we have to continue that,” he said. “It will help with physician recruitment and will help us to identify areas where we need to expand.” Children’s Hospital now has physicians in nearly 30 pediatric subspecialties, but the candidate pool of new subspecialists is shrinking. “It’s hard to recruit to support our existing specialists and to expand our services,” he said. “We need to find new ways to bring new subspecialists in.” Ragsdale identified several other challenges and goals for his time as Board chair:

• Continuedfundingofhealthcare,becausemore than half of the hospital’s patients are insured through TennCare.

• BuildingontheworkofPresident/EmeritusBob Koppel and former Board Chair Jim Bush and other recent or soon-to-be retirees: “They have left us in great shape. We need to continue to grow, to build on what we have to reach kids in our service area.”

• Wheretoexpandfacilitiesnextwhenthetime comes, because there is not much open space remaining on the main Clinch Avenue campus.

• Meetingtheneedsofgrowingservicesanddepartments, in particular the Children’s Hospital Emergency Department – the busiest Emergency Department in Knox County: “They do a tremendous job, but as they get more volume, how do we support that?”

• MakingpeopleincountiesoutsideofKnox more aware of the hospital and its services to their citizens, “so they can help us help them.” Less than half the hospital’s patients come from Knox County – the hospital truly is a regional center for East Tennessee’s children, not just a hospital for Knox County’s children.

Ragsdale looks forward to working with new hospital President Keith Goodwin. “He has tremendous experience with large children’s hospitals, and he has done a great job of immersing himself in the hospital and the community,” Ragsdale said. Outside of his work with Children’s Hospital, Ragsdale devotes his time to his family (wife Becky, 16-year-old daughter AnDe and 12-year-old son Jack), his work (he is a founding partner in the Knoxville law firm of Long, Ragsdale and Waters, P.C.), his church and the occasional youth basketball team. He also teaches a class in the third-year law seminar at the University of Tennessee each spring semester. “But I’m mainly running with the kids,” he said. “I want to enjoy that while I have the opportunity.”

Continued from page 9

Linda Bennett Linda Bennett has worked as a Unit Secretary (currently on Third Floor East) and PCA at Children’s Hospital for the past nine years, but she has been in this field for more than 15 years. She was first attracted to working at Children’s after spending a few weeks at another hospital with her son. “I know how scared my son was, and if I can make it easier for someone else’s child, I will,” she said. Bennett’s experience began while she was in high school. There, she took a CNA class and completed many hours of training for respiratory therapy in Texas. She planned to continue her studies when she moved to Tennessee but put her education on hold for a while to raise her two boys. She also worked in nursing homes and at a development center for special needs children. During her time at Children’s, Bennett has enjoyed bonding with the patients she meets and with her coworkers. “The people I work with can make the job fun. It makes it easy to come to work if you like the people you work with,” she said. Bennett’s favorite part about her job is being able to interact with patients and their families and witnessing how grateful they are for the caring employees at Children’s Hospital: “It’s the smiles, hugs and even the pictures the kids make for you; and on occasion you really do witness miracles.”

Outpatient ClinicsGail Rich As a child, Gail Rich always had dreams of being a pediatrician. These dreams led Rich to enroll in nursing school with hopes of eventually caring for children in a pediatric hospital. After graduation, Rich only applied at her first choice, Children’s Hospital. Rich came to Children’s Hospital directly out of nursing school. “Our orientation period was vital to learning the specific skills needed to care for the pediatric population,” Rich said. Throughout her career at Children’s, Rich has been trained in basic life support (BLS), pediatric advanced life support (PALS), chemotherapy administration, blood product administration and conscious sedation. She has held several different positions, including charge and staff nurse on both the Second and Third floors and float nurse in multiple areas of the hospital. Currently she is an outpatient nurse in the Hematology/Oncology Clinic. Rich continually maintains and expands her

education through pediatric seminars and conferences, skill reviews and NetLearning modules. She also turns to her coworkers, whom she says are a great resource for education. “The memories that are most important to me from working at Children’s are the ones that involve a family

member and/or patient who shares with me how much they appreciated how I treated them as a patient and a person,” Rich said. “Those are the most endearing to me.” Rich came to work at Children’s Hospital when she was 23 years old and feels as if she has grown up here. Her coworkers have become her extended family. Rich is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Nursing through East Tennessee State University and says she cannot imagine working anywhere else.

Tanya Little After working for an electric company for 10 years, Tanya Little decided she wanted to move into the medical profession. “I love helping people, and I thought being a nursing assistant would be great,” Little said. “No matter how big or small the task is, it just makes me happy to know that I helped someone

feel better.” Little has been trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and obtaining vitals. She helps to transport patients to different areas of the hospital for testing and assists with daily care for patients. Currently, Little is working to enhance her skills by going to school for medical billing and coding/transcription, which has allowed her to gain a better understanding of medical terminology. “I am confident in my job, and my training gives me the opportunity to help the patients and my coworkers, which allows me to be ready for whatever the day has to offer,” Little said.

One of Little’s favorite memories involves a very special birthday present from a patient. Little remembers this particular patient being very quiet when he first began coming to Children’s. When she received a birthday card from her coworkers, Little noticed that this young man had signed her card as well. “Now every time he is here, I walk into his room, and he gives me that big beautiful smile, and he talks to me all the time,” Little said. “Just thinking back on when I first started and he didn’t say much, let alone smile; he gave me the best birthday present ever!” Little started at Children’s Hospital in December 2005 on the Second Floor and recently transferred to the James S. Bush Outpatient Care Center. When she walks into a patient’s room and is greeted by a smiling face, all other problems disappear. “People say it takes a special person to work at Children’s Hospital,” Little said. “I say I have the opportunity to meet special people every day.”

By Bethany Swann and Leslie Street, student interns

Tanya Little

Gail Rich

Linda Bennett

New Board chair

12

responsibility. Choose an alternate in case your first choice is deceased or unable to take your children if and when the need arises. Specify who is to manage money left for your children’s benefit and consider having someone separate involved with overseeing those funds. Pull together a listing of the people to whom you 2. will give your belongings: list their name, current address and phone number and their relationship to you – son, daughter, niece, nephew, grandson or granddaughter, neighbor, friend. List what you would like them to have, and be specific. List all of your assets:3. house, land, securities, retirement plans, IRA, jewelry, art, collectible items, bank accounts, vehicles and other personal property. Make a list of your favorite charities. List the location of your safe deposit box. Consider attaching a letter to the will indicating any wishes you may have for a funeral, the location of cemetery lots and information about any prepaid funeral arrangements you have made. Choose an executor. 4. It is especially important to determine which of your relatives or friends is wise and honest enough to serve as executor of your estate. The court will hold this person accountable for carrying out your wishes as listed in your will. You and your spouse should spend some time with your executor to discuss your wishes and make certain he or she will agree to serve.Write all of this information down.5.

Making a will is one of the most important activities you will ever undertake. It need not be difficult or unpleasant, but it is VERY important. A will is the only legal document that records your final wishes. Your family members will already be under a great deal of stress simply because you have passed away. You can significantly reduce their burden by leaving a properly executed will. People have many excuses for not planning. Some express concern over paying a lawyer to prepare their will. This should not be a consideration; the dollars you spend on professional fees for a properly prepared will are truly small compared to the expense and heartache of failing to plan. By preparing a will, you are telling those you leave behind how to care for your minor children and how to dispose of all you have accumulated during your lifetime. Putting your instructions in a valid will eliminates speculation about your intentions. You can save time and money by focusing your efforts and “doing your homework” before visiting with your attorney.

Sit down with your spouse and have that 1. difficult discussion about who should raise your children if you should both die in a common accident. Then both of you should meet with the people you select to make certain they will agree to accept the

Select an attorney. 6. Choose someone who has experience in estate planning; feel free to discuss fees in advance. Make an appointment, and follow through by mailing the attorney a copy of your information well in advance. The attorney will appreciate dealing with a well-prepared client and will be delighted not to waste time serving as a referee between you and your spouse on matters such as custody of children and selection of an executor. 7. After your will is finalized, sign it, give a copy to the executor and keep the original in your safe deposit box. Then sit back and enjoy the warmth and security that comes from knowing you have made thorough arrangements to prevent unnecessary expense and avoid family strife after you are gone.

For more information on wills and estate planning, including a copy of our free planning booklet, “Personal Financial Affairs Record,” send your name and address to us via the reply form below. Or you may contact David Rule, Director of Development, at dsrule@etch.com or (865) 541-8162, or Teresa Goddard, CFRE, Senior Development Officer, at tgoddard@etch.com or (865) 541-8441.

By David S. Rule, Director of Development

Estate Planning

Include Children’s Hospital in your estate plans.Join the ABC Club. For more information, call (865) 541-8441.

Please send the FREE planning booklet, “Personal Financial Affairs Record.”

Name______________________________ Address__________________________________________

City___________________________ State_______ Zip_____________ Phone#(______)___________ r Please call me at the phone number below for a free confidential consultation concerning planned giving.

r Please send me more information about deferred giving.

r I have already included Children’s Hospital in my estate plan in the following way:

__________________________________________________________________________

r Please send me information about the ABC Club.

Children’s Hospital Development Office • (865) 541-8441

There are so many surprisingly easy ways to support Children’s Hospital. Now, just by purchasing books through a specific online book retailer, you can help the hospital. Abunga.com is a new online book retailer that is focused on being family friendly. It targets families by offering more than 1.5 million titles at low prices as well as a shopping site void of pornography and other materials that are potentially offensive to families. Abunga.com donates five percent of each purchase to a non-profit organization selected by the buyer through the FAN (Favored Abunga Non-profits) affiliate network. To visit the Abunga.com online book retailer site, go to http://abunga.com/fan/browse/?. When you shop on the Abunga.com site, you’ll be given an opportunity to select Children’s Hospital as your preferred FAN affiliate to receive a donation from the online retailer.

Your will, the foundation of your estate plan

Children’s Hospital joins Abunga.com

FAN network

With the holidays quickly approach-ing, people throughout East Tennessee are making gift lists and planning family get-togethers. The Children’s Hospital Volunteers have an easy way to check one important task off that holiday “to-do” list – purchase the just-released 2007 Children’s Hospital holiday card, and help the area’s children at the same time. This is the 43rd year that the Children’s Hospital Volunteers have sold holiday cards to benefit the hospital. Artist and Children’s Hospital Volunteer Jan Church designed this year’s unique holiday card especially for Children’s Hospital. An original watercolor painting, this year’s card features three jolly snowmen in a snowy forest that will stir a feeling of excitement for the upcoming holidays. The message

inside the card is “Warm Wishes This Holiday Season.” The Children’s Hospital holiday cards are $1 per card, can be sold in any quantity including box sets of 10 cards for $10, and can be personalized on bulk orders. The cards are appropriate for business and personal use. Proceeds from the holiday cards will be used to support a variety of volunteer-led programs at Children’s Hospital, all of which help to make a child’s hospitalization more comfortable. For more information or to place an order, send an e-mail request to wharalson@etch.com or call the Volunteer Services Department at Children’s Hospital at (865) 541-8136.

By Seth Linkous, Associate Director for Public Relations

Helping children is “in the cards” this holiday season

13

UPCOMING EVENTS TO bENEfIT CHILDREN’S

calendar of events All proceeds from this event benefit Children’s Hospital. For more information or to register, call the Children’s Hospital Development Office at (865) 541-8608.

UT Dance Marathon Students at the University of Tennessee are prepared to dance the night away from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. on February 22-23 at the Tennessee Recreational Center for Students (TRECS) on UT’s campus. Activities throughout the night will include live music from local bands, a children’s carnival for Children’s Hospital Hematology/Oncology patients and an opportunity for the patients to throw pies at some Children’s Hospital staff members. Students will also learn a Dance Marathon dance to perform at the end of the 14-hour celebration. Dance Marathon is the largest student-run philanthropy in the country, with more than 80 colleges and universities “dancing” for children’s hospitals in their area. Last year’s Dance Marathon at UT raised approximately $80,000 for the Children’s Hospital Hematology/Oncology Clinic. For more information, call the Children’s Hospital Development Office at (856) 541-8441.

Star 102.1 Radiothon The seventh annual Star 102.1 Radiothon will take place February 28-29 at West Town Mall. Morning show personalities Marc, Kim and Frank will host this live event from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days to encourage listeners and

Jammin’ In Your Jammies It’s time for families to get cozy in their favorite pajamas for a weekend of wintertime fun. This year’s Jammin’ in Your Jammies event will take place February 1-3 at the Holiday Inn Select at Cedar Bluff. A family of four can enjoy an overnight stay for $130, and additional guests are $30 per person. Families have the option of registering at 5 p.m. Friday and concluding their stay with a delicious Saturday morning brunch OR registering at 5 p.m. Saturday and ending with a Sunday morning brunch. This price includes a one-night hotel room stay, dinner, snacks, breakfast and all activities and entertainment.In the evening, families have many activities to choose from, such as swimming in the indoor pool, playing games, participating in a pajama contest or dancing to music provided by Star 102.1 radio.

Mark your calendars NOW for several upcoming events to

entertain families and benefit Children’s Hospital.

Thanks to the generous people of East Tennessee who

host and participate in these events, Children’s Hospital can

continue to provide the best pediatric health care to the

children of this region.

those who stop by to make a personal pledge to benefit Children’s Hospital. There will also be a silent auction featuring great items from local and national companies. Last year’s Radiothon made Children’s Hospital history by putting the six-year Radiothon total over $1 million. All net proceeds will benefit Children’s Hospital Home Health Care and the CarePages service. To help with Radiothon, please call the Children’s Hospital Development Office at (865) 541-8441.

Cutest Little Baby Face The 18th annual “Cutest Little Baby Face” contest will begin March 8 at Belz Factory Outlet World in Pigeon Forge. The contest is open to children ages 6 and younger, with Gary Woods Photography in Sevierville taking photos of the participants. The entry fee for preregistration is $5, and registration at the event is $7. The fee includes a 5x7 portrait of the participating child, a T-shirt and goody bag. Pictures will be taken on Saturday, March 8, and Sunday, March 9. Voting will take place at Belz on Friday, March 21, and Saturday, March 22; a $1 donation to Children’s Hospital will count as 100 votes. The child with the most votes is named the winner and will be announced on March 22 during the “Baby Face Parade.” Contestants may preregister by completing a registration form at the outlet mall or by calling the Children’s Hospital Development Department at (865) 541-8745.

By Leslie Street, student intern

children. They can ingest the dangerous, naturally occurring metal when they mouth, lick or swallow something made with lead or lead paint, or when they simply touch it and then put their fingers in their mouths. Because of the many recent product recalls involving lead/lead paint, it is important to know the facts about lead poisoning to help keep your family healthy.

Dr. Aleisha Lunsford, a physician in the Emergency Department at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, provides helpful facts and information to help identify potential lead poisoning risks, help parents recognize symptoms and protect children from the dangers of lead.

How does lead poisoning occur?

Long-term exposure to lead, a naturally occurring metal used in everything from construction materials to batteries, can cause serious health problems, particularly in young children. Lead is toxic to everyone, but unborn babies and young children are at greatest risk for health problems from lead poisoning because their smaller, growing bodies make them more susceptible to absorbing and retaining lead. Swallowing or inhaling lead, usually over an extended period of time, causes lead poisoning. The human body should not have lead in it; however, most residents of the United States have at least some lead in their blood. The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates that about 4 million children in the U.S. have unacceptably high levels of lead in their blood.

Lead is particularly dangerous because once it gets into a person’s system, it is distributed throughout the body. Most lead ends up in the bone, where it causes even more problems. Lead can interfere with the production of blood cells and the absorption of calcium that bones need to grow healthy and strong.

Lead poisoning can come from many different sources: • Someimportedproducts(suchastoys,jewelry

and household decorative items) which may not be manufactured to U.S. standards

• Flakingpaintchipsinahousebuilt prior to 1977

• Paintedantiques • Leadeddustfromrenovationsofolderhomes • Waterfrompipesmadeofleadorwith

lead soldering • Autoexhaustandindustrialpollution • Soilcontaminatedwithlead(foundnear

busy streets) • Foodcontaminatedwithlead(storedinbowls

painted with lead paint or imported from countries that use lead to seal canned food)

• Batterycasings,fishingsinkersandshotgunpellets

• Leadcrystalandporcelainorpotterywith lead glaze

• CigaretteashesandmatchesInternationally manufactured toys from countries

such as China have been a recent problem in the U.S. because the paint on the toys contained lead. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on August 14 that Mattel voluntarily recalled nine million of its toys — including character toys from the movie “Cars”; Batman action figures; and Barbie, Doggie Daycare, and Polly Pocket play sets—because of lead in the toys that could cause harm to children. Other recent recalls included Thomas the Tank Engine products, Dora the Explorer toys and children’s jewelry, among other items.

Coming into contact with a toy — or anything else containing lead — once or twice probably isn’t cause for major concern. It is continual exposure over a period of time that usually causes lead poisoning, which can bring on a host of health problems, which are discussed in this article.

Lead PoisoningWhen you think of lead poisoning, you probably

envision an old house with paint chipping off walls and a toddler mouthing everything in sight. Although lead paint was banned in the United States nearly 30 years ago, lead is still sometimes found in

some toys and children’s jewelry made today. Lead is

highly toxic, especially to

young

offers insurance to Tennessee children

What are some of the symptoms of lead poisoning and how do you get tested?

Lead poisoning can produce many symptoms, including irritability, headaches, weight loss, nausea, constipation, abdominal pain, fatigue, and muscle weakness. However, many children with lead poisoning don’t show any signs of the illness.

Lead poisoning can also have a variety of long-term effects, such as: • Decreasedboneandmusclegrowth • Poormusclecoordination • Damagetothenervoussystem,kidneys

and/or hearing • Speechandlanguageproblems • Seizuresandunconsciousness(incases

of extremely high levels) • Developmentaldelay

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that all children get tested for lead when they are one and two years old. In the state of Tennessee, children are normally screened for anemia and lead toxicity during their one- and two-year-old wellness exams (also known as Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment Exams). If you are concerned about the possibility of lead poisoning, talk with your doctor, who may recommend a blood test to help make (or rule out) a diagnosis of lead poisoning.

What can I do to prevent lead poisoning?

You can protect your family by ensuring that your home is lead-free. Talk to your local health department about having your home evaluated for lead sources.

These tips can help you reduce the risk of lead exposure:

• Bewaryofoldplumbing,whichmight be lined with lead. If you have an old plumbing system (in homes built before 1970), let cold water run from the faucet for a minute before drinking it. If possible, drink bottled water instead. And because hot water absorbs more lead than cold water, don’t use hot tap water for food preparation.

• Keepyourhomeandyourfamilyclean.Wash your child’s hands and toys frequently, and keep dusty surfaces clean with a wet cloth.

• Knowwhereyourchildplays.Keepyour child away from busy roads and the underside of bridges.

• Makesurechildrenputonlysafe, clean items in their mouths.

• Storefoodsinglass,plasticorstainlesssteel containers, never in open cans.

• Don’tburnpaintedwood.• Ifyouworkwithlead,showerand

change before going home, and wash your clothes separately from other family laundry.

Perhaps one of the best means of protection is to serve well-balanced meals that are low in fats and high in iron and calcium. Iron and lead go to the same place in the blood. Plenty of iron in the blood decreases the effects of lead, and Vitamin C prepares the body to absorb iron. Fats, on the other hand, make the body able to absorb lead, so a full stomach with few fats reduces the absorption of lead.

If your child has never been tested for lead, it’s a good idea to contact your child’s health care provider as soon as possible to schedule a screening.

Compiled by Bethany Swann,

student intern

15

This summer, Children’s Hospital answered Governor Phil Bredesen’s request to support enrollment in the new CoverKids insurance program by staging events around the August sales tax holiday weekend. Children’s Hospital sponsored CoverKids events on July 27-28 at the Wal-Mart near Knoxville Center Mall and on August 3-4 at the Belz Factory Mall in Pigeon Forge. Both weekends’ events were successful, with 155 CoverKids applications completed and approximately 100 applications distributed. Joe Burchfield, grassroots coordinator for CoverKids, praised Children’s Hospital for everything they did to make the event weekends successful, and estimated that about 90 percent of people who received applications came with the purpose of enrolling in CoverKids. “They knew where to find us!” he said.

As part of the Cover Tennessee program, CoverKids offers comprehensive health coverage to uninsured children in Tennessee, age 18 and under, and pregnant women. Also, there are no pre-existing condition exclusions for children with already-diagnosed special needs or medical conditions. CoverKids has no monthly premium. Participants pay a co-pay for certain services; the co-pay amount depends on income. Coverage is offered for 12 months. After that, families must re-verify their children’s eligibility. Children must be U.S. citizens or qualified aliens and must be Tennessee residents. They also must have been without insurance for three months (this is waived for newborns up to four months of age and for children moving to CoverKids from TennCare or from another state’s SCHIP program). Maternity care is available for pregnant women, from the date of application

until 60 days following the baby’s birth. CoverKids provides comprehensive health insurance with an emphasis on preventive health services and coverage for physician services, hospitals, prescriptions, mental health/substance abuse and more. CoverKids has an emphasis on services children need most, well-baby and well-child visits, and age-appropriate required immunizations. For mental health, CoverKids offers up to 52 visits per year on an outpatient basis and 30 days of inpatient treatment per year. And in October, CoverKids announced it will add dental and vision benefits starting January 1, 2008. To learn more about CoverKids insurance or to receive an application, visit www.CoverTN.gov or call toll-free 1-866-268-3786.

By Leslie Street, student intern

Dr. Aleisha Lunsford

offers insurance to Tennessee children

Children’s Hospital2018 Clinch Ave. • P.O. Box 15010Knoxville, Tennessee 37901-5010

We always try to stay current with friends of the hospital.If for any reason you should receive a duplicate issue,please notify the hospital at (865) 541-8257.

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Telethon PreviewTelethon Preview

The 26th annual Children’s Miracle Network Telethon to benefit Children’s Hospital is quickly approaching. This year’s telethon will take place on Sunday, January 27, and will be broadcast live from 3:30 - 11:30 p.m. on WBIR-TV Channel 10. This year’s telethon again offers viewers the convenience of donating to Children’s Hospital online during the broadcast. Those watching the broadcast on WBIR-TV can log on to www.etch.com and click on “Make A Donation” on the left side of the home page to make their contribution. Last year’s 25th annual CMN broadcast raised more than $1.9 million for Children’s Hospital. This total represents the tremendous generosity of the people of this region and their ongoing commitment to the children who make nearly 144,000 visits each year to the hospital. The success of this year’s Children’s Miracle Network telethon is crucial in helping Children’s Hospital grow. Funds raised during the telethon will be used to purchase new and sophisticated medical equipment for various hospital departments. Support from the community throughout the telethon helps ensure each child who comes to Children’s

Hospital, now and in the future, is able to receive the care he or she needs. Children’s Hospital is a charter member of the Children’s Miracle Network. In 1983, the hospital participated in the first telethon that raised $95,487 in East Tennessee, all of which remained at Children’s Hospital for the direct benefit of our patients. Since its

inception, the telethon has raised more than $23 million for our pediatric medical center. For more information about the Children’s Miracle Network broadcast, or if you would like to volunteer at the telethon, call (865) 541-8441 or visit www.etch.com. By Bethany Swann,

student intern