Celebration 2008...be the miracle - Gundersen Health System

Summer 2008
Inside:
Celebration 2008
(continued) ..............p. 2
Welcome Kimberly Tabbert
..........................p. 3
Blarney Party
Challenge totals
$1.6 million ..............p. 4
Credit Unions raise more
than $25,000 ..........p. 4
Wal-Mart & Sam’s Club
making miracles ......p. 5
Safe Kids ..................p. 5
Miracle Treat Day ......p. 5
Honorariums and
Memorials ................p. 6
Fun-Raising
Calendar ..................p. 7
Children’s Connection
is a publication of the Children’s
Miracle Network,
Gundersen Lutheran Medical
Foundation
1836 South Ave.
La Crosse, WI 54601
Editor: Sarah Fillbach
Design: Dave Saegrove
CMN Staff: Heather Gilles
Jean Moe
Kimberly Tabbert
To learn more about Children’s
Miracle Network and
the work we do,
please visit us online at
Celebration 2008...be the miracle
Each year hundreds of area families are touched by
Children’s Miracle Network® (CMN). During
Children’s Miracle Network Celebration 2008,
we’ll celebrate the lives of children and recognize
those who have generously contributed to CMN
throughout the year.
Tune in to Celebration 2008 on June 1 from
7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Celebration airs live from
the Gundersen Lutheran Hospital lobby on
WXOW TV-19 La Crosse and WQOW TV-18
Eau Claire. Join us as WXOW TV-19 Daybreak
anchor Amy DuPont and sports director Scott
Emerich share incredible stories of some very
courageous Champion kids. We selected five families
to represent the thousands of children who
benefit from the funds raised through CMN.
Their medical struggles and triumphs will touch
your heart. Your gifts give these families hope.
Please be part of Celebration
2008. Send in
your pledge to support
Children’s Miracle Network,
a service of Gundersen
Lutheran
Medical Foundation.
One easy way to help CMN is to tune in to the
Celebration and join the CMN Monthly Giving
Club. By pledging to give $15, $20 or more each
month for a year, you can be a member. As a
bonus, members of the Monthly Giving Club will
have their name entered into a special drawing for
a $1,000 travel certificate, compliments of Carlson
Wagonlit Travel “Owned and Operated by
Goli’s Avenues of Travel.” Be a monthly giving
club member. Be the miracle.
Children’s Miracle Network, a service of Gundersen
Lutheran Medical Foundation, is a very
unique organization in which:
• Money raised locally stays local to help children
in the Tri-state Region.
• CMN can help no matter what the disease or
injury.
• CMN can help no matter where children receive
their healthcare. We have a network of
social workers in Gundersen Lutheran,
Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire and Franciscan
Skemp.
From meal tickets to specialized equipment,
CMN helps to fill the gaps whenever possible for
children and their families.
Call in during the Celebration at (608) 781-8900
or (800) 856-6889.
Tune in…call in…make a pledge.
Be the miracle.
continued on page 2
Name __________________________________________
Address ________________________________________
City __________________ State _____ Zip __________
Phone (________) _______________________________
❒ I (we) would like to join the CMN Giving Club.
❒ Other donation amount
Enclosed is my pledge for $ ______________
Make checks payable to: Children’s
Miracle Network
May we acknowledge your gift
on Celebration? ❒ Yes ❒ No
www.gundluth.org/cmn
Children’s miracle network 1

Seeing Alexsis Larry’s happy grin
today, it’s hard to imagine the cheerful
3-year-old confronts a serious
illness every day: cystic fibrosis, a
genetic disease affecting the lungs
and pancreas. Two weeks after her
Feb. 28, 2005 birth, James and
Dana Larry were stunned to learn
their seemingly healthy baby was very
ill. But the family bounced back quickly
from the unexpected report, developing a routine that keeps
Alexsis healthy. Twice daily, Alexsis uses a SmartVest, a machine
that shakes mucus from her lungs. She takes pancreatic enzyme
caplets, a multivitamin and an acid reducer, in addition to
drinking two pediasures and eating a high calorie diet every day.
Because of her weak immune system, Alexsis gets sick easily and
takes longer to recover than most, so Dana must stay home from
work to avoid placing Alexsis in a risky daycare setting. Traveling
an hour each way from their Viroqua home to appointments in
La Crosse, transportation costs alone, not to mention other costs
associated with Alexsis’s illness, stretched the family’s funds. But
money the Larrys received from CMN helped the family keep
the focus where it should be: on their daughter, their own little
miracle.
round trips from Minnesota City to the hospital and food
vouchers provided nutritious meal options. During an emotional
roller coaster, CMN continues to be a steady helping hand.
At 18 months, Carson McCormick appeared
to be a happy, healthy and extremely
intelligent little boy. He
already knew his numbers, colors
and shapes and could repeat
everything his parents, Jaine and
Mike, said. After hearing a song
once, he could sing it back perfectly.
He could repeat the scripts of
entire TV shows he’d seen only once.
The McCormicks didn’t realize Carson’s behaviors were telltale
signs of something serious. In November 2005, Carson was diagnosed
with autism. The McCormicks were devastated. But,
with money from CMN, the family was able to purchase occupational
therapy tools, such as tactile balls, a lycra swing, building
boards and oral motor blocks that make a huge difference in
teaching Carson coping skills for everyday life. At 5 years old,
active and outgoing Carson is in a normal preschool setting, no
longer just coping, but thriving.
When Kathryn and Elizabeth Girtler
came into the world a month early
on Sept. 10, 2007, parents Brett
and Michele were relieved their
twins, who each weighed only
three pounds, were seemingly
healthy. But happiness turned to
dread when the Girtlers quickly
learned something was wrong. Their
12-hour-old infants were ambulanced
from Winona to Gundersen Lutheran
in La Crosse due to extremely low
blood platelets and low hemoglobin.
Neither had any clotting
agents, which meant a bump to
the head could result in their
bleeding to death. The cause of the
low levels was unknown, but doctors
hoped and expected platelet levels
would slowly rise to normal. They did,
until the girls recently fell ill with respiratory syncytial virus, or
RSV. Platelet levels that had been rising with promise plummeted
and the twins were hospitalized for a month. For the
Girtlers, CMN provided hope when there was little to be hopeful
about. Gas money covered the family’s frequent two-hour
Like most 17-year-olds, Cady Johnson
was busy planning for graduation
and college during her senior year
in high school. She and her family
were shocked when a small lump
on her throat stopped the planning
and changed their lives forever.
On Dec. 10, 2007, Cady was
diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Since her diagnosis, the Blair,
Wis., teenager has begun a series of six 28-day treatment cycles,
during which she receives chemotherapy eight times and spends
14 days on a variety of oral medication. During 10 of those 28
days, Cady’s white blood cell count drops so low that she often
spends it in isolation, so that she won’t get sick from others.
Though she has good days and bad, Cady and her family try to
stay upbeat—a task made easier by CMN. The money the family
received from CMN helped the Johnsons purchase Cady a
wig, pay for the expensive medication, and put gas in the car for
travel to and from appointments.
2
continued on page 3
Children’s miracle network

If the word hope could be
defined by a person,
that person would be
10-year-old Sean
Fox. In just the past
two years, the Black
River Falls boy has
undergone a liver
transplant, double lung
transplant and kidney
dialysis, on top of a laundry list of diagnoses including
diabetes, hypothyroidism, attention
deficit disorder, gastroesophageal reflux disease,
osteopenia and diabetes insipidus. His lungs collapsed
eight times before his Feb. 26, 2006, lung
transplant. Soon after, his liver and kidneys failed.
After two weeks of kidney dialysis and waiting for
a liver, Sean underwent a successful transplant
July 16, 2007, and hope was renewed. Throughout
Sean’s incredible journey there’s been one constant—support
from CMN. During his numerous
hospital stays, CMN has provided the family with
meals and money to cover the cost of transportation
to and from appointments. Throughout it
all, the blond-haired fourth-grader teaches us an
important lesson: Never abandon hope.
Kathryn Girtler
Elizabeth Girtler
Carson McCormick
Alexsis Larry
Sean Fox
Cady Johnson
CMN welcomes Kimberly Tabbert
There is a new member of the CMN
team at Gundersen Lutheran. Kimberly
Tabbert joined us in February.
She is an office assistant for Heather
Gilles and Jean Moe at CMN. She will
also spend part of her time assisting
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation.
Kimberly has worked at Gundersen
Lutheran for more than five years. She
previously worked at the Onalaska Clinic as a lead patient liaison
in the Pediatrics department. Among other responsibilities,
she worked at the central check-in area on the second floor. She
enjoyed working in an environment with children and is happy
to be working in an area like CMN that assists children and
their families.
Originally from the La Crosse area, Kimberly now resides in
West Salem. She is married with two children. She enjoys spending
time with friends and family, attending her children’s sporting
events, photography, scrapbooking and organizing.
We are pleased to have Kimberly as part of our team!
Children’s miracle network 3

Blarney Party Challenge goes out on high
note raising $244,940
This year’s Blarney Party Challenge to benefit Children’s Miracle
Network® (CMN)—Ed and Sally Sullivan’s final year—was another
huge success. The 17th Annual Blarney Party Challenge
raised $244,940 bringing their 17 year total to $1.6 million. The
18-hour event, hosted by the Sullivans, included phone pledges,
a live auction, stories of inspiration from those who benefit from
CMN and sponsor recognition.
“People in this area have always responded and given generously
to CMN. Ed and Sally have a close-knit circle of friends who
want to help them be successful in their efforts to raise money
for the kids in our community,” shares Jean Moe, CMN regional
event specialist.
She went on to say, “CMN fundraising to benefit area children
with special medical needs is an ongoing team effort. Without
our team, the Blarney Party Challenge would not have enjoyed
the success it has over the last 17 years.
CMN would like to acknowledge and thank Ed and Sally Sullivan
for their many years of hard work, support and compassion.
They have been remarkable friends and benefactors to CMN.
We also thank their devoted sponsors, friends and donors;
WLFN 1490 AM; Charter Communications; and Tri-County
Communications. The time and energy these groups have devoted
to the Blarney Party Challenge has made this event a success
year after year.
Stay tuned for Ed & Sally’s Saturday radio program, the Blarney
Party on WLFN 1490 AM, to become a part of Radiothon in
the fall of 2009, hosted by the La Crosse Radio Group!
For more information on CMN, call (608) 775-4424 or
(800) 853-6889 or go to gundluth.org/cmn.
Local credit unions raised more than
$25,950 for CMN
Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) has been the charity of
choice for America’s credit unions since 1986. CMN is officially
endorsed by more than 45 state credit union leagues and by national
credit union trade associations. Through this innovative
program, credit unions have the power to make a difference in
the lives of children in our area.
Every year credit unions across the United States show they are
an integral part of our communities by helping the 17 million
kids treated annually in Children’s Miracle Network hospitals—
now that’s “people helping people!” Please join the growing
movement among our nation’s credit unions and support CMN
through your credit union’s fundraising efforts. The funds contributed
by Credit Unions for Kids ensure that the best care is
available whenever children need it. Thank you, Credit Unions
for Kids. You truly make miracles happen!
Participating area credit unions in 2007: Altra, Arcadia, Community,
Co-op, Dairyland Power, Firefighters, Governmental,
Gundersen Lutheran, La Crosse Area Postal,
La Crosse Burlington Northern, Marine, Oakdale, RIA,
River City, Royal-Whitehall, Tomah Area and Westby Co-op.
4
Children’s miracle network

Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club are making
miracles, once again!
Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club raised more than $274,190 for Children’s
Miracle Network® (CMN) and Gundersen Lutheran in
2007. They are very giving and making a difference in the lives
of area children. All year long, Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores
dedicate their time and energy to raising funds for our local families.
Children’s health and safety are very important to the family-oriented
company.
Wal-Mart/Sam’s Club has been a corporate sponsor of CMN
since 1987. This partnership has grown over the years, from raising
more than $2.5 million in 1988 to more than $32 million in
2005. In all, Wal-Mart has contributed in excess of $350 million
to CMN and its member hospitals. Their continued support
makes them the largest CMN corporate partner to date.
The more than 1.3 million Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club associates
across North America go beyond raising funds by regularly volunteering
their time to conduct fundraisers at the stores, as well
as helping out at the hospitals. At the corporate level, Wal-Mart
contributes marketing/advertising dollars by running in-store
commercials, print ads and creating in-store signs that reach
their 138 million weekly customers. If you are shopping in Wal-
Mart or Sam’s Club and see one of their fundraisers, please stop
and thank them. Better yet, support their efforts at making miracles
happen.
Gundersen Lutheran and CMN team up with
Safe Kids to prevent childhood injuries
When it comes to kids, accidents happen. But many serious injuries,
and even deaths, can be prevented. The La Crosse Coulee
Region Safe Kids is a local group of community members and
agencies working toward the prevention of unintentional childhood
injuries in our community. As some startling statistics
show, it is work that’s vitally important. In 2005, 5,162 children
ages 14 and under died from accidental injury in the United
States, and in 2006 there were 6.2 million emergency room visits.
Sadly, many of these deaths and injuries were preventable.
The La Crosse Coulee Region Safe Kids—which is led by Gundersen
Lutheran and currently funded by a grant through
Children’s Miracle Network—works to reduce and prevent accidental
childhood injuries relating to motor vehicle and pedestrian
injuries, drowning, fire and burns, suffocation, choking,
ATV’s, falls, poisonings and more. A large part of prevention is
educating parents, caregivers and children about simple behavior
changes that can prevent accidental injuries. La Crosse Coulee
Region Safe Kids has been a leader in getting essential safety
messages to the public through low-cost or free educational materials
and programs. The group members work closely with law
enforcement officers, firefighters and paramedics; medical and
health professionals; educators and schools; parents and grandparents;
businesses; public policy-makers; and, most importantly,
kids.
The La Crosse chapter is coordinated by Kim Lombard, a
trauma and injury prevention coordinator within the Department
of Trauma at Gundersen Lutheran. Organizations that
serve as part of the local Safe Kids chapter include: Gundersen
Lutheran (lead organization), La Crosse County Health Department,
La Crosse County Fire Department, La Crosse County Sheriff’s
Department, Franciscan Skemp, Boys and Girls Club, Family
and Children’s Center, Family Resources, Onalaska Police Department,
La Crosse Police Department, Onalaska Park and
Recreation, School District of La Crosse, La Crosse Park and
Recreation, and WXOW TV-19.
For more information about Safe Kids go to safekids.org or call
Kim Lombard at (608) 775-2011 or (800) 362-9567, ext.
52011.
Miracle Treat Day continued in 2008!
Miracle Treat Day brought together all participating Dairy
Queen franchises in the United States and Canada in 2007 to
donate the proceeds of blizzard sales to Children’s Miracle Network
for one day. On Aug. 7, 2008, blizzards will be forecast all
over North America!
Children’s miracle network 5

CMN Honorariums and Memorials received Jan. 1 through
March 31, 2008
Honorariums
In honor of Joey
Garves
Ronald R. & Mary M.
Garves
In honor of Linda
Gofus
Patrick K. & Elizabeth
A. Adams
In honor of Gundersen
Lutheran PNICU
staff
Michael P. & Pamela
J. Thieke
In appreciation of
Gundersen Lutheran
staff for the wonderful
care given to Elizabeth
(Bizzie)
Richtman
Rodney J. & Elizabeth
C. Bailey
Alan & Kristine Beatrez
David & Carol M.
Leuer
Peter J. & Stephanie J.
Leuer
John P. & Suzanne F.
Rachwal
Mike, Meg, Carly,
Jacob & Bizzie Richtman
In honor of birthday
of Pat Murray
Cardinal IG Company
In honor of Matthew
Senn
Chad M. & Dawn M.
Senn
In honor of Zoey R.
Slaby
Ye Olde Schoolhouse
Shoppe
In honor of Ed &
Sally Sullivan
Bob & Bev DiNicola
Judy L. Kirkpatrick
In honor of Sally Sullivan
Curtis E. & Leslie A.
Bakkum
Karen L. Bredahl
William E. & Janice
E. Keer
Todd E. & Jennifer R.
Saner
Mark J. & Carol I.
Ward
Donald & Lynette
Wilhelm
Jeffrey W. & Nancy E.
Zadow
In honor of Michelle
Taylor
Ronald R. & Mary M.
Garves
Memorials
In memory of
Nathan J. Amdahl-
Merten
Joseph P. & Dorothy
C. Merten
In memory of Ethan
Augedahl
Brad D. & Debra J.
Augedahl
In memory of Steven
P. Blank
Gloria Freese
In memory of Harold
‘Burt’ J. Cleary
Lloyd R. & Louella F.
Holthaus
In memory of Carli
Christina Clements
Charles F. & Janet T.
Schleifer
In memory of Joseph
D. Clements
Bob & Bev DiNicola
In memory of Larry
R. Denstad
Richard & Jodi L. Ostern
In memory of
Richard G. Ekern
Kenneth J. & Kathleen
A. Greene
In memory of Marlene
Fournier
Gundersen Lutheran
Administration
Gundersen Lutheran
Otolaryngology Department
In memory of Beulah
M. Good
Earl M. & Roberta A.
Good
Randall G. & June L.
Williams
In memory of Neil P.
Hengst
Bradley J. & Lynn D.
Sturm
In memory of
Colleen E. Jacob
Adrienne M. DiNicola
In memory of
Richard ‘Dick’ W.
Kaminer
Michael E. & Rose M.
Albrecht
In memory of Alyssa
Diane Elizabeth Keppel
Kurt K. & Trischa A.
Keppel
Susan M. Quillin
In memory of Barbara
‘Bobbie’ E.
Kostecki
Sacia Andersen
Tom & Marilyn
Brockman
David W. & Vicki L.
Christopherson
William J. & Lisa D.
Craig
Robert C. & Barbara
J. Dostal
Jeffrey J. & Cheryl L.
Garves
Clinton & Joanne L.
Gillette
Joyce Graff
J. W. & MaryAnn
Hein
Erwin P. & Bonnie J.
Korish
Robert J. & Donna R.
Kostecki
John Meinertz
Diane E. Paisley
Richard J. & Janelle J.
Pendleton
Don & Cindy
Poellinger
James R. & Carol A.
Strait
In memory of Margaret
‘Maggie’ A.
Magin
Gloria Freese
In memory of Linda
L. McCutchen
Dr. & Mrs. John E.
Clemons
Roger A. & Sandra
Kramer
In memory of Gloria
Messer
Kenneth J. & Kathleen
A. Greene
Gundersen Lutheran
Administration
Gundersen Lutheran
Lab Department
In memory of Donna
Muetze
Fred Muetze
In memory of Patricia
‘Pat’ M. Murphy
Michael J. & Sheila J.
Durand
In memory of Ione
R. (Schwenger)
Olson
Diane Johnson
Beverly Robinson
In memory of Katey
Paulus
Noreen N. Twite
In memory of Mason
Ward, Jr., Frieda
Mae, Lucille Dorothy
& Lorretta Norma
Quackenbush
Mason W. & Julie
Quackenbush
In memory of Mary
E. Rudie
Jon D. & Edythe A.
Larson
In memory of
William ‘Bill’ J. Sauer
Phillip J. Addis &
Julie A. Fogel
In memory of Mable
Schneider
Jerry & Karen Quackenbush
In memory of Pamela
A. Sebranek
Douglas B. Coursin,
MD
In memory of Alice
M. Sherry
Friends & Loved Ones
CMN
Gary & Anita L. Osgood
Howard A. Sanders
In memory of Anna
Marie Sherry
Jerry & Karen Quackenbush
In memory of Eva
Sivanich
Robert C. & Sharon J.
Sivanich
In memory of Harley
E. Solberg
Laurine H. Solberg
In memory of Margaret
L. Sondreal
Lois A. Groeschel
In memory of Edna
E. Stein
Rebecca L. Christenson
In memory of Nickie
J. Thill
Marilyn Hayes
Laurine H. Solberg
In memory of Robert
Dean Uhls
Bob & Bev DiNicola
In memory of Ervin
Veglahn
Gundersen Lutheran
Administration
In memory of Harold
Wilber
Dr. & Mrs. John E.
Clemons
Roger A. & Sandra
Kramer
In memory of Gerald
‘Chalky’ J. Wolfe
James R. & Marilyn
Reedy
6
Children’s miracle network

FUN-Raising calendar May-Sept. 2008
If you, your company or organization would like to plan an event or promotion to benefit CMN, please call us at (608) 775-4424 or
(800) 853-6889. We welcome your ideas! Note: This is a list of known events as of April 2008. Call us any time for the latest addi-
May
May 1-31: Dance Team Dilemma Contest (portraits on display
at Valley View Mall) sponsored by Ellickson Studios
May 15-18: Menomonie Wal-Mart D.C. Golf at Mill Run in
Eau Claire
May 17: Ace Hardware Grand Garage Sale at Ace Retail Support
Center
May 23: CMN Bake Sale at Tomah Area Credit Union
May 26: Meet the Loggers at North Country Steak Buffet
May 31: Holiday Card Contest begins
June
June 1-30: Holiday Card Contest continues
June 1: CMN Celebration 2008 airs live from Gundersen
Lutheran on WXOW TV-19 in La Crosse and WQOW TV-18
in Eau Claire
June 9: 7 Rivers Region Chapter of Credit Unions Miracle
Open Golf Classic at Forest Hills
June 9-11: Book fair at Gundersen Lutheran La Crosse Campus
June 12: Crescent Printing Golf Tournament at Drugan’s
June 19: Wisconsin Bankers Group 7 Golf Outing Raffle at
Drugan’s
June 23-24: Tomah Wal-Mart D.C. Golf at Hiawatha Golf
Club in Tomah
June 27: Wal-Mart Chicken Q at Black River Falls Wal-Mart
June 28: Car wash at Sparta Wal-Mart
July
July 10: Wal-Mart Appreciation Day at Gundersen Lutheran
July 19: Kristin Lily Golf Tournament at Fox Hollow
July 25: Holiday Card Contest ends
August
Aug. 3: Second Annual Golf Tournament at Arcadia Country
Club in conjunction with Miss America Organization
Aug. 7: Miracle Treat Day at participating Dairy Queens
Aug. 9: Coulee Region Modelers Mini Airfest at Coulee Region
Modelers Airfield
Aug. 16: Martial Arts America Kids Kicking Cancer at Onalaska
Martial Arts America
Aug. 18-20: Book fair at Gundersen Lutheran La Crosse Campus
Aug. 22: Ace Hardware RSC Golf at Maple Grove Country
Club
Aug. 25: Book fair at Gundersen Lutheran Onalaska Support
Services Building
Aug. 26-27: Book fair at Gundersen Lutheran Onalaska Clinic
on Lower Level
September
Sept. 4-7: Menomonie Wal-Mart D.C. Golf at Mill Run in
Eau Claire
Sept. 5-7: La Crosse’s Elvis Explosion with Ronny Craig at
La Crosse Center
Children’s miracle network 7

Did you know
that in 2007 Children’s Miracle Network:
• Provided 9,798 meal tokens to families whose
children were receiving their medical healthcare
while at Gundersen Lutheran. $36,966 was
dedicated to this initiative.
• Provided transportation funding totaling $73,059
to 230 families who live in the CMN 24 county
service area. Many families who were granted
CMN funding received their healthcare at other
medical facilities.
Children’s Miracle Network ®
Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation
1836 South Avenue
La Crosse,WI 54601-5400
Non-Profit Org.
U.S. Postage Paid
La Crosse,WI
Permit #119
Celebration 2008
June 1 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Be the Miracle