Fall 2011 - Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation

Edward s Family N ICUHeather and N. Murray Edwards describe their NICUexperience during a special gift celebration at theAlberta Children’s Hospital.Thanks to an incredible $5-million giftfrom local philanthropists, Heather andN. Murray Edwards, the Alberta Children’sHospital will soon be home to a newNeonatal Intensive Care Unit to help someof the most critically-ill newborn babies insouthern Alberta.While construction of the new unit isexpected to take 18-24 months, theEdwards donation is already at work,enabling specialists to care for babies withina temporary NICU at our hospital since July.“It is such a privilege to be able to helpfamilies and their newborn babies in thisway,” says Heather Edwards. “This is verypersonal for us, stemming from our ownexperience with our son who neededneonatal intensive care when he was borneight weeks early, five years ago. We trulyhope our gift will greatly enhance NICUcare and also create an environment that isbetter for staff and less stressful for families.”The Edwards Family NICU will be builton the fourth floor of the AlbertaChildren’s Hospital, in an area which hadbeen designated for future expansion. Itwill operate as a 14-bed “Level 3” NICU,providing specialized treatment for tinynewborns requiring complex care becauseof problems resulting from premature birth,critical illness, or issues arising from thechange to life outside the womb.“This is another wonderful example ofhow working in partnership helps createa stronger healthcare system,” says KenHughes, Chair of the Alberta HealthServices Board of Directors. “The Edwardsfamily had a keen interest in supportingNICU at the same time that AHS wasstrategizing about how best to improveservices. We worked together to come upwith a solution that will help thousands offamilies in the years to come.”“Heather and Murray, along with manyof Murray’s companies, played a big rolein helping to build our new hospital,” saysSaifa Koonar, President and CEO of theAlberta Children’s Hospital Foundation.“Today, five years later, they’re creating yetThe Edwards celebrated with NICU triplets Max,Oscar and Ben and their grateful parents Christi &Joel and Grandma Cheryl at the gift announcement.another legacy to help even more childrenand families in need. It’s a truly wonderfulpartnership.”In addition to supporting construction ofthe new NICU, the Edwards donation willalso fund specialized NICU equipment forFoothills Medical Centre and RockyviewGeneral Hospital.

Drug DiscoveryAmerican Cancer Investigators Seek Calgary ExpertiseChildhood cancer experts fromacross the United States arelooking to scientists at the AlbertaChildren’s Hospital Research Institute(ACHRI) for help in identifying and testingnew drugs to fight some of the deadliestforms of childhood cancer and reduce theserious side effects of current treatments.With generous support from the community,ACHRI researchers have developed theirexpertise to the point where their lab hasnow earned special designation within anelite group of cancer research hospitalsknown as POETIC – the Pediatric OncologyExperimental Therapeutics InvestigatorsConsortium. As the only Canadian memberof POETIC, our researchers are workingclosely with colleagues from such prestigiousinstitutions as Johns Hopkins, MD Andersonand Memorial Sloan-Kettering.State-of-the-art technology and the ability to grow cancer cells outside of the body has enabledACHRI cancer researcher, Dr. Aru Narendran and his team to play an important role in theinternational fight against childhood cancer.“Not only have cure rates hit a plateau, butthe majority of children who survive cancerare left with serious side effects, oftenaffecting their hearts, lungs, kidneys, nerves,hearing and more,” says Dr. Aru Narendran,lead POETIC investigator for ACHRI. “Weneed to do better for these kids. It makessense to join forces to find more effectivetherapies that won’t impair children in thelong run.”

ACHRI cancer researchers work collaborativelywith experts from across North America tofind new cures for childhood cancer.Dr. Narendran and his team are recognizedfor having both the skill and technology toevaluate the effectiveness of potential newagents. In a series of upcoming publications,they identify several new medications whichhave the potential to be more effective thanconventional therapy. Those medicationswill be evaluated for future clinical trials.In addition, they’re being asked to studyblood samples andbiopsies from acrossNorth America to helpconfirm the effectivenessof drugs during Phase Iclinical trials.“Thanks to donationsfrom the community, weare able to use stateof-the-arttechnologyto validate whether a new cancer drug isdestroying the target cells it’s supposed to,”says Dr. Narendran.“Cancer is a global concern that requiresa global effort to succeed against it,” saysDr. Tanya Trippett, renowned oncologyresearcher at Memorial Sloan-Ketteringin New York and one of the founders ofPOETIC. “Calgary is playing a critical role inhelping POETIC to advance the benefits ofnew drugs which can kill cancer cells withminimal side-effects.”In addition to testing samples and drugsfrom other centres, our researchers arealso identifying and testing their own newtherapies. A crucial part of their workinvolves the complex art and scienceof converting cancer cells from patients--which cannot live“It makes sense to joinforces to find moreeffective therapies thatwon’t impair children inthe long run.”- Dr. Aru Narendran,pediatric oncology researcheroutside the humanbody-- into “cell lines”which can be keptalive in the lab so thatdrugs can be testedon them. To theircredit, our team hasdeveloped a numberof pediatric cancercell lines which haveattracted the attention of researchers fromaround the world.In addition to their inventory of cell lines,our childhood cancer team has alsoamassed an extensive drug library whichholds thousands of potential anti-canceragents, ready to be studied.“We are working to fill a pipeline of promisingnew agents that can be brought to Phase Iclinical trials and ultimately developed intoeffective treatments for every child fightingcancer,” says Dr. Narendran. “And we’repleased that our work is having a rippleeffect that is impacting many other areas –including adult cancer, neurology and eventhe discovery of new antibiotics.”Shonalie Stadnyk gave permission for herdaughter’s cancer cells to be studied by Dr.Narendran’s lab.“Before Jacey was diagnosed with Ewing’sSarcoma, we had no idea that there werescientists right here in Calgary workingon new cures for cancer,” says Shonalie.“We agreed right away to participate intheir research…not just for Jacey but forall kids fighting cancer. It’s really importantwork. We’re grateful that there are brilliantpeople willing to do it and generous peoplewilling to support it through donations.”To read more about how community support is making a difference in the fight againstchildhood cancer at the Alberta Children’s Hospital, visit www.childrenshospital.ab.ca.

Caring for the whole familyCommunity support for Emily’s Backyard gives parents peace of mind“Having a safe and funplace for Adison duringOlivia’s appointmentshas been so helpful.”- Shelly Dedrick, mom of twinsWhile having twins can be a jugglingact, when one of them has specialmedical needs, it can become a full-blowncircus.Shelly and Allan Dedrick are the proudparents of Adison and Olivia. The girls wereborn just minutes apart - Adison was bornhealthy, Olivia had Cerebral Palsy.The Dedricks regularly bring Olivia to theAlberta Children’s Hospital so she canbenefit from the expert care of doctors,nurses, therapists and audiologists.“While these appointments are reallyhelpful for Olivia, it can be difficult to listento what the specialists are saying if I’m tryingto tend to both girls,” says Shelly.Thanks to generous support from peoplelike you, families like the Dedricks are ableto benefit from on-site child care servicesprovided in Emily’s Backyard.Professional staff and volunteers take careof young patients and/or siblings whileparents attend to appointments at thehospital. Suitable for newborns to earlyteens, children have the opportunity todo everything from making arts and craftsto playing video games. “Adison loves toplay in the little pretend kitchen they havethere,” says Shelly. “She’s a social butterfly,so playing with other kids is really fun forher, too.”“Knowing that Olivia is getting the bestpossible care is one thing,” says Shelly. “Butit just means so much to know that peopleat the hospital genuinely care about ourother little girl, too. Emily’s Backyard hasbeen a really important part of the care ourfamily has received at the Alberta Children’sHospital.”Emily’s Backyard helps 9500 kids every year atthe Alberta Children’s Hospital. For informationabout making a booking, call 403 955 2500.Shelly Dedrick and her twins, Adison & Olivia, aregrateful for all the special enhancements at theAlberta Children’s Hospital.

thanksa million!The organizations and companies listedbelow have something remarkable incommon. They care about sick and injuredkids in our community and have rallied theircolleagues, employees, customers, friends,and family around our hospital with specialcorporate initiatives and community events.Each of them have reached a milestone infundraising, raising over $1 million to help thekids at the Alberta Children’s Hospital.We extend our appreciation to all ourcommunity supporters, with a special thanksa million to:ATB FinancialCalgary Co-opCanada SafewayCHASChildren’s Miracle NetworkCorus RadioCostco WholesaleDairy Queen CanadaECL Choppers for CharityEnerplusFlames Foundation for LifeGlobal CalgaryKinsmen Club of Stampede CityRE/MAXRotary Clubs of CalgarySikh CommunityTD Canada TrustTeckTELUSTiger and Bev ThygesenWalmart CanadaUpcomingEvents!Mark your calendar for somewonderful ways you can help the kidsat the Alberta Children’s Hospital!Oct 17-23Pizza 73 Slices for Smiles CampaignOctober 28Cotton Club GalaDecember 1Candy Cane GalaFebruary 8 - 10Country 105/Q107Caring for Kids RadiothonOngoingAlberta Cans for KidsFor complete information about all ofthe above events, please visit our websiteat www.childrenshospital.ab.ca.The companies listed above aremembers of our “Thanks a Million”Club. If you would like to organizean event or activity in support of thekids at the hospital, please call us at403-955-8818 or visitwww.childrenshospital.ab.ca.2888 Shaganappi Trail NWCalgary, AB T3B 6A8T 403-955-8818F 403-955-8840Toll Free 1-877-715-KIDS (5437)