Looking beyond the horizon - Miami Children's Hospital Foundation

SLIMMING DOWN ANDSHAPING UP WITH SHAQSouth Florida children really look up to formerMiami Heat superstar Shaquille O’Neal. Thatmade the 7-foot-plus basketball legend a perfectrole model for a group of obese middle schoolchildren recruited to take part in a nationaltelevision series aimed at chronicling the teens’progress in pursuing healthier lifestyles.When Shaq chose his dream team ofspecialists for the series titled “Shaq’s BigChallenge,” his producers tapped MiamiChildren’s own Dr. William Muiños, a pediatricgastroenterologist, as the project physician.“Childhood obesity is a real problem in theUnited States,” said Dr. Muiños. “We feltsomething positive had to be done to educateand inform people about the grave dangersassociated with obesity – such as diabetes,heart disease and early death,” he said.Dr. Muiños, Shaq, a dietician and other teammembers worked with the children over anine-month period to help them develophealthier lifestyles and lose weight. Theirstep-by-step progress was captured in thesix-part ABC network series that aired duringthe summer months.“It was rewarding to see the children slimdown, become more active and change foodpreferences. We hope this inspires otherfamilies to challenge themselves to changetheir life to ward off serious illness andenhance quality of life,” said Dr. Muiños.10 Years of Transportingthe Region’s MostCritically Ill ChildrenA critically ill child struggles for life in a Naplesarea hospital. The medical team fighting tosave her knows the child’s best hope is hoursaway at Miami Children’s Hospital. Whatdo they do? They call in LifeFlight ® , MiamiChildren’s Hospital’s dedicated pediatriccritical care transport team.LifeFlight ® , which celebrated 10 years ofservice to the region in 2007, serves asa mobile intensive care transport program.Today, the team brings approximately1,000 children and newborns per yearto Miami Children’s from hospitalsthroughout the U.S., South and CentralAmerica, and the Caribbean via groundor air transport.The LifeFlight ® program features a state-ofthe-artground ambulance for South Floridatransports, a fixed-wing aircraft and twoSikorsky helicopters, the second of which wasacquired in 2007. All are outfitted with thelatest life-sustaining pediatric care equipment,and the LifeFlight ® team of critical carenurses, pilots and mechanics is top-notch,consistently receiving commendations fromstate accreditation teams for the quality andsafety of the service provided.“All of us at LifeFlight ® are proud to servechildren when they need help the most,” saidMaria Fernandez, MSN, ARNP, Director of theLifeFlight program. “Nothing is more rewardingthan delivering a child into the hands of thehospital’s amazing critical care team.”1,000Children and newborns transported per year to Miami Children’sfrom hospitals throughout the U.S., South and Central America,and the Caribbean via ground or air transport.Growth89