Looking beyond the horizon - Miami Children's Hospital Foundation

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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
Looking at success with special treatments.SuccessDaniel Makes HistoryHistory was due to repeat itself for DanielRodriguez. At only 13, the Hollywood eighthgrader was in need of yet another open-heartsurgery, the fourth of his young life. BornThe Congenital Heart Institute at MiamiChildren’s is one of only three pediatric heartcenters nationwide – and the only center inthe Southeast – that participated in a Foodand Drug Administration study to evaluatethe use of a first-of-its-kind new heartvalve replacement system. The MedtronicMelody Transcatheter Pulmonary Valveand Ensemble Transcatheter DeliverySince the procedure, Daniel has grown severalinches, something his parents attribute in partto better health resulting from the procedure.He is happy and healthy, and pursues hobbies,which include caring for the family reptiles, andwill soon resume participating in local theater.“We had such faith in the doctors at MiamiChildren’s. They had performed his earlierASHLEY GETS AHEADOF THE CURVEThrough seven long years and countlessmedical appointments, Betsy Alvarez nevermanaged to smile in the presence ofDr. Harry L. Shufflebarger, Medical Directorof Miami Children’s Spinal Surgery Division.Not until the year 2007.Dr. Shufflebarger is one of the world’sleading experts on scoliosis. The surgicaltechnique he developed at Miami Children’smore than a decade ago is now in usearound the globe. The method involvessurgical insertion of implantable rods thatimmediately correct the spinal disfigurement,enabling patients to lead active lives.with a defect in his pulmonary heart valve,Daniel underwent his first open-heart surgerywhen he was only 10 days old and seemeddestined for a future in which surgerieswould be needed perhaps every decade orso as the replacement valves wore out.But thanks to doctors at Miami Children’sHospital, Daniel had the opportunity to breakthis pattern and make some history with a newprocedure that spared him the complex surgeryand subsequent long recovery. In February2007, Daniel became one of the first childrenin the nation to benefit from a new heart valvereplacement procedure in which the valve isimplanted without invasive surgery.We had such faith in the doctors at MiamiChildren’s. They had performed his earliersurgical procedures, so when they suggestedthis new technique, we had completeconfidence in them.— Melanie Rodriguez, Daniel’s motherSystem is delivered to the heart via a tinycatheter tube and then deployed. Theprocedure was performed by Dr. EvanZahn, Chief of Cardiology for the CongenitalHeart Institute and an international leaderin developing and implementing minimallyinvasive heart procedures.For Daniel, the FDA study came just at theright moment. Instead of surgery and alengthy and painful recovery, Daniel wenthome within a day of the new procedurewith only a band-aid to cover the site wherethe valve was inserted. If future proceduresare needed, a replacement valve can beinserted over the existing one using the sameminimally invasive method.surgical procedures,” said Daniel’s motherMelanie Rodriguez. “So when they suggestedthis new technique, we had completeconfidence in them. Daniel’s fast recoveryhas made us very glad that we did.”The Congenital Heart Institute at MiamiChildren’s Hospital and Arnold Palmer Hospitalfor Children in Orlando offers one state-of-the-artprogram at two locations.“I was always so devastated about what washappening that I just couldn’t bring myselfto smile,” recalls the Miami mother of twoand real estate broker, who, together withher husband, William, first brought daughterAshley to see the world-renowned surgeonseven years ago. Dr. Shufflebarger confirmedthe family pediatrician’s preliminarydiagnosis of scoliosis, a disorder that cancause progressive curvature of the spine. Infact, 4-year-old Ashley’s spinal deformationwas already so pronounced that a nighttimebrace was required to discourage furthercurvature.Wearing a brace is a tall order for a small child,particularly one as active as Ashley, and Ms.Alvarez anticipated each three-month follow-upappointment with dread. “Dr. Shufflebargerhad told me she would likely need surgery inthe future, but when her curvature reached 50degrees – the point where surgery is required –I was beside myself,” recalls Ms. Alvarez.Not willing to accept anything at face value,the Alvarez family visited scoliosis specialistsin Texas, New York and California beforerecognizing that Ashley’s best bet was rightat home in Miami.Ashley underwent surgery in May 2007.Within days, the determined 11-year-old wason her feet and by August she had resumedswimming. “I think I’ve gotten stronger asa result of the experience,” said the busysixth grader, whose schedule includescheerleading, basketball and volleyball.As for Dr. Shufflebarger, he received a hugand a well-earned smile from a relievedand happy mother. “Our decision to haveOur decision to have Dr. Shufflebargerperform the surgery was one of the bestwe’ve ever made.— Betsy Alvarez, Ashley’s motherDr. Shufflebarger perform the surgery wasone of the best we’ve ever made,” said Ms.Alvarez. “We were lucky to have the very bestdoctor here in our own home town. Ashleyhas made an incredible recovery and we oweit all to the Miami Children’s spinal team.”Ashley Alvarez1011
Page 2 and 3: Founded in 1950, Miami Children’s
Page 4 and 5: Looking to expand for a growing com
Page 8 and 9: SuccessLinet Achieves HerMilestones
Page 11 and 12: 35,000Patients who seek care each y
Page 13: “Fit to Play” Program Promotes
Page 17 and 18: EDUCATION TEAM ACHIEVESTOP REGIONAL
Page 19 and 20: A SPECIAL THANK-YOU FROMMIAMI CHILD
Page 21: The donor list reflects support rec

Looking beyond the horizon - Miami Children's Hospital Foundation

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