Winter 2009 - Arkansas Children's Hospital

PEDIATRIC CARESouth Wing to Change and ImproveHematology/Oncology Services at ACH■ Kila OwensIn February 2008, 16-year-old Hannah, who lives inMagnet Cove, was diagnosed with cancer. She had a malignantbrain tumor known as glioblastoma multiforme.Hannah underwent surgery, during which doctorsremoved the tumor. After surgery, she started a series ofradiation treatments and oral chemotherapy, but her cancerreturned. Hannah’s treatment plan changed with the newdiagnosis, as doctors added more radiation and chemotherapy.Currently, Hannah visits ACH every other day for treatments.Some days she receives platelets to replenish herblood, and some days she receives chemo treatments.Hannah is one of many patients whose treatment takesplace in the hospital’s hematology/oncology unit and clinic,which will soon expand.South Wing to ExpandHematology/Oncology FacilitiesPatients visit the hematology/oncology outpatient clinicand inpatient unit at ACH for the diagnosis, evaluation andtreatment of cancer and blood disorders, such as anemiaand sickle cell disease.Both the new clinic and unit for hematology/oncologypatients will be located in the hospital’s new South Wing,which is the largest building project in the history of ACH.Scheduled to open in 2011, the South Wing will add258,000 square feet to the hospital.The new building will bring positive changes for cancerpatients like Hannah – from the start of their visit toArkansas Children’s Hospital to the moment they walk outthe door.Growth of Hematology/Oncology at ACHMoving into the new hematology/oncology facilities willcome at an opportune time, because the current inpatient unitand outpatient clinic are seeing more patients than ever before.“When I first started in 1985, we had 30 to 40 newly diagnosed cancerpatients each year,” says Dr. David Becton*, chief of hematology/oncology atACH. “Now we are seeing around 100. The incidence of cancer has not tripledin children. Most of the increase in patients is because children with cancer areno longer leaving the state for their treatment because their primary physiciansknow that they can receive the best care possible right here at ACH.”Arkansas Children’s Hospital treats more than 90 percent of all Arkansaschildren diagnosed with cancer. According to Dr. Becton, that number oftensurprises people.“I hear from people all the time who are surprised that the vast majority ofArkansas children with cancer are treated right here in Little Rock,” says Dr.Becton. “In fact, we are using the same innovative techniques and treatmentprograms as other hospitals across the country, including St. Jude, Houston,New York – basically anywhere.”All five of the physicians who treat cancer patients at ACH work withChildren’s Oncology Group, an international network of children’s hospitalsthat work together to find new cancer treatment methods.“In 1982, about 50 percent of children with cancer were cured,” says Dr.Becton. “That number is now up to 80 percent. These kids don’t just survivetheir treatment. They grow up and have kids of their own, primarily because ofthat network of institutions, where we collect and share data and work together,rather than work competitively against each other.”New Clinic Will Benefit Outpatient VisitorsA typical day in the hematology/oncology outpatient clinic for Hannah andher family begins in the waiting room. Because the room is small, there arelimited activities for patients to do while they wait. After a patient is checkedin at the registration desk, he or she is taken back to a triage room, where anurse gathers a blood sample and checks the patient’s vital signs.The South Wing expansion will take services for patients with cancer andblood disorders to a new level. The new outpatient clinic will have a largerwaiting area, with activities for both children and teenagers. The new waitingarea will include CareHub, a computer system that offers patients and familiesa wide range of education, information and entertainment options.The new clinic will be much larger than the current one, so patients will beplaced in a room and seen by a doctor more quickly. With the new clinic, notonly will Hannah and other patients’ wait time decrease, but they will alsohave distractions in the waiting area to keep them occupied.4

PEDIATRIC CAREOn a recent day in the hematology/oncology clinic, HannahSullivan visits with two ACH caregivers. The hematology/oncologyservices at ACH will be expanded when the new South Wing opensin 2011.In the current clinic, once Hannah heads back to begin her treatment,depending on what she is having done that day, she may be in the infusionroom – a large room filled with four beds for patients, each divided by a singlecurtain.“Although the infusion room provides a place for us to chat and bond withother parents going through the same things, sometimes it’s hard to have solittle privacy,” says Jill, Hannah’s mother. “The private rooms in the new clinicwill be absolutely wonderful.”The new clinic will feature all private exam and procedure rooms, withmore space for the patients and their families, which often includes grandparentsor siblings. In fact, the entire clinic is more than doubling in size – goingfrom 16 rooms with 14 beds, to 57 rooms with 33 beds.“The new space is going to be positively wonderful,” says ShannonMoreno-Cook, assistant director of the hematology/oncology clinic, apheresisand day medicine. “We will have more space to see more patients, which willdefinitely be better for both us and the families.”The new clinic will also feature an outdoor healing garden, which will beaccessible only to hematology/oncology patients. Because these patients haveweakened immune systems, they are often not allowed to visit the hospitalplayrooms and other common areas.“The healing garden will provide these patients a haven of their own,where they can visit when they come in for treatment,” says Moreno-Cook.Currently, each hematology/oncology physician at ACH has his or her ownday in the clinic. In the new clinic in the South Wing, there will be enoughspace to essentially hold two separate clinics at the same time, which willdouble the amount of patients able to be seen.“In the new clinic, we will basically be able to do 10 clinic sessions a week,compared to currently only being able to do five,” says Dr. Becton. “Withthat new space, we can see that many more patients, which is great.”Inpatient Unit Also Undergoing ChangesOccasionally, Hannah’s treatment requires an overnight stay in the hematology/oncologyinpatient unit at the hospital. Currently in the unit, there are16 beds for patients – 12 are private and four are semi-private with a curtaindivider. In the new unit, there will be 26 rooms in the unit and all will beprivate.The new facility will be top-notch, according to Dr. Becton.“This new unit is going to be better for our patients in somany ways,” says Dr. Becton. “We are going to have allprivate rooms, and each room will be larger, which will begreat for our patients’ families.”One other exciting area in the new unit is the spacethat will be dedicated to family support.“We are going to have a wonderful family area wherethe families will have TVs and a kitchen area,” says Dr.Becton. “Basically, it will be a lounge area for families,where they can go and talk to each other and supporteach other.”The new South Wing hematology/oncology facilities –both inpatient and outpatient – will improve the qualityof a cancer patient’s visit to ACH, from start to finish.Whether the patient is coming in for a long-term stay, orfor a regular daily treatment like Hannah, the patient willhave more space, more privacy, more distractions and,hopefully, a better experience.“The current facilities are great, but we are ready forour patients and families to have newer, more comfortablespaces in the South Wing,” says Dr. Becton.Although the Sullivan family hopes to be through withcancer by the time the South Wing opens, they recognizehow important the new facilities will be for countlessother children.“The hem/onc program here at ACH is already good.The new South Wing will just make it better,” says Brad,Hannah’s father. “The South Wing will give these doctorsand nurses with this passion for children the capability todo more and better for the kids treated here.”*David L. Becton, MD, is chief of hematology/oncology atACH and professor in the department of pediatrics, UAMSCollege of Medicine.ASHLEY WARRENContinued from page 3Ashley’s smile was on display in the fall of 2008,when her classmates voted her Miss Morrilton HighSchool and the school’s football team voted herHomecoming Queen. Being named HomecomingQueen was a special day for Ashley, who was surprisedat the honor. As she accepted the crown, with her twofootball player escorts in tow, she thought about thepast year of her life and all that she had gone through.“It’s hard – I’m not going to say it isn’t,” she says.“There are days that all I can think about is how badly Iwant to drive, or play sports, or just be a normal 17-year-old. But there are also days that I think about howlucky I am to be alive, and those are the days worthremembering.”5

Hospital School teacherKathy Robinson helpstwo ACH patients withmath problems andspelling words.EDUCATIONSchool Awayfrom School:ACH Helps Patients Learn through Hospital School Program■ Kila OwensIn a bright blue room on the fourth floor of Arkansas Children’s Hospital, 9-yearoldDarrell struggles to learn the difference between an adjective and an adverb.Amid Darrell’s innocent protests, Kathy Robinson, certified teacher and supervisorof the Hospital School program, calmly and patiently assists.Sounding out spelling words, painting with watercolors, teaching the alphabet andassisting with algebra are all in a day’s work for the teachers at the ACH HospitalSchool.The Hospital School program, within the Child Life and Education department,provides formal schooling, educational support and developmental activities topatients from 3 years old to twelfth grade. School staff includes four certified teachers,each specializing in a specific age range, and one substitute certified teacher whofills in on an as-needed basis.“Our school program is definitely important, because it normalizes the child’senvironment,” says Robinson. “If they weren’t here at the hospital, they would be inschool. Being in a classroom setting doing school activities sends a positive messageto them, that they will be feeling better and heading back to school soon.”The classroom at ACH, which is equipped with computers, textbooks and developmentalactivities, has two sessions each morning four days of the week. The first sessionis for grades one through six and the second session is for grades seven through12. Preschoolers and kindergartners have a separate classroom down the hall.Sometimes patients are isolated for health reasons and cannot visit the classroom.In these instances, the teachers make bedside visits. Patients who usually visit theHospital School are those whose hospital stay will exceed eight days, those who havespecial educational needs, or those who have chronic illnesses and visit the hospitalfrequently.When a patient first visits the Hospital School, a teacher works with the patient’sschool to develop an academic plan to keep that patient on track for the duration oftheir hospital stay.For the teachers, each day presents a new challenge.“This job is interesting because it is different every day,” says Heather Peters, earlychildhood teacher. “Each child has a unique story, with a unique twist, and we haveto meet their individual and educational needs. And that’s what makes this job fun.”For parents, the impact the school makes on their child is immeasurable.“When our four-year-old son Paxton was first diagnosed with cancer, he was bubblyand outgoing,” says Julie Peery. “But after seeing so many doctors and nurses,and getting shots and blood taken, and seeing so many differentpeople each day, he became withdrawn and shy. Once he startedvisiting the preschoolers’ classroom, however, he changed.Ms. Heather took a shy, withdrawn child like Paxton and madehim laugh and helped him interact with others. We aredelighted.”Casey Brown, the teacher who works with high-school agestudents, knows that keeping up with school work can change apatient’s life. One patient she worked with, a teenage girl, wantednothing more than to graduate with her senior class. Becauseshe was at the hospital for a long-term stay, this patient metwith Brown as often as possible.“It was very important for her to keep up with her classmates,to do what they were doing and learn what they werelearning,” says Brown.This May, that patient will graduate with her senior class,thanks in part to the ACH Hospital School.The teachers work with the patient’s school to ensure a successfulreturn to normal classes. Occasionally, when the child isready to return to school, teachers will visit his or her classroomto educate the patient’s peers on the patient’s diagnosis. Thiseliminates fears and answers questions that the children mayhave about the patient’s extended absence.If a child is not well enough to re-enter school immediately,ACH teachers work with their local school district to set uphomebound services to make certain the patient continues theireducation until they can return to school. This helps to ensurethe patient does not fall behind with their academic studies.“We are passionate about what we do here,” says Robinson.“Helping the patients and families gives us a real sense of satisfaction.Seeing a smile on a patient’s face when we enter theroom or having a parent say ‘thank you’ is what the job is allabout. The teachers at ACH give care, love and hope every dayto our patients and families. It’s a great feeling knowing wemade a difference in a child’s life.”7

PREVENTIONChildren from a Little Rock elementary schoolvisit a fire safety house, a teaching tool used forinstructing school-age children on how to bestrespond should their home catch on fire.ACH Championing Burn Preventionand Saving Lives Across the State■ Kila OwensChildren in Arkansas like to play with toy trucks, dolls and fire.That’s right: fire.According to the National Fire Protection Association, Arkansashas the highest fire-related death rate of any state in the country. Inrecent years, the most common cause of death for children ages 1-11is fire, and the main reason for these deaths is children playing withfire.These numbers are staggering, and Arkansas Children’s Hospital isworking to reverse the statistics. The ACH Burn Center, as the onlyburn treatment facility in the state, launched a comprehensive fireprevention program 10 years ago, aimed at educating children andadults on the dangers of fires.Jimmy Parks, outreach coordinator for the ACH Burn Center,feels a responsibility to educate as many people as possible on theprevention of fires and, specifically, burns.“Burns don’t just happen,” he says. “Burns are almost always theresult of predictable, preventable events, which are usually the result8Firefighters Give to Camp SunshineFire departments and associations across the state held fundraisersthis past quarter and donated the proceeds to Camp Sunshine, afour-day summer camp for burn survivors.Some of the fundraisers held throughout the state include golftournaments, bass fishing tournaments and motorcycle rallies. TheLittle Rock Fire Department has been raising money through payrolldeductions for the past three years.The support of the firefighters is vital to Camp Sunshine, whichapproximately 50 burn victims visit each year. “We are so gratefulto the Arkansas Professional Fire Fighters for wholeheartedly sponsoringCamp Sunshine,” says Camp Sunshine coordinator GrettaWilkinson, RN. “The firefighters offer these young burn survivorsthe opportunity to fish, swim, play games and have fun in a settingthat is comfortable and accepting.”• Little Rock Firefighters, $19,948 (through payroll deduction)• Fayetteville Firefighters, $3,500• Fort Smith Firefighters, $1,000• Siloam Springs Firefighter Association, $2,000• Van Buren Professionals Firefighters, $2,085of decisions people make. We think people will make safer decisionsif they know more about what causes fires and burns.”ACH Burn Center staff members provide training to leaders atfire departments and schools, enabling those individuals to conducttheir own fire prevention training with children and adults.Another prevention program is F.I.R.E. (Firesetter Intervention,Referral and Education). Statistics show that one-third of allchildren burned are burned in fires they start themselves. This programworks specifically with children who have been seen playingwith fire. Kids are referred to the program by parents, teachers orcounselors. ACH Burn Center staff members meet one-on-one withboth the child and the family, explaining how fires work and howthey can be deadly.The prevention programs have been a success, according to Parks.“We have seen a growth in the number of fire departments inArkansas who provide fire education programs,” says Parks. “Wehave seen the percentage of patients with scald injuries drop somewhatover the last few years. Children we have educated very rarelystart another fire, and we definitely view that as a success.”Nathan Travis, a fire prevention coordinator for the ACH BurnCenter, emphasizes to those he meets in training sessions the importanceof burn prevention.“There is a large gap out there in the community regardingknowledge about proper fire safety, cooking safety and scald prevention,”says Travis. “Unfortunately, most of the education a child getsis the burns they receive and the life-long scars they carry. If ourefforts keep even one of those children out of our burn unit, ourprogram has been a success.”In addition to the work done by the Burn Center staff, theCommunity Outreach program at ACH also has programs to educatechildren and families about fire safety. A number of fire safetyhouses, which are teaching tools for instructing school-age childrenon how to best respond if their home catches on fire, are locatedthroughout Arkansas. The fire safety houses are mobile and travel toschools and community events, providing children with a hands-onway to learn about smoke detectors, checking doors, knowing twowaysout and the importance of not hiding during a fire.For more information on burn prevention and fire safety, pleasevisit www.archildrens.org.

HOSPITAL NEWSDr. Gregory Sharp receives the John H. Bornhofen, MD EndowedChair in Child Neurology medallion from Dr. Richard Jacobs(left), chairman of the UAMS department of pediatrics, and Dr.John Bornhofen, the chair’s namesake.Sharp Named Inaugural Holder ofBornhofen Chairin Child NeurologyIn January, Dr. Gregory B. Sharp* was installed as the inaugural recipientand steward of the John H. Bornhofen, MD Endowed Chair inChild Neurology.The chair was endowed with $1 million from the ACH AllocationCommittee, which is composed of faculty and hospital staff leadership. Itwas named in honor of the first pediatric neurologist in Arkansas, Dr.John Bornhofen*.“This chair is unique in several ways, one being the way it was funded,”says David Berry, senior vice president and chief operating officer atACH. “The ACH Allocation Committee chose to direct discretionaryfunds to establish this endowed chair. Establishing this chair was themost important action we could take to assure the positive future forchildren with neurological conditions.”Dr. Gregory Sharp celebrates his endowed chair with familymembers and colleagues. With Dr. Sharp are (from left) hiscousin Marshall Sharp, his sister Gail Isenman, Dr. JohnBornhofen, Dr. Sharp’s daughter Katie Sharp, a patient carepartner at ACH, and his cousin Arlon Hickman.At ACH, Dr. Sharp currently serves as medical director of theneuroscience center, the inpatient neuroscience unit, theneurophysiology lab and the pediatric brain tumor clinic. At theinvestiture ceremony, held on the ACH campus, colleagues of Dr. Sharpspoke about his devotion to child neurology and the neurology programat ACH.“When Greg returned to ACH after his fellowship, he began to builda world-class program,” said Dr. Mark Laney, president of the CookChildren’s Physician’s Network. “He was one of the founding neurologistshere who recruited others, including subspecialists, and grew thisinto a wonderful program.”Dr. Sharp received his medical degree from UAMS and completed hisresidency at ACH. He returned to ACH in 1990, after completing a fellowshipin pediatric neurology at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.“Even very early in his career, it was apparent what a complete andcompetent physician Greg was, and I think that is due to his traininghere [at ACH],” said Dr. Marc Patterson, chair of the division of childand adolescent neurology at the Mayo Clinic.An endowed chair creates a fund set aside in perpetuity with the earningsdedicated to the support of the chairholder. Endowed chairs supporta designated program and help with retention and recruitment of doctorsand other caregivers.With the endowed chair, Dr. Sharp plans to push the neurologyresearch program forward by hiring a research assistant to assistneurology staff with projects. At the ceremony, Dr. Sharp remarked onthe impact of the endowed chair.“This chair has nothing to do with me; it is about children withneurological disorders, and maximizing the quality of life for those kids,”said Dr. Sharp. “This chair also honors the legacy of Dr. Bornhofen andhow many lives he has touched in his 40 years of serving patients.”*Gregory B. Sharp, MD, is medical director of the ACH NeuroscienceCenter, the inpatient neuroscience unit, the neurophysiology lab and thepediatric brain tumor clinic, and professor of pediatrics and neurology,UAMS College of Medicine.*John H. Bornhofen, MD, works in the outpatient neurology clinic atACH and is a clinical associate professor of pediatric neurology, UAMSCollege of Medicine.9

HOSPITAL NEWSFor Second Year in a Row,Arkansas Children’s Hospital Included on2009 “Best Companies to Work For®” ListIn January, FORTUNE announced that Arkansas Children’sHospital was ranked No. 85 on the magazine’s 12th annual “100Best Companies to Work For” list.“Arkansas Children’s Hospital is very pleased to again beranked among FORTUNE’s ‘100 Best Companies to Work For,’”says Dr. Jonathan Bates, ACH president and CEO. “It is wonderfulthat our staff enjoys working here. Indeed, their surveyresponse is the largest factor in these rankings. Best of all is theway the spirit at ACH helps the children and families we serve.”This is the second year in a row ACH has made the FOR-TUNE list. In fact, ACH is the only company headquartered inArkansas and one of only two children’s hospitals to be listedamong the rankings.A driving factor for the companies on this year’s list is thatthey excel at creating jobs. Of the 100 companies on the 2009list, 73 are currently hiring.To pick the “100 Best Companies to Work For,” FORTUNEworks with the Great Place to Work ® Institute, a global researchand consulting firm, to conduct the most extensive employeesurvey in corporate America.More than 81,000 employees from 353 companies respondedto the 57-question survey created by the Institute. Two-thirds ofa company’s score is based on the survey, which is sent to aminimum of 400 randomly selected employees. The remainingthird is based on a company’s responses to the Culture Auditquestionnaire, which asks detailed questions about demographics,pay and benefits, and open-ended questions on philosophy,communication and more.The full list and related stories appeared in the Feb. 2 issue ofFORTUNE and at www.FORTUNE.com/bestcompanies.Learn More from Our Annual ReportsThe 2008 Arkansas Children’s Hospital annualreport Scout’s Honor: The 2008 Arkansas Children’sHospital Annual Report, is online atwww.archildrens.org/2008annualreport.pdfbeginning Feb. 23, 2009, or call501-364-4300 to receive a copy bymail.The 2008 ACHRI annualreport, Children Are at the Center of Everything WeDo, is online at http://achri.archildrens.org underthe “About ACHRI” tab, or call 501-364-7373 toreceive a copy by mail.ACH Foundation BoardNEWLY ELECTEDACH Research Institute BoardSharon BaleACH Auxiliary MemberLittle Rock10Hayden Franks, MDDermatologist,Dermatology Group of ArkansasLittle RockDee Ann LandrethExecutive Vice President,Mountaire Corp.MaumelleMark MillsapCo-owner, FoundationResource ManagementLittle RockKathy PerkinsPartner, Rose Law FirmLittle Rock

DONORSDenny andMargaretMcConathyChildren’s Circle of Care Spotlight:Denny and MargaretMcConathy■ Kila OwensFamily ties run deep for Denny and MargaretMcConathy.For 64 years, the pair have lived in El Dorado, wherethey began their marriage, raised their children and noware enjoying a relaxing retirement.Each of the McConathys’ daughters – Dana, Ginaand Leah – live near their parents and frequently visit.The McConathys consider themselves fortunate.“We know just how lucky we are that we live herewith all of our children and grandchildren nearby,” saysMargaret. “We just have so much fun, all of ustogether.”The family came to know ACH personally in 2003,when Gina’s middle son, Ryan, first visited the hospital.Ryan was diagnosed with an inguinal hernia shortlyafter birth, which was treated at ACH six months later.The next few years were relatively calm, until 2006when Gina found a suspicious lump on Ryan’s neck.Gina rushed Ryan to his local pediatrician who wasconcerned that Ryan had cancer and suggested they visitACH for tests.The trip to Little Rock was filled with worry, anxietyand urgency, but it ended well. All of Ryan’s tests cameout negative – he did not have cancer. The family wasoverjoyed.“Once Ryan started visiting Children’s, we realizedhow invaluable the hospital is,” says Denny. “When youvisit ACH, you know your child or grandchild is in thebest place he or she could be. It’s just amazing.”After Ryan’s visit to ACH, Denny and Margaretdecided to do something more for the hospital thathelped their family.“We know how lucky we are that Ryan never experienceda life-threatening illness,” says Denny. “We knewthe hospital was great and we knew it was a fine organization, but until we experiencedit, we didn’t appreciate it.”In February 2007, Denny and Margaret decided to set up an endowed fund atArkansas Children’s Hospital. The timing of their gift was perfect. The ACHboard of directors, in an effort to grow the much-needed endowment program atthe hospital, set aside funds to equally match new endowments. Essentially, thegift the McConathys made to ACH was doubled in size.“You wouldn’t believe how incredible it makes you feel to give to a place likeArkansas Children’s Hospital,” Margaret says. “It’s such an amazing feeling tohelp a sick child and their parents.”Denny and Margaret’s gift to the hospital made them eligible for membershipin Children’s Circle of Care, a giving society in the United States and Canadathat honors individuals and family foundations who give $10,000 or more a yearto their local children’s hospitals. Members of Children’s Circle of Care are invitedto attend an international Leadership Conference and Gala, hosted annuallyin a different city across North America. A local Children’s Circle of Care eventis also held in central Arkansas each year.“It gives me a lot of comfort and joy to give to Arkansas Children’s Hospital,”says Margaret. “The benefits our family has seen from the hospital are immeasurable,and I am proud to help such a fine institution.”Last year, Children’s Circle of Care members gave almost $4 million to benefitthe hospital and the ACH Research Institute. For more information aboutChildren’s Circle of Care, please contact Leah Greenfield at 501-364-1807 orgreenfieldlw@archildrens.org.ACH Celebrates Record Number ofChildren’s Circle of Care MembersIn these turbulent economic times, people carefully choose where to spendtheir philanthropic dollars. In 2008 ACH had a record setting membershipof 149 people, including families and foundations, supporting ACH andACHRI at the Children’s Circle of Care level. This marks a 12 percentincrease over the previous year.11

DONORSFormer Employee andAuxiliary Member Leavesa Legacy for ACH■ Kila OwensPat WigginsKristiWigginsPat Wiggins is leaving a legacy – not only with the children’slives she has touched during her lifetime, but also with thechildren’s lives she will touch when she is gone.As a former ACH employee who has included a gift to the hospitalin her will, Wiggins has always had a soft spot for children.She grew up in Crossett as the middle child of five. After graduatingfrom high school, she headed to the University of Arkansasto study home economics education. She worked at a power companyafter college, but eventually decided she wanted to teach.For five years, Wiggins taught ninth and 10th grade students inPine Bluff the basics of home economics, but then she started toyearn for something different.“I enjoyed teaching, but I recognized that itwas time for a change,” she says. “With mybackground in home ec, I had always beeninterested in nutrition. I decided I couldmake a career out of that interest.”She earned her master’s in clinical nutritionand became a registered dietician. Herfirst job in her new field was working at St.Jude in Memphis.“This was my first experience working indirect patient care and I just loved it,” Wigginssays. “My job was to go with the doctors on theirrounds to see the patients, and advise the doctors onwhat kind of nutrition each patient needed.”After a few years in Memphis, Wiggins was ready to move toLittle Rock.“I loved my job, but I wanted to be back in Arkansas with myfamily and friends,” says Wiggins. “I wanted to work at ArkansasChildren’s so badly, but they didn’t have a position open. I accepteda job with another hospital to get to Little Rock, but I just keptwaiting for a nutrition position to open at ACH.”Her wish came true in 1980, when the director of the clinicalnutrition department at ACH called and asked her to come in foran interview. Wiggins was so determined to work at ACH that sheaccepted a part-time position, which was the only one available atthe time.“I knew – I just knew – that I belonged in pediatrics,” she says.“I knew it from the start.”Several months later, her job became full-time and Wiggins wasecstatic. She loved the challenges and rewards that came from workingwith children, and she continued working at ACH for 24 years.During that time, she worked with children all over the hospital. Herlast seven years at ACH were spent at Arkansas Children’s NutritionCenter, a research facility that focuses specifically on diet and nutrition.“Working at the Nutrition Center was both challenging and rewarding,”Wiggins says. “Working there was a great way to cap off my yearsat ACH.”After many years of working in health care, Wiggins experienced afamily member’s illness personally in 1999 when her brother’s daughter,her beloved niece Kristi, was diagnosed with brain cancer and underwentsurgery and chemotherapy.“Kristi’s diagnosis was such a shock to us all,” says Wiggins. “She wasonly 27 years old, and so young and full of life. It was very hard.”Three years later, Kristi passed away peacefully. Through her sadness,Wiggins saw an opportunity to help others in Kristi’s name.“For a while, I grappled with exactly how to properly memorializeKristi,” she says. “And then it hit me – I’ll give the inheritance shewould have received from me to causes I hold dear. Once I decidedexactly what I wanted to do, I felt so good about it. I think this wouldhave really pleased Kristi.”Through her will, Wiggins is creating an endowed fund in Kristi’sname to benefit Arkansas Children’s Hospital. As per her wishes, thefunds will benefit hematology/oncology services and the clinical nutritionprogram at ACH.“I have a strong commitment to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, so Iknew I wanted to give back to them,” she says. “I am just so happy tobe able to do this in Kristi’s name.”Even after she left ACH, Wiggins remained committed to the hospital.She began volunteering in 2003, and in 2005, she joined the ACHAuxiliary, a group of volunteers who work together to support the hospital.“Joining the Auxiliary has been a very rewarding experience,” shesays. “I just love it. It is such a wonderful group of women who arewilling to give their time to help others. I am just happy to be a part ofthe group.”To learn more about creating an endowed fund or including ACH inyour will, please contact Mary Starr Brock at 501-364-5308 orbrockms@archildrens.org.12

AUXILIARY GROUPSCIRCLE OF FRIENDS:Quarterly RoundupCircle of Friends events heldOctober – December 2008Special Events• Arkansas River Valley, Breakfast with Santa, $7,500• Faulkner County, Breakfast with Santa, $2,380• Greene County, Breakfast with Santa, $2,900• Harrison Regional, Breakfast with Santa, $1,400• Jefferson County, Breakfast with Santa, $500• Magnolia, Steak Dinner at Mule’s Cantina, $1,200• Magnolia, Breakfast with Santa, $1,400Phone PhrenzyPhone Phrenzy volunteers gather for an evening offood, fun and phoning on behalf of patients at ArkansasChildren’s Hospital. All callers are encouraged to contactonly friends and family – no cold calling is allowed.• Garland County, $2,300• Lawrence County, $7,885Kampaign for KidsKampaign for Kids is a community corporatecampaign.• Garland County, $5,000• Greene County, $7,500• Texarkana, $5,000Kids Caring for KidsThrough the Kids Caring for Kids program, studentsparticipate in fundraising events that combine learningmath, spelling and reading along with the value ofhelping others. Other activities include trike-, bike- orwalk-a-thons or multi-school challenge events.• Garland County, Pajama Day at Park Magnet, $4,800• Garland County, Sticker Sale at Lakeside andLake Hamilton high schools, $2,900Steve Harrelson, ArkansasHouse of RepresentativesMajority Leader, recentlyserved as the chairman ofthe Texarkana Circle ofFriends Kampaign forKids. To thank Rep.Harrelson for his efforts,Melissa Pickens with theACH Foundation (left)and Lynn Jackson, chairof the Texarkana COFchapter, presented himwith a plaque.Circle of Friends Wants You!Circle of Friends members work to promote children’s health througheducation, advocacy and fundraising for Arkansas Children’s Hospital, thestate’s only pediatric medical facility.Would you like to join this dynamic group of volunteers who workaround the state to make children’s lives better? Circle of Friends has 12chapters across Arkansas, including Arkansas River Valley, FaulknerCounty, Garland County, Greene County, Harrison Regional, JeffersonCounty, Jonesboro, Lawrence County, Magnolia, Northwest Arkansas,Spring River and Texarkana.If you are interested in joining a group, pleasecontact the ACH Foundation at 501-364-1476or email achfdn@archildrens.org.Santa shows off a posterdesigned by children inattendance at the Breakfastwith Santa event hosted bythe Northwest ArkansasCircle of Friends chapter.Members of the FaulknerCounty Circle of Friendschapter pose with Santaafter their Breakfast withSanta event.13

AUXILIARY GROUPSCindy and Chip Murphy,2008 Miracle Ball co-chairs,welcome guests from thestage as emcee Lisa Fischer(left) looks on.Miracle2008Ball8The ballroom at Miracle Ball 2008 shimmered with delicate lighting,tables were covered with burgundy and gold linens and formalplace-settings, and the dance floor and stage were accented by crystalchandeliers and gold draping. It was an elegant evening in which tocelebrate miraculous health care.Children’s Hall on the ACH campus, a space that 364 days a year isa very non-descript, utilitarian meeting space, was the setting for thisyear’s gala. The 410 Miracle Ball guests enjoyed a gourmet meal,catered by Capers and were entertained by the Jim Johnson Orchestra.Miracle Ball is a joint project of the ACH Auxiliary and the ACHFoundation. The 2008 event net proceeds were $285,000. Event sponsorsare critical to making Miracle Ball a success, particularly Auxiliarypartners The Murphy Group and the Stella Boyle Smith Trust, as wellas presenting sponsors American Airlines and Mary Healey’s, and premiersponsors Glazer’s Distributors and Advanced Tissue.The silent auction, chaired by Tiffany and Daniel Robinson, raised$57,599. The live auction raised $77,200 and was chaired by Sharonand Kevin Lamb. Sharon and John Bale Jr. chaired the patron tablescommittee and in 2009 will co-chair the Miracle Ball.Two new fundraising activities were added to Miracle Ball this year.Mary Healey’s donated a ladies Rolex watch valued at $9,600 to raffle.The raffle raised $12,620, and the drawing was held duringMiracle Ball.A “Miracle Match” donation drive raised pledges toward the purchaseof a $34,000 Giraffe OmniBed, a piece of equipment used inthe neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Cindy and Chip Murphygave a $10,000 matching gift in honor of Cindy’s son, Toby Watkins,who was an NICU patient 32 years ago. With theMurphy match, the drive raised more than $42,000. Forevery pledge received, a stuffed giraffe was donated for ahospital patient.The 2009 Miracle Ball will be held Saturday, Dec.12.For more information about the event, contact AmyHarkins at 501-364-1440 or harkinsak@archildrens.org.8Special ThanksAuxiliary PartnersPresenting SponsorsPremier Sponsors14

AUXILIARY GROUPSDebbie Jines, the 2008-09 Auxiliary president, andMiss Arkansas Ashlen Batson, show off the ladiesRolex watch donated by Mary Healey’s and raffledoff to benefit ACH.8Among the 410 Miracle Ball guests were, from left: ACH Foundationboard member Jim Cobb and his wife, Stuart; Pat McClelland, ACHboard president, and Jim McClelland, ACH Foundation board member.A Miracle Match donationdrive raised pledges toward thepurchase of a $34,000 GiraffeOmniBed, a piece of equipmentused in the neonatal intensivecare unit. With a $10,000match by Cindy and ChipMurphy, the drive raised morethan $42,000. For every pledgereceived, a stuffed giraffe wasdonated to the hospital.Miracle Ballguests wereentertainedwith musicfrom the JimJohnsonOrchestra ofMemphis.Sharon and Kevin Lamb chaired thelive auction committee for Miracle Ball,and their company, Advanced Tissue,was one of the event sponsors.15

CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORKWalmart executives (from left) CeliaSwanson, Greg Johnston, JohnnieDobbs and Pat Curran, along withKathy Cox and Regan Eaton from theWal-Mart Foundation treated the associatesat Walmart Return Center #8098in Bentonville to a steak lunch for theiroutstanding efforts during a specialfundraising campaign in May.Walmart and Sam’s Clubs, Log A Load For Kids and Credit Unions for KidsTop 3 Sponsors Finish Big in 2008Each year, for the past 20 years, national sponsors for Children’sMiracle Network (CMN) raise money at the local level with fundraisingactivities led by employees and supported by members of the community.While the total amount of 2008 fundraising efforts for all Children’sMiracle Network national sponsors will not be final until a later date,we can highlight the efforts of the top three fundraising groups for2008: Walmart and Sam’s Clubs, Log A Load For Kids and CreditUnions for Kids.The 2008 fundraising total for Walmart and Sam’s Clubs, representing140 locations in the ACH market, topped $1 million. A good portionof those funds are raised one dollar at a time, through cardstocksales and other activities, demonstrating the compounding power ofmany, many small gifts.Walmart is designating its money to fund an endowed chair inneonatology.Log A Load of Arkansasfinished 2008 with a total of$373,000 raised through sixevents. The group is currentlyraising funds toward amulti-year pledge to supportthe new trauma center in theSouth Wing expansion currentlybeing built at ACH.Log A Load is a national giving program that brings togetherloggers and other people involved in forestry products businessesto raise funds for local children’s hospitals associated with CMN.Credit Unions for Kids, consisting of 28 credit unions inArkansas, Shreveport, La., and Texarkana, Texas, donated$136,019 in 2008. The funds were raised through golf tournaments,cardstock sales, bake sales, Wii game console drawings andholiday card sales.The total fundraising efforts of all CMN sponsors will be featuredin the next issue of ACHiever.Children’s Miracle Network is a non-profit organization dedicatedto helping kids by raising funds for 170 children’s hospitalsacross North America. Children’s Miracle Network funds raisedin Arkansas, north Louisiana, east Texas and east Oklahoma benefitACH.16This “Hug a Logger”drawing was made byACH patient, KarliKellum, who hasattended several Log ALoad events with herfamily.Associates at Telcoe Federal Credit Union, one of the 28credit unions raising money for ACH, raised more than$22,000 in 2008 from various fundraising activities andrecently presented a check to ACH Foundation representativeKim DuPas (second from left). Those attending thepresentation were (from left): Holly Lehman, KarlaBaker, Kristy Vest and Pam Hendrick.

COMMUNITY EVENTSTen-year-old Darien Domingos surviveda traumatic ATV accident and nowencourages ATV safety. In November, hevisited with several Kohl’s Cares for Kidsvolunteers about his experience.ATV Safety a Priorityfor ACH and Kohl’sTwo years ago, 8-year-old Darien Domingos was riding anATV with his father, carrying a gun across his lap. The ATVhit a bump and the gun went off, shooting Darien in theshoulder.Accidents like Darien’s are all too common in Arkansas. In2007, Arkansas Children’s Hospital had 76 patients admittedto the hospital due to ATV accidents. Nearly all of thoseinjured were unsupervised, not wearing a helmet and carryingone or more passengers.In November, the Kohl’s Cares for Kids ® program donated$118,190 to ACH to fund a comprehensive ATV safety educationcampaign, which will include TV public service announcements.Darien survived the incident. He has had multiple surgeries atACH and continues to visit the hospital. He and his mother,Misty, now speak out about the accident and encourage ATVsafety.Hank’s to Help Create Play Space for Young Cancer PatientsThroughout the month of June, Hank’s patrons were encouragedto donate $25 to ACH. For each $25 donation, a stuffed animalwas also donated to the hospital.Hank’s Furniture and More recently donated $24,000 toACH as part of a multi-year pledge to benefit the hematology/oncologyunit in the hospital’s soon-to-be-constructedSouth Wing. An infant/toddler playroom in the hem/onc unitwill be named in honor of the gift.The funds were raised through Hank’s annual anniversarypromotion. During June, a portion of the proceeds from allsales benefit ACH.The money was presented to ACH representatives inNovember, along with hundreds of stuffed animals. The toyswere purchased by Hank’s patrons and donated to the hospital.Each stuffed animal donated to the hospital included a tag withthis message: “This gift we give is from the heart, a furry friendwho’ll never part. We hope it gives you lots of joy, because it’smore than just a toy!”“It was very heartwarming to see such generosity from ourcustomers and employees,” says Hank Browne, owner of thehome furnishings stores. “It is always a pleasure to give toArkansas Children’s Hospital.”17

AUXILIARY GROUPSSanta Claus greets the crowd gathered towatch his arrival via fire truck at thethird annual Breakfast with Santa event.Santa Celebratesthe Holidays withBreakfast at ACHIn early December, Santa made a stop atChildren’s Hall on the Arkansas Children’sHospital campus to visit with kids and enjoya hearty pancake breakfast. The third annualBreakfast with Santa, presented byCommittee for the Future, raised $8,280 forACH.Santa arrived at the event in a fire truck,courtesy of the Little Rock Fire Department.Local firefighters cooked breakfast for the600 people in attendance, who were encouragedto get into the holiday spirit by takingphotos with Santa, writing letters to theNorth Pole, calling Santa’s elves on the phoneor making fun crafts.For more information on Committee forthe Future, an organization of young professionalsand community leaders in the centralArkansas area who support ACH. Please contactHeather Cass at 501-364-7231 orcassh@archildrens.org.A Breakfast withSanta attendeegets help writinga special note toSanta.Santa spreadssome holidaycheer byhanding outsweets.Auxiliary Card Project Spreads Care, Love and Hope during Holiday SeasonThe message of care, love and hope was spread across the region thisholiday season, thanks to the 2008 Auxiliary Holiday Card Project.This annual fundraiser for ACH raised $68,400 this year.Seven child-designed cards and one card designed by featured artistMatt McLeod were sold online and at locations across centralArkansas. Gift tags, memorial/honor cards and a specially designedsnowman ornament were also sold.In November, the holiday card artists were honored for their participationin the project at a reception at the home of Marilynn and RobPorter. Each of the artists was presented with a framed copy of his orher card.The ACH Auxiliary will soon begin accepting art for the 2009holiday cards. Please encourage all of the budding young artists youknow who have been ACH patients to submit a piece of holiday art.For more information on how to participate, please contact AmyHarkins at 501-364-1440 or harkinsak@archildrens.org.18

GIVINGThanks to You!The following individuals, businesses, foundations and organizations held fundraising events or made special giftsto benefit Arkansas Children’s Hospital during the last quarter. The time, talents and true acts of generosity fromthese special people help us in our mission to provide care, love and hope to patients and families.In September, the Arkansas Pontiac Association hosted its annualWheelin’ and Healin’ car show, with proceeds benefiting ACH. Theevent featured 122 classic cars and resulted in an $8,000 donation to theclinical nutrition department.The Arkansas State Horse Show Association raised $5,500 from itsannual horse show held on Labor Day weekend. Each year, the associationdonates entry fees from the show to ACH.Jason Carlton of KDQN,a radio station inDeQueen, participatedin the 2009 DisneyMarathon in January.Carlton promoted theevent on-air andcollected donationsfrom listeners, andraised more than$3,300.Employees of J.B. Hunt in Lowell raised more than $5,400 by participatingin jeans days each Friday in December. The money will benefitthe Centers for Children in Lowell.The Mid-South Viper Club of America members held theirannual Christmas party in Ruston, La. They raised $5,219through a silent auction and other donations.Bradley Niehe, a 10-year-old student at Julia Lee MooreElementary in Conway, raised $1,230 to benefitACH. Bradley raised the funds by encouraging friends andfamily members to sponsor him on his quest to read 152books over an 11-week period.The 2008 Jack Stobaugh Coon Hunt, held in Morrilton inDecember, raised $10,600. The annual event included nightlyhunts and a live auction.The Swamp Riders of Prescott donated $4,820 from theiryearly Oktoberfest event. This event featured food, fun anddancing.The Tinnon Family hosted a New Year’s event in Maumelleon January 10 in memory of Tyler Tinnon, an ACHpatient. The event featured a wine tasting and silent auctionand raised more than $2,175 for the cancer unit.In November, the Tri-County Bass Club donated $5,386from its annual bass tournament held at Millwood Lake inAshdown.Kappa Delta Sorority - Zeta Gamma members donated $8,586 toACH from their annual football run and spaghetti supper. The moneywas donated at the November 28 Razorback football game, held inLittle Rock.Phones where ringing insupport of ACH inNovember as Lonoke FBLAstudents participated in aPhone Phrenzy. The event,held at the First State Bankof Lonoke, resulted in$3,300 in pledges anddonations for the PalCareprogram at ACH.Children from the UALR Children International programdonated $1,400 in November. Students in the programattend a four-week camp during the summer, wherethey develop a business, design a product and sell theirmerchandise to benefit a charity of their choice.19

Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation1 Children’s Way, Slot 661Little Rock, AR 72202-3591NonprofitOrganizationU.S. POSTAGEPAIDLittle Rock, ARPermit No. 1441If you receive more than one copy of The ACHiever,please pass the extras along to a friend.Please write to us if you wish to have your nameremoved from the list to receive the ACHievermagazine from the Arkansas Children’s HospitalFoundation in the future. Arkansas Children’sHospital Foundation, ACHiever magazine,1 Children’s Way, Slot 661, Little Rock, AR 72202.Gala Celebrates ACH MiraclesFrom left, Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation board member Sharon Bale, ACH board member John Bale Jr.,ACH Foundation board member Pat Allen and Pete Allen celebrated miraculous health care at the 2008Miracle Ball.In December, the Miracle Ball, a joint project of the ACH Auxiliary and the ACH Foundation, raised morethan $285,000 (net). The elegant evening of dinner and dancing was celebrated by 410 friends of the hospital.Save the date for the 2009 Miracle Ball! The event will be held Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009.