Fall 2015 Edition of Inspired Magazine.pdf

WRITING
RILEY’S KIDS
Don’t Stop Braden-Riley’s Champion
Sneha Dave, 18
Grade 12
Center Grove High School
The Riley’s Kids pages
are pages devoted to kids
within or associated with
Riley Children’s Hospital.
Many of these kids have
remarkable stories, and are
remarkably talented, and
these pages are avenues
for these kids to share
their work. In the midst of
everything these kids are
facing or have experienced,
we hope we are providing
an outlet for them and
inspirational stories to you
our readers.
Riley Hospital is a
remarkable hospital
that provides hope to
kids around the world.
With a hospital here in
Indianapolis, in Kenya, and
offices spread throughout
Indiana, Riley is a first rate
organization that provides
outstanding medical care
on a loving and supportive
environment. They never
turn a child away regardless
of the family’s inability to
pay. Donations to Riley
assure they continue to
provide amazing care to
kids.
Braden Tamosaitis, a 2013 Children’s
Miracle Network Champion, is a
ten year old third grader at Decatur
Elementary Learning Center.
Braden Tamosaitis was born with
a number of obstacles. Spina
Bifida, Hydocephalus
and Arnold Chiari II
malformation are all
immense challenges
that became part of
his future from birth.
When Braden was born,
he went into his first
surgery and that would
be the first of his many
medical adventures.
Braden has had 18
surgeries to date. The
most recent being this
year, where he had a
metal rod placed in his back.
With Braden’s many surgeries, he has
developed a relationship with staff
members at Riley. From the CEO of
Riley Hospital, to many doctors and
nurses, Braden calls them all “just
amazing.” He describes how Riley
makes sure to do things the way that
“I like things.” An example is when
he goes in for surgeries; the staff
removes all masks from his sight, as
they frighten him.
In fall of 2012, Braden was in the
hospital for 37 gruesome days and
after getting out he realized he
wanted to do something positive. He
knew how awful it was to stay in the
hospital for so long, so he decided
to collect a total of 160 beach balls,
but over the summer, he beat that goal,
donating about 700 more beach balls
during the Child Life party, “Braden’s
Beach Bash!”
Braden loves to give back to Riley Hospital
that he calls his “second home.” Braden
says that the “people there
are fantastic. I’ve had so
many doctors and they’ve
all been just great.” He has
visited around a hundred
dance marathons, which are
held at both high schools and
colleges, where he speaks
to encourage participants to
donate money to make more
miracles at Riley! Braden
is also a member of the
University of Indianapolis
men’s soccer team, where
he endlessly supports his
teammates! “Teammates always support
each other,” Braden says. “That’s why
some of the members of the soccer team
came in the morning to see me before my
surgery!”
The entire Tamosaitis family is about giving
back. When their late son, Nathan, passed
away from Spina Bifida only after six weeks
of birth, they decided to start “Nathan’s
playroom.” Nathan’s playroom benefits
siblings of chronically ill children!
Braden was announced as the 2013 CMN
(Children’s Miracle Network) Champion
and represented some 17 million children
that go to 170 CMN hospitals throughout
the country.
18 Inspired
/InspiredKidsIndy
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