B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s Dennis Ragsdale Chairman Jeffory Jennings, M.D. Vice Chairman Michael Crabtree Secretary/Treasurer Bruce AndersonDebbie Christiansen, M.D.Dawn Ford Keith D. GoodwinSteven HarbLewis Harris, M.D.Dee Haslam A. David Martin Dugan McLaughlinChristopher Miller, M.D. Steve SouthBill Terry, M.D. Laurens Tullock Danni Varlan

M e d i c a l S t a f f David Nickels, M.D. Chief of Staff John Buchheit, M.D. Vice Chief of Staff John Little, M.D. Secretary

C h i e f s o f S e r v i c e s Jeanann Pardue, M.D. Chief of Medicine Mark Cramolini, M.D. Chief of Surgery

A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Keith D. Goodwin President/CEOBob Koppel President/CEO EmeritusLaura Barnes, R.N., M.S.N., C.N.A.A.,B.C. Vice President for Patient Care Paul Bates Vice President for Human Resources Joe Childs, M.D. Vice President for Medical Services Becky Colker Vice President for Finance Rudy McKinley Vice President for Operations

A quarterly publication of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, It’s About Children is designed to inform the East Tennessee community about the hospital and the patients we serve. Children’s Hospital is a private, independent, not-for-profit pediatric medical center that has served the East Tennessee region for more than 70 years and is certified by the state of Tennessee as a Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center.

Ellen Liston Director of Community Relations David Rule Director of Development Wendy Hames Editor Neil Crosby and Wade Payne Contributing Photographers

“Because Children are Special…” ...they deserve the best possible health care given in a positive, child/family-centered atmosphere of friendliness, cooperation, and support - regardless of race, religion, or ability to pay.”...their medical needs are closely related to their emotional and informational needs; therefore, the total child must be considered in treating any illness or injury.”...their health care requires family involvement, special understanding, special equipment, and specially trained personnel who recognize that children are not miniature adults.”...their health care can best be provided by a facility with a well-trained medical and hospital staff whose only interests and concerns are with the total health and well-being of infants, children, and adolescents.”

Statement of Philosophy East Tennessee Children’s Hospital

www.etch.com2

On the cover: Children’s Hospital patient Emily Barger with Minnie Mouse at the annual CMN celebration in Orlando. Read Emily’s story on pages 4-6.

February 11, 2008 Dear Children’s Hospital,

I just wanted to thank all of the doctors and nurses in the NICU. My daughter was born at 26 weeks and sent to Children’s Hospital. She is now 3 years old and still has some problems. She has cerebral palsy and is having trouble with her eyes, and seizures. She has developmental delays but without the team in the NICU, she may not even be here today. I just wanted to say thank you from me, my husband Michael, and from Katlyn.

Donna SmithWhite Pine

February 14, 2008

Subject: Good Job and Thank you!

On behalf of all the public health professionals at the Knox County Health Department, I would like to thank you for the “Clean Up Your Act” campaign that Children’s Hospital and Shoney’s Restaurants are currently running. The radio spots are well done and listener friendly, and the information is timely and important. You’re doing a wonderful job raising public awareness about the dangers of food-borne illness and how easy it is to keep our families safe. Great job! We applaud you!

Ranee RandbyPublic Health Community Relations DirectorKnox County Health Department

“Dear Children’s”

March 20, 2008

Dear Children’s Hospital,

My daughter, Logan Lee, was admitted on 3/18

and we came home this morning. I can’t truly express

how the caring staff helped a horrible incident be

lessened with their treatment of my child. Everyone

from the emergency room through to the floor nurses,

techs and lab people were a pleasure to deal with,

always explaining in terms that a 7-year-old could

understand, and helping ease her fears. Thank you so

much for your compassionate team of people.

Best Regards, Leslie LeeMaryville

Logan Lee

Katlyn today

Katlyn 3 years ago

The record net funds raised at the 2007 Fantasy of Trees means even more medical equipment can be purchased this year for the Emergency Department and other hospital departments. The 2007 Fantasy of Trees raised $380,370, a 25 percent increase over the previous record net – $323,100 – set in 2006. The equipment designated for the 2007 event proceeds, Intellivue monitors for the Emergency Department, cost $292,979. An additional $20,204.51 of net proceeds from the Target Raffle Tree program was designated for the Open Door Fund. That left just over $67,000 to be spent on additional ED equipment, which includes Stretchairs, an Omnicell addition and video game stations for the waiting area. In addition, the remaining 2007 Fantasy of Trees proceeds are funding the purchase of Intellivue monitors for the Post Anesthesia Care Unit and electronic vital signs monitors for inpatient and outpatient surgery.

Here is what the new pieces of equipment are: • Intellivue bedside monitors – monitor heart rates, breathing patterns, oxygen saturation and blood pressure. • Stretchairs – these hydraulic wheelchairs can be converted into a stretcher. They are used for transporting larger patients who cannot sit or walk. One of Children’s Hospital’s inpatient nurse managers calls stretchairs “a miracle piece of equipment” because of their tremendous usefulness in the hospital setting. • Omnicell addition – The Omnicell is a storage product for medications used in the Emergency Department. This addition will be placed in the urgent area of the ED; it will allow the storage of additional drugs in this area, which will save staff time and help to standardize the medications kept in the Emergency Department. • Electronic vital signs monitors – these monitors are used to obtain temperature, pulse, oxygen saturation and blood pressure. One electronic vital signs monitor replaces three separate monitors that were previously needed to perform these four functions. The monitors also have printing capabilities.

• Two video game stations – The Emergency Department waiting area has a limited number of activities for patients and families waiting to be seen by ED staff. Two new video game systems, with games for ages preschool through adult, will be installed in the ED waiting area to provide additional entertainment options for families during wait times. This purchase is in response to parent requests for more ways to entertain their children while waiting in the ED.

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B u l l e t i n B o a r d

3

V

Fantasy of Trees’ record means more equipment for hospital

As part of a national campaign to increase awareness about missing children, Shoney’s Restaurants will again host a series of KidCare Photo ID events at area malls in conjunction with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). Over the past 13 years, the program has successfully provided more than 28,000 local children with IDs. The KidCare Photo ID events provide free photo identification cards for children, which include a color photograph, fingerprints, height, weight, date of birth, medical profile and a 24-hour NCMEC hotline number. These cards can assist local authorities should a child ever become missing. Knoxville Police Department officials are on site for fingerprinting,

and representatives from Children’s Hospital, Safe Kids of the Greater Knox Area and Safety City will provide additional child safety information.

Dates, times and locations:Friday, August 22 from 1 – 7 p.m. at Knoxville Center MallSaturday, August 23 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at West Town MallSunday, August 24 from 12 – 6 p.m. at Foothills Mall

Children’s Hospital is proud to collaborate with Shoney’s Restaurants in taking a proactive approach to keeping children safe.

By Kathryn Robertson, student intern

VShoney’s to host

KidCare Photo ID events

“There’s No Business Like

Snow Business” at Fantasy of Trees

Fantasy of Trees has been a holiday

tradition in East Tennessee since 1985, and

through the years it has kicked off the holiday

season for more than 1.3 million people.

Plans for continuing the tradition in 2008 are

already underway. The 24th annual Fantasy of

Trees will take place November 26-30. Co-

chairs Sarah Beth Carlon and Sarah Munsey

and Assistant Co-Chair Jody Cusick are busy

making plans for the annual event, themed

“There’s No Business Like Snow Business.”

The 2008 Fantasy will include all things

polar: snowflakes and penguins will deck the

halls, and snowmen, reindeer and polar bears

will adorn snowy forests. Guests will once

again enjoy continuous live entertainment

from choirs, dancers, magicians and

more. There will be a variety of children’s

activities, a Gingerbread Village and shops

to inspire the young and young at heart.

Over the past 23 years, Fantasy of Trees

has raised more than $4.6 million for East

Tennessee Children’s Hospital. The 2007

Fantasy of Trees was the most successful

ever and brought in more than $380,000,

a 25 percent increase from 2006. Children’s Hospital extends special

thanks to the more than 10,000 volunteers who participated in the 2007 Fantasy of Trees and played a crucial role in making the 23rd annual event such a success. It is through the efforts of volunteers who contribute their time and energy that the 2008 Fantasy of Trees will also be a success. To volunteer for Fantasy of Trees, call (865) 541-8385 or send an email to fot@etch.com.

By Alyssa Phillips, student intern2008 Fantasy of Trees Assistant Co-Chair Jody Cusick,

Co-Chair Sarah Munsey and Co-Chair Sarah Beth

Carlon (left to right)

V V

It was Tuesday afternoon, January 23, 2007. Brian Barger and his older daughters, Megan (then age 8) and Blair (then age 11), had just gotten home from doing some grocery shopping.

“I can remember it like it was just yesterday,” Brian wrote on CarePages on January 23, 2008. “Blair and I were doing a little cleaning up, and Megan was washing dishes. The time was around 4:30 p.m., and I was waiting to hear back from Misty and Emily [his wife and youngest daughter]. The phone rang, and the words that I heard next totally changed my life: ‘Emily has a tumor; you need to come to the hospital.’”

The call was a shock, of course, but especially because only one day before, 6-year-old Emily had been diagnosed with a much milder cause for her recent weeks-long bout of stomach pain. “We went from constipation to cancer in less that 24 hours,” Brian said.

TearsBrian wrote that he felt like he had been punched.

“I tried to stay strong while on the phone with Misty. I told her we would be there soon. After she hung up, I just lost it, then Blair and Megan came running in, and I told them. We all just stood there and cried for a bit. Then it was time to get things in order and leave.

“I called work, I called the pastor’s wife, I called my parents, I called Misty’s sister-in-law because I was in a panic and couldn’t remember her mom’s phone number,” he wrote in the CarePage.

While Brian was trying to make all the necessary phone calls, he noticed that Megan had quietly gone back to her dishwashing duties, still crying her eyes out.

FearsBrian and the girls arrived at Children’s

Hospital less than an hour after Misty’s phone call. They found Emily and Misty in a room in the Emergency Department. Emily was connected to an IV and looked “scared to death,” Brian wrote. “We tried to act calm to keep her calm.”

Family members and church friends began arriving, and Emily began asking questions. Because of Emily’s young age, the Bargers chose to use the word “tumor” rather than “cancer.” She was familiar with the word “cancer” and knew that it could be fatal. “Tumor” didn’t mean anything to her, so they felt it was the best choice for the time being.

A CT scan had revealed a tumor on one of Emily’s kidneys. Later tests brought even more difficult news:

Emily had rhabdomyosarcoma, a very rare cancer that only affects about 250 children in the United States each year. Generally, this soft tissue cancer appears in the muscles. Therefore, Emily’s diagnosis of rhabdomyosarcoma in one of her kidneys was extremely rare.

A fightFrom the Tuesday afternoon of Emily’s cancer

diagnosis, events proceeded quickly. Emily had surgery that Friday to have the tumor, the affected kidney and part of her spleen removed. (All children diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma will have surgery to remove all or part of the primary tumor.)

Emily spent several days in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital after her surgery. In fact, she was hospitalized during the local portion of the annual Children’s Miracle Network Telethon broadcast on January 28, 2007, on WBIR-TV Channel 10.

Although the Bargers did not appear on the telethon, the family received much support and many visitors during the broadcast. Brian is a producer at WBIR and has produced the morning newscast for several years. The hospital was swarmed with his coworkers offering support.

“I have worked with Children’s Hospital setting up interviews and other news stories for a long time, but now I am on the other side – I am one of those parents that the news stories targeted,” Brian said.

Following her recovery from surgery, Emily soon began the typical treatment of a child with her type of cancer – 42 weeks of chemotherapy

and about six weeks of radiation – through the Hematology/Oncology Outpatient Clinic at Children’s Hospital.

To make things easier, Emily had a port-a-cath (a surgically implanted central line that delivers medications into a vein) that was monitored by Children’s Hospital Home Health Care for maintenance and cleanings while she was receiving chemo. Because Emily was naturally very thin before her diagnosis and lost weight during her illness, she also required a feeding tube for several months to help her receive adequate nutrition and minimize weight loss.

Testing later showed Emily’s cancer had NOT moved into her bone marrow, and her scans appeared clear in other areas, too, so this was finally some positive news for the Barger family.

Since her diagnosis, Emily’s pediatric oncologist at Children’s Hospital has been Shahid Malik, M.D. “Dr. Malik has been wonderful throughout Emily’s treatments, and we have been so happy with him and the staff at the oncology clinic,” Misty said.

Emily and her family were guests on the annual Star 102.1 Radiothon in March 2007; they told their story and talked about the many services they benefited from that are funded by Radiothon, including Children’s Hospital Home Health Care and the CarePages service. Emily’s story was so compelling that one of the 2007 Radiothon check presenters, Strickwood Communications, a Knoxville-based company, raised their planned donation from $500 to $5,000 in Emily’s honor.

The Bargers also appeared on the 2008 Children’s Miracle Network Telethon in January and again came to the Star 102.1 Radiothon in February 2008 to share Emily’s story.

Her spiritDuring her battle, Emily lost her hair but

not her spirit. She endeared herself to many Children’s Hospital staff during her regular visits to the Hematology/Oncology Clinic and the surgery and inpatient units where she also spent time.

Child Life specialist Sara Sealine developed a special bond with Emily, who was very frightened at first and would not smile at anyone. Sealine worked with Emily regularly, always hoping to draw her out of her shell of sadness and fear. The day Emily finally cracked a smile, Sealine had to leave the room because she was so emotional. Because of her role in Emily’s care and because of her desire to maintain appropriate professional boundaries, Sealine didn’t want Emily or the Bargers to see her own tears of joy at Emily’s breakthrough.

From that point forward, they became special friends, and Sealine always makes time for Emily during her visits. In January 2008, when Emily had her “off-treatment” party in the Hematology/

4

The Bargers (left to right — Brian, Misty, Megan, Emily

and Blair) visit with Goofy at Walt Disney World.

Emi ly

Lessons LearnedThe Bargers have traveled a long road over the

last year and a half. “It has taken us many places, and it has also brought us together more as a family and changed the way we do some things now, like our diet and the foods we eat,” Brian wrote in the CarePage. “So here is what have I learned from this past year: don’t take anything for granted no matter how well things are going, because they can all change with just one phone call.

“Also, I’ve learned that things are never as bad as they seem, because there is always someone or some family out there who may have it a little worse, and we saw that while in the hospital.”

By Seth Linkous, Associate Director for Public Relations, and Wendy Hames,

Associate Director for Publicaions

5

Emily and country singer Mark Wills became fast friends during their visit to Washington, D.C., as part of the CMN Champions Across America events.

Emily with her pediatric

oncologist, Shahid Malik, M.D.

Emily (front right), Blair (back left) and Megan Barger (hidden in back right) along with 12-year-old Edna Cerritos, the CMN Champion from California, pose with Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund.

Oncology Clinic, Sealine even danced with Emily to music stored on Emily’s pink “Hannah Montana” MP3 player.

“Emily is a little girl who smiles at the mention of puppies and laughs at the silliest of southern accents,” Sealine said. “Emily always is up for a manicure party and loves to talk about her dog, Rosebud.”

Shortly after finishing her treatments in early 2008 and returning to school, Emily decided to do something kind for other children in similar situations. She delivered Valentine’s Day stuffed animals to every child who came into the Hematology/Oncology Clinic on February 12.

“Emily is so shy that I was afraid that she would back out on me, but she didn’t,” Misty said. “I think that she liked being on the other side, giving sick children presents to brighten their day instead of being on the receiving end. It was wonderful to see her reaching out to others going through some of the same things that she did last year. She knows the fear and pain that these children are feeling, and hopefully she made a difference in their lives that day.”

Laughter It has taken more than a year for the Bargers to

be able to move back into a more “normal” life, with fewer needed appointments at the hospital and the removal of Emily’s feeding tube in March.

March also brought a special treat and a joyful occasion for the Barger family – a trip to Walt Disney World and Washington, D.C., as part of the

Children’s Miracle Network’s Champions Across America. Children’s Hospital nominated Emily to be Tennessee’s “champion,” and the family was thrilled when she was selected.

“It really was cool, because we were touring the White House right next to Miss America,” Brian said in a recent interview. “We were taking the same pictures she was, and she was awed by the same things we were. You forget, ‘Here’s Miss America standing right beside me.’”

The trip included visits not only with Miss America but also with other celebrities such as Marie Osmond (one of the co-founders of CMN); her brother, Donny Osmond; Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton; Hall of Fame football star Steve Young; and others. Emily’s favorite celebrity was country singer Mark Wills; the pair became fast friends during the events in Washington, D.C., and were interviewed together with Misty on air by Andy and Alison from Knoxville radio station WIVK-FM, although Misty notes that shy Emily actually didn’t speak during the interview.

At the White House, the group even spent a little time with President George Bush. “He was very jovial. He had a great time with the kids,” Brian said. “Everybody was laughing and joking around. It was quick, but it was really fun -- memories that will last a lifetime.”

During the trip to Disney World, Emily was able to go swimming for the first time in more than a year, so that was a major milestone. But her favorite part of the trip was meeting President Bush.

The Bargers (left to right — Misty, Brian, Megan, Emily and Blair) met CMN co-founder Marie Osmond during the Celebration in Orlando.

6

Children meet president as ambassadors for children’s hospitalsInternational ambassadors frequently

visit The White House, but in March, child ambassadors from each state met with President George Bush as representatives of 17 million hospitalized children. These remarkable children have triumphed despite severe medical challenges and were chosen to represent their state as part of Children’s Miracle Network’s Champions Across America presented by CO-OP Financial Services.

The mission of these young ambassadors is to share the message that their lives are better because of the tremendous work of children’s hospitals. Emily Barger of Knoxville was Tennessee’s representative for the 2008 Champions Across America program.

“These Champions have overcome more than many of us can even imagine,” said Children’s Miracle Network co-founder Marie Osmond. “Each story testifies of the strength of these kids and the outstanding caregivers who have changed their lives.” Osmond welcomed the children to Walt Disney World before their visit to Washington, D.C., as they participated in the national television production of the Children’s Miracle Network Celebration.

Joining the Champions in Washington, D.C., was country music artist Mark Wills, an active supporter of Children’s Miracle Network for many years. Also joining the group was Miss America 2008 Kirsten Haglund, Children’s Miracle Network’s official Goodwill Ambassador for the year.

The organization sponsoring the Champion children is CO-OP Financial Services. As the nation’s largest credit union processor and ATM network, CO-OP Financial Services understands how important a network of support is for hospitalized children. For years, the credit union industry has supported Children’s Miracle Network, and CO-OP Financial Services is proud to continue the industry tradition of “people helping people.”

Emily enjoys a video motorcycle ride at the ESPN Zone in Washington, D.C., during a private party for the Champions and their families.

Pictured above: President Bush, the CMN Champions and their families

pose in front of the White House.

Pictured Right: Emily Barger in Washington, D.C., with the U.S.

Capitol in the background.

President Bush greets CMN Champions and their families at the White House. Tennessee Champion Emily Barger is in the right second row, wearing a white hat.

life A day in the

7

help sick children. Tomlinson began her career at the University of South Alabama Women’s and Children’s Hospital and continues to maintain her skills and knowledge through continuing education classes at Children’s Hospital. Tomlinson remembers one baby boy who was diagnosed with a rare tumor of the neck and fetal hydrops. His parents were told that he had a 98 percent fatality rate when he was born in October, but after an intense procedure and living on a ventilator for a while, the boy was brought home almost six months later. He no longer requires supplemental oxygen and is recovering at home with his family despite some pretty tough odds. “Working with children, I am blessed daily to be around such special and fascinating little miracles,” Tomlinson said. Tomlinson chooses to work at Children’s Hospital because she feels her passions match the mission of the hospital. “Because of the specialized care available and the educational efforts and involvement in the community, I am honored as a nurse knowing I can attempt to, in some small way, contribute to such an outstanding organization,” Tomlinson said.

ReHABiliTATiOn CenTeR The Children’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center provides physician-directed rehabilitation services to nearly 1,500 area children each year. Since 1947, the Rehabilitation Center has helped children age birth to 21 acquire or regain skills to perform age-appropriate activities. All Rehabilitation Center programs reflect a philosophy of care that offers a commitment to the whole child, recognizing his or her unique combination of characteristics and needs. The center strives to help each child reach his or her greatest level of independence, maximizing quality of life and potential. Children’s Corner, a program offered at the Rehabilitation Center, is an outpatient medical day treatment program. Children who need skilled nursing care and intensive therapy participate in Children’s Corner as an alternative to an extended inpatient hospital stay.

Helen WillisWhen Helen Willis was in third grade, she was

quoted in a local newspaper as wanting to “help sick people” when she grew up. That desire to care for others eventually led Willis to the Children’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center, where she serves as a rehab technician. Willis worked for six years at St. Mary’s Hospice before making the move to Children’s Hospital, where she plans to stay until “they kick me out!”

One of Willis’s favorite memories during her time at Children’s Hospital is of a little boy who originally came to the Rehab Center while in need of a transplant. About seven years later, after his transplant, the little boy returned. His medications were not working, and he was not doing well.

Willis said, “We went outside a lot, but he would sit like a lifeless flower. As time went on, we would befriend him and talk with him, and we learned how to make him smile. The little boy came to life like a flower. We became friends, and he just blossomed.” Willis has had the opportunity to see many such stories where children “come in pretty much hopeless, and then they bloom before our eyes.”

Willis loves working at the Rehab Center and attributes it to her “awesome” co-workers. She said, “I am nothing without my team. We work hand in hand to give the best therapy we can. We get to put little children back together again.”

Julie BrowningJulie Browning entered the field of speech

pathology after a lifelong connection with speech impairments. Browning, a speech language pathologist at the Children’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center, was born with a cleft lip and has always been intrigued by children with similar medical conditions.

It wasn’t until a close friend was severely injured in a car accident that Browning decided to make speech pathology her profession. Browning recalls, “I remember seeing him shortly after the accident and seeing how difficult it was for him to speak. I told him I loved him and watched as he struggled to utter those three simple words back. I guess it was at that moment that I realized how important communication is and how devastating it can be when it is taken away. I knew I wanted to help others, like my friend, to communicate so that somewhere a mom or dad could hear their child say ‘I love you.’”

Browning earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in speech pathology. She then completed a nine-month clinical fellowship where she conducted speech therapy under the direct supervision of a licensed speech pathologist. Browning then made her way to the Rehab Center at Children’s Hospital. “I love the hospital’s philosophy on providing the best possible care for kids in need,” she said. “All children are special and deserve the very best we can give them.”

By Alyssa Phillips and Kathryn Robertson, student interns

There is no such thing as a “typical” day in a hospital. Day in and day out, patients enter our doors for care, but each child is unique and each experience is different. However, within each day at Children’s Hospital, there are some common threads. One common thread is the training and experience of the hospital ’s staff – no matter what situation arises, our staff is skilled and prepared to meet the challenge. For the next several issues of It’s About Children, we will profile some of our staff and highlight all our clinical areas. We hope it will give you a glimpse into life at Children’s Hospital.

HOMe HeAlTH CAReChildren’s Hospital Home Health Care, a

hospital-based home health agency, supports the philosophy, mission and policies of Children’s Hospital and is dedicated to meeting the needs of children. Home Health Care provides follow-up supportive care to patients from newborns to 21 years of age who do not require hospitalization or constant skilled supervision. Home Health Care is licensed to provide services in 16 East Tennessee counties.

All patients are accepted based on physician referral, the ability of Home Health Care to meet the patient’s specific needs, and when the physician, child’s family and the Home Health staff agree that in-home care would be an appropriate and effective means of treatment. Available services include registered nursing, respiratory therapy, home infusion, nutritional support, home medical equipment and supplies, physical therapy, speech therapy and occupational therapy.

Danny Hicks Danny Hicks is an equipment technician with Children’s Hospital Home Health Care. He travels to different homes delivering equipment and supplies, and helping patients and their families learn how to use the equipment, such as nebulizers and wheelchairs. Hicks was referred to the position through a respiratory therapist friend who works for Children’s Hospital. Hicks says he chooses to work at Children’s because helping educate patients and their families is very rewarding. He emphasizes the importance of the equipment and knowing how to use everything correctly. One of Hicks’ favorite patient memories is from last fall when a colleague gave a teenage patient tickets to a University of Tennessee football game. Hicks said the boy had the time of his life at the game and stated that it is amazing how the staff at Home Health Care impacts the lives of patients, even away from the hospital.

Amanda Tomlinson An RN with Children’s Hospital Home Health Care, Amanda Tomlinson enjoys working with a diverse staff that all share the same goal: to

of Children’s Hospital

In the fall of 2003, Children’s Hospital and WBIR-TV began a program to recognize children from throughout East Tennessee who have done something out of the ordinary – whether through extraordinary volunteer work or an amazing talent or by impressive service to their community. “We were looking for outstanding youngsters who had done something amazing: overcome an incredible physical or emotional situation, demonstrated outstanding talent and achievement through their art, or exhibited a passion for helping to make life better for others,” said Jeff Lee, WBIR’s General Manager. From that desire to recognize area children, 10 Amazing Kids was created; the first group was honored in the spring of 2004, and additional groups were honored in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Dozens of entries for the 2008 10 Amazing Kids program were received featuring children who truly have done a variety of amazing things, and the selection process was extremely difficult.

The 2008 10 Amazing Kids are:Lizette Aparicio,• age 13, Pigeon Forge Middle School – When Lizette moved to Pigeon Forge in 2004, she made a great difference by helping other Hispanic children who could not speak English. What her teachers didn’t realize was that Lizette’s Spanish was very limited and she would ask her parents, who are natives of Cuba, to translate subjects for the following day. She serves as School Ambassador to show new students and their parents around, is active in Beta Club and Student Council and went to the state 4-H speech competition finals. Her nomination form said, “You will find Lizette the first to volunteer and help in any way she can, no matter how mundane or complicated the task.” Julia Cecere,• age 17, Gatlinburg Pittman High School – Julia’s teacher said, “Her volunteer spirit and community service are highly noteworthy. Many of our Interact Club’s community service projects would have fallen far short of our goals if it had not been for Julia’s willingness to go beyond what was required.” Recently, she started a drive to encourage students to register to vote and raised over $6,000 for the Star 102.1 Radiothon to benefit Children’s Hospital through her “Hearts for Healing” program. Julia also has raised awareness for the local animal shelter and has the highest multi-year average (99.63) of any student presently in her school. Mason Daniels,• age 7, Adrian Burnett School – This first grader challenged others to help him help others last December and collected 70 shoe boxes of gifts for “Operation Christmas Child,” to be provided to children in third world countries. The coordinator for the project said she was “proud to have him on our team” and said Mason has already set a goal for this Christmas to fill 180 shoeboxes with gifts. When he was just four years old, Mason helped raise $350 for victims of Hurricane Katrina with the help of his Beaver Dam Baptist Child Care Center classmates. The now seven-year-old also

is active at church, playing soccer and basketball and loves fishing with his dad.Casey Douglas,• age 13, Elk Valley Elementary (Campbell County) – Having limited physical mobility has never kept this eighth grader from reaching for the stars. Casey has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and requires assistance in many daily activities. This year, Casey has served as Beta Club and 4-H President, was Basketball Queen, was a multiple 4-H speech winner, and is a cheerleader. Her teacher said, “She wants to make a difference at school, at home and in her community. She is a positive role model and does not let her limitations stop her.” She is also an honor student who often stays after school to help tutor other children.Mia Fisher, • age 6, Sevierville Primary School – Her grandfather called her an amazing kid because “despite her young age, she possesses the heart of one far beyond her years.” Her teacher said the first grader asked what she could do to help the patients at Children’s Hospital. Then Mia encouraged classmates and her principal to help raise money to buy crayons, coloring books and batteries for toys. She also contributed her birthday money to help the cause and personally delivered the items to Children’s Hospital. A friend who nominated her said, “I wish she was running for office in view of her insight to see a need and do something about it. We could all learn from this young lady’s actions.”Weston Hamilton,• age 9, Rural Vale Elementary School (Tellico Plains) – Few nine-year-olds realize they can make a difference, but Weston is an exception to this rule. Last year for his eighth birthday, he decided to donate the gifts he received to Children’s Hospital. His birthday party invitation asked each child to bring a book that was then delivered to the hospital. For his ninth birthday this year, he collected over 30 fleece blankets to donate for children at the Knox Area Rescue Ministry. Weston also is active at church, loves to play sports and is in the FOCUS club at school. Will Johnson,• age 9, Claxton Elementary – This student set a goal to raise awareness for autism, a condition he has. He accomplished this in part by setting out to beat the world record for the “most high fives given in a month”

– giving high fives to children at his school, at a Smokies’ baseball game and at a local Home Depot store. From all the publicity he received, people in his community now have a better understanding of what autism is. One of his teachers said that this energetic boy has “the ability to see past others’ differences” and helped other students learn that autistic children have much to offer and teach others. Skye Sanders, • age 16, South Doyle High School – This Amazing Kid often finds herself soaring above the crowd – literally, and she is very appropriately named for a teenager about to receive her pilot’s license. With her dad as her flight instructor, she has been flying since she was 12. In the classroom, where she has distinguished herself as a scholar and high academic achiever, her school counselor describes her as “an incredible young lady who impacts her school, community and home.” Skye is active in her youth group at First Baptist Church in Knoxville and is a member of the Junior Olympic Diving Team at the University of Tennessee.Rachel Stacy,• age 12, Powell Middle School – This 12-year-old’s “claim to fame” is for sharing her birthday with her favorite charities. Since the age of four, she has selected a local charity each year to be the recipient of her birthday presents – from food for Second Harvest to backpacks for children served by the Salvation Army. Rachel is a trained volunteer for the Remote Area Medical Clinic portable eyeglass lab, working alongside her grandmother. This Amazing Kid is a great student and had the highest math average of the 900 students at Brickey-McCloud Elementary when she graduated from there in 2007. She also is active in sports and sings with the ET Middle School Honors Choir.Maleka West,• age 12, Tennessee School for the Blind – Despite being born blind, Maleka “has greater vision than most well-sighted people I know,” according to a nomination letter. “She is a positive role model by teaching other children … to love other kids. She shows others that everyone is special in their own way.” Maleka attends Tennessee School for the Blind in Nashville; each Friday, she boards a bus to Sevierville to spend the weekend at home. One of her teachers said she is an integral part of the class. “Even though she has extra things to learn because of her blindness, Maleka approaches tasks with a willingness to work and learn and encourages her classmates to do the same.” The 10 Amazing Kids’ stories were featured on “Live at 5” on WBIR-TV each weekday from April 7-18.

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10 Amazing Kids recognized by WBIR-TV 10, Children’s Hospital

Children’s Hospital recently completed the development of a new strategic plan to guide our pediatric medical center for the next several years. The planning process involved numerous steps. Among them:

Input was sought from a wide variety of •individuals involved with the hospital, including the Board of Directors, community leaders, physicians, Administration, senior management and hospital employees. All hospital employees were invited to •participate in the planning process through a survey that was sent out in November 2007, and several hundred employees completed and returned their feedback. Throughout the process, employees were kept up to date via articles in the hospital’s employee newsletter, Express, and forums in January 2008 that offered a summary of employees’ feedback.

A planning retreat in January with the Board of •Directors and hospital and medical staff leadership was held to discuss the future and develop high level priorities for Children’s Hospital. Following the January retreat, planners began to •look at specific strategies, personnel, resource allocation and space concerns associated with each strategy.

Through the strategic planning process, the Board of Directors highlighted the following key issues:

The need to maintain the hospital’s organizational •independence and the need to continue to seek opportunities to collaborate with other health care providers locally and regionally where appropriate. The need to continue to grow but to do so with care. • To begin to consider strategies that address the •issues of convenience and access for our families. To continue to be identified as the preferred •

provider and advocate for children’s care. The board set a key priority – improving the health status of children in this region — and identified these strategic initiatives:

Quality/Safety of care•Physician recruitment•Financial discipline•Technology•Talent•Customer service•Education•Regionalized care•Strategic marketing •Philanthropy•

Administration has developed goals to support each strategic initiative. Watch the next issue of It’s About Children for an in-depth look at the hospital’s new strategic plan.

Popular online feature for kids makes learning about the body fun and engaging

“Why does my nose run?”“What are taste buds?”“Where do tears come from?” Parents know children have many questions

about their bodies. To help children — and their parents — uncover the mysteries of the human body, Children’s Hospital has launched a new feature for kids, “How the Body Works.” Using child-friendly language, animations and activities, “How the Body Works” is a great resource for homework help and an entertaining way for children to get answers to their questions.

The interactive, online center includes more than 100 articles, quizzes, word searches, activities and movies, and it covers 19 body parts, including: bladder, bones, brain, ears, eyes, endocrine glands, hair, heart, immune cells, kidney, liver, lungs, muscles, nails, nose, skin, stomach, teeth and tongue.

Also, KidsHealth has published a new article for children featuring an interview with 15-year-old teen star Nick Jonas of the popular band the Jonas Brothers. Nick spoke with KidsHealth about dealing with type 1 diabetes, which he was diagnosed with in 2005, and how he copes with his condition while touring with the band. The Jonas Brothers, a pop-rock band composed of brothers Joseph, Nick and Kevin, appeared in the “Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert” film in theaters and have signed a television series deal with Disney Channel set to debut this summer.

To see all the KidsHealth features on the Children’s Hospital Web site, visit www.etch.com and click on the KidsHealth logo in the upper right corner.

And remember: Children’s Hospital and

KidsHealth offer two great e-mail newsletters. Visit our Web site at www.etch.com to subscribe to either free newsletter.

E-Kids News provides information for parents, teens and kids. The monthly E-Kids News offers subscribers the opportunitity to customize their newsletter by indicating ages of their children and specific areas of interest (allergies and asthma, fitness and nutrition, emotions and behavior, and diabetes). In addition to news about Children’s Hospital and health news from KidsHealth, E-Kids News features color, graphics and links to many topics.

New Parent E-News is an emailed newsletter geared to expectant parents as well as parents of newborns. Subscribers receive weekly emails during their pregnancy and monthly emails from the baby’s birth through the first birthday. Each email contains an engaging variety of information, including Parent-to-Parent advice from veteran parents to first-timers, recipes for pregnant and nursing moms, and great information on health and developmental topics to prepare parents for the wonderful moments of parenthood.

If you want to learn even more, KidsHealth offers not only a comprehensive library of age-appropriate articles, but also many unique features, including:

Condition Centers for Parents, •Kids and Teens: Focusing on asthma, diabetes, and nutrition and fitness, each center offers articles, printable charts, personal stories and mini-movies to help teach families about their bodies and their condition. Children’s Health News:• The latest medical research and news is written for parents in easy-to-understand

language. Pregnancy & Newborns Center:• This one-stop section for expectant and new parents includes a weekly pregnancy calendar and slideshow, recipes for expectant and breastfeeding moms and practical tips. Word!:• This glossary of medical terms with definitions children can understand is a great homework helper. The Game Closet – for Kids:• Fun and interactive experiments, mini health movies and games make learning about health exciting. BMI Calculator:• This innovative tool features easy-to-read graphs, personalized information (including ideal weight ranges), and the ability to enter multiple measurement dates to track a child’s BMI over time. Spanish articles:• KidsHealth continues to develop and enhance its library of Spanish-language pediatric health articles for parents, teens and kids.

Children’s Hospital has been a KidsHealth Educational Partner since 2001. KidsHealth is the largest and most-visited site on the Web providing doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence. Created by The Nemours Foundation’s Center for Children’s Health Media, the award-winning KidsHealth provides families with accurate, up-to-date and jargon-free health information they can use.

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Children ask lots of questions – Children’s Hospital has the answers

Hospital develops new strategic plan

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Interstate 40 is closed near hospital

Traveling around Knoxville has recently become more difficult. On May 1, a short section of Interstate 40 between James White Parkway (exit 388A) and Hall of Fame Drive (exit 389) was closed as part of the SmartFIX 40 program to enlarge and improve the interstate through the downtown Knoxville area. “It’s going to be a trying time for traffic in Knoxville,” said Travis Brickey of the Tennessee Department of Transportation. Brickey encourages anyone traveling to Knoxville to visit www.smartfix40.com to sign up for updates about the program. He also said individuals with GPS systems by NAVTEQ and TeleAtlas in their cars need to have their systems updated to get correct and current directions; owners should contact their system providers to request the update. This closure will affect anyone coming to Children’s

Hospital from east of Knoxville (motorists traveling west on I-40). However, the Children’s Hospital campus will be easily accessible via an alternate route. Visitors coming to the hospital from east of Knoxville on I-40 are asked to take I-640 west and then I-275 south during the closure, which is estimated to last 14 months (until about July 2009). Visit Children’s Hospital’s website at www.etch.com and click on “Interstate 40 Closure” in the top right corner for detailed directions to Children’s Hospital. Visit www.smartfix40.com for specific details and updates on the SmartFIX 40 program and maps provided by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. According to www.smartfix40.com, SmartFIX is an accelerated construction process used by the

Tennessee Department of Transportation to speed up the construction and repair of highways and bridges. The SmartFIX process involves a short-term, total road or bridge closure during a project. This provides ample space for work crews to do their jobs and the freedom to work around the clock without time limitations. This also reduces the time it takes to finish a project and long-term inconvenience to motorists.

It’s hard to believe Children’s Hospital hired its first staff Spanish interpreter just under two years ago. But a look at the statistics shows how the need continues to grow at a rapid rate.

In 1997, when the hospital first began offering in-person Spanish interpretation through Social Work, the department averaged eight requests per month. In the last six months of 2007, Social Work averaged 401 requests per month!

As the hospital continues to work to best meet the needs of the Spanish-speaking population, a number of staffing additions and changes have taken place in the Social Work Department’s Interpretation Services in recent months. Most significantly, the department has expanded to include three full-time and four PRN interpreter positions.

The full-time interpreters work different shifts to provide coverage seven days a week — beginning as early as 5:30 a.m. when needed for surgery patients and ending at 9:30 each evening. The addition of the third full-time position means the hospital now has staff interpreters working the 1-9:30 p.m. shift seven days a week. The overlapping hours of the three full-time interpreters help decrease the wait time for an interpreter.

There are also four PRN (“as needed”) interpreter positions in Social Work. PRN interpreters provide coverage both on the hospital campus when needed and at the Children’s Hospital Rehabilitation Center.

According to Social Work Director Beverly Schneider, “It’s not at all unusual for the interpreters to be assisting four to five patients/families simultaneously with others waiting. The need has grown exponentially.”

Federal law requires a hospital to provide interpretation services so that a family knows what is happening with their child, but the method in which the service is provided is the hospital’s choice.

Children’s Hospital has contracted with Optimal Phone Interpreters (OPI) for interpretation in all languages. OPI offers 204 languages and dialects and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

When staff interpreters are unavailable, OPI is used for Spanish interpretation. The hospital also has a contract with Lighthouse Interpreters and Translators, Inc., to provide in-person Spanish interpretation for Children’s Hospital Home Health Care and for night shift on-call interpretation needs at the hospital.

Hospital expands Spanish interpretation services

Summer road project to close road beside hospital

In addition to the major closure of Interstate 40 near Children’s Hospital, another project will have some impact on our campus throughout the summer, beginning shortly after spring semester classes end at the University of Tennessee. The project, which is set to begin May 15, will involve utility work and digging on White Avenue from 16th Street to 22nd Street, then down 22nd Street to Cumberland Avenue, and then on Cumberland Avenue to the Tyson Park area. Each section along the project route will be closed while the digging and subsequent repaving are completed. The work is expected to be in the area of Children’s Hospital around mid- to late July.

For more information:• Goonlinetowww.etch.com and click on

“Interstate 40 Closure”• Goonlinetowww.smartfix40.com• IntheKnoxvillearea,callthe511telephone

information system

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Safety.It’s a word that parents hear a lot as it relates

to their children. A wide variety of issues involve children and

safety: passenger safety in motor vehicles, bike safety, poison prevention, water safety and fire safety, just to name a few.

At Children’s Hospital, the health and wellness of the children we serve have always been tied closely to safety – and to educating parents, grandparents and caregivers about the often life-saving importance of safety and preventing unsafe practices. The hospital often reminds adults caring for children that safety applies to everyone and starts with the adult in the supervisory role.

Children’s Hospital takes responsibility for providing education to area families about keeping children safe and well so that a visit to the hospital will not be necessary. One of the best ways to minimize the impact of injuries in children is prevention. When community organizations join forces, educating the public about safety and prevention can be accomplished at an even greater level.

For that reason, Children’s Hospital is taking on a new role with an important area coalition: Safe Kids of the Greater Knox Area. The mission of the local Safe Kids coalition is to reduce unintentional injuries in children up to age 14 in the East Tennessee region by promoting awareness and implementing prevention initiatives. The local Safe Kids is part of Safe Kids Worldwide, a network of coalitions whose primary purpose is to prevent unintentional injuries in children by providing children and adults caring for them with information about how to stay safe.

While Safe Kids has been an active organization in the Knoxville area since 1999, the lead organization (which handles administrative coordination of activities and provides staff for

the coalition) has changed several times. As 2007 ended, the Knox County Health Department, the current lead organization, requested that another coalition member take on this responsibility as the health department shifts some of its focus. The other three children’s hospitals in the state are the lead organizations for their local Safe Kids coalitions, and Children’s Hospital saw this as a similar way to extend our reach and service to the community we serve.

As the new lead organization, Children’s Hospital will work with all the Safe Kids coalition members to ensure the Principles of Performance established by Safe Kids Worldwide are met:

Develop an injury prevention plan based •on needs assessments and ongoing evaluations. Comply with all procedural and reporting •requirements within the organization and to relevant governmental or regulatory agencies.

Conduct comprehensive outreach •programs designed to reduce injuries to children in the communities served. Promote public awareness of Safe Kids •and injury prevention through media and marketing. Advocate for injury prevention •legislation, regulations and enforcement of existing laws. Secure resources and community •support necessary to fund and enable the ongoing work of the organization.

These strategies are accomplished through educational efforts to reach parents, caregivers, children, health care practitioners and policymakers to change knowledge, attitudes and behavior. Activities can include displays at health and safety fairs, car seat checkpoints, bike fairs, safety seminars and classes for parents and caregivers, and media awareness campaigns.

Through Children’s Hospital’s leadership, Safe Kids also will pursue the reduction of injuries not just because it is a desirable public health goal, but because accidental injuries have a clear and serious financial

impact on families. Injury prevention programs are cost effective because they employ relatively inexpensive interventions to avoid costly medical care. Such programs also require continued and often constant reinforcement because as long as there are children, there will be a need to remind them of ways to lessen the possibility of injuries.

For more information on Safe Kids, visit www.etch.com or the Safe Kids Worldwide Web site at www.safekids.org.

In addition to interpretation services, Children’s Hospital has focused efforts on a variety of other services to better meet the needs of this region’s growing Hispanic population. Among the efforts:• Hospital forms and documents have been

translated into Spanish.• Sharing Information educational brochures for

parents are translated to Spanish when they are written or revised.

• Spanish-language articles on pediatric health topics are available on the Children’s Hospital Web site, www.etch.com, through our

partnership with KidsHealth, which continues to develop and enhance its library of Spanish-language pediatric health articles for parents, teens and kids.

• Safe Kids of the Greater Knox Area, under the leadership of Children’s Hospital, is serving as a silver sponsor of the Hola! Hispanic Festival on September 27 in downtown Knoxville. Safe Kids will promote its program of child injury prevention through the distribution of Spanish-language informational materials during the festival.

Children’s Hospital becomes lead organization for Safe Kids of Greater Knox Area

Hospital meets needs of growing Hispanic population

Interpreter Kerry Banks with a patient family at Children’s Hospital.

tax to pay; but by donating the land to Children’s, you can avoid some or all of that tax.

II. A life estate gift of your personal residence. You can make a life estate gift that offers you and your spouse the right to live in your home the rest of your lives and ensures the property will come to Children’s Hospital after you have both passed away. You are responsible for the normal expenses of utilities, repairs and property insurance on the home as long as you live there. It is possible to receive an income tax deduction for this type of gift, as well.

III. A gift of land that returns an income to you. Perhaps you have some property you can part with but need the income it could produce. You can donate this land to a trust that will sell

Many times we hear from generous friends who want to do more to help the children entrusted to our care.

They may be Radiothon or Telethon donors. They may be making gifts in honor or in memory of someone special. They may be designers or donors to the Fantasy of Trees. Perhaps they participate in one of the many golf tournaments that benefit our medical facility or work as a volunteer in the hospital.

There seems to be a common theme. These individuals see what is being done for area children by the medical and hospital staff, and they also see what the community is doing to ensure the finest pediatric care continues to be available to every child. They become interested and want to do more to help our pediatric medical center.

There are so many different ways to help Children’s Hospital, as we often discuss in this publication. If you are a landowner who wishes to help the hospital, you have some specific options if you wish to make a gift of land:

I. A direct donation of land. You may have some acreage or building lots in a subdivision, or perhaps you inherited your aunt’s home and don’t really have a need for the property. You can help area children and possibly receive an income tax deduction by donating the property to Children’s Hospital. If you have had the land more than a year, it has probably increased in value. If you sell the land, you will likely have capital gains

it, invest the proceeds and pay you and your spouse an income for a specified period of years or for the rest of your lives. The principal comes to Children’s Hospital at the end of the trust. It is also possible for you to receive an income tax deduction for this type of gift.

We encourage you to consult your tax advisors to determine how a gift of land to Children’s Hospital might affect your tax situation. We would be pleased to work with you and your advisors on such a gift. Please call David Rule, Director of Development, or Teresa Goddard, Senior Development Officer, at (865) 541-8441 if you are considering such a gift to Children’s Hospital.

Estate Planning Your land can help Children’s Hospital

include Children’s Hospital in your estate plans.Join the ABC Club. For more information, call (865) 541-8441.

Please send the FREE planning booklet, “Personal Financial Affairs Record.”

Name______________________________ Address____________________________________________________________

City___________________________ State_______ Zip_____________ Phone# (______) ___________________________ r Please call me at the phone number below for a free confidential consultation concerning planned giving.

r Please send me more information about deferred giving.

r I have already included Children’s Hospital in my estate plan in the following way:

__________________________________________________________________________

r Please send me information about the ABC Club.

Children’s Hospital Development Office • (865) 541-8441

ThestateofTennesseehasgivenChildren’sHospitalanextensionthrough2008to increase the number of specialty license plates. The hospital is required to maintain aminimumof1,000tagstokeeptheplateineffect.AsofMarch,only828tagswereregistered,172belowtherequiredminimum.

Sincethen,anumberoffriendsofthehospitalhavealreadypurchasedorrenewedplates.Withyourhelp,thereisstillanopportunitytodomoreforthechildrenthehospitalserves.YoucanbeautifyyourcarwithoneoftheattractiveplatesdesignedbyMorrisCreativeGroup.Butmostimportantly,youcanhelpmakeChildren’sHospitalanevenbetterplaceforareachildren.

Eachday,thehospital’schaplains,socialworkersand child life specialists meet the pressing needs of areafamilieswhosesickandinjuredchildrenhavebeen entrusted to our care. These children come from Knoxvilleandhundredsofothercommunitiesinthesurrounding counties and states.

Thesefamiliesareconcernedandnervousabouttheirchildbeinginthehospital.Andsomehaveadditionalfinancialstressbecausetheyaremissingwork.SoChildren’sHospitalprovidesstafftocomfortboththechildandthefamily,tohelpfindresourcestodealwithfinancialwoesandtheneedforongoingcare,andtoprovidebooksandtoysforpatientsandsiblings.Andthesestaffmembershavethe resources to do this because you and your friends and family care enough to buy a Children’sHospitalspecialtylicenseplate.

Thespecialtylicenseplatehasbeenalaboroflovefromthebeginning.AfterChildren’sHospitalappliedtothelegislaturein2002andreceivedapproval,MorrisCreativeGroupdonatedthetimeoftheirartiststopreparetheplate’sattractivedesign.Volunteersstuffedmailingstohelpselltheinitial1,000plates.Andtheresultshavebeenwonderful.

Sincetheplatefirstbecameavailable,Children’sHospitalhasreceived$54,509.25,benefitingchildrenservedbythehospital’schaplains,socialworkersandChildLifestaff.ThelicenseplateisaneasywaytosupportChildren’sHospital,andwearegratefultoeachpersonwhohaspurchasedone.PleaseconsiderrenewingyourChildren’sHospitalplateeachyearandencouragingfriends and family to join you.

TheplateisavailableatanytimethroughyourlocalCountyClerk’soffice,andthecostoftheplateis$35inadditiontoeachcounty’srenewalfee.Children’sHospitalreceivesnearly$16fromeach

platesold.Simplydrivetoyourlocalcountyclerk’soffice,takeintheplatefromyourcarandyourregistration,andtellthemyouwouldlikeaChildren’sHospitalplate.Notonlywillyouhaveamoreattractivecar,butyouwillalsohavethatwarmfeelingthatcomes from helping children.

IfyouhavequestionsabouttheChildren’sHospitalspecialtylicenseplate, contactyourlocalCountyClerk’sofficeorthehospital’sDevelopmentDepartment at(865)541-8441.

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license plate deadline extended; purchasers can still help area families

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UPCOMING EVENTS TO bENEfIT CHILDREN’S

calendar of events

MarkyourcalendarsNoWforseveralupcomingeventstoentertainfamiliesandbenefitChildren’sHospital. Thanks to the generous people of EastTennesseewhohostandparticipateintheseevents,Children’sHospitalcancontinuetoprovidethe best pediatric health care to the children of this region.

Nancy Hayes MemorialBaseball Tournament Get ready to hit another one out of the park with the 2008 Nancy Hayes Memorial Baseball Tournament. The 6th annual event will take place June 5-8 at the Powell-Levi Fields, Caswell Park, Knox County SportsPark and Fountain City Park. The Hayes family of New Market sponsors the event in memory of their daughter, Nancy Elizabeth Hayes. Proceeds from the event will benefit Children’s Hospital. For more information,

contact Lenny Hayes at (865) 382-1133 or by e-mail at lhayes22@earthlink.net.

Log A Load For Kids Golf Tournament The Log A Load For Kids Golf Tournament will take place Friday, June 20, at the Chatata Valley Golf Course in Cleveland, Tenn. Area golfers can enjoy a round of golf to support East Tennessee Children’s Hospital and the T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital Foundation. For more information on the Log A Load Golf Tournament, contact the Development Department at (856) 541-8608.

Hope-A-Thon Children’s Hospital will again partner with WATE-TV Channel 6 to raise money to benefit Camp Cure. Hope-A-Thon will take place Sunday, July 13, from 7-8 p.m. and will be broadcast live on WATE. Hope-A-Thon follows Children’s Hospital’s week-long diabetes camp, Camp Cure, set for July 7-11. WATE anchors Lori Tucker, Gene Patterson and Matt Hinkin will revisit camp experiences during the hour-long broadcast with patients and their families, who will also share their stories about living with diabetes and their hope for a cure. Last year’s Hope-A-Thon raised more than $16,000. For more information, call (865) 541-8437.

ETPMI Golf Tournament The East Tennessee Chapter of PMI (Project Management Institute) will host a golf tournament to benefit Children’s Hospital at Willow Creek Golf Club in Farragut on Friday, September 12. Proceeds of the event will benefit the Celiac Disease Support Group at the hospital. For more information, contact the Development Department at (865) 541-8608.

Claris Networks Golf Tournament Claris Networks (formerly RM Technologies) will host its annual golf tournament to benefit Children’s Hospital on September 26 at River Islands Golf Club. This double flight tournament has become an annual staple for the East Tennessee golfing community. Play includes 18 holes of golf and a luncheon hosted by Phil Williams of “The Phil Show” on Newstalk radio. Last year’s tournament raised over $15,000 for the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Come enjoy a round of golf for a great cause and help make the 2008 Claris Networks Annual Charity Golf Tournament a success.

By Alyssa Phillips, student intern

Kids, fun, summer and the water – they just go together during summer vacation.

Children’s Hospital, along with Kohl’s, Safe Kids of the Greater Knox Area and Dollywood’s Splash Country, will be reminding everyone of one important safety lesson again this summer when school is out – no one can ever take a vacation from water safety.

A major media campaign will remind parents/caregivers and children of important water safety tips, and a fun event at Dollywood’s Splash Country will offer a way for families to learn about water safety together.

The awareness campaign will travel to Pigeon Forge on June 11 for a water safety day at Dollywood’s Splash Country, where water safety is always a priority. The event will feature a water safety and awareness workshop taught by the water park’s award-winning lifeguards; they will demonstrate water safety tips and answer questions. Visitors also will find water safety booths open at the water park from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., where representatives from Safe Kids of the Greater Knox Area and Children’s Hospital will have additional water safety information.

B97.5 radio will take part in the event with a live remote at Splash Country featuring morning personalities Brad and Ashley. There is no extra charge for the water safety program, but an admission ticket to Dollywood’s Splash Country is required for admittance; for ticket information, call (800) DOLLYWOOD or visit www.dollywoodssplashcountry.com.

This is the second consecutive year this important water safety campaign is being funded by a generous donation from Kohl’s. For more information on water safety and the event on June 11, visit www.etch.com.

Have fun at water safety event in June

football players who weigh 65 or 70 pounds each does not produce as much force as that produced by two 16-year-old high school football players who may each weigh up to 200 pounds.

In addition, children may not assess the risks of certain activities as fully as adults might. So they may unknowingly take risks that may cause them to be injured.

How can sports injuries be prevented? You may be able to help prevent your child

from being injured by following some simple guidelines:

Use of proper equipment and safety gear – Make sure equipment fits well, is the correct size and is the proper equipment for the sport being played (different sports have different equipment needs).

Maintenance and appropriateness of playing surfaces – Check to make sure that playing fields are not full of holes and ruts that might cause children to fall or trip. When your child is doing high-impact sports, like basketball and running, it’s a good idea to do them on surfaces like tracks and wooden basketball courts, which can be more forgiving than surfaces like concrete.

Adequate adult supervision and commitment to safety – Any team sport or activity should be supervised by qualified adults. Select leagues and teams that have the same commitment to safety and injury prevention that you do. The team coach should have training in first aid and CPR, and the coach’s philosophy should promote players’ well-being. A coach with a win-at-all-costs attitude may encourage children to play through injury and may not foster good sportsmanship. Be sure the coach enforces playing rules and requires that safety equipment be used at all times.

Proper preparation – Your child should be adequately prepared with warm-ups and training sessions before practices as well as before games. This will help ensure your

child has fun and reduce the chances of an injury. In addition, your child should drink plenty of fluids and be allowed to rest during practices and games.

What are some common types of sports injuries? Sometimes, despite your best efforts, your

child might get hurt while playing sports. Three common types of sports injuries in children are acute injuries, overuse injuries and reinjuries.

Acute injuries occur suddenly and are usually associated with some form of trauma. In younger children, acute injuries typically include minor bruises, sprains and strains. Teen athletes are more likely to sustain more severe injuries, including broken bones and torn ligaments. More severe acute injuries that can occur, regardless of age, include: eye injuries, including scratched corneas, detached retinas, and blood in the eye; broken bones or ligament injuries; brain injuries, including concussions, skull fractures, brain hemorrhages; and spinal cord injuries.

Overuse injuries occur from repetitive actions that put too much stress on the bones and muscles. Although these injuries can occur in adults as well as children, they are more problematic in a child athlete because of the effect they may have on the child’s bone growth. Some of the most common types of overuse injuries are anterior knee pain, Little League elbow, swimmer’s shoulder, shin splints and spondylolysis (low back pain). Overuse injuries can be caused or aggravated by: growth spurts or an imbalance between strength and flexibility; inadequate warm-up; excessive activity (for example, increased intensity, duration, or frequency of playing and/or training); playing the same sport year-round or multiple sports during the same season; improper technique (for example, overextending on a pitch); and unsuitable equipment (for example, nonsupportive athletic shoes).

Reinjury occurs when an athlete returns to the sport before a previous injury has sufficiently healed. Returning to the playing field before a previous injury has completely healed places

Few issues are closer to our hearts or more crucial to our future than the health of children. As an abundance of children’s health issues hit the media spotlight last year, it was a challenge for many parents to keep track of them all or determine which matter most. Some strike close to home and involve things parents do routinely to keep their kids safe and healthy. Others, for now at least, seem to be in the hands of lawmakers or scientists, far removed from our immediate lives, yet no less important to children’s well being.

In 2008, Children’s Hospital will highlight eight of these important children’s health issues to watch. Each issue of It’s About Children this year will focus on two topics. This list is not meant to be comprehensive, nor does it suggest that other health issues aren’t also important. But we think these eight subjects will have a lasting impact on children’s health in 2008.

Overtraining Little AthletesWith many children playing and training for organized sports with an intensity once reserved for top-level athletes, doctors are learning more about the lasting impact sports injuries can have on children’s health.

What causes sports injuries among children? Children can be susceptible to sports injuries

for a variety of reasons. Children, particularly those who are younger than eight years old, are less coordinated and have slower reaction times than adults because they are still growing and developing.

In addition, children mature at different rates. Often there’s a substantial difference in height and weight between children of the same age. And when children of varying sizes play sports together, there may be an increased risk of injury.

As children grow bigger and stronger, the potential for injury increases, largely because of the amount of force involved. For example, a collision between two eight-year-old Pee-Wee

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‘08Overtraining Little Athletes and Keeping Child’s Play Safe

stress upon the injury and forces the body to compensate for the weakness, which can put the athlete at greater risk for injuring another body part. Once your child’s doctor has approved a return to the sport, make sure your child properly warms up and cools down before and after exercise. Sudden exertion can also cause reinjury, so your child should re-enter the sport gradually.

What can we expect of this issue in 2008? With new evidence of how widespread and

damaging youth sports injuries can be, many parents might have to examine whether they’re allowing children to push too hard to excel at sports. With this growing awareness, there could be a return to the fundamentals of youth sports — helping children learn sportsmanship and teamwork; helping them develop a lifelong love of physical activity; and, most important, letting them have fun.

Keeping Child’s Play SafeA wave of toy recalls put new questions about toy safety – and the dangers of lead exposure – in the spotlight. From Barbie to Thomas the Tank Engine, some of America’s most popular toys were hit by safety recalls in 2007. The recalls of millions of toys raised new concerns about how to choose safe toys and keep unsafe items out of children’s hands. And since many of the recalls involved concerns about lead exposure, new attention was also paid to the risks of lead poisoning – when chronic exposure to lead brings on a host of behavior, learning and developmental problems.

What should a parent look for to choose a safe toy?

Manufacturers follow certain guidelines and label most new toys for specific age groups. But perhaps the most important thing a parent can do is to supervise play. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) closely monitors and regulates toys. Any toys made in – or imported into – the United States after 1995 must comply with CPSC standards.

Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind when toy shopping:

Toys made of fabric should be labeled as •flame resistant or flame retardant.

Stuffed toys should be washable. • Painted toys should be covered with •

lead-free paint. Art materials should say nontoxic. • Crayons and paints should say ASTM D-4236 •

on the package, which means that they’ve been evaluated by the American Society for Testing and Materials.

Toys should not be overly noisy, as this can •cause hearing damage.

Toys should be age appropriate -- always •check packaging to make sure a toy is recommended for your child’s age. You

may think that a child who’s advanced in comparison to peers can handle toys meant for older children. But the age levels for toys are determined by safety factors, not intelligence or maturity.

Avoid older toys, even hand-me-downs from friends and family. Those toys might have sentimental value and are certainly cost-effective, but they may not meet current safety standards and may be so worn from play that they can break and become hazardous.

How can I make sure toys remain safe at home?

After you’ve bought safe toys, it’s also important to make sure children know how to use them. The best way to do this is by supervising play. Playing with your children teaches them how to play safely while having fun.

Parents should: Check toys regularly to make sure that they •

aren’t broken or unusable. For example, wooden toys shouldn’t have splinters, bikes and outdoor toys shouldn’t have rust, and stuffed toys shouldn’t have broken seams or exposed removable parts.

Throw away broken toys or repair them •right away.

Store outdoor toys when they’re not in use •so they are not exposed to rain or snow.

Keep toys clean. Some plastic toys can •be cleaned in the dishwasher, but read the manufacturer’s directions first. Another option is to mix antibacterial soap or a mild dishwashing detergent with hot water in a spray bottle and use it to clean toys, rinsing them afterward.

Teach children to put toys away. •

What should I do if I think a toy is not safe? First, if you have any doubt about a toy’s

safety, err on the side of caution and do not allow your child to play with it. And second, check the Consumer Products Safety Commission Web site at www.cpsc.gov for the latest information about toy recalls or call their hotline at (800) 638-CPSC to report a toy you think is unsafe

What can we expect of this issue in 2008? With more and more products coming from

overseas, many public officials are calling on Congress to ensure better enforcement of U.S. safety standards on foreign-made goods sold here, particularly those for children. Safety scares about popular toys will have parents on high alert when they’re picking out playthings and more vigilant about supervising children during play.

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UPCOMING COMMUNIty edUCatION

Classes

CPR Certification CourseDates: May 12, June 23, July 21, August 4, September 8, October 13, November 10 and December 8Time: 6-10 p.m. This certification course teaches the American Heart Association chain of survival – from when to call 911 to how to effectively administer CPR to an infant, child or adult. This course is designed for anyone who may be expected to respond to emergencies at home or in the workplace. Participants must be at least 14 years old. Following the course, participants will receive an American Heart Association Heartsaver certification card. This course is $40 per person.

Safe SitterDates: May 17, June 21, July 19, August 2 and 9, September 6 and 27, October 11, November 1 and 15, and December 6 and 13Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (lunch is provided) Safe Sitter is a national organization that teaches young adolescents safe and nurturing babysitting techniques and the rescue skills needed to respond appropriately to medical emergencies. Instructors are certified through Safe Sitter nationally. Participants must be ages 11-14. This course is $20 per person.

Class size is limited, so preregistration is required for all classes. All classes are offered in the Koppel Plaza at Children’s Hospital, unless otherwise noted. For more information or to register for any of these classes or to receive our free Healthy Kids parenting newsletter, call (865) 541-8262. Announcements about upcoming classes can be seen on WBIR-TV 10 and heard on area radio stations. Or visit our Web site at www.etch.com and click on “Healthy Kids Education and News.” Children’s Hospital’s Healthy Kids Campaign, sponsored by WBIR-TV Channel 10 and Chick-Fil-A, is a community education initiative of the hospital’s Community Relations Department to help parents keep their children healthy.

Article edited and abridged from the KidsHealth section of www.etch.com. © 2008 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Used under license.

Kool and the Gang takes Center Stage

Since its inception in 1993, Center Stage has raised more than $2.5 million for Children’s Hospital. This year’s event was no exception to this fundraising success. The 16th annual black-tie gala took place April 12 at the Knoxville Convention Center. Guests enjoyed cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, a four-course dinner, and a concert by two-time Grammy Award winners Kool and the Gang. The concert was followed by an evening of dancing with live music from “City Heat.”

Kool and the Gang has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide and has influenced music for three generations. Thanks to hits like “Jungle Boogie,” “Hollywood Swinging,” “Celebration,” “Cherish,” Summer Madness” and “Open Sesame,” they have earned two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits, and 31 gold and platinum albums.

Children’s Hospital extends a special thanks to Bob and Wendy Goodfriend, who served as co-chairs for the 16th year. Children’s Hospital would also like to thank the Goodfriend Foundation, Pilot Corporation and LandAir for underwriting Center Stage, and to everyone who attended the event for helping to make it such a success.

By Alyssa Phillips, student intern

Wendy and Bob Goodfriend

Kool and the Gang

Kool and the GangDiane and Dave Ross from Pilot

Caine and Joey Ballard from the

Niswonger Group