Meet Evan!

Evan was born July 15, 2005 at 32 weeks (eight weeks premature) at Swedish Hospital. Shortly after birth, he was diagnosed with CHARGE Syndrome.

Evan spent his first seven weeks of life in the Swedish NICU before being transferred to Children's Hospital. They thought Evan most likely needed a trach, and Children's was the only place with pediatric ENTs. The Children's team was able to correctly diagnose the airway problem, and fortunately he did not require a trach. Instead, he had surgery for a Nissen fundoplication and g-tube for his severe reflux, and that made a tremendous difference.

Since his discharge in October 2005, Evan has returned to Children's for several planned surgeries and spent one week in the PICU due to a lung infection. He also is followed by numerous clinics.

Today Evan is a busy toddler who spends his days growing, learning, and getting into trouble. His family is incredibly grateful to Children's -- both for the excellent care Evan has received and for allowing them to be an active part of his health care team.

Children's has also been very generous with financial assistance to Evan's family by helping with medical expenses not covered by their insurance.

Meet Tommy!

Thomas McMillan “Tommy” and his twin brother Liam arrived on December 12, 2006.

Tommy was born enhanced with Down Syndrome. However, within a few hours of his birth, it was apparent that something much more serious was wrong. He was vomiting bile and not passing any stool.

It was a very windy day, and the helicopters couldn’t fly Tommy to Children’s Hospital. But that didn’t stop Children’s -- a team of six quickly arrived in Bellingham to personally transport Tommy in his isolette.

The first hospital stay was three weeks long with another admission a month later due to colitis. He was also diagnosed with Hirschprung’s Disease, which is a disease of the large intestine. Tommy underwent a six hour surgery and lost 5 inches of his colon. The nurses, dietician, occupational therapist and surgical physicians were so gifted with their talents that Tommy not only survived his surgery, he is thriving!

Tommy is now waiting for open heart surgery in June to repair a common Down Syndrome heart defect called an AV Canal. He still has a nasal gastric tube to eat since he is fatigued. Tommy loves to smile and be cuddled!

Meet Cameron!

We asked parents of local children whose lives have been touched by Children's Hospital to share a bit about their kiddos.

Today we want to introduce you to Cameron. I was fortunate enough to meet Cameron and his family through our internet CHARGE support group. And then during Max's lengthy stay in the hospital, they came to visit us and what a wonderful get together! I will always remember how overjoyed I was watching him run around and around with his brother in the cafeteria. Seeing him be such a BOY gave me such hope and courage for Mighty Max. :) Cameron has overcome such tremendous obstacles and is doing truly fabulous. Very inspiring!

Rebecca (Cameron's mommy) is joining us for the Benefit Crop this year. She is new to scrapbooking but is inspired by the cause! YAY!

MEET CAMERON!

WHAT A SUPERSTAR!

Cameron was born full term weighing 9 pounds, 11 ounces. Before his arrival, his parents were aware of the bilateral cleft lip and palate and were ready for that challenge. However, more pressing issues unfolded during the first year of his life. Those issues included the need for a gastric tube to eat, severe/profound hearing loss, low muscle tone, no sense of balance and two heart murmurs.

When he was about 18 months old, he was finally clinically diagnosed at Children’s Hospital with CHARGE Syndrome. Today Cameron is 5 years old, no longer using a feeding tube, is able to speak and uses sign language and can run, jump and play. He has already taught his family and everyone around him so much in his short life. He truly is a miracle!

Great Raffle Packages for Crop Benefit

We have put together some absolutely amazing raffle packages for this year's crop! So not only will you have a wonderful time scrapbooking, but you also might just win an incredible present for you and your family! YAY!

Raffle tickets are $1 each, and you will definitely want several for each of these fabulous packages! Tickets will only be sold at the crop and winners will be announced at the event. So you will have a good chance of winning something fabulous!

Just a few highlights from our raffle packages include:

• Delicious dinners at great restaurants
• Overnight stay and massages at the Chrysalis
• Recreational activities
• Beauty treatments and products at wonderful salons
• Fun activities for children
• Entertainment tickets
• Memberships to fitness centers
• Photography session

Getting excited? So are we!!! :)

Amazing Raffle Prizes!!!

WOW! Every day our raffle packages for the Benefit Crop are getting better and better!

This past week the Chrysalis donated an overnight stay in a deluxe room (with a view!) with two Swedish massages and a breakfast buffet! Other donations this week included: hydrotherapy tub session, golf packages, theater tickets, salon services, gym membership, and the latest in scrapbooking.

Tickets will be $1 each and available at the crop for attendees. Make sure to bring some extra cash and you might just walk away with an incredibly fantastic package!

Make your reservation today for the Benefit Crop by calling Treasury of Memories at 715-3125. The big event is just a few weeks away...

Share Your Story

Has Children's Hospital touched your life? Have you or your child been a patient at the "miracle house" and feel blessed by their services?

We would love to share your story at our Benefit Crop.

Please email amysmckinley@aol.com or call 360-527-0744. Thanks!

Have You Mailed Your Postcards?

Elizabeth has put together wonderful, informative packets for the 20 Hour Benefit Crop. This will make it very simple to raise your $100! The packets are now available at Treasury of Memories...so please sign up for the crop and get your packet today!

If you live out of the area, please call Treasury at 360-715-3125 and we will send you the packet.

Included in the packet are postcards to mail to family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and anyone else who might donate to this cause. This is such a great and simple way to get pledges. You would be amazed with the generosity of others...you simply need to ask.

With everyone so busy these days, sometimes people just need a gentle nudge to offer financial support for worthy causes. :) The postcards are perfect "nudges!" (Plus it's a lot more comfortable for you versus approaching everyone asking directly for money!)

We also encourage you to speak to your workplace or other businesses about financial donations. A customer (thanks Tamara!) emailed us last night that she asked her boss and he is donating $500! How great is that? Again, sometimes you simply need to ask...you just never know! :)

And remember if you wish to raise more than the required $100, we would LOVE it! There will be special prizes for the attendees who raise the most money. Plus and most importantly, you will know that you have gone above and beyond to support Children's Hospital Uncompensated Care Fund so that EVERY child in the Pacific Northwest has access to quality medical care.

Thank you everyone for your dedication and work in making this crop benefit incredibly successful! We are so excited!