2003- Megan Carpenter
Wellsville, NY
Megan was born November 9, 1988 at Childrens Hospital of Buffalo. Four weeks prior to her birth she was diagnosed with Spina Bifida. Within the first three days of life she had three surgeries; two to close the opening in her spine and one for a VP shunt placement to control hydrocephalus. She spent her first month in the intensive care nursery. Megan has been attending the spina bifida clinic since that time where she sees specialists in neurology, orthopedics, urology and adaptive equipment support. She also attended an independence-training program at the Robert Warner Rehab Center.
Megan began walking with a parapodium at one year of age followed by RGO walking braces and a walker. She got her first wheelchair at age three and now, at age 14, relies solely on the use of her wheelchair. She has received physical therapy since three months of age and will probably continue to do so for the duration of her life. She has had seven surgeries since birth and continues to be seen at the spina bifida clinic at Childrens Hospital.
As an eighth grader at Wellsville Middle School, Megan has many friends. She participates in a variety of school activities, including band and choir, and is regularly on the honor roll. She has also participated for several years in the New York State Games for the Physically Challenged in Brockport, NY, where she has earned many gold medals.
She lives at home with her parents, Jerry and Alyce, and also has an older sister Terra. In addition, she loves her two basset hounds, Chloe and George. Megan loves to play the piano and her favorite animals are white tigers. "Together as a family we are anxious to support the Variety Club Telethon as Megan and other children throughtout Western New York with special medical needs continue to receive services and support at Childrens Hospital of Buffalo". 2002- Aiden & Colin Cook
Wellsville, NY
Fraternal twins Aiden and Colin were born on May 25,2001, at Children's Hospital of Buffalo to first time parents, Kila and Greg Cook. The boys were premature comign 12 weeks early and weighing a combined total of 5 lbs. and 3 oz. They spent the first 7 weeks in the ICN.
They had very similar health concerns and milestones. They could not breathe on their own so they relied on respirators for three days. On the third day the graduated to nasal canulas with oxygen flow. At 2 weeks old the boys took a turn for the worst and did go back on the respirator for a week. They were showing signs of anemia and infections that resulted in the first blood transfusions. Kila and Greg held them for the first time when they were 31/2 weeks old weighing 3 lbs. 5 oz.
At 7 weeks old Aiden and Colin started to eat from a bottle. At this point doctors felt they were healthy enough to be released from Intensive Care and taken to another hospital for growing puposes. They spent an addtional 2 weeks and were relased at 9 weeks old weighing 5 pounds 6 ounces.
At eight months old, Aiden and Colin are healthy and happy weighing over 16 lbs. each. Doctors had yet to determine why they were so eager to come into the world. With the grace of God and the amazing staff at Children's Hospital the boys have made it! Kila and Greg say that words alone cannot express how grateful they are to have these precious angels in their life. The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Children's Hospital and all those that supported the family through thoughts and prayers.
2000 - Patrick Finn
Wellsville, NY
 When Patrick was about 6 months old (January 1993) his parents noticed that he was not meeting many of the milestones for his age. He was also making a jerky motion upon waking from his sleep. After some tests by their doctor Patrick was sent to Children's Hospital.
Having all kinds of tests run on him during his week long stay, it was determined that Patrick was suffering from Myoclonic seizures caused by a brain infarct on the left frontal lobe. In simpler words, an area that was never formed, or possibly an area that was damaged by a stroke in utero. The news was pretty solemn. There was no way to tell what the future would hold for Patrick.
Various therapies and medications were tried on Patrick which began during a two week stay at Children's. It was during this time that the doctors discovered Patrick has a heart condition called Aortic Stenosis. He is missing a valve or has a valve that is not functioning correctly.
After being on medications for three years, Patrick is today free of medications and outward signs of seizures. Since the Spring of 1993, he has received physical, occupational and speech therapy. To help the placement of his right leg and foot, he wore a Ankle-Foot Orthotic made at the Robert Warner Orthotic Lab of Children's Hospital.
Patrick is now in the first grade in Wellsville and doing quite well. He continues to receive his therapies during school and has a full time aide to help him. He does very well at most activities. He plays in a summer soccer league and is starting a "little dribblers" basketball program soon. He still does not use his right hand for fine motor activities, but he is learning to compensate for his disabilities. Patrick has difficulties with choosing words often knowing what he wants to say but can't remember the words. This is typical of a stroke victim. Patrick has a little brother, Connor, and dog, Roo. His parents, Mark and Monica, say Children's Hospital was very helpful to the entire family. Without their help, they would not have been able to handle everything as well as they did. 1999 - Leah Kathryn & Bridget Elizabeth Christman
Wellsville, NY
 Leah and Bridget were born in Children's Hospital after their mother, Tammy, was taken there and treated for severe pre-eclampsia with HELLP syndrome. She developed this shortly after the end of her second trimester of pregnancy.
Leah was born on Oct. 31, 1997, at 11:51 p.m. She was diagnosed with a grade-three bilateral interventricular hemorrhage to her brain. Leah also had patent ductus arteriosus, or PDA, a condition where there is a continuous communication between the main pulmonary artery and the aorta, after birth. She also developed respiratory distress syndrome, pneumonia, as well as several infections. When Leah was sent home, she was on oxygen and heart and lung monitors which she required for three or four months.
Bridget was born ten minutes after Leah, at 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 1, 1997. After birth, she became very ill and developed sepsis. She underwent a colonoscopy to be sure there was no obstruction to her intestinal tract. Bridget also had biopsies taken as well as an incidental appendectomy. As if that were not enough, she was diagnosed with PDA and a pulmonary hemorrhage. In addition Bridget had pneumonia and, a head ultrasound showed, abnormalities in the frontal portion of her brain called PVLs; these abnormalities indicate the possible development of cerebral palsy.
Children's released the girls two months after they were born. They came home to Wellsville with their parents, Robert and Tammy, where they are enrolled in the Early Intervention Programreceiving physical therapy at home once a week. Leah and Bridget also visit Children's for check ups.
The Christmans say they are "enormously blessed to have had so much encouragement from the staff at Children's... we owe everything to God and the care from the professionals at Children's Hospital."
1998 - Raymond Joseph Embser
Wellsville, NY
 Raymond was born in Korea on July 18, 1995 -- about the time that his family was beginning adoption procedures through "Love the Children." Raymond was born with a cleft lip and palate and, although he did not come home to his new family until he was almost five months old, his new parents were well prepared for his surgeries through an early consultation with the Carniofacial Center at Children's Hospital of Buffalo.
Ten days after his arrival, Raymond was evaluated by a feeding specialist, geneticist, ENT, and an Audiologist. Raymond's lip and palate surgeries, with the accompanying typanostomies, went well at Children's. His most recent surgery to remove a foreign object from his nose was also handled in a professional and caring manner.
Though Raymond still has several surgeries ahead of him, his parents, John and Diana, are confident they will go well. His speech development and hearing are within the normal range. Raymond gives a new meaning to living life passionately and even his older brother, Vincent, and older sister, Jenevera, can hardly keep up with him. Mr. and Mrs. Embser wish to thank Children's, saying that they "have been blessed that the staff [at Children's] is dedicated to providing compassionate care to God's greatest gifts."
1997 - Daniel William Graham
Wellsville, NY
 On Tuesday, Sept. 17, 1996, 11-year-old Daniel was walking on the sidewalk after attending his fifth-grade class. At approximately 3:20 p.m., a car veered from State Route 417, jumped the curb, and hit him.
The impact threw Daniel 40 feet into a cement porch. The Wellsville Volunteer Ambulance Corp. arrived within minutes and transported him to Jones Memorial Hospital. Because of his life-threatening injuries, Daniel was immediately transferred to Children's Hospital. Upon arrival, Daniel was listed in critical condition with a fractured skull, a compound-fractured right arm, a cracked rib, and a bruised lung. He spent two weeks in intensive care. While in ICU he had a nurse and doctor by his side for the first 48 hours; they didn't expect him to live two days. Miraculously, Daniel returned home Oct. 26, 1996, and returned to school on Dec. 9.
He continues to receive therapy three days a week. Without the updated technology at Children's and the Lord, Daniel would not be here today. His parents, Gary and Jalea, and sister, Anna, are thankful to the staff at Children's.
1996 - Chase Erin Creedon
Penn Yan, NY
 Chase came into the world on Sept. 26, 1995, looking a bit blue but an otherwise perfectly normal and active eight-pound newborn. Before he was born, his parents, Matt and Denise Creedon, were informed that Chase was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. They were given various options and followed the advice of Children's Hospital.
At six days of age, Chase underwent open-heart surgery. The long operation was successful and Chase came through "like a champ." However, his fight had only begun. The following day, the doctors attempted to take him off the respirator that had been breathing for him almost since birth. Although Chase tried valiantly, he was not yet strong enough to breathe on his own and had to be put back on the respirator. This episode took its toll on little Chase, causing damage to his liver and kidneys, as well as causing his body to retain an enormous amount of fluid. As if that were not enough, a blood clot was discovered inside his heart on the wall of the atrium. He spent a total of 46 days in the hospital, all but about six of those in intensive care.
Today, Chase is home and thriving. While he is on a lot of medication, he appears to be a normal four-month-old baby. He will be monitored by Children's until he is ready for the second stage of the procedure, which is expected to be sometime in late1996. Chase lives with his parents and brother, Asa, who, like Chase, has also been cared for at Children's. "We are forever in the debt of all of those people who helped Chase through this extremely though time," commented Mr. & Mrs. Creedon.
1995 - Jesse Aaron Dodd
Allentown, NY
 Jesse was born on Telethon Weekend, 1988. Ironically, his mother, Carol, was baby-sitting for one of the Wellsville Area Satellite Chairmen while he attended the Satellite Community Dinner.
Jesse was two-months premature and weighed only three pounds. He was transferred by Mercy Flight to Children's Hospital and later diagnosed as suffering from Cerebral Palsy.
Every year, during the Telethon, Jesse's parents, Carol and Rick, are reminded of Jesse's birth and the role Children's had. Sadly, Jesse died on Jan. 26, 1998. He was in the third grade at Scio Central School.
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