“Children's gave my daughter a second chance to live”A Donate Life Month Story Jaycee was born with megacystis microcolon intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome (MMIH), a rare congenital defect that prevents the stomach, intestines, kidneys, and bladder from functioning correctly. She underwent a small bowel transplant at a hospital near their home in 2009, but it was rejected and removed six years later. In need of a multivisceral transplant for a new stomach, pancreas, intestine, and liver, Jaycee and her family transferred to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, where more pediatric transplants are performed than any other center in the nation. As soon as they walked through the door, the family’s fears transformed into hope. “The staff here is compassionate and knowledgeable,” said Jaycee’s mom, Danette. “You’re not just a number being pushed through.” George V. Mazariegos, MD, chief of Pediatric Transplantation at Children’s Hospital, was one of the first to greet Jaycee and her family. They instantly knew they were in good hands. “I remember his gentle manner as we were so scared, and Jaycee was so sick,” recalled Danette. “Dr. Mazariegos took the time to sit down in our room, listen to our concerns, and ask what we wanted out of our experience at Children’s. It was then I knew we were in the right place.” Jaycee’s comfort with Dr. Mazariegos empowered her to become more involved with her care. In addition to her YouTube channel raising awareness for organ donation, Jaycee found motivation in the hospital’s art and music therapy programs. Months after celebrating her 14th birthday with a party at Children’s last May, Jaycee’s family was relieved to learn that, after two years on the waiting list, she would be receiving a multivisceral transplant by the end of the year. Following her successful transplant in November 2017, Jaycee plans to return to New Jersey and rejoin her classmates for her first year of high school. She and her family will be forever grateful for the level of compassion, comfort, and care they received at Children’s. Donate Now Step Out for Patient Champions at Walk for Children's 2018 Jimmy, a 7-year-old who had recently completed chemotherapy, was thrilled to look out over Flagstaff Hill on a warm summer morning last year and see more than 4,200 people walking through Schenley Park to give kids like him a chance to be kids. “The sight of thousands of people at Walk for Children’s giving their resources and time for kids like Jimmy filled us with the same love that we feel every time we visit the hospital,” said Lacie Spagnolo, Jimmy’s mom. “Jimmy was proud to walk in support of kids who couldn’t be walking with him, but seeing so many people joining him made him feel invincible.” Jimmy was honored as one of our Patient Champions, a group of heroes who have been or are currently being treated at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Last year, the Walk for Children’s raised more than $800,000 to support Children’s Hospital and the care of our Patient Champions. This year, we’ve set our sights on raising $1,000,000 at the third annual Walk for Children’s on Saturday, June 23, an opportunity for patients, caretakers, families, and the community to rally together in support of Children’s Hospital’s mission of excellence. Ten-year-old Addison, recipient of a bone marrow transplant at Children’s in 2015, will proudly take her place at the front of the parade as she and fellow Patient Champions like Jimmy remind the thousands in attendance of the lives that they are improving with every step. Register Now Congratulations to Our New Children's Miracle Network Hospitals Ambassador, Shannon Witkouski! Shannon Witkouski, a lifelong patient of the Heart Institute at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, has been named the hospital’s 2018 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) ambassador. “This is my way to share my story and give back to the many people who helped my family and me when I wasn’t doing well and to help all the kids who are sick and patients in hospitals now,” said Shannon. “All kids should just be focused on being kids, not on their illness, medical tests, or being in a hospital.” Shannon came to Children’s Hospital in 2015 when doctors at the Heart Institute performed two open heart surgeries over five days to repair two major defects. Now a healthy 14-year-old, Shannon continues to meet with her physicians and her care team once a year for follow-up appointments. She hopes to become a pediatrician and provide care for kids with heart problems. In her role as CMNH ambassador, Shannon will supplement her impressive community involvement by representing Children’s at local events with CMNH national partners. Children's Hospital Expands Liver Transplant Program to Florida In 1981, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC opened the country’s first comprehensive pediatric transplant center under the pioneering guidance of Thomas E. Starzl, MD, PhD. Nearly three decades and more than 1,800 transplants later, the pediatric liver transplant program at Children’s Hospital ranks first out of 62 centers in the United States for one-year overall patient and graft survival. This month, Children’s extends its world-class program to the Sunshine State through the development of a comprehensive liver transplant program at Florida Hospital for Children, one of the largest nonprofit hospitals in the nation. This program marks the first of its kind in Orlando and the second in the state. “This partnership brings the experience of one of the nation’s best pediatric liver transplant programs to central Florida,” said Regino Gonzalez-Peralta, MD, director of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Liver Transplantation, Florida Hospital for Children. “The Florida Hospital and Children’s Hospital partnership is not only a win for our patients, but all of Florida.” Members of the transplant team from Children’s will participate in the management of patients at Florida Hospital, where transplant surgeons, medical specialists, and nurses from both hospitals will perform pediatric liver transplant surgeries together. “This opportunity to expand our services and expertise will provide the best possible care and make transplant a life-saving treatment for families in the Florida area to help them to achieve a better quality of life,” said George V. Mazariegos, MD, chief of Pediatric Transplantation at Children’s. In 2016, Children’s became the first and only pediatric liver transplant program to expand the geographic reach of its expertise through a partnership with the University of Virginia Children’s Hospital in Charlottesville. Foundation of the Year Annual Grantmakers' Meeting Experts at Your Fingertips Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) honored Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation as the 2017 Hospital/Foundation Team of the Year from a field of 170 CMNH organizations throughout the United States and Canada. This latest recognition is the result of dedicated commitment from our donors, staff, and community partners. The Children’s Trust will convene for their annual Grantmakers’ Meeting on Thursday, May 17, at the Rivers Club to learn more about innovative research and vote to award the Children’s Trust Grant to the most promising new work from Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC junior faculty. Learn what’s app-ening at Children’s with the newly released ChildrensPgh mobile app, which includes must-have features for patients and caregivers. Available for Apple and Android products through the App Store and Google Play, the app supports easy access to essential medical information such as patient portals, directions to Children’s facilities, and much more. Read more Read more Read more