Express Employment Professionals and USA Children's and Women's Hospital are teaming up to raise funds for Children's Miracle Network by offering the community a unique opportunity to see and ride beautiful Clydesdale Horses.

The Express Clydesdales will be on display for viewing and wagon rides at
Bel Air Mall Parking Lot
3299 Bel Air Mall
Mobile, AL 36606
3-6pm Friday, Feb 17th

Donations of $3 per ride, cash only.  Soft drinks and Clydesdales memorabilia will be available for purchase with all money going to Children's Miracle Network.
The Express Clydesdales will also appear in the Mystics of Time Parade on Saturday, Feb 18th.

Facebook event: http://www.facebook.com/events/101924049934728/

SENIOR BOWL PLAYERS VISIT PATIENTS AT

USA CHILDREN’S & WOMEN’S HOSPITAL

                MOBILE – For a fun-filled hour on a Friday afternoon, the aches and pains were all but forgotten by many young patients at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital as the annual visit of the Senior Bowl players was underway.

            College football stars were starring this day in patient rooms and hallways, visiting toddlers and teenagers who were at once awed and inspired by these larger-than-life gridiron standouts. 

            The Senior Bowl organization has gifted more than $536,000 to the hospital, for uses such as computers for children receiving treatment in the USS Hope cancer and sickle cell center, along with special golf carts that transport patients and families throughout the USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital campus, and extensive renovations to the hospital’s lobby.

Abby Vaughn was surrounded by supporters from the North, from left, Washington's Alameda Ta'amu, Wisconsin's Brad Nortman and Bradie Ewing and Donnie Fletcher of Boston College

 Kristian George gets a newly autographed football from Coastal Carolina's Josh Norman while Arizona's Nick Foles jots her a note.

MOBILE – College football players from Northern Illinois and Arkansas State set aside their gridiron differences and came together at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital on Jan. 5 to visit young patients on the hospital’s pediatric floors.  The players were participants in the annual GoDaddy.com Bowl held in Mobile on Jan. 8. 

            Handing out teddy bears and T-shirts to their newest fans, the players and patients alike thoroughly enjoyed the annual visit, which is part of the hospital’s ongoing “distraction therapy” for pediatric patients. 

Families of some newborn babies at the University of South Alabama Children’s & Women’s Hospital will be going home with more than just a bundle of joy.  They will also leave with something that could save their baby’s life.

            Children’s & Women’s will now give Infant CPR training kits to families of at-risk newborns from the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.  The CPR kits were provided by the American Heart Association with support from Wells Fargo.

            “Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is a skill all parents should know, but especially parents who have babies in our NICU,” Lanetta Dowell, RN, parent educator in the USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital NICU, said.  “These CPR kits will help reinforce the classes that we teach to the parents of our highest risk babies.”  

            Around 1,000 babies are admitted annually to the Children’s & Women’s NICU (pronounced NICK-you) and the hospital teaches more than 100 Infant CPR classes to around 700 parents of at-risk newborns.  The training kits will allow parents and caregivers to practice CPR techniques in the event their baby stops breathing.

             “It’s vital that parents know CPR, and now parents will also be able to teach CPR techniques to their family, friends and caregivers,” Owen Bailey, USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital administrator, said.  “We appreciate the support of the American Heart Association and Wells Fargo.  There can be no greater gift than one that can help save a life.”

            Each kit comes with a Mini Baby CPR Learning Manikin, which can be inflated to practice CPR.  In addition, the kit includes an instructional DVD, reminder cards, directions and cleansing wipes.

“The American Heart Association is so grateful for Wells Fargo’s support of the AHA’s CPR Anytime Program,” Christina Quick, Alabama Gulf Coast regional director for the American Heart Association, said.  “The Infant CPR Kits were developed to increase Infant CPR knowledge among the public, especially new mothers.  For every kit, an estimated 2.5 people are trained – thus, saving more lives and increasing awareness of life-saving skills.”

            “Wells Fargo is proud to partner with the American Heart Association to bring life-saving training to new mothers in Mobile,” Chuck Harmon, Wells Fargo Business Banking area manager, said.  “We hope to continue to grow upon this success of USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital’s care of infants and new mothers for years to come.”

USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital is among fewer than ten freestanding hospitals in the country dedicated specifically to the health care needs of children and women, offering Mobile’s only neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, pediatric oncology and sickle cell outpatient center and high-risk obstetrical care.  With more than 2,800 births annually, USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital is the area’s leader in deliveries.  For more information about USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital, please visit www.usahealthsystem.com/usacwh or call (251) 415-1000.

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke, America’s number one and three killers, by teaming with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases.  To learn more or to get involved, call 800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any AHA office. 

CAPTION: Lanetta Dowell, NICU parent educator, demonstrates one of the Infant CPR kits presented to USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital.  Back row from left are, Owen Bailey, hospital administrator; Christina Quick, American Heart Association; Ricky Mathews, Press-Register publisher; and Chuck Harmon, Wells Fargo. 

Pictures from Radiothon Day 1: CLICK HERE

 cody Cody Harris from CMT's Sweet Home Alabama speaks to Mary and Mason on his experience at the USA Children's and Women's Hospital.

 Deandra Mrs. Deandra Chapman talks about her daughter Starla who was diagnosed in the Fall of 2011 w/acute Myeloma Leukemia which went into remission after the first round of chemo. Starla and her family will represent the CWH and the Ronald McDonald House by "Flipping the Switch" at our first ever "Lights of Love" event.

 karen Karen was only 6 years old when she was run over by a school bus. She spent many months in what is now CWH. Her experience there made her realize that she wanted to be a nurse when she grew up. Karen in now the nurse manager in the PICU, where she spent much time as a child.

 deedee Mother of former Patient AJ McCarron who when he was 5 was involved in a serious Jet Ski accident. He was treated at CWH and the McCarron family is truly grateful to the hospital for the excellent care given to AJ. AJ is currently the starting QB for the Crimson Tide

 hannah Hannah is having chemo for her brain tumor on Wednesday, so she can be home for Thanksgiving.  She says she is blessed to have the doctors and nurses at USA Children's & Women's Hospital! 

 CMN Brenna & Blakely

 CMN Taylor Davis.mp3

 CMN Mom & Triplets

 CMN Shauna & Scot

 CMN Veronica Hudson

It's time for the 13th year of our Radiothon for Kids, to benefit the USA Children's & Women's Hospital. Our presenting sponsor is Spring Hill Toyota.

The radiothon will take place Monday throughWednesday (11/21-23); 6AM until 7PM Monday and Tuesday, then 6AM until 12noon on Wednesday. We'll start each day in our Lite Mix 99.9 studios, but then we're heading out to Sam's Club. Here are the hours at each location:

1)  Sam's Club
     29683 Frederick Blvd
     Daphne, Al 36526. Monday 10am to 7pm

2)  Sam's Club 
     601 E I-65 Service Road So
     Mobile, Al 36606. Tuesday 10am-7pm

 3)  Sam's Club 
     601 E I-65 Service Road So
     Mobile, Al 36606. Wednesday 9am-12pm

Volunteers will be available as early as 7AM at both Mobile/Baldwin locations of Sam's Club to take your donations, and to become a Lite Mix Miracle Maker. You can donate by phone, online, or make a one-time $10 donation via text message. Please become a Miracle Maker by donating $12 a month for a year. We call it a 12x12 and it will make a big difference in the life of a child, right here at home. 

HOW TO DONATE:

Toll-Free PHONE NUMBER:

1-888-499-KIDS (5437)
 

ONLINE: CLICK HERE TO DONATE

TEXT: Give a $10 donation by texting GIVE2CWH to 85944. The donation is added to your cell phone bill. 

You can also donate at all Trax Tires Automotive Centers in Mobile and Baldwin Counties. Click here for the locations.

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU
TO ALL OF OUR SPONSORS

We'll share stories and needs of the USA Children's & Women's Hospital, and we encourage you to help by giving to this hospital in our community with so much need. They provide care for so many throughout the year, and you have the chance to be a prt of the miracles that occur at the hospital every single day.

The University of South Alabama Children’s & Women’s Hospital in Mobile is one of only two hospitals in Alabama affiliated with the Children’s Miracle Network. Our hospital is the only hospital in Alabama specializing in all aspects of care for children and newborns, as well as in the care of expectant mothers. Here, our patients receive treatment from doctors and staff with specialty training and experience in the fields of pediatrics, neonatology and women’s health care. Children and women from southern Alabama, northwest Florida, and southeast Mississippi receive care from the USA Health System, which includes USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital.

2010

• 66,291 Total Patient Days of Service
• 16,151 Patient Days of Service for Women
• 3,529 Surgeries Performed
• 181.61 Average Daily Census
• 2,820 Babies Delivered (many were high-risk and complicated pregnancies)

Unique services provided at the USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital include:

USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital is one of only five freestanding hospitals in the United States providing care to children and women exclusively. If you would like more information on how you can become involved with the hospital, please call the Office of Development for Children’s & Women’s Hospital at (251) 415-1636 or visit www.southalabama.edu/usacwh and click on Make A Gift.

Pictured is an artist’s rendering of the proposed new look of The University of South Alabama Children's & Women's Hospital. USA’s Board of Trustees has approved the expansion project, which will improve the hospital’s interior facilities, the exterior’s aesthetics, and the parking lot.

Jalaysha Carter, a 5-year-old girl from Mobile who is winning her battle with cancer, has been chosen to represent the state of Alabama for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ Champions program in 2011.

Jalaysha has been treated at the University of South Alabama Children’s & Women’s Hospital for ganglioneuroblastoma, a type of cancer. She was selected and is being honored because of her courage in overcoming her illness.

“We’re all very proud of Jalaysha and happy that she has been recognized as a state champion,” Owen Bailey, administrator of USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital, said at a news conference held at the Sam’s Club store at Springdale Mall. “We’re grateful for our relationship with Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club, which are strong supporters of our hospital and the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Champions program.”

When she was 2, Jalaysha was diagnosed with an unusual type of ganglioneuroblastoma. In most cases, neuroblastoma pushes the body’s central organs out of the way as it forms. In Jalaysha’s case, the cancer grafted itself onto her liver, her kidney and her aorta. She underwent three complex surgeries - each more than seven hours long - to remove the operable portions of the tumors. Because of its location, the remaining tumor on her aorta cannot be removed and must be monitored closely throughout her life. Jalaysha also bravely endured difficult chemotherapy treatments that spanned two years.

“For them to honor and select ‘Lay Lay’ to represent the state of Alabama - out of all those children, they chose her - we're just so happy and excited about that,” her grandmother, Cynthia Spencer, said at the news conference.

The Champions program brings together children from across the United States that have tackled severe medical challenges. They represent the 17 million children that are treated at 170 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals every year. Through the Champions program, they will support fundraising campaigns for USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital throughout the year. In October, they will visit Washington, D.C. and Walt Disney World to inspire others to support children’s hospitals.

In Washington, Jalaysha and the other Champions will visit the White House and Capitol Hill, where they will meet with Alabama representatives to share their stories. Following their trip to the nation’s capitol, the Champions and their families take part in Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ annual Celebration event in Orlando, Fla. Celebration unites hospitals, sponsors and celebrities to celebrate achievements, share best practices and honor the children who benefit from Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ fundraising efforts.

MOBILE AND BALDWIN COUNTY OPTIMIST CLUBS JOIN USA CHILDREN’S & WOMEN’S HOSPITAL FOR “STRIKE OUT CHILDHOOD CANCER NIGHT” AT HANK AARON STADIUM

MOBILE– USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital and the Optimist Clubs of Mobile and Baldwin counties are teaming up on Friday, Aug. 12 for “Strike Out Childhood Cancer Night” at Hank Aaron Stadium, when the Mobile BayBears host the Mississippi Braves at 7:05 p.m., with a huge fireworks show to follow the game.

Advance voucher tickets are $8, with $3 from every voucher sale going to support USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital.  To purchase vouchers, please contact Beth Mattei in the hospital’s Development Office at 415-1288 or bmattei@usouthal.edu.

USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital is a leader in treating children’s cancer.  The hospital’s USS Hope treatment center is a cheerful, submarine-themed room designed for children undergoing treatment for cancer, sickle cell disease and other transfusion therapies.  As a member of the Children’s Oncology Group, the world’s largest childhood cancer research organization, USA's pediatric oncologists have access to the latest and most effective cancer treatment protocols for children. 

For more information about USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital, please visit www.usahealthsystem.com and click on Children’s & Women’s Hospital or call (251) 415-1000. 

Pediatric patients at the University of South Alabama Children’s & Women’s Hospital look especially forward to Thursdays. That’s when the hospital’s weekly “Pet Therapy” program pays a visit.

Each Thursday afternoon, specially trained dogs go room-to-room to see the youngsters and brighten their day. However, with the number of hospitalized children increasing, there’s a need for more dogs to join the Pet Therapy program at Children’s & Women’s.

“Pet therapy is a winning program for patients and their families, our staff and volunteers, and the community as a whole,” Belinda Baggett, director of volunteer services at USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital, said. The program is operated through the hospital’s Volunteer Services department.

Dogs and their handlers must be screened by the hospital and meet the requirements set by the Delta Society, a human-services organization dedicated to improving people's health and well-being through positive interactions with animals. Presently, the hospital’s auxiliary is offering two scholarships for training. This will cover the text manual, registration with the Delta Society and testing fees. For more information, call 666-6589 or 602-1612.

USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital is among fewer than ten freestanding hospitals in the country dedicated specifically to the health care needs of children and women, offering Mobile’s only neonatal and pediatric intensive care units, pediatric oncology and sickle cell outpatient center and high-risk obstetrical care. With more than 2,800 births annually, USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital is the area’s leader in deliveries.

A major expansion that will nearly double the size of USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital is scheduled to be completed in 2013, recognizing the community’s validation of the hospital’s quality of care and the hospital’s opportunity to continue to meet the needs of a varied and growing population.

For more information about USA Children’s & Women’s Hospital, please visit www.southalabama.edu/usacwh or call (251) 415-1000.