ISSUE 4 – 2017

THE JAN AND DAN DUNCAN NEUROLOGICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE

- 20 -

PROMISE CAMPAIGN UPDATES

- 6 -

MEET TEXAS CHILDREN´S CANINE EMPLOYEE

- 28 -

“I won’t stop working to find and treat the root causes of neurological disorders. It’s a promise I’ve made to my patients and their families.”

– Dr. Christian Schaaf

Dr. Schaaf ’s work at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital has already resulted

in several breakthrough discoveries related to autism and other neurological disorders. Your gift helps ensure that Dr. Schaaf can

continue his important research — and keep his promise.

A promise kept makes another possible.

Donate to the Promise Campaign today.

texaschildrens.org/promise

832-824-6806

“I won’t stop working to find and treat the root causes of neurological disorders. It’s a promise I’ve made to my patients and their families.”

– Dr. Christian Schaaf

Dr. Schaaf ’s work at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital has already resulted

in several breakthrough discoveries related to autism and other neurological disorders. Your gift helps ensure that Dr. Schaaf can

continue his important research — and keep his promise.

A promise kept makes another possible.

Donate to the Promise Campaign today.

texaschildrens.org/promise

832-824-6806

AMBER L. TABORA, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS

STACEY COOK, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

MICHAEL COTHRAN, MANAGING EDITOR

ANN SAYE, MANAGING EDITOR

KELLY CLIBURN, ELIZABETH DeLUCA, KRISTINA GRAY, MICHELLE HERNADEZ, ROSANNE MOORE, JESSICA POOL, KIMBERLY VETTER, CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS

ADCETERA, DESIGN AND CONTENT CONTRIBUTOR

JENNY ANTILL CLIFTON, ALLEN KRAMER, PAUL KUNTZ, WILL LEBLANC, JOHN LEWIS, CHINH PHAN, SMILEY POOL, KAREN SACHAR, CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Start making a difference today.

Give onlinetexaschildrens.org/give

Give over the phone832-824-6806

Give via mailTexas Children’s HospitalOffice of Development1919 South Braeswood Boulevard Suite 5214Houston, Texas 77030

OFFICERS

ANN LENTS CHAIR

MICHAEL LINN PRESIDENT

KEVIN C. KING VICE PRESIDENT

FREDA WILKERSON BASS VICE PRESIDENT

CINDY B. TAYLOR VICE PRESIDENT

C. PARK SHAPER TREASURER

SUSAN BELL BOYKIN SECRETARY

DACE REINHOLDS ASSISTANT SECRETARY

EMERITUS TRUSTEES

JOSEPHINE E. ABERCROMBIEKIRBY ATTWELLBEN A. BROLLIERDONALD P. DEWALCHDARRELL C. MORROW TOWNES G. PRESSLER

ADVISORY BOARD

EDUARDO AGUIRRE, JR.LEWIS E. BRAZELTON IIIO. HOLCOMBE CROSSWELL ROBERT L. GERRY IIIBARRY H. MARGOLISBEN B. McANDREW IIIEDWARD S. McCULLOUGHWILLIAM K. McGEE, JR.

WILLIE J. ALEXANDERMERRELL A. ATHONTHOMAS G. BACONFREDA WILKERSON BASSSUSAN BELL BOYKINMARTHA CARNESJOSEPH A. CLEARY, JR.ANTHONY F. DeLUCAJAN DUNCANJENNY ELKINSNANCY R. GORDONVICTOR E. HARRISRONALD C. HULMEJODIE LEE JILESKEVIN C. KINGANN LENTSMICHAEL LINNWILLIAM N. MATHIS

ROBERT E. MEADOWSDAVID L. MENDEZSUZANNE NIMOCKSANTHONY G. PETRELLODAN PICKERINGGARY L. ROSENTHALTONY SANCHEZC. PARK SHAPERL.E. SIMMONSJOES V. STAFFY. PING SUNCINDY B. TAYLORTYM TOMBARBRAD TUCKERMARK A. WALLACEPETER S. WAREINGMAX P. WATSONSCOTT N. WULFE

PROMISE CAMPAIGN CHAIRS

CAROL AND MICHAEL LINN

PROMISE CAMPAIGN HONORARY CHAIRS

JANICE AND BOB McNAIR

PROMISE CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS

O. HOLCOMBE CROSSWELL LESLIE AND MICHAEL FERTITTA CAROL AND PHIL GARNER NANCY GORDON CARI AND JOHN GRIGGS JUDY AND GLENN SMITH

PROMISE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE LEADERSHIP

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

CONTRIBUTORS

2017 BOARD OF TRUSTEES

24

34

39

Toss for Texas Children’s Heart Center

More Miracles are on the WayKeller Gray’s Story

A Gift for CarolineElizabeth and Anthony DeLuca

42017 Calendar of EventsWhat’s New, What’s Next

13Houston Family Driven to Do GoodThe Jerold B. Katz Foundation

New Miracles Create a Healthier FutureChildren’s Miracle Network Program

Fraser s Friends Celebrating Surgical Achievementsat Texas Children’s Hospital

The Forum Luncheon HoustonSurgery Services at Texas Children’s Hospital

A Transformational GiftBristol-Myers Squibb Foundation

Promises in ActionPromise Campaign Updates

20

32

16

6

21 Years of “What’s Up, Doc?”

12

5 A Loving TributeBecky and Kevin Hostler

18

30

26

Ushering in a New Era of Discovery

The Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute

Celebration of Champions

Providing Healing and Comfort through Man’s Best FriendJudy and Bobby Shackouls

Ambassadors for Texas Children’s Hospital

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36

The Bad Pants Open14

3

ISSUE 4 – 2017

IN THIS ISSUE ...TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

All the amazing stories and Texas Children’s news you love in Aspire are just a touch, swipe or click away. Visit online and gain access to:

To view this issue, or for access to previous issues, visit aspire.texaschildrens.org. And don’t forget to share with friends!

Visit aspire.texaschildrens.org.

the latest videos

fullarticles

more photos

Join us as we celebrate champions in the community and champions in the fight

against pediatric cancer.

October 6 CELEBRATION OF CHAMPIONS

TOSS FOR TEXAS CHILDREN’S HEART CENTER

BAD PANTS OPEN

FALL FORUM LUNCHEON

It’s a fun-raising fundraiser that’s like nothing else. Come out for great food and good

times as we raise support and awareness for Texas Children’s Heart Center.

October 26

You don’t need to bring your best golf game — just your worst pants. All proceeds benefit Texas Children’s Newborn Center.

October 12

Featuring Dr. David G. Poplack, director of Texas Children’s Cancer Center and Hematology Services

November 19FPO

2017C A L E N D A R O F E V E N T S

aspire.texaschildrens .org

4

A LOVING TRIBUTEB EC K Y A N D K E V I N H O S T L E R

Neither was this their first Forum Luncheon. They had attended once before at the invitation of their good friends, Shirley and Ralph Alexander, residents of The Woodlands and Texas Children’s supporters. There, they heard about Promise: The Campaign for Texas Children’s Hospital and preparations for an enormous expansion that would enable the hospital to provide its unmatched services to even more children and families. It left an indelible impression on the Hostlers. “No one is more vulnerable than a child,” Kevin Hostler said. “We were initially drawn to Texas Children’s because of how they are uniquely equipped to care for the most vulnerable children and families in difficult circumstances.” That day at their second Forum Luncheon, the Hostlers had come prepared to make a commitment of their own to the Promise Campaign — a gift in honor of their five grandchildren: their daughter Kathy’s children, Jackson and Liam,

and their son Jonathan’s children, Isabella, Aiden and Norah. The program that afternoon featured the stories of three brave children from The Woodlands who had all survived life-threatening illnesses thanks to the experts at Texas Children’s. Unfortunately, they had also faced a literal race against time to receive the care they desperately needed at the Texas Medical Center campus. Through a virtual tour, the audience caught a glimpse of Texas Children’s solution to this challenge and its promise to those communities: Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, a state-of-the-art community pediatric hospital, will provide specialty outpatient, inpatient and emergency care for tens of thousands of families closer to home. At the program’s conclusion, the lights came up and the people began to disperse. But Becky and Kevin Hostler remained — sitting quietly, stirred by echoes of the past and the memory of their family’s personal struggle.

In 2007, Becky and Kevin’s daughter, Kathy, was expecting her first child in Anchorage, Alaska. Tragically, she lost the baby at 28 weeks, a little girl she and her husband, Tony, had decided to name Hazel. The family’s grief was profound. When Kathy and Tony learned they were pregnant with twin sons the following year, they were overjoyed. But they were also anxious after the trauma of losing Hazel. For three months, Kathy received wonderful care around the clock, and though the twins were born six weeks early, they required only a brief stay in the neonatal intensive care unit. As Becky and Kevin sat listening at The Forum Luncheon all those years later, they were reminded of their own journey in the stories that had been shared. “It was serendipitous,” Becky Hostler said. “We were overwhelmed by how those families’ experiences resonated with us. We had already decided to make a gift, but after the program,

we both knew we wanted to give more.” Becky and Kevin decided they wanted to make gifts in honor of each of their grandchildren. But as they were discussing, Kevin suddenly stopped and looked at his wife, and asked, “What about Hazel?” To honor their five living grandchildren, and in memory of Hazel, the Hostlers donated $150,000 to Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands to name six examination rooms in the new Outpatient Building. “When we first heard about Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, we related to the need,” Kevin said. “We had seen firsthand how important it is for families to be together when they have to be in the hospital and to have that hospital close by. Every person we’ve met at Texas Children’s — from the doctors and nurses to the administrative staff — are all remarkable. Now they’re here in the community in The Woodlands. And that takes a tremendous burden off families.”

When Becky and Kevin Hostler attended The Forum Luncheon The Woodlands in April 2015, it was not their first

exposure to Texas Children’s Hospital. They had been familiar with the hospital’s reputation since the late 1980s

as a place where health care miracles happened.

“ Our promise is to support our community in any way we can. And we see Texas Children’s as being an important contributor to the well-being of the community.”

– Becky and Kevin Hostler, Promise Campaign donors

Learn more about how you can make a tribute gift at

texaschildrens.org/tribute

“... Every person we’ve met at Texas Children’s — from the doctors and nurses to the administrative staff —

are all remarkable.” – Kevin Hostler

“... We had seen firsthand how important it is for families to be together

when they have to be in the hospital, and to have that hospital close by ...”

5

ISSUE 4 – 2017

P RO F I L E S I N P H I L A N T H RO P Y

P R O M I S E S I N A C T I O NThanks to the extraordinary support of generous donors in the community,

Texas Children’s Hospital is keeping its promises to children and women in need of the finest health care available. These are just a few of the milestones we have met on two of the chief priorities of

Promise: The Campaign for Texas Children’s Hospital.

Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands

The new building houses almost 20 areas of specialized care including cardiology, sports medicine, neurology and hematology/oncology. “Everything about Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands is about improving the health and wellness of children and families in this community,” said Dr. Charles Hankins, chief medical officer. A state-of-the art sports medicine gym is on the first floor, check-in and check-out stations resembling a child’s clubhouse are at the entrance of each clinic, and spacious exam rooms and provider work stations line many of the building’s halls. In addition, Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands will be home to a state-of-the-art motion and human performance lab and special gait lab, which will serve the entire Texas Children’s system. Human performance improvement spans the spectrum from correcting a congenital heart defect, to improving a disabled child’s gait, to correcting the throwing motion of an elite high

school baseball pitcher to avoid injury. The motion and human performance lab has what it takes to achieve these goals including the technology and expertise to assess vestibular dysfunction, examine human motion, and assess pulmonary and cardiac function. The new hospital is already making a big impact. “We hear weekly about the positive effect we’re already having on patients,” said Dr. Jeffrey Shilt, chief surgical officer at Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands. “The convenience for many of our sickest patients to receive the best care close to home is creating a tremendous boost to their quality of life. But the most overwhelming thing for me has been the support from the community. People are proud to have this hospital here. The community’s input has been integral in creating this hospital, and the philanthropic support we’ve received has been instrumental in delivering that vision.”

On October 4, 2016, we marked the opening of the Outpatient Building of Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands with a private welcome celebration that included breakfast, comments from organization leaders, and tours of the six-floor, 209,973-square-foot facility.

CELEBRATION MARKS OUTPATIENT BUILDING OPENING

aspire.texaschildrens .org

6

See more from the event at

aspire.texaschildrens.org/PromiseUpdates

A.

C.

B.

D.

E.

When John Brock with Tellepsen Builders signed up

to work on Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, he

never imagined his relationship with the hospital would

be anything more than business. But a turn of events in his

teenage daughter’s life changed that very quickly, making

Brock’s experience with Texas Children’s extremely

personal.

At the age of 14, his daughter was diagnosed with

scoliosis by her Texas Children’s Pediatrics primary

care physician. When her condition worsened, her

doctor recommended surgery. Today, she is 22 years

old and is doing very well, thanks to the care she

received at Texas Children’s.

Brock, who is the senior supervisor for the hospital’s

facilities, shared his personal story with many of his crew

members who in turn shared similar stories of their

own. Because of the shared connection, he asked his

crew if they would be open to making a donation to

Texas Children’s. The crew answered with a resounding

yes and started pitching in.

Months later at the opening ceremony of the outpatient

facility, Brock, with his entire crew in the background,

presented almost $10,000 to Texas Children’s President

and CEO Mark A. Wallace.

“I am so humbled and grateful for this donation, made

by a tremendous group of people dedicated to the health

of children and women,” Wallace said. “It speaks volumes

about the impact Texas Children’s makes on our patients,

their families and beyond.”

THE WOODLANDS CONSTRUCTION CREW DONATES TO THE CAUSE

A. (From left) Michelle Riley-Brown, Mark A. Wallace, Dr. Jeffrey ShiltB. Carol LinnC. Mark A. Wallace and Dr. Jeffrey ShiltD. A member of the hospital staff demonstrates on a tricycleE. The Spasticity Clinic in the Outpatient Building

7

ISSUE 4 – 2017

The inpatient facility at Texas Children’s Hospital The

Woodlands opened on April 11, 2017. On its very first day,

there were 23 surgeries, 42 visits to the emergency center

and two babies admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit.

Those busy days continued, leading up to the official

celebration of the hospital’s grand opening on the evening

of Friday, April 28, when nearly 600 guests gathered for a

gala event that was filled with emeralds and sapphires and

diamonds — oh my!

Chaired by Johnna and Ryan Edone and Tracey and Sean

O’Neal, the gala grossed almost $900,000 — including

$373,000 raised at the event through an auction, raffle

and donations.

The evening was filled with glitter-dusted surprises

around every corner of the spectacular tent erected for the

occasion. Following a three-course dinner provided by

A Fare Extraordinaire, guests enthusiastically bid on

once-in-a life-time auction items, the most popular being

a Bahamas-bound super yacht! After the bidding frenzy

ended, donors were treated to a performance by Grammy-

nominated artist, Jewel, who delighted the crowd with

songs and stories of her life.

In attendance were Board members Michael C. Linn

and his wife Carol, as well as Joe Cleary, along with Texas

Children’s leadership including Michelle Riley-Brown,

executive vice president and president, Texas Children’s

Hospital The Woodlands; Dr. Charles Hankins, chief

medical officer; Dr. Jeffrey Shilt, chief surgical officer; and

Texas Children’s Hospital in-chiefs Dr. Mark W. Kline,

Dr. Dean Andropolous, Dr. James Versalovic, and

Dr. George S. Bisset. Also celebrating on Friday evening

were, Kathy and George Bishop, Candice and Gerald

Glenn, Judy and Glenn Smith, Pam and Gary Whitlock, Carol

and Phil Garner, and newlyweds, Kristy and George Lindahl.

The gala concluded with late-night snacks and dancing.

Flipping the tent overnight, the evening celebration venue

was transformed for the official ribbon cutting ceremony

the next day. Early Saturday morning, nearly 400 guests

gathered to celebrate the new community hospital with

remarks by Riley-Brown, Hankins and Shilt. They all painted

a picture of what an impact Texas Children’s Hospital The

Woodlands had made in just the three short weeks since it

opened. An inspirational video featuring the new hospital’s

milestones followed. To conclude the official opening,

confetti flew as the new hospital’s leaders officially cut the

commemorative ribbon.

Next up was a gathering of more than 1,500 members of

Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands staff, volunteers

and community members, who lined up for the inaugural

Family Fun Run. Following pre-race stretching with Dr.

Kristen Ernest, sports medicine physician, as well as the

national anthem from the College Park High School Herald

Trumpets, the runners were off with a sound of the horn.

Along the one-mile course, runners were greeted by hoopla

stations from the Oak Ridge High School Sparkle Cheer

Team, the College Park High School Drum Line and Let them

Drum. Upon crossing the finish line and receiving their

medals, runners enjoyed the post-race Family Fun Zone,

presented by H-E-B, which included bounce houses, face

painting, arts and crafts, and much more.

INPATIENT FACILITY GRAND OPENING GALA AND RIBBON CUTTING

See more from the event at

aspire.texaschildrens.org/PromiseUpdates

aspire.texaschildrens .org

8

Slated to be completed in 2018, the Legacy Tower will house additional acute care cardiology beds and critical care beds dedicated specifically for surgery patients and for neurology patients, along with state- of-the-art operating rooms, including one with an intra-operative MRI.

PEDIATRIC TOWER TOPPING OUTTexas Medical Center Campus

Hear more from the Fondren Family at

aspire.texaschildrens.org/PromiseUpdates

On February 9, 2017, Texas Children’s and W.S. Bellows

Construction celebrated the topping out of Texas Children’s new

Pediatric Tower, recently named the Legacy Tower, in the Texas

Medical Center at a ceremony led by Texas Children’s President

and CEO Mark A. Wallace, Texas Children’s Board of Trustees

Chair Ann Lents, and W.S. Bellows Construction President

Laura Bellows.

Under a large tent across the street from the tower’s 400-foot-

tall structure, nearly 700 guests cheered as a seven-foot-tall

loblolly pine tree was hoisted to the top of the hospital’s new

building, commemorating the successful completion of the

building’s external structure.

During the topping out ceremony, Wallace recognized the

phenomenal leadership of Texas Children’s Board of Trustees;

project partners, FKP Architects and W.S. Bellows Construction;

Texas Children’s executive leadership team; the Legacy Tower

leadership team; Chase Fondren, whose daughter Ella had a

successful liver transplant at Texas Children’s, and the generous

donors who have contributed to the Promise Campaign.

Texas Children’s Heart Center will be completely relocated to the new

Pediatric Tower and will include a dedicated pediatric heart failure

intensive care unit — the first of its kind anywhere.

The unit, which opened in 2015, is the result of innovative thinking

from Dr. Paul Checchia, medical director of the Cardiovascular Intensive

Care Unit and services at Texas Children’s, and his devoted team.

“We were looking for inventive ways to expand the number of

beds available for cardiac patients,” Dr. Checchia said. “We realized

that we had six to ten patients at any given time who were in some

stage of critical heart failure, whether from infection or congenital

abnormality, or who were pre-transplant. And we also had patients

who needed more specialized care post-transplant. So we realized

that this cohort needed a unit purposefully designed for their unique

needs that would deliver specific specialized physician care, nursing,

physical therapy and nutrition care, along with the right kind of

equipment resources.”

The results have been remarkable, with improvements in every

marker of quality of care, including patient and staff satisfaction.

Dr. Checchia also cited the recent proliferation of pediatric ventricular

assist devices for children as a reason for the unit’s success.

“Over the past five years, there’s been a true sea change in the

miniaturization of technology and what we can do for pediatric

patients,” Dr. Checchia said. “Children who would not have survived

seven or eight years ago now have these ventricular assist devices

and are in the heart failure unit receiving cutting-edge care and

getting better.”

Dr. Checchia and Dr. Lara Shekerdemian, chief of Critical Care

Medicine at Texas Children’s, oversee the unit. Drs. Antonio

Cabrera and Jack Price serve as associate medical directors.

Already, the unit has earned a national reputation, with experts

coming from other institutions across the country to see the unit

in action.

Texas Children’s current expansion, supported by the

Promise Campaign, is a reinvestment in the programs needed

by the hospital’s most critically ill patients.

“At the end of the day, it’s not about the building,” Ann Lents said.

“It’s all about the patients and being sure that today, in five years

and in 20 years, we can help the children who need the care and

treatment that only Texas Children’s Hospital can give them.”

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ISSUE 4 – 2017

P R O M I S E C A M P A I G N D O N O R S

$25,000,000 +

Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation

$10,000,000 – $24,999,999

ChevronThe Howard Hughes Corporation/ The Woodlands Development Company Charif Souki

$5,000,000 – $9,999,999

Direct Energy Jan E. Duncan The Elkins Foundation ExxonMobil The Hildebrand Family Huffington Foundation Mark A. Lensky Estate of Kenneth W. McBryde The John M. O’Quinn Foundation

$1,000,000 – $4,999,999

Anonymous (4) Ace Hardware Joan and Stanford Alexander FamilyAlbert and Margaret Alkek FoundationAnadarko Petroleum Corporation The Auxiliary to Texas Children’s Hospital Beyond Batten Disease FoundationJennifer Jo Bird Dr. Milton and Laurie Boniuk The Brown Foundation, Inc. The Gordon & Mary Cain Pediatric Neurology Research Foundation Lauren and Lara Camillo Family Trusts Ting-Tsung and Wei-Fong Chao Foundation Cathy and Joe Cleary Corner Store The Cullen Trust for Health CareGretchen Eckert England Sidney and Don Faust Michelle and Dave Feavel Mary Rodes Gibson Hemostasis- Thrombosis Foundation GR8 Hope Foundation Maureen and James Hackett The Hamill Foundation H-E-B The Histio Cure Foundation Jeri and Travis Horelica Hyundai Hope on Wheels JLH Foundation, Inc. The Jerold B. Katz Foundation Robert J. Kleberg, Jr., and Helen C. Kleberg Foundation Kohl’s Department Stores, Inc. Carol and Michael Linn MD Anderson Foundation

Angela B. and Louis E. Magne Risa and Sterling McDonald F B McGuyer Family Robert and Janice McNair FoundationBarbara D. Mitchell, Ph.D. Mothers Against Cancer Ralph O’Connor Susan and Mark Papa Marta and Stephen Pate Family Foundation Estate of Mary Beth Pawelek Dawn and Richard Rawson Isla and T.R. Reckling The Sarofim Foundation The Lester and Sue Smith FoundationSterling-Turner Foundation T.L.L. Temple Foundation UNICEF – Southwest Regional OfficeAsha and Farid Virani Walmart & Sam’s Club Pam and Gary Whitlock Woodforest Bank Drs. Huda and William Zoghbi Barbara and Robert Zorich

$500,000 – $999,999

Anonymous (4) Alex’s Lemonade Stand FoundationCarl C. Anderson, Sr., and Marie Jo Anderson Charitable Foundation Ann and John Bookout Julio Cardenal Ann and Clarence Cazalot CFP Foundation ConocoPhillips Mark and Judith Cook FoundationCostco Wholesale Curing Kids’ Cancer Elizabeth and Anthony DeLuca John S. Dunn Foundation Mary and Doug Erwin Clare A. Glassell Dee and Michael Hairston Melissa and Brad Juneau The Junior League of Houston, Inc. John Knox, Jr. KROGER Lewis Jewelers Gillson Longenbaugh Foundation Love’s Travel Stops & Country StoresJeffrey Modell Foundation The Pin Oak Charity Horse Show The Rancher’s Ride Inc.The Rise SchoolA.R. “Tony” and Maria J. Sanchez Family FoundationScurlock FoundationJudy and Bobby ShackoulsVirginia & L.E. Simmons Family FoundationThe Simons FoundationRosemary and Dan J. Harrison III – Mary Alice Smith FoundationVivian L. Smith FoundationSnowdrop Foundation, Inc.

Spirit of Children & Spirit HalloweenThe Stearns Family FoundationTeammates for Kids FoundationTellepsen FamilyTexas Oilman’s Bass CharitiesThrasher Research FundThe V Foundation for Cancer ResearchThe Vale-Asche FoundationElizabeth and Peter Wareing

$100,000 – $499,999

Anonymous (10)Acute Respiratory Illness AssociationBarbara and Roy AdamsAicardi Syndrome FoundationJ.R. Albert Charitable TrustShirley and Ralph AlexanderElizabeth and Hugh AllenThe Cade R. Alpard Foundation for Pediatric Liver DiseaseAmerican Association of Drilling EngineersThe Andras FoundationAssociation of Program Directors in RadiologyMr. and Mrs. Merrell A. AthonCharlotte and Jamil Azzam FoundationCarol BakerBalfour Beatty ConstructionCarrie Barnes TrustFreda W. BassJanet BatesEula Mae and John Baugh FoundationBaxter TrustBB&T CorporationBBVA Compass BankBioGaia ABBosarge Family FoundationStacey and Stephen BourqueThe Boyd Morse FoundationSuzanne BradenJennifer and Jimmy BranchBroesche Family FoundationCristina and James BuassJeanie and Tommy CarterCenterPoint EnergyCentral Valley Community FoundationChance for Hope FoundationEstate of Sandra Sue ChapmanChevron Phillips Chemical Company LPChico’s FASCity of McAllenThe Cockrell Family FundAdonia and Kevin CokinosNancy and Brady CookCaneila CookVannie E. Cook, Jr., Cancer FoundationMaria and Santiago CortinaThe Crain FoundationEmily and Holcombe CrosswellDairy QueenAlan DaleDavid Elementary, P.T.O.

Maria I. Torrallardona Mata and Javier De Pedro Espinola Delta Delta Delta Alumnae ChapterMelisa and Albert Dion IIDisney Worldwide ServicesEstate of Merle Donigan Duncan Genesis FoundationRachel and Adam DunnThe Ellwood FoundationDr. and Mrs. George D. FerryMarvy Finger Family FoundationFKP Architects, Inc.The Fondren FoundationFreedom From Fistula FoundationFriends for HopeGallery FurnitureThe George FoundationThe Gerber FoundationCandi and Gerald GlennGolfers Against CancerNancy and James GordonEstate of Tobi GordonGrant-A-Starr FoundationGreater Houston Builders AssociationThe Greentree FundTanya and Andrew GreenwoodGeorge and Mary Josephine Hamman FoundationCharlotte and Howard HarpsterThe Lents-Heaney FamilyThe Hearst Foundation, Inc.Ouida HembreeJudy Gates Hicks and Jerry Carter HicksL. Leighton Hill, M.D.The Holthouse Foundation for KidsBecky and Kevin HostlerHouston Children’s CharityHouston Junior Woman’s ClubHouston’s Credit UnionsSheila and Ron HulmeIntermountain HealthcareJKJ Charitable FoundationJones Lang LaSalle in partnership with Mr. and Mrs. David M. Bale and Mr. and Mrs. Daniel G. BellowRaleigh and Marjorie Bintliff JohnsonYvonne and Walter JohnsonDoris and James JonesGeorge JosephKappa Alpha Theta AlumnaeMonica and Kevin KingKLS Martin, L.P.Damon and Karen KrehbielL3 FoundationSarah and Eric LaneThe Laurel’s Army FoundationJC LeFloreLet The Fashions Begin, Inc.Jack H. and William M. Light Charitable TrustCarolyn and David Light IIIJennifer and Jeb LigumsGeorge I. Lindahl IIILinn EnergyM-A-C AIDS Fund/MAC CosmeticsMacDonald-Peterson Foundation

(as of June 26, 2017)

Cora Sue and Harry MachThe Mailman Foundation, Inc.Estate of Patricia F. MansingerRosalyn and Barry MargolisMarriott International, Inc.Bailey and Pete McCarthyRebecca and David McClanahanJohn and Maryanne McCormack FoundationMcCoy Workplace SolutionsFlo and Bill McGeeMr. and Mrs. Robert E. MeadowsMedtronic, Inc.Men of Distinction of Greater Houston, Inc.Jan and Arnie MillerLaura and Lew MoormanMorgan Stanley FoundationMusket CorpMustang CatNational Multiple Sclerosis SocietyMary NaylorNoble CorporationNorthwestern MutualSydnor and Olga Oden FoundationSean O’DonnellSuh-Yun L. OuPanda ExpressThe Periwinkle FoundationSusan PetersonCynthia and Anthony PetrelloPetroleum Wholesale L.P.Cindy and Don PoarchProlacta BioscienceRandalls FoundationLeigh Anne and John RaymondRBC Capital MarketsRBC Wealth ManagementRE/MAX Real Estate AssociatesRE/MAX Space CenterRE/MAX The Woodlands & SpringReady or Not FoundationMichael and Vicki RichmondGeorge A. Robinson IV FoundationRoxanne and Kolja RockovRonald McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston/GalvestonSybil RoosSuzanne and Mike RoseMr. and Mrs. Gary RosenthalRotary Club of Houston Foundation, Inc.David and Polly RothLeslie and Shannon Sasser Family FundSchlumberger Technology CorporationMelissa and Doug SchnitzerRoberta and Lee SchwartzKristy and John SextonDr. William T. Shearer and Lynn Des PrezShell Oil Company FoundationStephen Y. ShingSilver Eagle Distributors, L.P.Lawrence B. Smith Family TrustSusie and Tommy SmithAimee and Wynne SnootsThe Harry and Estelle Soicher FoundationMary Martha and Joel Staff

The Stargel FamilyLois and George StarkStripes Convenience StoresCalvin H. Sugg, Jr.Sutton FoundationCourtney and Doug SwansonSwing For A CureJudy and Charles TateThe TeamConnor Childhood Cancer FoundationRawley FoundationMarianne and George ThomasRaul Tijerina Jr. FoundationToyota North America, Inc.TranswesternUniversity of Maryland Baltimore Foundation, Inc.Valley Baptist Legacy FoundationVidara Therapeutics Research, Ltd.Karen and Brock WagnerWalter P Moore & Associates, Inc.Kay and Max WatsonKalen and Mike WebbDavid Weekley HomesWells FargoTracy and Richard WilkenSue and David WilliamsRyan Batman Williams FoundationKristen and Matt WilseyShannon and Brian WingThe Winston Foundation, Inc.Wipe Out Kids’ CancerWolff Family FoundationLori and Scott WulfeDr. Edward and Brenda Yosowitz

$50,000 – $99,999

Anonymous (3)The Abercrombie FoundationAgar Corporation, Inc.All American Classics, Inc.Mrs. Nancy C. AllenKristen and Michael ArnettSteven ArnoldAscende Charitable TrustLaura and Tom BaconBank of Nova ScotiaBates Family FoundationBaylor College of MedicineBear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Inc.W.S. Bellows Construction CorporationTina BentsenMelony and B.J. BergeronEva and Beau BissoBlue Cross and Blue Shield of TexasMeg Goodman and Michael BoniniBraly Family Limited PartnershipBristow GroupHenry T. BrooksShirley and Monte CaubleChild’s Play CharityChristian Brothers AutomotiveCook Children’s Medical CenterCredit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank

Credit Suisse First Boston CorporationJuanita CrossleyCuring Children’s Cancer FundClayton Dabney FoundationHiba and Sam DarwishDec My RoomDeloitte & Touche LLPDeutsche Bank Securities, Inc.Sally and Don DeWalchDirect Energy ServicesLisa and Richard DuncanMorven Edwards, M.D.Andrea and Larry ElliottEpic Systems CorporationEZCORP FoundationRebecca and Lonnie FedrickSheri FeldmanBarbara and Michael FeiginLiz and Clint FreelandFundacion TeletonThe Jacob and Louise Gabbay Foundation, Inc.GBM International Inc.Giving Rocks FoundationsGo Gold FundSally and Frank GoldbergGoldman, Sachs & Co.Aileen GordonLauren Catuzzi Grandcolas FoundationDr. David Sr. and Nell T. Greer TrustDottie and John HarrisHCC Service Company, Inc.HIS Grace FoundationHLH McAllen VentureHope Help Heal Foundation, Inc.Houston Endowment Inc.Houston Family FoundationHouston G-Man ClassicHouston Pi Beta Phi FoundationHumphrey Company, Ltd.IBM Business SolutionsInsperityDr. Rani Nanda and Daniel W. JacksonJacob White Construction CompanyKnapp ChevroletLinda S. KnoxLeaping Butterfly Ministry and Circles of Hope FoundationJean and Richard LewellenSusan MacDonaldMainStreet AmericaMake Some Noise 4 KidsJoyce and Fred McCauleyJohn P. McGovern FoundationWilliam McKenneyMcKesson FoundationMcLane FoodserviceCorinne and Michael McVayMercedes-Benz of The WoodlandsJanie MillerEstate of Alexander James MollNational Oilwell VarcoAnita and Rolf NelsonJan and Joe NetherlandNoble EnergyNorth Houston Pole Line, LPOil States International Inc.

Susan and Mike PadonC.N. and Maria Papadopoulos Charitable FoundationJennifer Pate, M.D.Louie M. PayneLorri and Brian PetrauskasPhi Mu Houston Alumnae ChapterDaniel PickeringPlains Marketing, L.P.Porsche of North HoustonPricewaterhouseCoopers LLPEd Rachal FoundationWyatt Ray Memorial FundAlicia and Shawn RaymondJ Newton Rayzor FoundationRE/MAX Associates NortheastRE/MAX Fine PropertiesRE/MAX HometownThe Ronnie & Cathy Matthews Team RE/MAX LegendsRE/MAX Northwest, RealtorsRE/MAX of TexasElizabeth and Bobby ReevesRobbins Institute for Health Policy and LeadershipThe Royal Bank of ScotlandJudy and Henry SauerJoan and John ScalesSchiel B-R-C-P-B-B-L Foundation, Inc.SignMeUp.comAmy and Kyle SimsonDr. Paul SirbaughSmith & Associates InternationalBob and Vivian Smith FoundationR. E. Smith FoundationJudy and Glenn SmithLois and George StarkLindsay and Trent StoutStrake FoundationGretchen Swanson Family Foundation, Inc.John and Nona SwonkeTracy and Don TandyRachael and Mark TerryTexas Food Bank NetworkTexas Medical CenterTexla KCC, Inc.Carl C. & Lily C. Thrift Charitable TrustVanessa’s Big Heart FoundationThe Vaughn FoundationWiesner Automotive GroupWildhorses ResourcesWilliam and Marie Wise Family FoundationMrs. Melvyn L. WolffThe Woodell Family FoundationThe Woodforest Charitable FoundationWorldwide Oilfield Machine Inc.Brenda and Randy WrightYoung Texans Against CancerThe Zeitgeist Foundation, Inc.

P R O M I S E C A M P A I G N D O N O R S

21“WHAT’S UP, DOC?” Turns Twenty-One

More than 200 guests were held in rapt attention as they listened to Texas Children’s

Hospital’s best and brightest at the 21st annual “What’s Up, Doc?” event, chaired

by Rachael and Jason Volz and catered by Rachael’s catering company, A Fare

Extraordinaire.

Promise Campaign chair Carol Linn welcomed guests and kicked off the evening, with some

of the world’s finest physicians, surgeons, scientists and health care specialists hosting tables

and speaking on a broad range of topics. Orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Dormans and adolescent

and sports medicine physician Dr. Al Hergenroeder talked with their guests about sports

injuries, while Plastic Surgery Chief Dr. Larry Hollier educated his guests about plastic surgery

that is not cosmetic, but life-saving.

Other special discussions focused on the bright future that lay just ahead for Texas Children’s.

Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands Chief Medical Officer Dr. Charles Hankins and Chief

Surgical Officer Dr. Jeffrey Shilts spoke about the newly opened hospital and how it is already

changing the medical landscape for the communities north of Houston. Senior Vice President

Mallory Caldwell and Texas Children’s Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Charles D. Fraser, Jr., focused on

the current expansion of the hospital’s world-renowned surgical enterprise.

The evening was made all the more poignant because of the venue, which overlooked the

construction of the new 19-floor Legacy Tower. This expansion will provide an additional

600,000 square feet of space for critical, surgical and cardiac care services and will enable

Texas Children’s to provide the highest level of care for even more children in need.

2015 Jennifer and David Ducote

2014 Karla and Jorge Goudet

2013 Haley and Barrett Webster

2012 Amy and Peter Shaper

2011 Jennifer and Tadd Tellepsen

2010 Stephanie and Brad Tucker

2009 Laura and Will Robertson

2008 Cari and John Griggs & Laura and Andrew McCullough

2007 Estela and David Cockrell & Stephanie and Ernie Cockrell

2006 Ginny and L.E. Simmons

2005 Kara and Aaron Howes

2004 Kirby and Scott McCool

2003 Joy and Scott Plantowsky

2002 Mollie and Dan Castaneda

2001 Susan and Mike Plank

2000 Charla and George Wilson

1999 Amy and Neil Leibman

1998 Stephanie Milligan

1997 Kelly Kayem

1996 Linda Evans and Nancy Gordon

21 YEARS OF PHILANTHROPY Past Event Chairs

November 2016 Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women

A. Dr. Charles D. Fraser, Jr. (front, third from left) and table guests B. (From left) Dr. Gary Dildy, Dr. WayneFranklin, Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye C. Dr. Susan Blaney with “What’s Up, Doc?” guests D. Jason and Rachael Volz

A. B.

C. D.

See more event photos at aspire.texaschildrens.org/WhatsUpDoc2016

65+ Texas Children’s

EXPERTS200+GUESTS

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HOUSTON FAMILY DRIVEN TO DO GOODT H E J E R O L D B . K AT Z FO U N DAT I O N

Houston businessman and philanthropist Jerold B. Katz had humble beginnings, growing up in the America of the 1930s and 1940s. Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, he was a child of the Great Depression, and his family struggled to make ends meet. Katz’s youth was one of hardship and toil, so he took on multiple jobs as a youth and into his early adulthood to scrape together funds for his family.

It drove Mr. Katz and his family foundation, the Jerold B. Katz Foundation, to fund CARESQUAD — a bright yellow, fully equipped mobile medical clinic, which is the newest addition to the Texas Children’s Mobile Clinic Program.

“My father still vividly recalls his impoverished youth, when health care was a luxury that his family could not afford,” said his son, Evan H. Katz. “His family needed help — and it simply did not exist. This gift speaks to that simple notion: lending a hand to our neighbors in need.”

To meet the growing need for basic health care in low-income communities across the greater Houston area, Texas Children’s Hospital launched the Mobile Clinic Program in 2000 with the fully-equipped SuperKids

Pediatric Mobile Clinic. In 2006, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile joined the fleet.

Since the program’s inception, nearly 90,000 patients — many of whom are uninsured — have been treated, receiving services that include physicals, medical examinations, vaccinations and immunizations, routine laboratory tests, and hearing and vision screenings. The clinics also provide valuable education

in areas such as injury prevention and nutrition, and assist families in applying for public health insurance.

The new CARESQUAD Mobile Medical Clinic provides the same Texas Children’s care as the two larger mobile clinics but

with a smaller physical “tire print.” The mini-mobile clinic enables Texas Children’s caregivers and volunteers to reach families in neighborhoods all over the region with narrow streets and limited parking where the larger mobile clinics can’t travel.

The Mobile Clinic Program is made possible only through the extraordinary generosity of Texas Children’s supporters. Without this philanthropy, families in these underserved areas would be forced to seek care elsewhere or even do without.

“The addition of the CARESQUAD to the Mobile Clinic Program is already making a huge difference in the lives of so many children and their families,” said Dr. Sanghamitra Misra, medical director of the program. “We are so grateful to the Jerold B. Katz Foundation for making the clinic possible.”

For the Katzes, this gift is near and dear to the family. The family is proud to do their part in helping care for the community’s underserved children.

“This clinic helps to serve those who are most in need,” said Evan H. Katz. “This is very much at the heart of what the Foundation has always tried to do.”

This clinic helps to serve those who are most in need.

This is very much at the heart of what the Foundation has

always tried to do.” – Evan Katz

“ Our promise is to work hard and to do good, be fair, learn from our mistakes, and always remember that lives can be changed by simple acts of kindness and generosity.”

– The Jerold B. Katz Foundation

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ISSUE 4 – 2017

P RO F I L E S I N P H I L A N T H RO P Y

On October 20, the 19th Annual Bad Pants Open golf tournament, presented by RBC Wealth

Management and Capital Markets, raised funds that will support life-saving programs and

services for the tiniest patients at Texas Children’s Newborn Center who are in need of premier

medical treatment. Each year since 1997, the turnout at the annual golf outing continues to soar.

“As a grateful parent and a representative of the presenting sponsor, it’s very exciting to see how much the tournament has grown over the years,” said Les Fox, Bad Pants Open committee member and managing director of RBC Wealth Management. “We filled three golf courses with nearly 400 golfers wearing some really bad pants to raise funds that will directly support the care of premature babies and their families. I can’t wait to celebrate our 20th year in 2017!” The Bad Pants Open Golf Tournament included a check presentation to Texas Children’s Newborn Center. The proceeds will advance innovation and excellence in the research, treatment and care for the more than 2,500 critically ill and premature infants who are treated at one of the nation’s largest and most experienced neonatal intensive care units (NICU) each year. Proceeds from the tournament will also benefit the new NICU at Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands. Crystal Cruz, recipient of the 2016 Bad Pants NICU Nurse of the Year award, said this generous donation will go a long way to improve patient outcomes. “Giving is an act of charity, and every year The Bad Pants Open Golf Tournament helps Texas Children’s continue to make miracles happen,” Cruz said. “I am extremely grateful for this event and all that is donated to help us save these precious, tiny lives we are entrusted to care for.”

THE BAD PANTS OPENB E N E F I T I N G T E X AS C H I L D R E N ’S N E W B O R N C E N T E ROctober 2016 The Clubs of Kingwood

A. Don BoeverB. Dr. Charles Hankins

(third from left) and guestsC. Bad Pants Open guestsD. Winners of The Bad Pants Open

“Baddest Pants” contestE. (From left) Judy Swanson,

Dr. Gautham Suresh, Heather Cherry, Rob Cooksey, Dr. Charles Hankins

F. (From left) Les Fox, Crystal Cruz

ChairmanRob Cooksey

Underwriter ChairmanGary L. Whitlock

FoundersMike ArmstrongMoose RosenfeldMichael Wiesenthal

BAD PANTS OPEN COMMITTEE 2016

Brian BrantleyMike CaseyDonald F. Cohen, DDSNorma DunnLes FoxRobert L. FrankClint FreelandJay GrahamJim GuinnCharles T. Hankins, MDMike KnappTrey McCordHolly MicklerJeff MicklerAndy ShackoulsScott ShackoulsBill Spillman

Tournament Committee

for the 20th Annual Bad Pants Open on Thursday, October 12, 2017.SAVE THE

DATE

A.

B.

See more event photos at aspire.texaschildrens.org/

badpantsopen2016

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Becca Schiff is no stranger to caring for tiny babies. As a nurse in Texas Children’s NICU for the past

nine years, she has helped to care for the smallest, sickest and most vulnerable patients. But Becca would see the NICU in an entirely new light when her twins, Elliott and Jonah, were born at only 24 weeks and had to fight for their lives in the very hospital where their mother provides care every day. The night the boys were delivered was one of the most difficult nights of Becca’s life. Through her experience in caring for premature infants, she knew the chance of survival for a 24-week baby was about 50 percent. Having two babies meant she really only had a 25 percent chance of bringing both of them home. She also knew that it was very likely they would suffer many complications from being born so early. Despite knowing all that could go wrong, Becca was also absolutely certain that she was in the best possible place to face this challenge. The team of experts at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, who had cared for her throughout her pregnancy, took incredible care of her that night. When she awoke after the delivery, the first question she asked was: “Are they alive?”

Her neonatologist, also one of her best friends, was right there to tell her, “Yes.” Jonah and Elliott each weighed only 1 pound, 6 ounces. During their six-month journey in the NICU, the twins faced many challenges including brain bleeds, liver failure, bowel perforations and pulmonary hemorrhages. Jonah had an extensive six-hour liver surgery to save his life. Against the odds — and thanks to the specialized care they received in the NICU — Jonah and Elliott continued to grow stronger. Today, the twins are thriving. They recently celebrated their 2nd birthday and are walking, talking and playing with their

big sister, Charlotte. After this harrowing experience, many of Becca’s friends assumed she would never return to work as a NICU nurse. In fact, the opposite was true. “From the very beginning, I knew I would be back,” Becca said. “I felt like I could be one of the most qualified and empathic people to care for these families after my experience — and I had a duty to do just that. I want to be here to ensure that all babies in the care of Texas Children’s NICU have the chance to do as well as my

twins did. That is the only way I could begin to repay Texas Children’s for saving Elliott’s and Jonah’s lives.”

“I felt like I could be one of the most

qualified and empathic people to

care for these families after my experience — and I had a duty to do

just that.”

– Becca Schiff

Grateful Patient FamilyBecca & Mike Schiff

$375,000 RAISED

to support programs and services at Texas Children’s Newborn Center

MOST EXPERIENCED LEVEL 4 NICU

in Houston, providing the highest level of care

2,500+ INFANTS

CARED for each year

Texas Children’s

N I C U

THE BAD PANTS OPEND. E. F.

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ISSUE 4 – 2017

A TRANSFORMATIONAL GIFTB R I S TO L- M Y E R S S Q U I B B FO U N DAT I O N

BRINGING HOPE TO ALL CHILDHOOD ILLNESSES

Texas Children’s Hospital began partnering with Bristol-Myers Squibb in several developing countries in the

early 2000s. These pioneers aimed to change the lives of children affected by the ravages of HIV/AIDS.

Great successes followed, and this public-private partnership became a model for other groups to bring

desperately needed health care to underserved populations around the world. Recently, Texas Children’s, Baylor

College of Medicine, Bristol-Myers Squibb and the government of Botswana once again came together to

conquer another devastating childhood disease — cancer.

In Africa, more than 100,000 children will be diagnosed with cancer this year, and 60 to 80 percent will die

because they have little access to diagnostic and treatment services. This is a stark contrast to high-income

countries, where 80 percent of pediatric cancer patients will survive.

In the early 2000s, as HIV/AIDS ravaged the lives of children across Africa, a small Texas Children’s Hospital program stepped in to help.Known as the Baylor International Pediatric AIDS Initiative (BIPAI) at Texas Children’s Hospital, the program built the first stand-alone pediatric HIV clinic on the continent through a public-private partnership with the government of Botswana and Bristol-Myers Squibb. A few short years later, this program operates more than a dozen clinics serving nearly 300,000 patients with a variety of health conditions. While HIV/AIDS remains a significant focus, Texas Children’s is also providing maternity care and treatment for other childhood illnesses including tuberculosis, malaria, malnutrition — and now, cancer.

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In February 2017, in Gaborone, Botswana, Texas Children’s and Baylor College of Medicine broke ground on the first of a network of pediatric cancer facilities in southern and east Africa. The initiative, known as Global HOPE (Hematology-Oncology Pediatric Excellence), will also treat serious non-cancerous blood disorders such as sickle cell disease, severe anemia and hemophilia. The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation made a gift of $50 million over five years, which turned the $100 million project from an idea into reality. BIPAI will raise an additional $50 million for the program. “If there is a silver lining to come out of the AIDS pandemic, it’s that we learned a tremendous amount about delivering care to sick children in Africa,” said Texas Children’s Physician-in-Chief and BIPAI founder Dr. Mark W. Kline. “Now, we can apply that knowledge to cancer and other life-threatening conditions that have been ignored.” Texas Children’s has provided limited cancer care in Africa for about 10 years as an offshoot of the HIV/AIDS project because certain cancers are common in HIV-positive children. The Bristol-Myers Squibb funds will be used to train health care providers and to provide support for clinical infrastructure and operations. “This commitment will help support the training network and the construction, equipping and operation of two regional pediatric hematology-oncology clinical sites in Botswana and Uganda, along with an additional national program in Malawi,” said Dr. Giovanni Caforio, chairman of the board of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation and chief executive officer of Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. “This initiative builds on 18 years of success of the Foundation’s SECURE THE FUTURE

program and will offer new hope to families impacted by pediatric blood disorders and cancer.” The Global HOPE initiative will train about 4,800 health care professionals from Botswana, Uganda, Malawi and other African countries, including doctors and nurses specializing in pediatric hematology-oncology and social workers. They, in turn, will train other health care professionals. An estimated 5,000 children will receive care in the first five years, most of whom would not have been able to access care before.

“With only five pediatric oncologists currently working in Botswana, Malawi and Uganda combined, there are

simply not enough expert doctors to treat all the children who have blood disorders and

cancer,” said Dr. David G. Poplack, director of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology

Centers. “Our goal is and must continue to be that no child — anywhere in the

world — should die from cancer. But at a minimum, all children should have the same fighting chance. Global HOPE will help build capacity in the region to diagnose and care for children with blood disorders

and cancer, offering the potential for transformational change in

survivorship for these children.” “Bristol-Myers Squibb has partnered

with Texas Children’s for nearly two decades, and we are proud of what we have

accomplished together,” said Jon Damonti, president of the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation

and vice president of Corporate Philanthropy at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. “Working together through Global HOPE, we continue our commitment to increase access to health care in underserved communities across the world.”

HEARTBREAKING REALITY TO CHANGE

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ISSUE 4 – 2017

P RO F I L E S I N P H I L A N T H RO P Y

NEW MIRACLES CREATE A

HEALTHIER FUTURE

2016 TEXAS CHILDREN’S RADIOTHON RAISES MORE THAN HALF A MILLION DOLLARS

When Desiree Bradley delivered

her daughter, she wasn’t sure

how long the little girl would

survive because of an extremely rare genetic

disorder called Jarcho-Levin Syndrome,

which affects the spine, ribs and respiratory

system. Nine years later, however, Deonc

Bradley is a sassy, joyful girl who can

periodically be seen bouncing down the

halls of Texas Children’s Hospital, where

she sees 13 different specialists who help

manage her condition.

“If Deonc were cared for anywhere else but

Texas Children’s Hospital, I truly believe she

would not be here,” Desiree said. “So anything

I can do to help Texas Children’s be the best

place it can be, I’m willing to come out here

and do.”

The Bradley family was one of several

patient families that participated in the 2016

Texas Children’s Radiothon. Hosted by Cox

Media Group Houston, the two-day event was

held December 1 and 2 on the third floor of

Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women near

the Bistro Café.

Throughout the 48-hour period, people

opened their hearts and their wallets and

donated $655,039 to the radiothon while

listening to radio personalities from Houston’s

Eagle (106.9 & 107.5), Country Legends (97.1)

and The New 93Q (92.9) interview patients,

their families and many Texas Children’s

physicians and caregivers.

Texas Children’s employees gave

$4,000 to the cause. Executive leadership

matched those donations and added their

own, bringing the total amount given by

Texas Children’s employees to $9,000. The

Snowdrop Foundation — which was started by

Kevin Kline with The Q Morning Zoo on The

New 93Q — made a donation of $150,000. The

foundation is dedicated to assisting patients

and families at Texas Children’s Cancer

Center by providing funding for continued

research to eliminate childhood cancer and

for scholarships for college-bound pediatric

cancer patients and survivors.

“This event makes a huge difference, and it

tells our story,” said Jennifer Smart, manager

in the Office of Development and program

director for the hospital’s Children’s Miracle

Network Program. “We couldn’t do it without

all these people who give of their time and

talent. We are very grateful for everything they

do for our patients and families.”

Funds raised through the radiothon benefit

Texas Children’s Cancer Center, the Legacy

Tower and Texas Children’s Hospital

The Woodlands.

Christi Brooks with the New 93Q and

Country Legends 97.1 has participated in the

radiothon since its inception and said that

she has met so many families over the years

who have been touched by the “miracles” that

happen every day at Texas Children’s Hospital.

“Thank God we have a facility like

Texas Children’s Hospital here in our back

yard,” Christi said. “This really is truly an

amazing place of miracles.”

Desiree agreed and said Texas Children’s

is a home away from home for her and Deonc.

“Until you step through these doors, you

don’t understand just how special this place

really is.”

“If Deonc were cared for anywhere else but Texas

Children’s Hospital, I truly believe she would not be here.”

– Desiree Bradley

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MEGA 101 HOSTS CHART-TOPPING RADIOTHON CBS Radio’s Spanish Pop station, Mega 101 – KLOL, hosted its 6th annual Spanish-speaking Radiothon benefiting Texas Children’s Hospital on December 8 and 9. Radio DJs have raised more than $2.4 million from loyal listeners since they started this event, including over $405,000 raised during their 2016 broadcast.

CHILDREN’S MIRACLE NETWORK HOSPITALS 2016 TOP PARTNERS

Walmart & Sam’s Club Walmart and Sam’s Club have supported Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) for 30 years. In 2016, Houston-area Walmart stores and Sam’s Clubs raised more than $700,000 during their six-week Miracle Balloon fundraising campaign in September.

Ace Hardware Ace Hardware became a CMNH partner in 1991. Participating Ace Retailers — like the Greater Houston Area Ace Retailers Group, made up of 33 Ace Hardware retailers — raise money each year through their Ace Cares for Kids program. Their success stems from the creative fundraising efforts of the Ace Hardware Foundation and generous contributions of Ace retailers, Ace Customers,

vendor partners and Ace team members. Ace Corporation and Retailers host a number of regional fundraising events each year including golf tournaments, an icon campaign, blue CMNH Bucket Promotion, Change Canister’s Change Round-Up World’s Finest Chocolate Candy Program, CMNH Ornament Sales and BBQ events to raise funds locally. In 2016, Ace’s events in Houston raised over $445,000 for Texas Children’s Hospital, and the Houston market had several stores ranked first and second in fundraising in the country. • Cypress Ace Hardware was the

No. 1 fundraising single store in the country, raising $66,239. Cypress Ace hosts an annual grilling contest — Grill Your Ace Off — where 20 teams compete for the distinction of best grilled

dish by a panel of judges. The public is invited to participate in judging the People’s Choice, where $10 gets guests a plate of BBQ from each team.

• Alspaugh’s Ace Hardware, with locations in The Woodlands and Kingwood, was the No. 1 multi-store retailer in the country, raising over $124,116.

• Central Ace Hardware was the No. 2 store retailer in the country, raising $58,585.

Love’s Travel Stops & Musket CorporationLove’s Travel Stops has been a CMNH partner for over 15 years. They were ranked No. 7 on Forbes Magazine’s annual listing of America’s largest privately held companies. Along with their subsidiary company, Musket Corp., Love’s raised over $342,800 through

their annual Miracle Balloon Campaign and Musket Corp’s fourth annual Drive for a Child event at Top Golf.

Corner StoreCorner Store has been a CMNH partner for 20 years and now has over 180 locations throughout Houston and the surrounding area. Corner Store’s dedicated staff and customers helped raise over $267,000 in 2016 for Texas Children’s.

Kroger Co.Kroger Co. has helped raise funds for member hospitals for over 30 years. Kroger believes in supporting charitable causes that are important to its customers and associates, who raised over $220,000 for Texas Children’s Hospital in 2016.

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ISSUE 4 – 2017

Kayla, pictured here with her parents, Roberta and Lee, is also featured on the cover of this issue of Aspire. Hear more of Kayla’s story at aspire.texaschildrens.org/NRI.

USHERING IN A NEW ERA OF DISCOVERY

For the first several months of her life, Kayla Schwartz was a perfectly healthy baby girl. But when she was about nine months

old, her parents, Roberta and Lee, began noticing the first unsettling signs of potential developmental delay. She couldn’t keep her

food down. She didn’t seem to want to crawl. Some advised them just to wait, because surely she would grow out of it.

Kayla’s initial diagnosis was inconclusive, but she began therapy at Texas Children’s to gain a foothold against the symptoms

she was exhibiting. It was during this time that the Schwartz family finally received a definitive diagnosis: Rett syndrome.

“At the time, most of the available information revolved around extreme cases — girls in

wheelchairs, with breathing problems and gastric tubes, many of whom didn’t make it through

adolescence,” Lee said. “When you first face that, it seems overwhelming.”

Then came a phone call that gave them a new perspective. On the line was Dr. Huda

Zoghbi, who spoke to them about the future — a future not of desperation, but of

hope — because of the research that was happening in the field.

Over the next several years, Texas Children’s became a partner to Kayla and

her family, and by age three, she was walking. Today, she enjoys school, has many

friends, wants to be a fashion model and is living a meaningful life. Through every

milestone, Dr. Zoghbi has been there for the Schwartz family, reassuring them and

giving them hope about the possibility that one day the neural pathways in Kayla’s

brain can be restored.

J A N A N D D A N D U N C A N N E U R O L O G I C A L R E S E A R C H I N S T I T U T E

“Great science requires a lot of courage. Finding new paths means going into the unknown.”

– Dr. Huda Zoghbi, Director, Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute

19

93 Identified mutation in the gene ATXN1,

responsible for spinocerebellar ataxia Type 1, a deadly neurodegenerative disorder

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND AWARD HIGHLIGHTS

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CHARTING A PATH THROUGH THE UNKNOWN

The Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (NRI) was made possible by a succession of generous and transformative gifts to Texas Children’s, the first from Cynthia

and Tony Petrello, and then from Jan and Dan Duncan, and most recently from Charif Souki. When the NRI opened in 2010, the 13-story building came equipped with cutting-edge laboratories, open-concept workspaces, meeting rooms, vivarium space and nine shared core facilities that provided investigators with access to tools and technologies too costly for individual labs to afford. Since that day, the NRI faculty has studied diverse problems, addressing neurodevelopmental, neurological and neuropsychiatric questions using cross-species and interdisciplinary approaches. At the center of it all are the patients, who inform both research and clinical study.

“The Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute doesn’t belong just to Texas Children’s

Hospital. It belongs to the world.”

– Mark A. Wallace, President and CEO, Texas Children’s Hospital

THE GLOBAL PREVALENCE OF NEUROLOGICAL

DISEASE

600+ NEUROLOGICAL AND

NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

1B+ PEOPLE WORLDWIDE

1 PERSON IN

EVERY 6

300MCHILDREN

50MAMERICANS

Neurological disorders. They have names like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, autism, epilepsy, Rett syndrome and Batten disease. The symptoms and severity of the diseases vary, ranging from merely disruptive to utterly

debilitating. Some of them rob the patient not only of their motor function and physical abilities, but also of their personality and identity. To date, there have been more than 600 distinct neurological disorders identified, with more being discovered every year. Determining the root causes for specific disorders remains a monumental challenge. Less than a generation ago, there was little hope at all for treating most of them, with many academic institutions conducting siloed research with limited or no collaboration whatsoever between scientists and clinicians. But much can change in a short time. Today more researchers are studying these diseases than ever before — looking for answers to previously unasked questions, searching for the tools to unlock the secrets of these diseases, develop new therapies and eventually find cures. And standing at the forefront of this movement is the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital.

BRINGING THE

VERY BEST TOGETHER

20

04 Was the youngest person ever elected to

the National Academy of Sciences

19

99 Identified the gene MECP2

that causes Rett syndrome

20

08 Received the Texas Women’s

Hall of Fame Award

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ISSUE 4 – 2017

In the six years since the doors opened, the outcomes have been nothing short of extraordinary. The remarkable work of the 25 accomplished faculty and 250 trainees and lab personnel who have been brought together there has surpassed the most ambitious expectations, earning the NRI international esteem in the scientific community. Ask any researcher, scientist or clinician at the NRI what sets it apart from other research institutes around the world, and they are likely to give some variation of the same answer: The NRI was specially and carefully designed to foster conversation and collaboration among the faculty and trainees who work there — all thanks to the vision and leadership of Dr. Zoghbi. There are geneticists, biomathematicians, biochemists, structural biologists, molecular biologists, neuropathologists, theoreticians and many more, all working together alongside clinicians, sharing data and spurring on dynamic interactions and new discoveries. “I can honestly say that this is the best environment I’ve ever been a part of,” said Dr. Roy Sillitoe, director of the Neuropathology Core Laboratory at the NRI. “The interactions here are organic. Immediately next door to my office is a neurosurgeon. Next door to him is a human geneticist. Next door to him is a molecular biologist. In that one hallway, we have people coming from very different areas trying to understand neurological disease, specifically pediatric neurological disease, and our collective interests and specialties all come to fruition in the lab. There’s no single place I’ve ever seen where you can accomplish so much.” “There’s not a single day that goes by where a new gene is not identified or a new mechanism is now being understood,” said Dr. Christian Schaaf, a medical geneticist at the NRI. “Being here speeds up the whole process of discovery.” Additionally, the NRI leads a collaborative, multi-institutional effort within the Texas Medical Center with institutions such as MD Anderson Cancer Center, UT Health and Rice University. “It’s a unique setting in an academic world where we get to pair up with such diversity, and especially including a clinical facet to the research institution,” said Dr. Benjamin Arenkiel in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at the NRI. “You get this idea that anything is possible.”

Dr. Huda Zoghbi was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, in 1955. In 1975,

she began her medical training at American University of Beirut. During her first year in school, civil war erupted. It soon became too dangerous for her to make even the short trip to campus, so she and fellow students lived on the campus instead.

After her brother was injured, her family insisted they leave Lebanon to live with relatives in the United States. She performed exceptionally well at Meharry Medical College, graduating in 1979. But perhaps because of her unorthodox background — having come from overseas after only one year in medical school and starting off-cycle at Meharry — Dr. Zoghbi was passed over by several Ivy League medical schools. Dr. Ralph Feigin, then physician-in-chief at Texas Children’s Hospital, saw something truly special in her and recruited her. It was during this time that she was drawn to the study of neurological disorders. But she found herself heartbroken by the children she was seeing in the clinic. So she began considering another option: research. She went to Texas Children’s own Dr. Arthur Beaudet, a giant in the world of genetics, and asked if she could work in his lab. This set her on the path to becoming a brilliant physician-scientist. As a researcher, she was able to use her unique clinical perspective to enrich her work and the lives of patients. In 1993, Dr. Zoghbi co-discovered the gene for spinocerebellar ataxia, a devastating disease that affects balance and speech … and then the Math 1 gene causing deafness … and then the gene responsible for Rett syndrome, the second-leading cause of intellectual disability in females. These would prove to be watershed discoveries that would reveal many of the mechanisms for other neurological diseases. Today, Dr. Zoghbi is not only director of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, she is one of the world’s leading neurogeneticists.

On April 10, more than 600 guests attended The Forum Luncheon at the Marriott Marquis in downtown Houston to meet internationally renowned neurogeneticist Dr. Huda Zoghbi and learn about the remarkable breakthroughs being made at the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital. ABC13 Anchor Melanie Lawson moderated the presentation.

J A N A N D D A N D U N C A N N E U R O L O G I C A L R E S E A R C H I N S T I T U T E

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11 Awarded the

Gruber Neuroscience Prize

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15 Awarded the Vanderbilt Prize in Biomedical Science,

the Javits Neuroscience Investigator Award, and the Mortimer D. Sackler, M.D. Prize for Distinguished Achievement in Developmental Psychobiology

20

14 Received the March

of Dimes Prize in Developmental Biology

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The NRI’s overwhelming success in just six years has positioned Texas Children’s Hospital to take the next step of translating discoveries made in the laboratory into patient therapies. Through the Promise Campaign, philanthropy will help us move in this direction by providing endowment

support that will secure the future of the NRI and help recruit and retain leading experts, expand existing lab space, and add state-of-the-art equipment. To learn how you can support the NRI and other Promise Campaign priorities, please visit texaschildrens.org/promise.

T H E J A N A N D D A N D U N C A N N E U R O LO G I C A L R E S E A R C H I N S T I T U T E

A PROMISE CAMPAIGN PRIORITY

“Philanthropy is absolutely crucial. It allows researchers to think outside the box and do things a little more boldly. We can tackle bigger questions. And

in Houston, I have seen the community really embrace research, and I am

always impressed by that.”

– Dr. Benjamin Arenkiel

A team of researchers headed by Dr. Ignatia Van Den Veyver,

investigator at the NRI and director of Prenatal and Reproductive Genetics at Texas Children’s

Pavilion for Women, has discovered that mutations in an early embryonic development

gene may provide some clue to unexplained female infertility and

recurrent pregnancy loss.

A 2016 study published from the laboratory of Dr. Huda

Zoghbi outlines a key regulator of two important proteins,

alpha-synuclein and tau, that have been implicated in various

neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s and

Alzheimer’s.

A study carried out by a team of researchers led by Dr.

Christian Schaaf has linked the ABL1 gene, well known for its association with cancer, to a genetic disorder that causes

heart defects and skeletal conditions.

A large study led by Dr. Joshua Shulman has revealed five

strong candidate genes for Parkinson’s disease.

Researchers performed genetic testing and analysis on 1,148 unrelated Parkinson’s cases

before narrowing their search based on functional relevance.

A study from the lab of Dr. Benjamin Arenkiel recently

brought to light the fascinating possibility that activating or inhibiting the neurons in the cholinergic basal forebrain feeding circuit could help

regulate food addiction and food aversion behaviors.

NRI Discoveries and BreakthroughsSince the NRI opened in 2011 …

Our promise is to advance research of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders and ultimately alleviate the impact of these devastating disorders on human lives.

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16

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17Recognized with The Shaw Prize in Life Science and Medicine, the

inaugural Mechthild Esser Nemmers Prize in Medical Science at Northwestern University, and the Jessie Stevenson Kovalenko Medal

Awarded the Breakthrough Prize in Life Sciences and the Canada Gairdner International Award

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ISSUE 4 – 2017

A. B.

C.

D.

F.

E.

M ore than 500 guests donned their boots and Texas-chic apparel at the Houston Polo Club for the 4th annual Toss for

Texas Children’s Heart Center event, which raised more than $180,000. Texas Children’s Hospital is ranked No. 1 in cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News &

World Report. The bean bag tournament featured light bites and cocktails by A Fare Extraordinaire and a special performance by country music singer, Gary P. Nunn. The event was chaired by Staci and John Donovan and Brooke and Scott Hutson, both of whom have children who receive expert care at Texas Children’s Hospital and at the Heart Center. The “Toss” trophy was presented at a special awards ceremony to conclude the evening’s festivities.

October 2016 Houston Polo Club

Ranked #1 in the nation by U.S. News & World Report

A. Hien and Theresa Le B. (From left) Krista White, Jenny Petru,

Miriam PetruC. (From left) John Donovan, Stacey Donovan, Brooke

Hutson, Scott Hutson John Nickens, Dr. Carrie Altman, Dr. Paul Checcia

D. (From left) Emma Tramuto, Keegan ThompsonE. (From left) Ross Canion, Sarah Canion,

April McMayon, Jerad McMayonF. Gary P. Nunn

TEXAS CHILDREN’S HEART CENTER

for the 5th Annual Toss for Texas Children’s Heart Center on Thursday, October 26, 2017.Save

the Date

TEXAS CHILDREN’S HEART CENTER Toss for

See more event photos at aspire.texaschildrens.org/

TossforTCH2016

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W hen Staci and John Donovan attended the 2013 Toss for Texas Children’s Heart Center event, Staci was pregnant with

John William, the couple’s third child. After he was born, a routine six-week appointment revealed that he had a heart murmur. Physicians at Texas Children’s Heart Center diagnosed him with an atrioventricular canal defect — there were two holes between the heart’s chambers and a problem with his mitral valve, which regulates blood flow to the heart. Texas Children’s Hospital Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Charles D. Fraser, Jr., and Dr. Carolyn Altman, a fetal cardiologist, recommended waiting a year for

surgery so John William could grow bigger and stronger. When John William was just 18 months old, Dr. Fraser performed open heart surgery, which was a huge success. After the operation, Staci and John were amazed by the incredible, compassionate care John William received while in the cardiovascular intensive care unit. Today, he is an active, healthy and thriving little boy, and Staci and John are so grateful for Texas Children’s Heart Center’s amazing team of doctors and nurses who helped give their son a second chance at life.

ßefore she was ever born, Caroline Hutson experienced the miraculous care that the experts at Texas Children’s Hospital provide

every day. While Caroline was in utero, her mother, Brooke Hutson, contracted parvovirus B19 — a virus that causes fifth disease in children. While the virus is harmless to adults, it can be fatal to unborn children. Brooke’s symptoms took her and her husband, Scott, to Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, where an ultrasound confirmed that the virus had caused Caroline to become anemic. Brooke was immediately transferred to Texas Children’s Fetal Center to begin treatment that would save Caroline’s life.

A team of intervention specialists gave Caroline an in utero blood transfusion to fight the anemia, but they still feared that her heart had become so stressed that she wouldn’t survive the night. But Caroline fought. A week later, another ultrasound revealed that the virus had also caused bleeding in her brain. Physicians leapt into action to combat both the anemia and the bleeding. Caroline needed close monitoring for the next two months. Astonishingly, her anemia, brain bleed and heart condition all healed. Brooke carried Caroline to full term, and her doctors agree that she was truly a miracle baby.

EVENT CHAIRSStaci and John DonovanBrooke and Scott Hutson

2016 HOST COMMITTEEKelly and Brian AdamsEmily and Davis AdamsChristina and Matthew AlmyCarolyn and David Anderson*Julie and Seth BarrettTaylor and Clint BawcomLisa and Kolby BeichRebecca and Thom BrandtKim and Hugh ByrdAllison and Mark CallenderSarah Jane and Ross CanionDebbie and Kent ChenevertKelly and Jay CliburnKourtney and Andy CyrusClaire and David de RoodeMary Rebecca and Cody DickJean-Marc DonicsDiane and John DonovanLeslie and Michael Fertitta*Tom and Carrie FieldLindsay and Will FoxLesli and James GietzAshley and Scott GoforthCari and John Griggs*Ashley and Michael HannaRob and Lori HendricksLizzie and Charlie HermesKeri and Michael HerrinMelissa and Jason HoltonLisa and Brad JohnsonAngela and Jody JohnstonAllison and Zach JordanKristie and Kyle KafkaLibby and Matt KafkaAmy and Jeff KappesElizabeth and Dash KohlhausenAllison and Geoff LeachCheyanne and Brandt LeibeBlair and Bryan LoockeKatie LoweCourtney and Will LundquistEmily and Louis MaceyLiz and Robert MannDevin and Ryan McCordAnn and Frank McGuyerAlison and Charlie MeyerLauren and Scott MillsLauren and Brad MorganKellie and Dwayne MorleySusan and Charlie NeuhausMaggie and John NicholsonRachel and John NolanHeidi and Tobin O’DonnellChelsea and Matt PaceyLauren and Will PageJett and Will PetitSarah and Richard PunchesLeigh Anne and John RaymondAmy and Mike Reeves*Jennifer and Steve RobertsKelley and Jeffrey ScofieldJill and Ben StametsAndrea and Paul StewartJohn and Meredith StilwellKeegan and Phil ThompsonCourtney and Bill ToomeyEmma and James TramutoLaura and Chris VolkeReed and Billy WareingLaura and Jamie WeaverHaley and Barrett WebsterHelen and Philip Wright

*Denotes past chair

“We felt so blessed to have a world-renowned heart center in our city and to have access to the

best pediatric cardiovascular surgeon in the world, Dr. Charles Fraser.”

– Staci & John Donovan

“We are so grateful not only to have had our daughter's

life in the hands of world-renowned fetal intervention

specialists, but also for their sincere care and personal touch as they treated us like family.”

– Brooke & Scott Hutson

The Donovan Family

The Hutson Family

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ISSUE 4 – 2017

Following lunch and remarks from President and CEO Mark A. Wallace about the steady and rapid growth of Texas Children’s — including the Department of Surgery

— Senior Vice President Mallory Caldwell moderated a panel discussion with Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Charles D. Fraser, Jr., Chief of Otolaryngology Dr. Ellis Arjmand, Chief of Plastic Surgery Dr. Larry Hollier and Chief of Neurosurgery Dr. Howard Weiner.

Caldwell focused on questions that highlighted why Texas Children’s Department of Surgery is bigger, better, faster and stronger than any in the nation, and how the core mission of the department is to have the depth and breadth of expertise to deliver a surgical solution for every child in need of one.

Topics discussed included the importance of outcomes measurement and how that work is approached at Texas Children’s; the fact that Texas Children’s expertise is in treating common illnesses as well as complex, rare conditions; the strength and unique value in the department’s many multidisciplinary teams; and the hospital’s ability to recruit the best and brightest as we continue to grow and strengthen our team.

“When I came down here and learned about what is going on at Texas Children’s and the future trajectory of the organization, I knew I had to be here,” said Dr. Weiner, who recently joined Texas Children’s from New York University where he led a world-renowned neurosurgery program. “The leadership, the can-do attitude and the drive to grow as a world-class institution providing high-quality, attentive care to all children is very exciting.”

When Texas Children’s Hospital opened its doors in 1954, it did so with the one and only pediatric surgeon in the city of Houston. Today, Texas Children’s Hospital has more than 90 surgeons and is one of the first two hospitals in the U.S. to be verified as a Level I Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons.

Texas Children’s surgeons have performed more than 350 heart transplants, making the heart transplant program one of the most experienced and active programs in the nation. They launched an MRI-guided laser ablation surgery — the first of its kind in the world — for epilepsy treatment and also recently performed a 26-hour procedure to separate conjoined twins in one of the most difficult such cases to date.

Community members attending The Forum Luncheon Houston last September got to meet some of the top surgical leaders at Texas Children’s Hospital, learn about the incredible ways they are making history in pediatric surgery, and hear about their vision for the future of the hospital’s surgical enterprise.

THE FORUM LUNCHEON HOUSTONHIGHLIGHTING ADVANCEMENTS IN PEDIATRIC SURGERY

A.

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A. (From left) Mark A. Wallace, Mallory Caldwell, Dr. Charles D. Fraser, Jr., Dr. Ellis Arjmand, Dr. Larry Hollier, Dr. Howard Weiner B. Forum Luncheon guests wait for the program to begin. C. (From left) Mark A. Wallace, Josephine Abercrombie, George Robinson IV D. (From left) Stella Swallick, Carol Ann Demaret, Karen Vetter E. Forum Luncheon guests pause for a photo. F. (From left) Lindsay Holstead, Mary Jones, Josephine Abercrombie G. Mary Martha and Joel Staff H. (From left) Dr. Charles D. Fraser, Jr., Dr. Ellis Arjmand, Dr. Larry Hollier, Dr. Howard Weiner

“Every time we have expanded, it has been successful because we’ve done it for the right reasons,” Dr. Fraser said. “We are filling a specific need.”

The need for quality pediatric surgical care continues to grow and is a factor that convinced hospital leadership to construct a new Legacy Tower, which will allow Texas Children’s to treat even more children who need complex cardiac, critical and surgical care.

When the new building is complete, it will house much-needed pediatric and cardiovascular intensive care beds, as well as new operating rooms with the latest technology. It will also house the new and expanded Heart Center, including the outpatient clinic, cardiovascular operating rooms and catheterization labs.

Ultimately, Wallace said, the expansion will allow Texas Children’s Hospital to continue to provide the best possible family-centered care and best outcomes for the nation’s sickest children who come to us for help.

“When I came down here and learned about what is going on at Texas Children’s and the future trajectory of the organization,

I knew I had to be here.”

– Dr. Howard Weiner, Chief of Neurosurgery

B.

D. E.

F.

H.

G.

C.

See more event photos ataspire.texaschildrens.org/ForumLuncheonHouston2016

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ISSUE 4 – 2017

PROVIDING HEALING AND COMFORT THROUGH MAN’S BEST FRIEND

J U DY A N D B O B BY S H AC KO U L S

Starting this past October, Texas Children’s Hospital patients and families may have noticed a new employee walking the halls wearing a bright green vest emblazoned with the Texas Children’s logo. But she isn’t your typical employee. She’s furry, has four legs and is only two years old. She’s Elsa, Texas Children’s new therapy dog and part of the Facility Dog Program developed by Texas Children’s Child Life team. The program uses animal-assisted therapy to enhance the emotional well-being of pediatric patients by reducing their anxiety, perception of pain and fear of hospitalization. In the year prior to the program’s launch, the Child Life team collaborated with Canine Assistants, a non-profit organization in Atlanta, GA, that has matched more than

1,500 service dogs, making both individual and hospital placements. Together, the two organizations gathered benchmarking information and worked on program development. And this past December, the Development team and Child Life leadership presented the facility dog program to the Shackouls family, who graciously decided to support the program. “It is our hope that the support and love these therapy animals provide will help countless children in making their treatment and recovery journeys brighter,” Judy and Bobby Shackouls said. “We look forward to watching this program grow into something even bigger because every child, no matter their age, gender, background or health condition, deserves to feel

the unconditional love and comfort these animals can provide throughout the healing process.” “Elsa provides goal-oriented therapeutic interventions to patients, families and staff,” said Mary Tietjens, assistant director of Clinical Support Services at Texas Children’s. “She offers support to patients and families who may be having trouble coping with hospital stays, a new diagnosis or other traumatic experiences. She also provides distraction and motivation to patients undergoing certain medical procedures.” During her training with Canine Assistants, Elsa demonstrated strong competencies geared toward working in a pediatric hospital environment. She spent additional time training at Children’s Hospital of Atlanta

working with pediatric patients alongside her handler, Sarah Herbek, a Child Life specialist and animal-assisted therapy coordinator at Texas Children’s. Then, just like any new employee, Elsa spent the first few weeks at Texas Children’s getting acclimated to her new surroundings with Sarah before seeing patients in the West Tower at the Texas Medical Center Campus. The positive response to Elsa’s arrival has been overwhelming. “We are so excited to finally bring this program to fruition at Texas Children’s Hospital,” Tietjens said. “This was a collaborative team effort and would not have been possible without the support of the Shackouls family and the hard work of everyone involved.”

“We believe in the hospital’s mission of healing children. This program not only provides children with a sense of companionship but has proven to be a significant resource in treating patients who may be physically, socially, emotionally or cognitively challenged. Elsa provides a sense of fulfillment to the children in a way that only the love, affection and attention a therapy dog can provide.” – Bobby and Judy Shackouls, Promise Campaign donors

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P RO F I L E S I N P H I L A N T H RO P Y

FPO

Texas Children’s new four-legged employee is making a big difference in the lives of our patients. Katie Schommer, who also works with Elsa, shared the story of a recent patient encounter. “Elsa and I were walking by the physical therapy gym on the rehabilitation unit and overheard a patient becoming frustrated with doing his therapy,” Schommer said. “When we walked by, his whole attitude switched, and he called out excitedly, ‘Elsa is here!’ His physical therapist asked if Elsa could join in for the therapy session. It was clear from her insistent

tail-wagging that Elsa was excited to help! “The patient stood to pet Elsa and then initiated a game of fetch. The physical therapists were so proud to see the boy standing on both legs because that’s what they had been trying to get him to do for 15 minutes! Elsa continued to check in to provide encouragement and motivation for this boy to continue with his rehabilitation therapy. She also enjoys a good game of fetch whenever she can get it in! Each time Elsa came, this patient’s face lit up with excitement as she joined his therapy sessions and made them much more fun.”

“It is our hope that the support and love these

therapy animals provide will help countless

children in making their treatment and recovery

journeys brighter.”

– Judy and Bobby Shackouls

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ISSUE 4 – 2017

I n a program featuring astonishing

accounts of the work being done at

Texas Children’s Hospital, Surgeon-

in-Chief Dr. Charles D. Fraser, Jr., for whom

Fraser’s Friends is named, confidently

delivered his vision for the hospital’s future.

“Texas Children’s Hospital is poised to be the

best,” he said. “Other children’s hospitals have

had their time. It’s Texas Children’s time to be

the leader.”

Citing incredible surgical achievements in

2016 (a staggering 30,810 surgeries and 87

transplants, including 27 heart transplants),

Dr. Fraser explained that more and more,

Texas Children’s is being recognized as having

one of the preeminent surgical departments

in the country.

He shared the stories of Ella Fondren and

Lauren Dunwoody, two little girls who, if not for

the expertise and ingenuity of the physicians

and surgeons at Texas Children’s, might not

have survived complex, life-threatening

medical situations. He then turned the

program back over to Bailey McCarthy,

who not only hosted the event, but also

experienced as a parent the life-saving care

that Texas Children’s provides.

Bailey grew up just down the street from

the Frasers and spent countless hours of

her childhood in their home with Laura, the

Frasers’ oldest daughter. Bailey recalled how

even as a child, she knew that what Dr. Fraser

did at the hospital was very important.

Years later, while living in Chicago, Bailey

and her husband, Pete, discovered they were

expecting their first child. They arrived to their

20-week ultrasound giddy with anticipation

to learn if their baby was a boy or a girl. But

the excitement quickly turned to concern

when the technician found dark formations

on the child’s tailbone. After a re-scan, it

was determined that their daughter had

sacrococcygeal terratoma (SCT), a tumor

that develops during infancy in only one of

35,000 births. Rapid growth of the tumor can

siphon blood from the fetus, putting strain

on the heart or causing an overabundance of

amniotic fluid, all of which can threaten the

development and life of the child. Time was

against them, and Bailey and Pete were told

that their baby needed life-saving surgery as

soon as possible.

With nowhere else to turn, Bailey made

a desperate call to her childhood friend,

Laura, who told her to call her father,

Dr. Fraser. The next day, Bailey and

Pete were on their way to Houston —

and Texas Children’s Hospital.

For weeks, Bailey and the baby were

carefully monitored by nursing and surgical

teams. The condition required a level of

expertise found in few hospitals in the country,

and Texas Children’s had recently performed

a successful SCT surgery. Bailey and Pete

returned to Chicago to consider their options.

But by week 28, the tumor had doubled in size,

and fear of anemia in their unborn baby had

CELEBRATING SURGICAL ACHIEVEMENTS AT TEXAS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

October 2016

Guests gathered at the beautiful home of Bailey and Pete McCarthy for a special evening with Fraser’s Friends, a passionate philanthropic group dedicated to advancing patient care, education and research for

the nine divisions of Texas Children’s Hospital’s surgical enterprise: Congenital Heart, Dental, Neurosurgery,

Ophthalmology, Orthopedic, Otolaryngology, Pediatric General Surgery, Plastic Surgery and Urology.

A.

FRASER’S FRIENDS

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grown. They decided to return to Houston to

deliver their daughter.

Grace McCarthy was born at 39 weeks via

C-section. Now the matter turned to the safe

removal of her tumor. Three days after the birth,

world-renowned surgeon Dr. Oluyinka Olutoye

successfully performed the operation. After two

weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU),

Grace was released, and the McCarthys went

home for the first time as a family.

Their journey with Texas Children’s didn’t

end there. Two years later, Bailey and Pete

welcomed their second child, Harry, after

a normal pregnancy. But after just three

months, Harry exhibited symptoms of

neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia of infancy

(NEHI), a rare lung disease. Once again Bailey

and Pete feared for their child’s life — and

once again Texas Children’s was there to

provide expert care and ensure that Harry

would return to good health.

“That’s the gift Texas Children’s is able to give

families,” Bailey McCarthy said. “We have to

stop and remember how lucky we are.”

To close the event, Carol and Michael

Linn, chairs for Promise: The Campaign for

Texas Children’s Hospital, spoke to guests

about the hospital’s continuing need for

philanthropic support. They specifically

cited two crucial Promise Campaign

objectives: the construction of a world-

class pediatric tower that will expand

Texas Children’s critical, surgical and

cardiac care services at the Texas Medical

Center campus, and the all-important

necessity to raise funds expressly for the

recruitment and retention of the world’s

finest doctors, surgeons and scientists.

“Mike and I made a promise: to devote

ourselves to raising the funds necessary to

make it possible for Texas Children’s Hospital

to always have the capacity to accept

critically ill children who need our help,”

Carol Linn said.

Texas Children’s promise has always

been to provide care for all children who

need it. With the support of individuals and

philanthropic groups like Fraser’s Friends,

Texas Children’s will continue to carry out

that mission and to offer the finest pediatric

health care available.

“That’s the gift Texas Children’s is able to give families. We have to stop and remember how

lucky we are.”

– Bailey McCarthy

B. C. D.

E.

G. H.

F.

See more event photos ataspire.texaschildrens.org/FrasersFriends

A. Dr. Charles D. Fraser, Jr.

B. Michael C. and Carol Linn

C. (From left) Monica and

Grant Dunwoody, Faye Dunwoody

D. (From left) Kelli Fondren, Chase Fondren,

Keni Fondren

E. (From left) Pete McCarthy, Bailey

McCarthy, Mike Bonini, Meg Goodman

F. Leslie and Michael Fertitta

G. Cathy and Joe Cleary

H. (From left) Luke McConn, Christiana

McConn, Vivien Caven, Scott Caven

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ISSUE 4 – 2017

CELEBRATION CHAMPIONS

Long-time Texas Children’s supporters Sidney Faust, Elsie Eckert, Judi McGee

and Scott Basinger chaired their ninth annual Celebration of Champions

event, raising $260,000 for Texas Children’s Cancer Center. FOX 26 news

anchor, Melissa Wilson, emceed the event and helped Texas Children’s patient Crew

Cones “light” the Torch of Hope to kick off the event. Guests enjoyed watching the

2016 Community Champions strut down the runway in fall fashions from Saks Fifth

Avenue while escorting our special Patient Champions dressed in the latest fashions

from Dillard’s.

Plans are underway for a special 10th anniversary celebration on Friday, October 6,

2017, at River Oaks Country Club.

B E N E F I T I N G T E X A S C H I L D R E N ’ S C A N C E R C E N T E R

October 2016 River Oaks Country Club

$260,000 raised for

Texas Children’s Cancer Center

A.

OF

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Cathy and Joe Cleary

Jo and Jim Furr

Diane and Harry Gendel

Susan and Dick Hansen

Betty and John Hrncir

Mady and Ken Kades

Carmen and Butch Mach

Joanna and Brad Marks

Trini Mendenhall

Macy and Mayes Middleton

Sharon and Douglas Owens

Dr. Timothy Porea

Nathalie and Charles Roff

Lindy and John Rydman

Sharleen and Ron Walkoviak

Dancie and Jim Ware

Jane and Jim Wise

Community Champions!

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Sidney Faust

Judi McGee

Scott Basinger

Elsie Eckert

Event Chairs

A. Event chairs (from left to right) Sidney Faust, Judi McGee, Scott Basinger, Elsie Eckert and 2016 Patient Champions

B. A Patient Champion gets ready for the runway

C. A Patient Champion strikes a poseD. Excited Patient Champion waits for

the show to startE. Ron and Sharleen Walkoviak and

Patient Champion give a thumbs-upF. (From left) Scott Basinger, Sidney

Faust, Judi McGee, Elsie Eckert

B.

C.

D.

E. F.

See more event photos ataspire.texaschildrens.org/Champions2016

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ISSUE 4 – 2017

The cries of my seven-month-old son, Keller, awakened me in the early morning hours just after my 40th birthday. My husband, Reggie, and I

attempted to comfort him, but he would not stop crying. Around 7:00 a.m. that day, June 12, 2011,

we took him to the St. Luke’s Emergency Center near our home in The Woodlands. I knew something was wrong, and

by the time we arrived at St. Luke’s, his lips had turned blue.

A fter assessing Keller, the Emergency Center staff promptly arranged for his transfer to Texas Children’s Hospital Texas Medical Center Campus via the

Kangaroo Crew — a specialized transport service for critically ill babies and children. I rode with him on what seemed like the longest and scariest 40-mile trip ever. Knowing that my son needed the expert care Texas Children’s provides to the sickest children was frightening to me, but the comfort of the Kangaroo Crew staff encouraged me so much that I sang to my sweet baby boy along the way. The medical staff at Texas Children’s intubated Keller shortly after we arrived at the hospital. The examining physician diagnosed him with asthma, a collapsed lung and double pneumonia. The news shocked Reggie and me, because Keller had seemed perfectly healthy the day before and had no prior health issues. Unfortunately, the news got worse. The oral steroids Keller needed could not be administered for another 48 hours —

after he had passed the 21-day surveillance period from the possible time of his exposure to chickenpox at his daycare. We waited, and as the clock ticked, Keller’s health declined. The next day, one of the critical care specialists gently said, “Keller is the sickest child in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) right now, and we are preparing for his other organs to start shutting down.” Nothing prepares a parent to hear that your son may die. We wailed. Then, we dropped to our knees and prayed. The hospital staff comforted us again in that awful moment when hope seemed dim. “I vigilantly prayed and read the Bible out loud to Keller all night,” Reggie said. “Family and friends also prayed.” On June 14, Keller was able to receive oral steroids. His body responded well to the medication, and he showed signs of improvement a little each day. We watched a miracle take place as health returned to his small body. What a precious gift it was for my husband to finally hold our son again on June 19 — Father’s Day.

Miraclesare on the WayMore

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Keller remained in the PICU for one more week. I never left the hospital and was grateful for access to the on-site Ronald McDonald House, where we could eat meals, take showers and lie down in a bed. The greeting cards created by family and friends through the hospital’s online greeting card program also brought us comfort and encouragement during this tough time. From our first interaction with the Kangaroo Crew, we knew Keller was in good hands — and so were we. An entire team of family-centered pediatric specialists came together to consistently provide compassionate, high-quality care. They let us listen in on rounds, ask lots of questions and advocate for our son. “The staff was so kind and personable,” Reggie said. “It felt like a bunch of friends were with us, watching over our child.” Today, Keller is a healthy 6-year-old boy. He still has

asthma and is on a daily treatment regimen, but he has never had to go back to Texas Children’s for critical care. Perhaps because of the wonderful doctors he has interacted with his entire life, he wants to be a doctor someday.

Reggie and I are so thankful for Texas Children’s. Knowing that the same level of care we received

at the hospital’s Main Campus in the Texas Medical Center is now available to us

much closer to home at Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands gives us such peace of mind. Our experience with Keller strengthened not only our faith, but also our

devotion to Texas Children’s. We now serve as Ambassadors to tell others about this

wonderful place where miracles happen and to raise awareness and funding that will help

Texas Children’s continue providing the best care to all children in need.

“ The staff was so kind and personable. It felt like a bunch of friends were with us, watching over our child.”

— Reggie Gray

“Knowing that the same level of pediatric care ... is now available to us much closer to home at

Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands gives us such peace of mind.”

— Kristina Gray

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ISSUE 4 – 2017

A. From left) John and Cari Griggs and Sarah and Gregg Snyder

B. Dawn and Richard RawsonC. Nicole and Will MurphyD. Missy and Wayne HerndonE. Coco Mahoney and Noelle

JahnckeF. Kirby and Scott McCoolG. (From left) Hollis Grace,

Carolyn Anderson, Mary Groves

H. Jennifer and Chris LaPorteI. Brooke and Scott HutsonJ. (From left) Judy Smith, Michell

Riley-Brown, Glenn Smith

More than 250 revelers gathered at the

home of Promise Campaign co-chairs

Judy and Glenn Smith for the inaugural

Ambassadors for Texas Children’s Hospital The

Woodlands Holiday Party.

Michelle Riley-Brown, executive vice president

of Texas Children’s Hospital and president of

Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands,

welcomed attendees and shared the success of the

new hospital’s outpatient services thus far. Following

personal remarks from Glenn Smith, a check for

more than $1 million was presented to Riley-Brown

on behalf of Ambassadors for Texas Children’s

Hospital The Woodlands.

Sarah and Gregg Snyder hosted more than 400

guests at their Houston home for the seventh annual

Ambassadors Holiday Party. Promise Campaign

co-chairs, Cari and John Griggs, accepted the

annual check, which totaled more than $2.1 million,

and shared why giving to Texas Children’s is so

important.

More than 20 bins of toys, games

and art supplies were donated to the

Child Life team from the two parties.

AMBASSADORS CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAYS AND TEXAS CHILDREN’S IN THE WOODLANDS AND HOUSTON

DECEMBER 2016

E.

A.

F.

B.

G.

D.

I. J.

C.

H.

Ambassadors for Texas Children’s Hospital is a vibrant group of like-minded individuals who share a commitment to the hospital’s mission. Through

active social engagement and generous philanthropic giving, they serve as a strong voice for children and women in need of the most specialized health care available. Each year, Ambassadors raise significant funds for the hospital’s area of greatest need. Now that Texas Children’s has expanded its world-class care both at the Texas Medical Center campus and in the communities north of Houston, the need for support is greater than ever. That’s why last year, Ambassadors expanded their reach to meet that need with the formation of Ambassadors for Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands. Throughout 2016 and early 2017, Ambassadors have held numerous kick-off events in private homes. Hosts

included Candi and Gerald Glenn, Vicki and Michael Richmond, Johnna and Ryan Edone, Tracey and Sean O’Neal, Rachael and Mark Terry, and Carol and Phil Garner. These events raised more than $600,000 for Texas Children’s Hospital. In addition to raising funds, Ambassadors also participate in a wide array of events, such as Ambassadors On Call luncheons — which feature Texas Children’s experts and offer guests an opportunity to see the hospital’s world-class facilities firsthand — and annual favorites like Family Fun Day and the Holiday Party. Ambassadors also make use of special Navigation Line services for assistance with referrals, appointments, and health and safety information — an invaluable resource for parents and grandparents alike.

Become an Ambassador today at ambassadors.texaschildrens.org

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Hear more from these experts at aspire.texaschildrens.org/ambassadors2016

AMBASSADORS ON CALL LUNCHEONS

Q: What is a cannabinoid?A: A cannabinoid is an active substance found in marijuana. The cannabinoid most people are familiar with is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Though THC is the main ingredient in marijuana, there are 60 to 70 other active cannabinoids.

Q: How long have people been using marijuana for medical purposes?A: Marijuana has been used in treatments of various kinds in many different cultures dating back to Old Testament times. Ancient Chinese writings from 2700 B.C. discuss its healing properties. Egyptians around 1500 B.C. used it for something resembling pinkeye. And Romans documented using it for arthritis pain around 79 A.D.

Q: What are some of the issues hindering medicinal marijuana research?A: Marijuana is a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it can’t be studied without special

government approval. There’s only one legal grower of medicinal marijuana in the country, and that’s the University of Mississippi. So that’s the only place that can guarantee quality control or how much THC is in a dose. This also means that marijuana hasn’t been studied enough. So though there appear to be some interesting benefits, we still just don’t know enough about all of the different cannabinoids in marijuana and their effects on the human body.

Q: If given the opportunity to participate in a medicinal marijuana study, what would be your focus?A: First, I would research its effectiveness in the treatment of childhood epilepsy and seizures. I think that’s where the biggest potential public health benefit lies to be able to make inroads for children and their families. I also think it would be worth exploring potential benefits for autism.

Q: How do you know when a specific behavior is bullying?A: What one person perceives as bullying or an act of harassment, another person might not. People’s feelings can be hurt by something that was unintentional, like a joke gone wrong. But the three criteria prevalent in instances of bullying are intentionality, repetition and power imbalance. For example, when we talk about peer victimization, this would be repeated harassment, an imbalance of power in the relationship and the intention to cause harm. And that can be either verbal or nonverbal, and can include exclusion of the victim.

Q: What is cyberbullying?A: Cyberbullying is harassment that occurs online, and it happens most frequently among peers. One of the biggest differentiators between cyberbullying and in-person bullying is the idea of minimal physical and social cues. When we adults were teens, we were granted an end to the stresses of the day

at 3:00 when we went home. There’s this idea that with today’s teens, stress is ongoing and is being broadcast out to a larger complex social network.

Q: Is there a personality type that tends to be more victimized?A: What we know is that a child who has been bullied is more at risk to bully others. And if you think of that more broadly, that could even mean at home. Maybe the person who’s hurting or bullying a child is a parent or family member. So then that aggression comes with the child to school. And that can have long-term physical and mental health effects. It hurts everybody.

Q: What kinds of health problems can stem from bullying?A: Obviously bullying can have a negative impact on health, especially over time. It can cause depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues and physical health problems, which of course can all lead to school absences, refusal to go to school and lowered grades.

Q&A WITH TEXAS CHILDREN’S EXPERTS

Medical Marijuana: Miracle or Myth?

Social Cruelty, Cyber Citizenship and Building a Community of Connection

As chief of the Section of Public Health Pediatrics, Dr. Greeley works with state and local agencies to study and pilot strategies, interventions and policies directed toward addressing adversity and strengthening resilience for children and their families.

Dr. Christopher Greeley, Chief, Section of Public Health Pediatrics

Dr. Amy B. Acosta, Adolescent Medicine Section

Dr. Acosta is a licensed psychologist at Texas Children’s and currently provides mental health services through Texas Children’s inpatient adolescent clinic. Her clinical specialties include eating disorders, body image concerns, and anxiety and depression, while her academic and research interests focus on bullying, parenting in the digital age and digital wellness.

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ISSUE 4 – 2017

A M B AS SA D O R S

Debbie AdamsShirley and Charles AlexanderJoan and Stanford AlexanderCarolyn and Willie AlexanderThe D. Kent and Linda C.Anderson FoundationElle and Clarke AndersonLinda AndersonPhyllis and Steven AndersonThe Andras FoundationAlisa and Jim AndrasMary and Oscar AndrasStephanie and Tim ArmstrongLaura and John ArnoldAscende Charitable TrustHeather and Richard AvantNadine and Tim BalombinLeslie L. Harris and Edward G. BaptistaShanna and Eric BassSheryl and Douglas BechDonna and Steve BenottiMelony and B.J. BergeronCarole and Bruce BilgerHeidi and Todd BinetDarlene BissoEva and Beau BissoDeana and Larry BlackburnGary BlackieCollier and Richard BladesMarylou and Ted BlandStacey and Stephen BourqueSusan and Bob BoykinJennifer and Jimmy BranchKatie and A.J. BrassBroesche Family FoundationKarl BroescheKelly and Kirt BroescheHenry T. BrooksThe Brown Foundation, Inc.Chris BrownJennifer BrownCharlene and Philip CarrollKeely and Carl CarterBarbara and Larry CatuzziAnn and Clarence CazalotHolly and Kirk CoburnCockrell Family FundEstela and David CockrellStephanie and Ernie CockrellAdonia and Kevin CokinosStacey and Cooper CollinsNancy and Brady CookSusie and Lloyd CunninghamHilda and Greg CurranMary-Kathryn and Chris D’AgostinoShawn and Chuck DalioAutumn and Mike DavidsonClaire and David de RoodeElizabeth and Anthony DeLucaJoelle and Mitch DerrickMelisa and Albert Dion IIStaci and John DonovanJan Ellis DuncanAndrea and Lyle EasthamPepper and Ashley EdensJohnna and Ryan EdoneJenny ElkinsAndrea and Larry ElliottJohn EmmitteEntergy Texas, Inc.Mary and Doug ErwinGenna and Jon EvansMarita and J.B. FairbanksZeina and Nijad FaresCarolyn FaulkJudy Feigin FaulknerBarbara and Michael FeiginLeslie and Michael FertittaFKP Architects, Inc.Sally and Rigo FloresNatalie and John FordLauren and Don Fornes

Katie and John ForneyTobey and Billy ForneyCarolyn and Bill Forney, Jr.Ann and Randy FowlerFrank Lockwood Family FoundationFrankel Family FoundationCarol and Jim FrankelKristina and Kevin FrankelDara and Scott FrankelElizabeth and Clint FreelandPhil and Carol GarnerJulianne and J GautHelen and Terry GebertErin and Brian GilmoreClare A. GlassellCandi and Gerald GlennBenjamin GoMargaret GoJackie and John GodboldMaureen and John GrafClaire and Joe GreenbergBeth and Douglas GrijalvaWindi and David GrimesCarol and John GunnCindy and John HagemanAmy and Charles HankinsBarbara and Wayne HarmsSusan Feigin and Jonathan M. HarrisPat and Mike HartmanAnn Lents and David HeaneyMia and Joseph HeilCaroline and Bill HelanderLeila and Jason HighamMindy and Jeff HildebrandMarian and Tim Hilpert/Air Texas Mechanical, Inc.Wendy and Jeff HinesKitty and Lex HochnerLindsay and Rand HolsteadLisa and Michael HolthouseCourtney and Bo HopsonBecky and Kevin HostlerThe Houston Family FoundationAna Lee and Marc JacobsNoelle and Davis JahnckeRandall H. JamailChristy and Webb JenningsCathy and Mel JodeitLinda W. and Gary C. JohnsonMatthew JohnsonVictoria and Parks JohnsonMary and Hank JonesWendy and Kenneth JonesLaura and Steve JonesKatherine and Stewart JonesShelley and Gene JorgensenLeigh and Chris JosephElise and Russ JosephGeorge JosephMelissa and Brad JuneauKristie and Kyle KafkaElizabeth and Tommy KanarellisNicole and Evan KatzEmily and Rusty KelleyLilia Khakimova and C. Robert BunchTracey and Mike KillionThe William S. and Lora Jean Kilroy FoundationMarie Louise and David KinderDave KingDebbie and Bobby KnappJennifer and JC KnealeSaranne and Livingston KosbergDamon and Karen KrehbielHuntley and Dan KubitzaSusan and Mike LarsonTerry and Ray LarsonLisa and Evan LeeJenny and Justin LeonardJean and Richard LewellenJessica and Lance LightfootJennifer and Jeb Ligums

Ann and John LigumsKristi Marimon and George LindahlCarol and Mike LinnJamie and Howard LorchCynthia and Larry LueckemeyerJoella and Steven MachLouis MagneCoco and Kelly MahoneyThe Mailman FoundationRosalyn and Barry MargolisHolly and Thomas MasonMorganne and Jefy MathewLisa and Will MathisKirby and Scott McCoolLaura and Andrew McCulloughRebecca and Shay McGarrCorinne and Michael McVayArnold and Suzanne Miller Charitable FundJan and Arnold M. MillerDenise MonteleoneJennifer and Will MonteleoneKristy and Jeff MontgomeryChristine and Shea MorenzChristina and Steve MorseAlice and Keith MosingNicole and Will MurphyBobbie and John NauStephanie, Celine and Randy NelsonJan and Joe NetherlandAmy and David NovelliHeidi and Tobin O’DonnellAlice and Billy OehmigTracey and Sean O’NealDiane and Garry OsanBeth OtilliarLuana and Gary OwensSusan and Mike PadonMrs. C.N. PapadopoulosDiane and Jeff PaulCynthia and Tony PetrelloBrenda and Larry PetruJenny and Rich PetruSusan and Mike PlankFaye and Jack PolatsekSuzanne and Bob PotterKaren PulaskiBradley RadoffThe Radoff FamilyHolly and Steve RadomJudith Ragsdale, DDS, MSD, Pediatric DentistryAmy and Matt RallsLouise RatzDawn and Richard RawsonCarroll and Hugh RayLeigh Anne and John RaymondNoelle and Eric ReedElizabeth and Bobby ReevesAmy and Mike ReevesKrissi and Taylor ReidVicki and Michael RichmondMichelle Riley-Brown and James BrownBrooke and Corby RobertsonBarbara and Corby RobertsonLaura and Will RobertsonWendy and John RoddeySheila and Jon D. RodermundSybil RoosSuzanne and Mike RoseThe Jerry and Maury Rubenstein FoundationNancy and Bryan RuezAmy and Tom RyanTani and Tony Sanchez, Jr.Vanessa and Tony Sanchez IIIVanessa and Eduardo SanchezNorma and Pete SanchezPatricio SanchezCheryl and Robert SanfordLeslie and Shannon SasserJoan and John Scales

Kristi and John SchillerCourtney and Gregory SchillingMaryann T. SeamanAlly and Mike SederJordan and Dylan SeffRaquel and Andrew SegalCathy and Dennis SeithKristy and John SextonThe Shackouls Family FoundationJudy and Bobby ShackoulsElizabeth and Scott ShackoulsMary Eliza and Park ShaperAmy and Peter Shaper Family FundElise de Compiegne ShattoLynn Des Prez and William T. ShearerDanielle and Christopher ShieldErin and Jeff ShiltDr. Joan E. Shook and Dr. Jeffrey R. StarkeAmy and Kyle SimsonSherry and Vincent SinisiElaine and Christopher SlaughterMichelle and Alan SmithChirsti and Chase SmithNancy SmithAnne and Stephen SmithChristina Dixon and Stuart SmithSusie and Tommy SmithMary Martha and Joel StaffStargel Office SolutionsVicki and Jack StargelSlade StargelJessica and Tyson StargelCindy and Larry SteinAndy and Liz StepanianLindsay and Trent StoutDebbie and Steve SukinSuzanne and Joseph SuttonCourtney and Doug SwansonChay and Tory TaylorKelly and Adam TepperRachael and Mark TerryLee and Ty TillmanMatthew R. TitusErika and John ToussaintCandie and Steven TramonteLori and Hank Van JoslinJennifer and Wil VanLohRachael and Jason VolzShannon and Mark WallaceWhitney and Marc WalshElizabeth and Peter WareingKalen and Mike WebbEmily and Danny WeingeistLucille and Richard WeissArdy and Pat WestonMary and Greg WhalleyMary WhalleyKrista and Robby WhitePam and Gary WhitlockLeslie Frankel-Wiener and Gary WienerJulia and Carl WilliamsSue and David WilliamsShannon and Brian WingWilliam and Marie Wise Family FoundationMandy and Blaik WisenbakerJoan WolfeElizabeth and Judson WolfeJanet Wong and Ronald MullinsHank and Sheryl WoodLori and Scott WulfeJudge Clarease Yates and Mr. Cary YatesChrista ZieglerMarcie and Robert ZlotnikHuda and William ZoghbiRobert L. and Barbara Zorich Family FoundationBarbara and Robert Zorich

L I F E T I M E M E M B E R SIn addition to its generous annual members, Ambassadors for Texas Children’s Hospital membership includes hundreds of dedicated lifetime members.

We honor them here.

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A GIFT FOR CAROLINEE L I Z A B E T H A N D A N T H O N Y D eLU C A

“ During the worst year of our lives, Anthony and I became even more committed than ever to helping solve the riddle of catastrophic epilepsy. In Caroline’s memory, we will solve it, and we will solve it at the NRI — of that I am sure.”

– Elizabeth and Anthony DeLuca, Promise Campaign donors

Our journey with Texas Children’s began when our youngest daughter was just two days old. I found Caroline unresponsive and turning blue in her bassinet and began CPR on our kitchen floor. When the ambulance arrived, I immediately said, “She needs to be taken to Texas Children’s Hospital” — and thus began new lives for me and my husband, Anthony, and for our other daughters.

Caroline had seizures for the first three months of her life. She did not meet any of her developmental milestones, but we had a reprieve from the seizures until she turned three. When the seizures returned, though, we were told that her condition was severe and untreatable — catastrophic epilepsy, they called it.

At four years old, Caroline suffered a stroke, which paralyzed her on her right side and affected even her swallowing function. Even so, after a little while, Caroline began to come out of her extreme illness, learning to walk for the first time in her life and learning to swallow again. We began to believe that we just might beat the odds.

Caroline was always a fighter, and she was determined to get well. She was asked several times to donate samples of her blood for

genetic testing. We always gave Caroline the opportunity to say yes or no to the blood draws. She always said yes — and she would grin, because she knew she was helping others.

The seizures continued and always seemed to happen at the worst times, like when she was getting ready for a Special Olympics swim meet. She participated in several different

clinical trials — we tried everything we could to bring her relief. When we heard that Dr. Huda Zoghbi was going to be the director of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (NRI) at Texas Children’s Hospital, we immediately wanted to learn more. Anthony and I felt strongly that if a cure for catastrophic epilepsy were to be found, it was going to be at the NRI.

When she was 11, Caroline lost her ability to walk. About this time, we began hearing about

genomic testing, which ultimately found the culprit for Caroline’s condition in the STXBP1 gene. We finally had a mission for our donation to the NRI — finding a cure for catastrophic epilepsies, beginning with STXBP1.

Dr. Zoghbi had a researcher in mind, Dr. Mingshan Xue, and she was trying to convince him to come to Houston. She decided to introduce him to Caroline. They immediately hit it off. During that visit, Caroline began having a series of very bad seizures — and Drs. Xue and Zoghbi saw firsthand what she was dealing with. As they left our home that day, Mingshan whispered to me: “99 percent sure I’ll be back here in Houston.” Mingshan did come, and he developed a mouse model for STXBP1 — and the mice seized exactly as Caroline did.

The NRI is at the forefront of efforts to solve the myriad neurological issues affecting children. We believe it’s going to happen not in the far-flung future, but in the near future.

In March of 2016, our beautiful Caroline passed away in my arms. Thanks to Texas Children’s, she lived 18 years, far surpassing her expected life span. She was the bravest, strongest, silliest, most amazing person I will ever know.

Caroline was always a fighter, and she was

determined to get well.

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ISSUE 4 – 2017

P RO F I L E S I N P H I L A N T H RO P Y

NON-PROFITORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

HOUSTON, TXPERMIT NO. 6131

Texas Children’s Hospital1919 South Braeswood Boulevard Suite 5214Houston, Texas 77030