Satellite Children
Each year since 1994, satellites have chosen
children to represent them. These children have benefited from
Children's Hospital, the Robert Warner Rehabilitation Center, and/or
one of the other western New York children's charities.
2000
- Patrick Finn
Wellsville, NY
 When
Patrick was about 6 months old (January 1993) his parents noticed that
he was not meeting many of the milestones for his age. He was also
making a jerky motion upon waking from his sleep. After some tests by
their doctor Patrick was sent to Children's Hospital.
Having all kinds of tests run on him during his week long stay, it was
determined that Patrick was suffering from Myoclonic seizures caused
by a brain infarct on the left frontal lobe. In simpler words, an area
that was never formed, or possibly an area that was damaged by a
stroke in utero. The news was pretty solemn. There was no way to tell
what the future would hold for Patrick.
Various therapies and medications were tried on Patrick which began
during a two week stay at Children's. It was during this time that the
doctors discovered Patrick has a heart condition called Aortic
Stenosis. He is missing a valve or has a valve that is not functioning
correctly.
After being on medications for three years, Patrick is today free of
medications and outward signs of seizures. Since the Spring of 1993,
he has received physical, occupational and speech therapy. To help the
placement of his right leg and foot, he wore a Ankle-Foot Orthotic
made at the Robert Warner Orthotic Lab of Children's Hospital.
Patrick is now in the first grade in Wellsville and doing quite well.
He continues to receive his therapies during school and has a full
time aide to help him. He does very well at most activities. He plays
in a summer soccer league and is starting a "little
dribblers" basketball program soon. He still does not use his
right hand for fine motor activities, but he is learning to compensate
for his disabilities. Patrick has difficulties with choosing words
often knowing what he wants to say but can't remember the words. This
is typical of a stroke victim. Patrick has a little brother, Connor,
and dog, Roo. His parents, Mark and Monica, say Children's Hospital
was very helpful to the entire family. Without their help, they would
not have been able to handle everything as well as they did.
1999
- Leah Kathryn & Bridget Elizabeth Christman
Wellsville, NY
 Leah and Bridget were born in Children's Hospital after their mother, Tammy,
was taken there and treated for severe pre-eclampsia with HELLP syndrome. She developed
this shortly after the end of her second trimester of pregnancy.
Leah was born on Oct. 31, 1997, at 11:51 p.m. She was diagnosed with a grade-three
bilateral interventricular hemorrhage to her brain. Leah also had patent ductus
arteriosus, or PDA, a condition where there is a continuous communication between the main
pulmonary artery and the aorta, after birth. She also developed respiratory distress
syndrome, pneumonia, as well as several infections. When Leah was sent home, she was on
oxygen and heart and lung monitors which she required for three or four months.
Bridget was born ten minutes after Leah, at 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 1, 1997. After birth, she
became very ill and developed sepsis. She underwent a colonoscopy to be sure there was no
obstruction to her intestinal tract. Bridget also had biopsies taken as well as an
incidental appendectomy. As if that were not enough, she was diagnosed with PDA and a
pulmonary hemorrhage. In addition Bridget had pneumonia and, a head ultrasound showed,
abnormalities in the frontal portion of her brain called PVLs; these abnormalities
indicate the possible development of cerebral palsy.
Children's released the girls two months after they were born. They came home to
Wellsville with their parents, Robert and Tammy, where they are enrolled in the Early
Intervention Program—receiving physical therapy at home once a week. Leah and Bridget
also visit Children's for check ups.
The Christmans say they are "enormously blessed to have had so much encouragement
from the staff at Children's... we owe everything to God and the care from the
professionals at Children's Hospital."
1998
- Raymond Joseph Embser
Wellsville, NY
 Raymond
was born in Korea on July 18, 1995 -- about the time that his family
was beginning adoption procedures through "Love the Children."
Raymond was born with a cleft lip and palate and, although he did not
come home to his new family until he was almost five months old, his new
parents were well prepared for his surgeries through an early
consultation with the Carniofacial Center at Children's Hospital of
Buffalo.
Ten days after his arrival, Raymond was evaluated by a feeding
specialist, geneticist, ENT, and an Audiologist. Raymond's lip and
palate surgeries, with the accompanying typanostomies, went well at
Children's. His most recent surgery to remove a foreign object from his
nose was also handled in a professional and caring manner.
Though Raymond still has several surgeries ahead of him, his parents,
John and Diana, are confident they will go well. His speech development
and hearing are within the normal range. Raymond gives a new meaning to
living life passionately and even his older brother, Vincent, and older
sister, Jenevera, can hardly keep up with him. Mr. and Mrs. Embser wish
to thank Children's, saying that they "have been blessed that the
staff [at Children's] is dedicated to providing compassionate care to
God's greatest gifts."
1997 - Daniel William Graham
Wellsville, NY
 On
Tuesday, Sept. 17, 1996, 11-year-old Daniel was walking on the sidewalk
after attending his fifth-grade class. At approximately 3:20 p.m., a car
veered from State Route 417, jumped the curb, and hit him.
The impact threw Daniel 40 feet into a cement porch. The Wellsville
Volunteer Ambulance Corp. arrived within minutes and transported him to
Jones Memorial Hospital. Because of his life-threatening injuries,
Daniel was immediately transferred to Children's Hospital. Upon arrival,
Daniel was listed in critical condition with a fractured skull, a
compound-fractured right arm, a cracked rib, and a bruised lung. He
spent two weeks in intensive care. While in ICU he had a nurse and
doctor by his side for the first 48 hours; they didn't expect him to
live two days. Miraculously, Daniel returned home Oct. 26, 1996, and
returned to school on Dec. 9.
He continues to receive therapy three days a week. Without the
updated technology at Children's and the Lord, Daniel would not be here
today. His parents, Gary and Jalea, and sister, Anna, are thankful to
the staff at Children's.
1996 - Chase Erin Creedon
Penn Yan, NY
 Chase
came into the world on Sept. 26, 1995, looking a bit blue but an
otherwise perfectly normal and active eight-pound newborn. Before he
was born, his parents, Matt and Denise Creedon, were informed that
Chase was diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. They were
given various options and followed the advice of Children's Hospital.
At six days of age, Chase underwent open-heart surgery. The long
operation was successful and Chase came through "like a
champ." However, his fight had only begun. The following day, the
doctors attempted to take him off the respirator that had been
breathing for him almost since birth. Although Chase tried valiantly,
he was not yet strong enough to breathe on his own and had to be put
back on the respirator. This episode took its toll on little Chase,
causing damage to his liver and kidneys, as well as causing his body
to retain an enormous amount of fluid. As if that were not enough, a
blood clot was discovered inside his heart on the wall of the atrium.
He spent a total of 46 days in the hospital, all but about six of
those in intensive care.
Today, Chase is home and thriving. While he is on a lot of medication,
he appears to be a normal four-month-old baby. He will be monitored by
Children's until he is ready for the second stage of the procedure,
which is expected to be sometime in late1996. Chase lives with his
parents and brother, Asa, who, like Chase, has also been cared for at
Children's. "We are forever in the debt of all of those people
who helped Chase through this extremely though time," commented
Mr. & Mrs. Creedon.
1995 - Jesse Aaron Dodd
Allentown, NY
 Jesse
was born on Telethon Weekend, 1988. Ironically, his mother, Carol, was
baby-sitting for one of the Wellsville Area Satellite Chairmen while he
attended the Satellite Community Dinner.
Jesse was two-months premature and weighed only three pounds. He was
transferred by Mercy Flight to Children's Hospital and later diagnosed
as suffering from Cerebral Palsy.
Every year, during the Telethon, Jesse's parents, Carol and Rick, are
reminded of Jesse's birth and the role Children's had. Sadly, Jesse died
on Jan. 26, 1998. He was in the third grade at Scio Central School. |
