Children's Champions

In fall 2008, Rebecca was diagnosed with aplastic anemia, a condition where bone marrow can’t produce enough platelets and red and white blood cells. In the past two years, she has had five bone marrow biopsies, a weeklong inpatient hospital stay and more than 60 visits to the MACC Fund Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. “As a teenager, I wanted to live a normal life, and the staff at Children’s Hospital helped me be as normal as possible,” Rebecca said. “They moved clinic appointments so I could attend school and prom.” As a graduating senior and with her condition under control, Rebecca will attend Marian University in Fond du Lac, Wis., this fall. She will major in Nursing. One day, Rebecca would like to work at Children’s Hospital.

In June 2006, Emmett’s parents were getting him ready for bed when he started convulsing and turning blue. He was taken by ambulance to a local emergency room. There, he was diagnosed with Doose syndrome, a rare and hard-to-control form of epilepsy. After months of little control of his condition, his parents took him to the Neuroscience Center at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. He was closely monitored in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit for a week. Eleven days later, after new medication and treatments, Emmett was seizure free and still is today. “The care he received in the hospital was amazing,” said his mom, Erin. “We have our baby back! It is the knowledgeable staff that gave our boy a second chance at life.”

In February 2009, Melanie came down with a flu virus. The next month, her parents took her to the emergency room because she was too weak to hold herself up. Melanie was quickly transported to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. There, she was diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a condition where the immune system attacks the nervous system. Melanie spent three days in the PICU so doctors could make sure her vital systems wouldn’t fail as a result of Guillain-Barré. Now, Melanie undergoes an intravenous therapy to help relieve her symptoms. She is playing basketball again and doing great. “I want to thank the staff at Children’s Hospital for all their help and support,” said Melanie. “They made me feel welcome and not afraid. I am so glad I was able to meet the most wonderful people.”

Tiffany Villalobos

Age 6

Kenosha, Wis.

One night, Tiffany began having seizures, so her father took her to an emergency room in Kenosha, Wis. She was transferred to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin where doctors gave her medication. Unfortunately, it didn’t work, and the convulsions became more frequent. Tiffany met with doctors in the Neuroscience Center, and she was admitted to the hospital. She spent 12 days at Children’s Hospital while doctors and nurses worked to adjust the medication. Today, she is seizure-free. “This experience was very hard for our family,” said Tiffany’s father, Jesus. “Tiffany is happy and well, and enjoys playing with her friends. We can’t thank the doctors and nurses enough for their help.”

Zachary had chronic pneumonia for the first year of his life. He started taking medication for acid reflux at 3 weeks old. After a year of illnesses and what doctors thought was a stomach problem, Zachary was referred to the Gastroenterology Center at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in January 2009. Doctors in the clinic ran tests and found nothing was wrong with his stomach. Instead, Zachary was diagnosed with aortic sequestration, a problem where blood flows into the lungs from the heart causing constant infections. Soon, he was scheduled for surgery to fix his heart and lungs. “Everyone was amazing. We never felt like we were alone,” said his mom Jackie. “You truly feel like a family when you’re there.” Zachary continues to visit Children’s Hospital for routine check-ups.

Nathan’s time in the womb went smoothly, but at birth, Nathan was limp and blue and not breathing. A team of doctors and nurses immediately began CPR. Nathan spent seven days in Children’s Hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. A year later, he sees a speech pathologist and a specialist in the Neonatal Follow-up Program. “Words cannot express the gratitude we feel toward every nurse and physician who cared for Nathan,” said his mom, Kristi. “Everyone was so warm, kind and understanding.”

Zach Galante

Age 13

West Bend, Wis.

In 2008, Zach had six seizures within a two-week period. His doctor referred him to the Neuroscience Center at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Zach spent time in the hospital’s Epilepsy Monitoring Unit, where specialists ran tests to figure out what was happening in his brain. Today, Zach’s seizures are controlled with medications. He hasn’t had a seizure in a year. Now, he’s working on his Eagle Scout project – providing picnic equipment for families at Children’s Hospital for use during hospital stays. “The people at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin have truly changed my life,” Zach said. “They helped me both physically and mentally. They showed me I can do whatever I want to do.”

 “Diamond has been a fighter since day one,” said her mother Betty. Weighing just a little more than one pound when she was born, Diamond was diagnosed with multiple medical issues including cerebral palsy. She spent her first six months in a hospital. Afterward, Diamond was referred to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. She continues to visit specialists in the Neuroscience Center. “The staff at Children’s Hospital is wonderful. We have met a lot of wonderful people and friends,” said Betty. “Children’s Hospital is one of the best hospitals in America.”