NFL Player Visits Children's Hospital

Baltimore native and NFL Buffalo Bills' player Aaron Maybin spent time at the The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai on Friday, his second visit in the past year to Sinai to cheer on pediatric patients.

Maybin is the founder of Project Mayhem, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing "aid, both personal and economic, to help underprivileged and at-risk youth excel beyond their current conditions." Maybin was in town for Project Mayhem's 2nd Annual “Celebration of the Arts” week and gala, held on Saturday at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. The gala topped off the Project Mayhem “Celebration of the Arts” Week, where Maybin and celebrity friends hosted field trips and art workshops at Baltimore City middle and high schools and community centers.

To view a clip of Aaron’s visit to pediatrics at Sinai, click here. To learn more about the Children's Hospital, call 410-601-WELL(9355).

Bone Marrow Drive for Sinai Patient To Be Held Saturday

A swab of your cheek may be the ticket to saving a young boy's life.

Harry Friner, age 3, needs a bone marrow transplant in order to survive AML, a rare type of leukemia. Harry was diagnosed a year ago and his cancer recurred in the fall. The photo above was taken of Harry and his father Richard at the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Sinai Hospital.

A bone marrow drive in Harry's honor will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. this Saturday, February 5 at Trinity Church, 2907 Mountain Road, Joppa, MD 21085. All are invited to attend - check out the health and age requirements to see if you are eligible to join the Be the Match registry. If you do not meet the health or age requirements, you can also sponsor somebody who does meet them or make a donation. Frequently Asked Questions about joining the registry are answered here.

Joseph Wiley, M.D., Chief of the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai, was a guest on ABC's Good Morning Maryland on Monday to talk about registering and why it's important. He was joined by Harry's 7-year-old sister, Ella. Click here to see the interview.

-Elizabeth Leis-Newman

Sinai Hospital Wraps Up Banner Year in Baltimore

The holidays are a time to celebrate family. At Sinai Hospital, we’re part of a large family of dedicated health care providers, which is why we wanted to look back and highlight some of the accomplishments of 2010.

While this list is by no means exhaustive, some of the year’s highlights included:

• The opening of the Alfred I. Coplan Pediatric Hematology Oncology Outpatient Center, offering a larger, brighter clinic that meets the needs of some of our youngest patients.
• Governor Martin O’Malley visiting to discuss health information technology
• Race for Our Kids raising more than $120,000 to benefit the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital at Sinai. Save the date for Sunday, Sept. 25, 2011 for the next race!
• The Save-A-Limb ride raised more than $120,000 to benefit the Save-A-Limb Fund at the Rubin Institute for Advanced Orthopedics. The 2011 ride is Sunday, October 23.
  
• The Hyundai Foundation providing a $100,000 research grant to Joseph Wiley, M.D., chief of the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children’s Hospital
• Hosting A Line in the Sand, a groundbreaking exhibit highlighting awareness of domestic violence
• A group of employees, including physicians John Herzenberg, M.D. and Aaron Zuckerberg, M.D., going to Haiti to assist victims of the earthquake.
• Being one of 169 hospitals nationwide to receive HealthGrades 2009/2010 Women's Health Excellence Award. This exclusive designation recognizes Sinai as a leader in quality patient care.

Additionally, Sinai Hospital President Neil Meltzer concluded being the chairman of the American Heart Association and was appointed the U.S. Government Accountability Office's National Health Care Workforce Commission.

We are looking forward to tackling 2011 with the vigor and dedication that makes us special. May the next year be healthy and happy for you and your family!

-Elizabeth Leis-Newman

Join the Chanukah Celebration at Sinai Hospital

Chanukah is a Jewish holiday celebrating the victory of the Maccabees' war against Assyrian Greeks in 165 B.C. The holiday lasts eight nights, symbolizing the miracle of a small amount of oil lasting longer than one day.

The Sinai Hospital Auxiliary invites you to join us for the annual Chanukah celebration at 6 p.m. today in the Sinai Hospital atrium. Rabbi Mitchell Ackerson will lead the menorah lighting ceremony.

Please bring a new unwrapped toy for a pediatric patient in the Alfred I. Coplan Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Center at the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai.

Chanukah refreshments will be served in Café Shalom following the program. Please RSVP to the Auxiliary Office at 410-601-5033. Media are invited to attend and shoot photos of the celebration.

Harmonia Therapy Featured in Advance for Nurses

Last year we featured Buddy Wakefield and his innovate approach to respiratory therapy - teaching patients how to play a harmonica.

Since then, harmonica therapy has taken off among the pediatric patients at the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai. Blowing in and out on the instrument, and learning to play simple songs like "Jingle Bells," strengthens the child's ability to use diaphragmatic breathing, and likely increases the muscles used to inhale and exhale.

"The harmonicas are way more fun for the children than the incentive spirometers are," said Pat Moloney-Harmon, MS, RN, CCNS, FAAN, told Advance for Nurses. The magazine recently featured the program at Sinai.

To learn more about the Children's Hospital at Sinai, call 410-601-WELL (9355).

Harmonica Therapy Takes Off at Sinai Hospital

Recently we brought you the story of how harmonicas were being used to help our youngest patients. In the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai, respiratory therapists like Ann Ludwig are teaching children with breathing problems how to blow in and out on the harmonica. In addition to making music, the patients are also working on proper breathing techniques.

Yesterday Jennifer Franciotti from WBAL-TV stopped by to do a story. To see it, click here!

Thanks to Race for Our Kids Participants!

Thank you to those who participated in the Race for Our Kids! More than 900 runners and walkers, including the adorable Cubs fans on the right, didn't let a little bit of rain stop them as they joined the 1-mile Family Fun Walk, the 5K and the 10K.

Race for Our Kids raised over $120,000. Funds benefits the Division of Pediatric Oncology at the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai. Click on the video below to hear Joseph Wiley, M.D., chief of the Children's Hospital, discuss how the money raised benefits families and services. At left you can see Dr. Wiley, Sinai President Neil Meltzer and Race Chair Andrew Levine presenting the check.

There are many runners and walkers who participate every year, LifeBridge Health special events manager Jen Doyle says.

"We've seen a lot of families honor their children who were treated at Sinai by participating in the race," she says. "We are always thrilled when we get such a great turnout, and we are grateful for the ton of volunteers who helped out."

In the video below you can hear Laura Reames talk about the treatment her son Ethan received at Sinai. Ethan is now 4.

The top three finishers in this year's 5k were Tyler Gray, age 14, Jeffrey Wyatt II, age 15, and Blake Valente, age 26. The top three finishers in the 10K were Andy Biladeau, age 23, David Berdan, age 29, and Michael Wardian, age 36. You can see complete race results here.

The top team in fundraising was the Roland Park Elementary and Middle School running in honor of Cara Collins. RPEMS Buddies for Cara raised $5,005!

Hyundai Provides Research Grant to Sinai Chief

Ask any parent of a child with cancer and you'll hear many of the same stories: financial difficulties, strain on the parent's marriage, trouble relating to families with healthy children, and the emotional hardship of seeing your child struggle with illness.

But the key word is 'ask.' Traditionally, research on children with cancer has focused around how the child copes with their diagnosis, not how the family is coping. Thanks to a $100,000 grant from the Hyundai Foundation, pediatric oncologist Joseph Wiley, M.D., will be able to investigate the social, academic and employment impact of cancer on other members of the family.

"Families would give up everything for their children, and frequently they have to," says Dr. Wiley, the chief of the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai. "If we can identify these stressers, we can find ways to reduce them."

Jen Miller, the mother of 18-month-old Emma Miller, says Dr. Wiley's words touched her. Emma, pictured at right with her mother and Dr. Wiley, is at Sinai anywhere from 1 to 5 days a week as she undergoes treatment for leukemia.

"This will help other families," Jen Miller says. "It's been super hard to find someone to relate to."

Additionally, "there's a huge financial impact on families where a child has cancer," says her mother-in-law Terry Miller. Her son is currently working two jobs, as Jen had to quit teaching in order to take care of Emma.

"Everyone is trying to do whatever we can, but it's a huge strain," Terry Miller says. "I'm really happy to see that someone is looking at that aspect of the cancer diagnosis."

The research grant award to Dr. Wiley is a part of Hyundai Motor America and hundreds of U.S. dealers “Hyundai Gives Hope on Wheels” campaign. During the month of September – National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month – Hyundai Hope on Wheels will donate $6.8 million to fight childhood cancer. For every Hyundai sold this month, participating dealers will donate $200 to the cause.

The “Hope Grants” in the amount of $100,000 are being given to 68 hospitals and nonprofit organizations across the country involved in childhood cancer research or support programs dedicated to improving the lives of children with cancer. Since 1998, Hyundai has given approximately $23 million to children's hospitals.

To learn more about the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai, call 410-601-WELL (9355).

Superheroes Arrive at Sinai Hospital

At Sinai, our pediatric patients are our superheroes. Today, those patients got to meet their superheros: Batman, Robin and Wonder Woman.

Thanks to Hope for Henry, a foundation dedicated to bringing smiles to hospitalized children, the characters arrived bearing gifts, food and general awesomeness. Pictured above is 18-month-old pediatric oncology patient Emma Miller, with her mother Jen and men who need no introduction.

The Hope for Henry Foundation first began supporting patients at Sinai in 2009, and continues to support the inpatient and outpatient pediatrics patients with gifts and other celebrations. Mary Bohlen, social worker in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Sinai Hospital, says there have been at least six birthday celebrations courtesy of Hope for Henry. The parties are thrown when a pediatric patient has to spend his or her birthday in the hospital. The patient not only gets a personalized cake or balloon, but is allowed to choose an age-appropriate gift ranging from an iPod to a PSP player.

Today was the first Superhero Celebration at Sinai, but there are hopes for further events.

"When you are a child in the hospital, time moves very slowly," says Hope for Henry Foundation director Laurie Strongin. "A day like today, you won't even remember the medical treatment - you'll remember meeting Batman and Wonder Woman."

Children like Thomas Georgiou, pictured left, also got to have pizza, juice and cake today. Other activities including having a caricaturist draw a picture of them as a superhero, getting their photo taken in a photo booth, making their own cape, having their face painted, and receiving a variety of gifts.

"This is such an exciting time for the department of pediatrics and the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai," says Shannon Wollman, manager of Development at Sinai. "Working with new organizations like Hope for Henry enhances the mission of making children and their families feel like they are being well taken care of."

But don't take our word for it - below is a short video of 3-year-old Jeffrey Schwantes of New Jersey, who had surgery last month with Shawn Standard, M.D. Jeffrey and his mother came over from Hackerman Patz house to visit with the superheros. He's also pictured above left with Wonder Woman.

Sign Up Today for Race for Our Kids

Fall is around the corner, and that means it's time to register for Race for our Kids!

The race, presented by the Sinai Hospital Auxiliary, benefits the Division of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai.

The race will be Sunday, September 26 at 8 a.m. Participants run through the Mount Washington neighborhood.

Show your support by participating in the 5K, 10K or 1 Mile Family Fun Walk.

For a limited time, take advantage of our early bird registration discount -- registration is $30 for adults and $15 for kids 12 & under until August 15. After August 15, the registration goes up to $35 for adults and $20 for kids.

Click here to register. There are no additional fees with registering online.

Your registration fee includes:
- Under Armour shirt
- Admission to the best post-race party in town, sponsored by the Classic Catering People
- Chip-timed race (5K and 10K)
- $7,500 in cash prizes (10K)

Please help us spread the word about the race - pass along the website information or this post onto your friends and colleagues, become a fan on Facebook, and get a group together to sign up as a team!

Visit us at www.raceforourkids.com for more information or call Jen at 410-601-9328.

See you there!

NFL Players Visit Children's Hospital

Pediatric patients at the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai had their day brightened with the help of three NFL players.

Retired Atlanta Falcon Keion Carpenter, Buffalo Bill Aaron Maybin and New England Patriot Alge Crumpler visited the inpatient unit this afternoon. They are in town for the second Annual Commitment to Change (C4C) camp in Woodlawn, as both Carpenter's and Maybin's charities, The Carpenter House and Project Mayhem, are hosts of the camp. The 6-day camp is designed to teach young athletes both technical skills and healthy living skills, while incorporating the importance of education and college prep.

Carpenter, who was born at Sinai, said visiting the children at Sinai as a "humbling experience."

"We can't take the little things for granted," he says. (You can see more of Carpenter in the video below.)

The players, who signed hats, played games and talked with the patients, were a big hit with everyone from teenagers to young children.

"I'm glad they are taking time off to visit me and the other kids," 15-year-old Noah Dannis of Ellicott City said. "It makes me feel good. It was definitely cool to meet them."

Joseph Awunganyi, who escorted his 4-year-old Joerel to meet the players, says his son loves to watch football players on television. Joerel has been at Sinai for the past week with a strep infection, but his family hopes he'll be able to return home soon. In the meantime, his smile at Carpenter, Maybin and Crumpler said it all.

"They really lifted his spirits," his father said.

You can turn in tonight at 5, 6, 10 and 11 p.m. on Fox 45, WBAL, WJZ and WMAR to see more of the players' visit.

Mini-Golf Event to Benefit Cancer Patients

There's a good chance the weekend weather will be in the 80s - and what better way to get some sun and fun than by playing mini-golf?

The Mildred Mindell Cancer Foundation is hosting a mini-golf event at Tom Mitchell's Golf Complex, 301 Mitchell Drive, Reisterstown on Sunday. Proceeds from the event will go toward establishing a Child Life Library for cancer patients at the Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai.

Mary Zell, a LifeBridge Health pharmacist, was motivated to hold the event in honor of her mother, Marilyn Zell. Both mother and daughter were past presidents of the Mildred Mindell Cancer Foundation. When Marilyn Zell passed away in January 2007, her daughter wanted to find a way to honor her mother.

"I overheard a child talking to his mother about how boring it was to do an infusion," Mary Zell says. "We want the Children's Hospital to have enough funds to be able to get new movie releases, books, games and art supplies. Lots of times a parent may need to miss or give up work to be with their child, which makes money tight. Even in the best circumstances, parents don't always have the means to throw down $20 on a new DVD."

The event will be from 2 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets for those over age 13 are $18; ages 4-12 are $15; and children under 3 are free. The rain date will be Monday, June 7, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Baked goods, snacks and beverages available for purchase. For more information contact Mary at 410-262-8569.

Is Your Child Being Bullied?

by Sharon B. Richter, D.O.
Behavioral and Developmental Pediatrics, The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai

Bullying has received a lot of attention lately, with many school districts revising their anti-bullying policies in the wake of cases like Massachusetts teenager Phoebe Prince.

Bullying is aggressive behavior that is intentional, repeated over time, and involves an imbalance of power or strength. A child who is being bullied has a hard time defending himself or herself.

Most people think of bullying in the form of physical aggression, such as hitting or pushing or in terms of teasing and verbal insults. But bullying also includes less observable behaviors such as social exclusion or isolation, stealing or damaging property, and threatening the victim, or forcing him to do things.

Cyberbullying is a relatively new form of bullying, where the victim is harassed through e-mail, cell phone, texts, instant messaging, chat room exchanges, or a website. On the Internet, the bully is allowed to be anonymous. If the target of the bully does not know who is bullying them, there is additional stress associated. The anonymity of the bully also leads bullies to engage in behaviors that they might not do face-to-face. Social media is accessible 24 hours per day, so victims may receive test or instant messages or read things about themselves when they are anywhere in addition to school, such as in their own home. Victims of cyberbullying are also less likely to report the bullying to adults for fear of having their parents remove their cell phone or computer from them.

There is an enormous impact from bullying on not only the victim, but also the bystanders, and school or community. Victims of bullying are more likely to have emotional health difficulties such as depression, suicidal thoughts and low self-esteem. They are also likely to have lower grades than their peers. Bystanders are affected as they may believe that they are in an unsafe environment, appear fearful, and feel powerless to act and guilty for not acting. When teachers and school administrators do not take action to stop the bullying, the school environment becomes one of fear and disrespect. Students feel insecure, have difficulty learning, and do not trust that the adults care about them or have control over the students. Bullying behaviors need to be taken seriously by all adults who interact with children.

There is a common perception regarding bullies that they are also more likely to have emotional health difficulties. Many bullies themselves also have poor grades, and are more likely to engage in high-risk behaviors such as getting into frequent fights. They are more likely to steal and vandalize property, drink alcohol, smoke, and carry a weapon.

However, there are also many bullies who are very popular among their peers and their teachers. This is more common among bullying girls but can be seen with the bullying boys as well. For this reason, it is often difficult for adults to believe that these students engage in bullying behavior.

Some children who are bullied may actually start the fight with the bully, and this behavior needs to be identified and stopped. For these children, called “bully-victims”, social skills may need to be directly taught. These children are at the highest risk for later mental health and emotional problems.

Although bullying has always occurred, it is now occurring with greater prevalence and increased lethality than it has in the past. Up to 25 percent of students have reported being victims of bullies.

There are warning signs that bullying is occurring to a child. In addition to the obvious bruise, torn clothing or missing and destroyed property, there are emotional signs. A child may be experiencing bullying if he or she appears sad or anxious, avoids school, withdraws from social activities, or has declining grades. Additional signs of cyberbullying are that the child appears sad or upset after using the computer or reading a cell phone message.

If you are a parent or educator, you can be a partner in anti-bullying interventions. Effective interventions for bullies need to come from adults in charge. These interventions must be implemented in schools and communities and alter the response towards bullying of teachers and other supervising adults. Changes within the upper reaches of administration are needed in the school and community system in order for the interventions to have a lasting effect. If you are a parent, you can also use these questions to start a conversation about bullying with your child.

While bullied children are at risk for later emotional and behavioral problems, there are some factors that promote resiliency in children who are victims of bullying. Maternal warmth, sibling warmth and a positive atmosphere at home are all particularly important in bullied children for promoting emotional and behavioral adjustment. Parents can help their children find friends, inside and outside of school, with whom to spend time. Children need to be taught to avoid isolation in school, as bullies are less likely to target people when they are alone than when in a group. Parents of children who are bullied need to be in contact with school personnel, encourage their child to report the bullying to the authorities, and expect that the bully will receive a consequence.

Sign Up for Race for Our Kids

We are excited to announce the Sinai Hospital Auxiliary has signed on to be the presenting sponsor of the sixth annual Race for Our Kids!

Mark your calendars for the 2010 Race for Our Kids at 8 a.m. on Sunday, September 26. All proceeds from the race benefit the division of pediatric oncology at The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai. The race features 5K and 10K race courses, complete with disposable timing chips, water stops and police support.

The 1-Mile Family Walk travels around the Sinai Hospital campus and is great for families with children, or those who want to participate in the race without completing the 5K or 10K.

All participants receive an Under Armour® Race shirt and admission to the best post-race party in town, sponsored by The Classic Catering People.

This year, we are happy to announce we have online registration (with no additional fees) for our participants! In addition, if you register before August 1, you will receive an early bird discount of $5. Don't delay, register today!

Click here for more information or to sign up! Questions? Call Jen Doyle in the LifeBridge Health Department of Development at 410-601-9328.

Art Students Light Up Hospital

Pediatric patients from The Herman & Walter Samuelson Children's Hospital at Sinai received illuminating gifts last week when National Art Honor Society students presented them with hand-made night lights.

The students, who attend Reservoir High School in Fulton, redesigned night lights for the patients. The idea stemmed from wanting to give children in the hospital a more secure feeling during the night. Using translucent materials like tissue paper, and combining them with 3-D materials, the students transformed simple night light designs into an uplifting, humorous, or beautiful relief sculptures.

The pediatric patients can take home their lights upon discharge. The patients and students were featured last week on WJZ-TV EyeWitness News.


Thanks to the art students who brightened up the day of both patients and staff!

A Banner Year for Sinai Hospital

As 2009 winds down, LifeBridge Health is taking a look at some of the major events of the past year. Today, we remember the expansion efforts at Sinai Hospital.

By Betsy Haley

Sinai Hospital continued to grow and expand patient care services throughout 2009.

In July, Sinai officially opened a 87,000-square foot, four-story addition that included an atrium, new Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and new Intermediate Care Unit (IMC). This expansion featured a green roof and other environmentally-friendly measures.

“In an effort to support our community and reduce our environmental footprint, Sinai Hospital strives to be a corporate leader in green development,” said Neil Meltzer, president and COO of Sinai Hospital. “This building expansion is a wonderful example of how hospitals can achieve a high level of patient care and incorporate environmental responsibility.”

The expansion features two new patient care areas, a 29-bed ICU located on the fourth floor, and a 36-bed IMC unit, located on the sixth floor. Both new units incorporate enhanced ergonomics for the patient care staff. Improvements include patient beds designed to reduce the need for lifting, raised outlets to decrease the need for bending and stretching, special flooring to support long periods of standing, and a pod-like setting with all medical supplies in close proximity. Also, each of the private patient rooms has sleeping space for families and computers at every bedside.

The new building also boasts the area’s first hospital roof garden. A helipad is also located on the rooftop which allows for transport of patients to the emergency department, operating rooms and the cardiac catheterization labs.

In December, The Herman & Walter Samuelson's Children's Hospital broke ground on the new wing. In addition to the new wing, the Children's Hospital will have associated upgrades and changes that will enhance the quality and efficiency of care, including all private rooms and family sleeping areas. These additions support the very heart of a family centered care program where the family is recognized as the constant in a child’s life. For this reason, family centered care is built on partnerships between families and health professionals during and after a child is treated for a diagnosed illness. Most importantly, family centered care improves and enhances clinical outcomes for children with special needs and provides more support for their families as they deal with the challenges and joys of raising a chronically ill child.

The construction will take place from now until mid-2012. To read more, click here.

Children's Hospital Breaks Ground on New Wing

If you missed yesterday's Baltimore Sun story, the groundbreaking of the wing of the Herman & Walter Samuelson's Children's Hospital yesterday evening.

In addition to the new wing, the Children's Hospital will have associated upgrades and changes that will enhance the quality and efficiency of care, including all private rooms and family sleeping areas. These additions support the very heart of a family centered care program where the family is recognized as the constant in a child’s life. For this reason, family centered care is built on partnerships between families and health professionals during and after a child is treated for a diagnosed illness. Most importantly, family centered care improves and enhances clinical outcomes for children with special needs and provides more support for their families as they deal with the challenges and joys of raising a chronically ill child. The construction will take place from now until mid-2012. The following changes and upgrades are planned:

Pediatric Inpatient Capacity: An increase to a total of 26 pediatric inpatient medical and post-surgical single occupant patient rooms (including an isolation unit for oncology/high risk patients), with nurse stations and support areas as well as an in-room capacity to accommodate parents/family members.

Children’s Diagnostic Center (CDC): An increase to a total of three pre-operative beds, two procedure rooms with sedation/anesthesia capacity, and three recovery/post-anesthesia bays (including one isolation bay), with nurse station, support areas, and family waiting areas.

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU): six PICU beds (including 2 private single occupant isolation rooms for high risk patients and four semi-private rooms), with nurse station and support areas.

Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit: An increase to a total of six exam rooms and six infusion bays, with nurse station, support areas, and family waiting area.

Children's Cancer Foundation Founder Honored

It’s not uncommon for people, sometimes strangers, to come up and hug Shirley Howard. After all, for many pediatric oncology patients and their families, she is a guardian angel.

For more than 30 years, Howard has been a tireless advocate and fund raiser for children’s cancer research and facilities. Howard, the president and founder of the Children’s Cancer Foundation, was honored last month by the Association of Fund Raising Professionals with the 2009 Impact of One Award and received a standing ovation as she went to accept her award, which was the first of its kind. Howard was nominated by Sinai Hospital, and is pictured above with Sinai Hospital President Neil Meltzer.

“I felt very humbled by the award,” Howard says. “It never goes to my head.”

When she began her work, originally through the Variety club, hospitals had nothing for pediatric oncology patients. Children were often put in the same ward as other sick pediatric patients, meaning their weak immune systems had to try to fight cancer and diseases like chicken pox. There was very little research or funding for research on pediatric oncology.

Since its inception in 1993, CCF has raised 30.5 million dollars, which has benefited the National Institutes of Health, the University of Maryland Medical Center, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Lombardi Cancer Institute, the Children’s National Medical Center and Sinai Hospital. The foundation is one of the few funding sources for up and coming researchers. One example: many years ago, one of the recipients of its research grants was a fellow at Johns Hopkins named Joseph Wiley, M.D., who is today the chief of the Herman & Walter Samuelson’s Children’s Hospital at Sinai.

Last year, a $50,000 grant helped establish the pediatric oncology laboratory at Sinai, and this year $75,000 is going toward the capital campaign to expand the Herman & Walter Samuelson’s Children’s Hospital. The groundbreaking for the expansion and renovation of the children’s hospital will be Thursday, December 3.

“The support of the Children’s Cancer Foundation is invaluable, not only for our capital campaign, but for our research-driven efforts in pediatric oncology,” says Shannon Wollman, development manager at LifeBridge Health.

CCF Executive Director Diane Perry, who is also Howard’s daughter, says it’s hard to find a pediatric oncology unit in the area that hasn’t benefited from the foundation and her mother’s dedication.

“This is my mother’s legacy,” Perry says.

While Howard’s work is by no means done, she says it’s encouraging that while only one child in 10 used to survive cancer, that number is now 8 in 10. Now 85, she’s showing little signs of slowing down. She has been invited to weddings, christenings, bat mitzvahs and other life markers for pediatric oncology patients who have benefited from the foundation’s work.

“I have the best partner in the world – I have substantial help from God,” Howard says. “There’s a lot of love that has poured out.”

Journey Bead Program Helps Kids with Cancer

Losing a child is every parent's worst nightmare. But two parents have found the strength to help other children fighting cancer.

After the death of their son John Eric from a cancer called neuroblastoma, Jay and Alisha Bartels created the The JEB Foundation to aide families with children receiving treatment at the Herman & Walter Samuelson's Children's Hospital at Sinai, specifically the Hematology/Oncology Department. The foundation provides a Journey Bead program to provide encouragement and inspiration to children. Each bead has a meaning, for example the child receives a red heart after a blood transfusion.

In a recent WBAL news story, Sinai social worker Mary Bohlen said the program allows children a way to document their strength.

"It's a way to visually see 'wow, look what I have done; look what I'm surviving," she said.

You can learn more about the JEB Foundation and Journey Bead Program by clicking here. For more information about the Children's Hospital, call 410-601-WELL (9355).

Edith Rosen Strauss Organization Kicks Off Its Year

The yearly opening meeting of the Edith Rosen Strauss Organization, a charitable group dedicated to raising money for children with cancer, was held today at Sinai Hospital. The lunch event also honored Lilyann Podell, a longtime member and devoted volunteer, pictured at left.

Sinai Hospital Chief of Pediatrics Joseph Wiley, M.D., spoke to the crowd of roughly 30. The organization raises roughly $30,000 a year for Sinai.

"Because of you, we have better outcomes, better quality of life and better resources for our patients," he said.

The number of pediatric oncology patients has grown, both nationally and at Sinai. The updated Herman & Walter Samuelson's Children Hospital at Sinai, expected to break ground in December, will have expanded capacity, including an increase in inpatient beds and waiting areas for families. The Pediatric Oncology Unit will double its number of exam rooms.

"I cannot thank this organization enough," Wiley said. He is pictured above with Podell and ERS co-chairs Beverly Stappler and Dorothy (Dotsey) Roth.