Children Can't Wait - WakeMed » Events

Sydney’s Smile

Mary Jo Gurule — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:24:06 +0000

In 2001, Angela Parrish gave birth to a daughter, Sydney. Within 4 hours Sydney started having seizures, and was eventually transferred to WakeMed. Sydney lived for 21 months and suffered seizures the entire time. She had a total of 13 hospitalizations – 10 of which were at WakeMed. Sydney Parrish passed away in late 2003. In December of that same year, Angela organized a program called “Sydney’s Smile.” After experiencing the hardships of being a parent with a child in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), Angela wanted to help families who were in the PICU and pediatric inpatient floor during Christmas.

Angela Parrish, her parents James and Donna Norris, and their friends at the Garner Advent Christian Church

Every Christmas since 2003, Angela has filled pillowcases with toys, stuffed animals and other presents for children who were in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit during Christmas. In addition to goodies for WakeMed’s pediatric patients, Sydney’s Smile also delivers supplies like toiletries, toothbrushes and snacks to their parents. Angela’s church, Garner Advent Christian Church, is very involved in the program.

“Sydney’s Smile is our way of remembering Sydney and those in the hospital during the holidays,” Angela said. “The death of a child is something that I never thought would happen to my husband and I. We know how it is to have to come to the hospital and be informed that you are being admitted and not have anything with you but your purse. The pillowcases allow parents and their children to have something during their stay that we hope makes their stay a little brighter. We love doing this and it reminds us what the holidays are all about.”

Thank you to Angela and all those who helped spread cheer during this holiday season!

Memories for Marcus Gifts Arrive!

Mathew — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:52:20 +0000

Earlier this month, we wrote to invite you to the Memories for Marcus fundraising event at Hi-5 Restaurant in Raleigh.

The cost of dinner was $20 or a new unwrapped toy, with cash proceeds going to benefit the new Children’s Hospital at WakeMed and the toys going to children hospitalized at WakeMed this Holiday Season.

We’re pleased to announce that the toys — and there were a lot of them — arrived at WakeMed on Friday, December 4th:

And the event raised more that $6,300 from dinner and the on-site auction!

Thanks to everyone who turned out to make this Holiday Season better for kids at WakeMed!

Light a Tree this Friday!

Mathew — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:32:07 +0000

The Holiday Season is in full swing, and this Friday presents some great opportunities for you and your loved ones to get out and enjoy the holiday spirit!

If you live in Wake Forest, WakeMed is pleased to be a sponsor of the Lighting of Wake Forest, hosted by the Wake Forest Downtown Revitalization Corporation. Santa will be making his official arrival along South White Street while the Mayor lights the holly tree and local musicians perform. Santa will also be visiting with children and listening to their holiday wishes. The event is this Friday, December 4th, 6 pm to 9 ; park at the Depot parking lot at 100 South White Street.

For those in the Raleigh area, we’re proud to be sponsors of the AT&T Downtown Winterfest, taking place this Friday from 5-9 pm in Downtown Raleigh. The event features performances by the Raleigh Boys Choir; a reading by Ira David Wood; ice sculptors; a Santa’s Village for the kids; free carriage rides and the downtown tree lighting. For a complete list of events, click here; for parking directions, click here.

Can’t make either event? Please consider helping us light the Virtual Love Light Tree by making a holiday contribution to the WakeMed Just for Kids Kampaign in honor or memory of a loved one. Proceeds from every star or light hung on the Love Light Tree go directly toward our goal of raising $8.5 million for the new WakeMed Children’s Hospital by the end of the year.

We hope to see you in Wake Forest, in Raleigh, or online this Friday!

Memories for Marcus

Mathew — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 18:15:10 +0000

This year’s 4th annual dinner and auction — to raise money for WakeMed Children’s and to gather toys for children hospitalized during the holidays — will be held on Wednesday, December 2, from 6 – 9 pm at Hi-5 Restaurant, located at 510 Glenwood Avenue, Raleigh.

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You are invited to come and enjoy a delicious buffet dinner for a donation of just $20 or a new unwrapped toy. The evening will include door prizes and a silent auction.

All proceeds will be used to benefit WakeMed Children’s, and the toys will be given to children that are hospitalized during this year’s Holiday Season. Toys for all ages are needed.

Please bring your family and friends to enjoy a fun evening together, while helping the children that need it the most.

For more information or to donate items for the silent auction, click here (opens in PDF).

The Love Light Tree is Up

Mathew — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:44:20 +0000

The traditional lighting of the Love Light Tree began in 1985 when Dr. Bill and Colleen Lee dedicated a tree to WakeMed in memory of their son, Matthew Lee.

This year, construction of the new patient tower on the WakeMed Raleigh Campus means we cannot hold our traditional tree lighting ceremony.

But we couldn’t let a great tradition go unobserved this year — so we made the Love Light Tree virtual!

Click on the image above to see the tree, and add a Star or Light in memory or honor of your loved ones!

See Bonnie Raitt, Support WakeMed Children’s

Mathew — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 17:23:17 +0000

Want to hear some great music and help provide more health care services and specialists for the children of Wake County and surrounding communities?

You can do exactly that this Sunday, October 18th, at 6 pm!

That’s when Bonnie Raitt, with special guest Randall Bramblett, will perform at the Koka Booth Amphitheatre in Cary.

For the event, Koka Booth is offering a Buy One Get One Free Lawn Ticket promotion — and for each lawn ticket purchased, Koka Booth is giving $10 to the Just for Kids Kampaign!

To get your tickets:

Visit TicketMaster by clicking here.
Select “Find Tickets”, then enter the number of free tickets you want in the “Buy 1 Get 1 Free – FREE TICKET” line
Enter the password “Kids” next to the number of tickets you selected.
Enter the same number of tickets in the “Buy 1 Get 1 Free – PAID TICKET”, then hit “Find Tickets” at the bottom of the page.
Complete the TicketMaster check out process to purchase your tickets.
Go to the show on Sunday, October 18th and enjoy great music while supporting the children of our community!

The promotion expires on Saturday, October 17 at midnight, so buy your tickets today!