As a health-care professional, myself, this is the greatness to which I aspire. Thanks again!

From the positive experience we had during a frightening and most-difficult time, WakeMed left a truly lasting impression and helped us to establish a strong bond with our now-healthy and strong baby boy that will last a lifetime.”

- Jill James, Clayton, NC

Our doctor sent us directly to the WakeMed Children’s ER to be seen and they quickly admitted her to the children’s floor for extended treatment. While on that floor you would have thought Amelia was a princess:-) She was treated so well, that she wasn’t ready to go home when she was discharged.

The nurses and doctors were very caring as well as professional and though we had to miss a good portion of time with our family over the holiday, I was thankful for everyone at WakeMed for making us feel like we were at a home away from home during our stay.

I received a great deal of education and information about how to deal with Amelia’s asthma, which has helped us ward off a number of problems during the remaining flu season.

We really appreciate the work WakeMed puts into taking care of the children they see and we will definitely stick with WakeMed for any future care our family needs!  Thanks!”

- Meredith Gilley, Wake Forest

The doctors and nurses there were so good to me and they became like a family. I love WakeMed and they have forever changed my life. My dream job now is to become a pediatric nurse and pursue my career at WakeMed Hospital.

Thank you Wake Med!! You are forever my heroes!!!”

- Melissa Pergerson, Wake Forest

We chose to continue life and give her every possible chance to survive.  We were told that she was the smallest surviving baby they had ever had and that her chances of survival were small. They assured us they would do everything they could to get her home to us one day. 

Emma did well her first week of life.  On the seventh day a very special nurse let us hold our baby for the first time.  Of course, it was mainly holding a lot of blankets with her somewhere in the middle, but still, we were thrilled.  Little did we know what the next day Emma’s health would decline and it would be 2 months before we would be able to hold her again. 

Life in the NICU was definitely a roller coaster.  We had good days and bad.  Emma’s first few months were extremely difficult.  She fought hard to stay alive.  At one point, we were told that we may have to say our goodbyes to our little girl.  Our doctor was preparing us for the worst but he never gave up.  The NICU team worked hard over the next couple of days to get her stable again. 

I will never forget the very early morning phone call to the nurse who gave me the good news that Emma was okay. 

The challenges didn’t stop.  We had our fair share of ups and downs.  Finally, after almost 4 months, Emma was graduating to the “healthy baby area”.  We knew that is was just a matter of time before she came home to us. 

During a routine eye exam, it was discovered that Emma had ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity).  She had 3 different surgeries on her eyes to save her vision.  Shorty after she recovered from her last surgery, we were given the news we had been waiting on for so long: our baby was ready to go home. 

Emma came home on December 31st 2006.  She spent 126 days in the NICU.  Leaving the hospital was exciting but difficult.  The NICU staff had become family to us.  They were there to celebrate the good moments and they were there to comfort us in the bad.  Many nurses and doctors I will remember forever and they will always have a special place in my heart. 

WakeMed is truly an amazing hospital.  We are so thankful for everything they did that saved Emma life.  Had it not been for them, we know the outcome would not have been the same.

Today, Emma is doing really well.  She is a happy, healthy 4 year old.  She’s even a big sister!  Her little sister Marley will be 2 in August.  Emma will start kindergarten in the fall.  We are all excited.  She is visually impaired and still faces challenges but I know she will do great.  Emma is a fighter!  She always has been.  She’s our little miracle. 

- Laura Wheeler, Clayton (April 2011)

Allison came home with major brain damage, and spent quite a few days and weeks in the PICU, where she got the same amazing care and love. some of the faces changed, but many of the same doctors and nurses who cared for her at 20 days old, cared for her and remembered her (and stopped by even if they weren’t working) to say hi to her and show their support.

Whatever we needed…whatever silly question we asked, we always got a compassionate, honest answer.

Thank you so much….and although our Allison is now an angel…she is still loved and remembered by the amazing staff of the WakeMed PICU….thank you for all of your care for Allison and her family.”

-          Robin Reid, Raleigh (Feb 2010)

Allison Hugs is a program started by Robin and her husband as a result of their time spent in the hospital with their daughter.  Hug Bags provide hotel-sized toiletries for parents to use while their child is in the hospital, to help make them a little more comfortable and allow them to stay with their child as much as possible.  Find out how you can help.

Anticipating severe pain, the decision was made to leave her sedated and on the ventilator for 3 days to allow time to heal. Those 3 days passed in the PICU and the decision was made to remove her from the vent and let her wake up. We were so excited to be able to talk with her again!

With the PICU nurses and doctor gathered, they removed the tube. Immediately, her vocal cords swelled and her stats dropped near zero. She could not breathe. The PICU staff worked together to get her bagged, to keep her alive, and after some difficulty, to finally get her re-intubated.

They saved her life as I stood there watching. I hope no mother ever has to watch that happen to their child. But if it weren’t for those PICU nurses and especially Dr. Mark Piehl, she wouldn’t be with us today. They are all my heroes.

Kennedy spent 23 days at WakeMed that June and I can’t complain about a single minute of her care. The entire staff will always have a place in our hearts.

Unfortunately for Kennedy, her future holds many surgeries. Fortunately, WakeMed is an AWESOME hospital and we are so glad that most of her surgeries take place here. We are headed back to WakeMed in the fall but we know that Kennedy – that all of us – will be in good hands.”

- Amy Hendershott, Raleigh, NC

His stay there had many ups and down, a roller coaster ride to say the least but during that time he got the most amazing care and I met some of the most extraordinary people in my life. I don’t remember the name of each nurse, or each doctor because there were so many people that I came in contact with on a daily basis during his 100 days there.  However, each and every single one of them I hold very close to my heart.

Josef's first day of school

There is one particular Neonatologist named Dr. Anthony Tackman that I met the night I delivered Josef that I for some reason will always hold close to me. He was there the night my son was delivered, and he seemed to be the one that was there every time something seemed to go wrong with my son. He will always hold a special place in my heart.

Thank you each and every single person that works in that NICU. I love you all so much.

My son Josef, after all he had been through, is a healthy and happy three year old, and I have no one to thank but each and every one of you.”

-          Nicole Bruce, Raleigh (July 2010)

It was very scary going in to labor at 24 weeks knowing that our girls’ chance of survival at the time was less than 40%.  I remember being wheeled into surgery, crying and screaming knowing there would be a bad outcome.

Our beautiful angels, Charlotte 1.6, Alexa 1.2 and Katie 1.5– were born. Charlotte and Alexa both died shortly after birth due to brain bleeds. Katie survived and spent 16 weeks in the NICU. During our time of increased grief, the staff at the NICU and incredible doctors supported us and helped up get over the loss of our daughters.

When we saw Katie in the NICU were we told she had a long road ahead with ups and downs but she would make it. I was promised she would be out of the hospital before Mother’s Day.  At the time I didn’t think it would be possible.

Katie was in the NICU for 16 very long and stressful weeks. She endured eye surgery and stomach surgery at just only 1.5 [lbs]. The staff at WakeMed were there for us. They explained everything we would go through. It was an incredibly stressful time.

As promised, Katie was released from the hospital on May 5, on her original “due date” at 5 lbs and 18 inches long. I got to spend my first Mother’s day at home with my family.

We still had a long road ahead of us with therapies. Katie now wears glasses but is a very happy and healthy 11 year old and get’s straight A’s.

We have the joy of our miracle. God Bless the staff at Wake Medical Center. Our family now resides in Houston, Texas and has since added two more daughters to our family.”

- Karen Rowley, Houston, TX

Dear Friends,

The reunion was amazing!  It was a glorious day and the turn out was huge….over 500 people!!!!!  I hesitate to mention individual names of those who supported the reunion before and at the event (I don’t want to leave any name out), but so many of you donated time, money, and supplies.  Even our own families came to help us….you can tell how much what we do means to them as well…thank you to our good husbands and kids who cooked, cleaned, and supported us at the reunion.  A very special thank you to those of you who hauled “stuff”…managed registration, cooked and served food, made snow cones, cleaned up, and talked with families.  We even had 10 teenagers (Cauvel, Clements, Lopez, Larkin, Nutt, and Daniel’s Family) who filled up 100 + beach balls, managed traffic control, and played with the kids. 
 
A very special thank you to the WakeMed Foundation and to Kiecha Berzins from PR who supported the event.
 
Highlights: 

• The numbers in attendance:  500 +  Wow!!!
• The family photography area: Amazing photographer:   the photos will be posted soon …email to follow
• The Balls in the field. (Thank you Walter Nutt for inflating endless #’s of beach balls)…probably the most simple thing we do that is loved, loved, loved by the kids
• Face Painting:  Thank you for working your fingers to the bone Cathy Gerrald!
• Karate Demo:  Thank you Master Jun Lee – 3 of our former preemies and 30 other kids performed
• Games:  Robin and Adam Cauvel:  We appreciate so much all of your hard work in setting it up.  Adam you’re a doll…thanks for helping your Mom!
• Music:  Highway 17 did an outstanding job!
• The food:  Ed Alston- the master hot dog chef!!  Sorry about running out of catsup. (Susan H, Donna H, Desiree, Vickie, Shelly A , and Holly and Kevin
• Families:  You wouldn’t believe the connection they all felt towards each other.  Thank you Vanessa Totten (our Family Advisory Board representative for doing so much to support the event)
• Our babies:  They’re growing up…..next time I’ll carry kleenex….you wouldn’t believe how many times a family wants you to hug their baby for a photo.  I heard over and over again how much we’re loved and appreciated. 
• Registration, greeters, and cooking volunteers:  You deserve so much credit for managing huge crowds and providing smiles and hugs.  (Jessica, Tabb, Shelby, Emily, Cindy, and Kathy J (our co-chair)
• Donations:  Bev, Jasmine, Darlene, Cathy P, Beth, Cindy, Jesse Jones Hot Dogs (Emmitt Hare), Pepsi ( Ed Alston), Baby’s R US (Thank you Jill)  Chick Fil-A – loved the Princess Cow!!!  Decorations:  Vanessa Totten and Susan Gregory – thank you.  To all the donors:  We couldn’t have done this without you!
• Susan Gutierrez, Shelly Alston, and Holly Burroughs – for being such champions of this event. 

Two brief stories: 

• A family shared that not only did we save her baby’s life, but she came close to dying during delivery.  She shared this story through tears and said we mean everything to them. 
• Another Mom drove 1 1/2 hours with her twins to reach the reunion and got lost….she arrived after it ended!!  You could tell how much being there meant to her…and how much she needed to see us! 

I hope next year that you’ll mark your calendars.  We will look to establishing the reunion on the same weekend of every October…this should make it easier to schedule your time.  Again, thanks to all of you for what you do and for the support you offer our families. 
 
*If you were at the reunion – please send me recommendations for improving next year’s event (mclements@wakemed.org).  We know there are some things we can do better…so share your thoughts!
 
Michelle Clements, RN
WakeMed Health and Hospitals
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit – Staff Nurse

His fundraising began in 2003 at age 11, with a golf tournament for children ages 7 to 18, and he now runs two tournaments each year.  Each child is asked to raise $100 by getting sponsorships from family and friends, but as much as$50,000 has been raised by just one girl.

The tournament is unique in that each one has both a kids committee along with an adult committee, allowing the kids to help in the process by designing the t-shirts, selecting fundraising prizes and helping to plan the day’s program.

One person CAN make a difference.  

You can make a difference, too, by running your own fundraiser to help support the WakeMed Children’s Hospital -  sign up right now!