B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s Dennis Ragsdale Chairman Jeffory Jennings, M.D. Vice Chairman Michael Crabtree Secretary/Treasurer Debbie Christiansen, M.D.Dawn Ford Keith D. GoodwinSteven HarbLewis Harris, M.D.Dee Haslam A. David Martin Dugan McLaughlinChristopher Miller, M.D. Steve SouthBill Terry, M.D. Laurens Tullock Danni Varlan

M e d i c a l S t a f f David Nickels, M.D. Chief of Staff John Buchheit, M.D. Vice Chief of Staff John Little, M.D. Secretary

C h i e f s o f S e r v i c e s Jeanann Pardue, M.D. Chief of Medicine Mark Cramolini, M.D. Chief of Surgery

A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Keith D. Goodwin President/CEOBob Koppel President/CEO EmeritusBruce Anderson Vice President for Legal Services & General Council Laura Barnes, R.N., M.S.N., C.N.A.A.,B.C. Vice President for Patient Care Paul Bates Vice President for Human Resources Joe Childs, M.D. Vice President for Medical Services Rudy McKinley Vice President for Operations

A quarterly publication of East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, It’s About Children is designed to inform the East Tennessee community about the hospital and the patients we serve. East Tennessee Children’s Hospital’s vision is Leading the Way to Healthy Children. Children’s Hospital is a private, independent, not-for-profit pediatric medical center that has served the East Tennessee region for more than 70 years and is certified by the state of Tennessee as a Comprehensive Regional Pediatric Center.

Ellen Liston, APR, Fellow PRSA Director of Community Relations David Rule Director of Development Wendy Hames Editor Neil Crosby and Wade Payne Contributing Photographers

“Because Children are Special…” ...they deserve the best possible health care given

in a positive, family-centered atmosphere of friendliness, cooperation, and support - regardless of race, religion, or ability to pay.”

...their medical needs are closely related to their emotional and informational needs; therefore, the total child must be considered in treating any illness or injury.”

...their health care requires family involvement, special understanding, special equipment, and specially trained personnel who recognize that children are not miniature adults.”

...their health care can best be provided by a facility with a well-trained medical and hospital staff whose only interests and concerns are with the total health and well-being of infants, children, and adolescents.”

Statement of Philosophy East Tennessee Children’s Hospital

www.etch.com2On the cover: Children’s Hospital patient Cody Tarver is ready for the holidays. Read his story on pages 4-5.

“ D e a r C h i l d r e n ’ s ”

Dear Children’s Hospital, I just wanted to make sure the staff that took care of my son in room 236 on July 23 and 24 know how much I appreciate them. They went more than the extra mile to make sure we understood everything and helped Peyton deal with the tests he had to face. The child life specialist, “Ms. Sara,” was just a wonderful help to Peyton and us. She calmed more fears than she probably knows. The nurses also helped my mother and my older two boys find a place to stay the night and directed them there. They hadn’t planned on coming down until Peyton spoke to his brothers on the phone and cried for them and their mamaw to come to Knoxville. Keep up the great work! These people are truly angels!!!

Sheri Shaffer

August 11, 2008

Dear Children’s Hospital, My son, Kristian Hackney, was admitted last week through the ER for an appendectomy. I just wanted to say what a blessing it was to have such wonderful, caring and talented people work with my son. Chad and Seth in the ER were amazing and so helpful. They could not have taken better care of Kristian. Cathy was our nurse on the fourth floor, and she was so wonderful, we wish we could have taken her home with us. Sara from Child Life made several visits with Kristian. He was very sad to be in the hospital, and she made such a difference in him. These people are so talented and you should be proud to have them work for you. Thank you from our family to all the staff for taking care of Kristian and helping him during his stay.

Ashlee HackneyKnoxville

July 26, 2008

Dear Dr. Wirthwein, Cathy Van Ostrand and Sarah Mathis, How can our family thank you enough for the overwhelming care and concern you showed us when we were so far from home and numb with the news we had received regarding our son, Jarrod. We are so grateful the Lord sent us to you. It was the perfect place for us to go, and the Lord knew we needed to be there. You took care of us down to the tiniest detail. You answered every question multiple times. You spent five to six hours each day explaining and teaching. You were encouraging and helpful and hopeful. You even walked us down to find the cafeteria one day and walked us down to our van the next. We felt like we were the only patients you had to care for. We don’t believe it was a coincidence that we were in Tennessee and in the Knoxville area when all this happened. We completely believe the Lord took us to that area because there was the most unbelievable diabetic unit that went above and beyond anything we have ever heard of. We had tried to make vacation plans in both the northeast and out west, and, normally, have no problem getting the accommodations we need. But this time the doors kept shutting on us. The very day that I asked the Lord, “Well, where do You want us to go on vacation?” we got an email from some friends in the mountains to come and stay with them for a few days. Because of that, we were in the Knoxville area when Jarrod got so sick and were just 45 minutes from the exact hospital where we needed to be. Again, thank you, thank you, thank you for taking care of our family. I tell everyone I meet about how wonderful you are. Thank you for letting the Lord use you to help us. You all are in our prayers.

Very sincerely,Don and Laura Palmer, Gulf Breeze, Florida

P.S.- I had to include one more example of your wonderful care and attention to your patients. Our son really wanted to get a root beer float from the old-fashioned A&W restaurant near our hotel. I walked up to the nurse’s station and began to ask Cathy and Sarah how we could get that special treat for him. Before I was even finished talking, a nurse whom we had never even had contact with, who could have continued working on whatever she was doing, overheard our conversation, pulled up the A&W website and told us exactly how many carbs are in an A&W diet root beer float. She didn’t have to do that but she saw a need and she jumped at the opportunity to help. Tell her “thank you!”

Jarrod, Don, Rachel and Laura Palmer (left to right)

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Safe Kids update As the lead organization, Children’s Hospital works with Safe Kids of the Greater Knox Area on a number of community events to prevent unintentional injury in children by providing information about how to stay safe. The following are just some of the recent events Safe Kids has coordinated in the local community:

Campbell County Bike-Helmet Fitting Event

Safe Kids of the Greater Knox Area and Campbell County Coordinated School Health teamed up to host a bike-helmet fitting event on Saturday, August 9. The event took place at the LaFollette Pediatric Clinic from 10 a.m. to noon. A Safe Kids coalition member, the East Tennessee Epilepsy Foundation, provided 52 helmets that were distributed during this two-hour period. Special thanks to the LaFollette Police and Fire Departments and the LaFollette Pediatric Clinic for partnering with Safe Kids for this event.

Hola Knoxville Hispanic Heritage Festival

Children’s Hospital and Safe Kids of the Greater Knox Area joined together to participate in and serve as first time sponsors for the 10th annual Hola Knoxville Hispanic Heritage Festival on September 27 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m at Market Square Mall in Knoxville. The festival was a celebration of Hispanic cultures and traditions and was attended by around 10,000 people. Children’s Hospital provided information on pediatric health care issues, including the importance of hand washing and when to go to the Emergency Room, while Safe Kids informed families and other attendees about injury prevention with a focus on proper car seat installation and fire safety. Spanish-language interpreters from the Children’s Hospital Social Work Department were also on hand to give details about the interpretation services offered by the hospital.

by Christie Sithiphone, student intern

Children’s Hospital benefits from volunteer gift The volunteer program plays an integral role in making Children’s Hospital a special place for patients and their families. The program consists of as many as 225-250 volunteers who devote their time and energy to brightening a patient’s day or assisting departments with miscellaneous tasks. In addition to the helpful services they provide on a daily basis, the volunteers also present financial gifts to the hospital each year. On September 16, Anne Palmer, the chairperson for Children’s Hospital’s Volunteers, presented President/CEO Keith Goodwin with a donation of $55,000. These funds were generated from Gift Shop profits and will be allocated as follows:

$15,801 for the Open Door Endowment Fund, which •

ensures care is available to all children$15,000 as a Fantasy of Trees pledge to help sponsor the •

main ticket lobby

$13,000 for the Neurology Sleep Lab to purchase a device to •

monitor carbon dioxide during sleep studies using adhesive pads on the chest rather than a tube in a child’s nose$4,699 for Education to purchase audiovisual supplies and a laptop

• computer for presentations$3,000 for Outpatient Clinics to purchase six flat screen televisions

• and DVD players for clinic rooms$1,500 for the Gift Shop to purchase a PC for the assistant manager

• $1,000 for the Pastoral Care Fund

• $1,000 for the Social Work Meal Fund

• The volunteers at Children’s Hospital are dedicated to providing compassionate assistance throughout the hospital as well as financial support to various projects, departments and activities.

by Logan Clark, student intern

Special thanks from Children’s Hospital Children’s Hospital would like to extend thanks to The Pool Place, Kingston Pike in Knoxville, for once again graciously allowing us to shoot our cover photo for the Winter 2008 It’s About Children magazine in their beautiful Christmas store.

The excitement of a prenatal ultrasound is one of the favorite moments of pregnancy for many families. But for Becky and Bobby Tarver of Knoxville, a prenatal ultrasound revealed something to fear. It wasn’t the fact that Becky was pregnant with twins, but rather the fact that one of the twins had a major heart defect. Becky’s obstetrician, Dr. Donna Shine, arranged for Dr. Jeff Jennings, a pediatric cardiologist at Children’s Hospital, to be present at a second prenatal ultrasound to examine the baby with the heart defect. Dr. Jennings told the Tarvers that he could provide a more firm diagnosis after the babies’ birth but that he was certain heart surgery would be required soon after the delivery. Dr. Shine also arranged for Becky to have a planned caesarean section, a week ahead of her due date, at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center so the sick baby, a boy, could be quickly transported to Children’s Hospital. The two hospitals, although not affiliated with each other, are connected by an underground tunnel for the benefit of patient transport. The Tarvers’ baby boy would soon join a long list of sick newborns that have been transported through the tunnel from Fort Sanders Regional to Children’s Hospital. At the delivery on March 11, 1996, Becky and Robert welcomed their second and third children, a girl they named Marie and a boy they named Cody. A neonatologist from Children’s Hospital was present for the birth and examined both babies. As expected, Marie appeared healthy, but the neonatologist explained to the Tarvers that Cody definitely needed to be transported to Children’s Hospital immediately. Becky only saw Cody briefly through the covering of his isolette before he was sent to Children’s. Later a neonatologist returned to Fort Sanders Regional to talk with Becky and explain Cody’s heart defect more clearly and even draw a picture to help her understand the complexities

of the defect, tricuspid atresia. With this defect, his heart was missing the tricuspid value, so blood could not flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle; the right ventricle was also small and underdeveloped. Dr. Jennings also came to talk with Becky at Fort Sanders after Cody stopped breathing in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and had to be revived and put on a ventilator. The day after his birth, Cody was transported in Lifeline, Children’s Hospital’s Neonatal Transport vehicle, to the University of Tennessee Medical Center for his first surgery. Just before he was transported, Becky was able to come from Fort Sanders to Children’s Hospital through the tunnel to briefly see her baby boy. “We had toured Children’s Hospital [before the birth] and had seen babies in the NICU, but I still wasn’t prepared for that – to see my baby with all the tubes connected to him,” Becky said. “It was overwhelming. I thought, ‘This is my baby?’” A NICU nurse advised Becky to not be a “monitor watcher” as some parents are but rather to focus on her baby. That wasn’t a

problem for Becky – “I couldn’t stop looking at him,” she said. “If it wasn’t for the NICU, I don’t think he’d be here,” Becky added. “They kept him safe early on – that’s why he’s here today, and I appreciate that so much.” Becky and Marie stayed at Fort Sanders for a few days while Marie was treated for jaundice. They were still there during Cody’s first surgery, and they were able to go home the following day. At UT Hospital, Dr. Jennings performed a heart catheterization on Cody soon after he was transported there. The next day, John W. Mack, Jr., M.D., a cardiothoracic surgeon at UT Hospital, performed Cody’s first major surgery. Dr. Mack went in through Cody’s back and removed a vein out of his right arm. He made a shunt to connect the heart to the lungs so Cody would have adequate blood flow between those two organs. The procedure was a temporary fix until Cody was big enough to have open-heart surgery. Later, when he was six months old and again when he was two years old, Cody underwent open-heart surgeries at Vanderbilt

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Cody

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Children’s Hospital in Nashville. In fourth grade, he was experiencing some problems, so he had a corrective heart procedure, again at Vanderbilt. And every now and then, he needs to have a heart catheterization, which the family chooses to have done by the same cardiothoracic surgeon at Vanderbilt. Children’s Hospital does not currently have physicians on staff in this specialty. All children with problems such as Cody’s must travel out of the area for certain surgeries but can have monitoring and maintenance care provided locally through Dr. Jennings’ practice, Knoxville Pediatric Cardiology, which also includes pediatric cardiologists Yvonne Bremer, M.D., and Sumeet Sharma, M.D. For maintenance care, the Tarvers have chosen to continue seeing Dr. Jennings. Cody has regular testing performed at Children’s Hospital, such as cardiac echos, blood work, EKGs and chest X-rays. His heart is enlarged, so regular monitoring is important.

Cody with Dr. Jennings at a holiday party in 2001

While he is doing well, his future is uncertain – depending on how his heart continues to function, he may eventually need a pacemaker. He has also had one non-heart-related surgery. Otolaryngologist Leonard

Brown, M.D., removed his tonsils and adenoids several years ago. As a precaution, Cody was admitted to Children’s Hospital the night before the surgery so he could be more carefully monitored due to his heart problem. Marianne Jennings, Dr. Jennings’ nurse, checked on Cody during that stay, and he came through the surgery just fine. Cody also sees pediatric pulmonologist John Rogers, M.D., for some lung issues. As part of his care with Dr. Rogers, Cody has had several pulmonary function tests and a sleep study at Children’s Hospital. Now 12 years old, Cody is a seventh grader at Karns Middle School. He has certain activity limits to protect his heart and because he tires easily (his blood oxygen level stays around 85-92, when normal is 100 percent). He cannot play contact sports such as football, but he plays other sports (such as baseball and golf) through a special Challenger league that offers him a chance to rest as needed. As a middle schooler, he is at the age where he gets frustrated with his activity limitations

He wishes he could keep up with Marie, who is a softball player, and older brother Bob Jr., a 15-year-old track athlete. But other than with sports, he is not limited in what he can do. He especially enjoys riding his motorized dirt bike, because it’s an activity that doesn’t wear him out. The Tarvers are active with the Heart to Heart Support Group through Dr. Jennings’ office. The group gets together for parties and special events throughout each year, such as Tennessee Smokies baseball games and the annual Heart Walk to raise money for the American Heart Association. Becky said that early on, Dr. Jennings urged the Tarvers to raise Cody just like they were raising their other children. Aside from dealing with Cody’s limitations, Dr. Jennings advised them to not “keep Cody in a bubble.” They took that advice seriously and have encouraged him to pursue his interests wherever possible and live a relatively normal life. “Dr. Jennings is so loving with Cody,” Becky said, adding that she appreciates how Dr. Jennings talks directly with Cody at his appointments, often talking more to Cody than to Becky. He also spent a good deal of time helping Cody cope after the death of another heart patient who Cody knew. Becky is thankful to the many doctors and staff who Cody has encountered throughout Children’s Hospital because they have helped her son to live a relatively normal life in spite of a difficult start. To Becky, the results have been well worth it: “I think my son’s incredible.”

Newborn Cody Tarver is pictured here in a transport isolette just before being brought from Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center to Children's Hospital. This is the only glimpse his mother, Becky, had of him in the delivery room before he was transported to Children's Hospital through the underground tunnel connecting the two hospitals.

24th annual Fantasy of Trees to kick off with “There’s no business like snow business”

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In 2008, the Fantasy of Trees will showcase a theme of “There’s No Business Like Snow Business,” highlighted with whimsical decorations and wintry designs that celebrate and showcase winter’s sparkle with the dazzle of glistening snow, penguins and snowmen at play, and twinkling snowflakes and lights. In addition, new children’s activities and shops will also reflect this year’s theme. This year marks the 24th anniversary of the event, which will take place at the Knoxville Convention Center November 26-30. Fantasy of Trees visitors can roam through a magical forest of more than 300 beautifully decorated trees, holiday accessories, room scenes, door designs, Trees of Faith and “Adopt-A-Trees,” created and decorated by local school children. Guests can also stroll through the Gingerbread Village and enjoy scrumptious creations by area bakers, chefs and local students. Each day entertainers from throughout East Tennessee will showcase their talents onstage at the Fantasy Theater. Visitors can also shop at the Holiday Marketplace for clothing, holiday accessories and decorations for the home and gift-giving. An event for all families, Fantasy of Trees offers fun and interactive activities for children of all ages, including favorites like the beautiful 30-horse carousel and visits with Santa. This year, Fantasy of Trees has a number of new events catering to children, such as a magical new ride, “Tubs of Fun,” and “Create A Snowman,” where children can create a special snowman in “3-D.” Thanks to Target Stores of Knoxville, Fantasy visitors will once again have a chance to win a beautifully decorated seven-foot tree with all the trimmings or one of five second place prizes of $500 shopping sprees. The raffle tree will be surrounded by a variety of electronics, children’s toys, games, holiday goodies and much more. Raffle tickets are only $5 each and will be available at the Fantasy of Trees beginning on Wednesday, November 26, at 9 a.m. Tickets will be sold throughout the five-day event, ending

at 4 p.m. on Sunday, November 30. Winners will be drawn at random immediately after ticket selling ends. At the Giving Tree, sponsored by Comcast and East Tennessee Chrysler/Jeep Dealers, families will be able to make donations to “purchase” various items like Popsicles, stuffed animals and diapers for premature infants to show a sick child they care. All participants will receive a paper ornament for their own tree to signify their holiday contribution.

Special events at the Fantasy of Trees include:

Gala Preview PartyTuesday, November 25, 7-11 p.m. Come get a first look at the season’s most anticipated holiday event. This is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy great food, dancing, shopping in the Holiday Marketplace, and previewing and purchasing designer trees and holiday accessories. Tickets are $150 per person and $50 per child ages 4-12 and should be purchased in advance. The attire is black-tie optional. For more information and to purchase tickets, call the Volunteer Services and Resources Department at (865) 541-8136. The Gala is sponsored by the Cazana Family and Commercial and Investment Properties Company.

Tinsel Time for Moms & TotsWednesday, November 26, 9 a.m.-noon Moms and toddlers will have a chance to enjoy special activities together at this new event for 2008. There will be important safety information for moms and fun and easy crafts for the tots, including stroller decorations. Moms attending with a child age 4 or under receive half price admission when they arrive during this event from 9 a.m. – noon (not valid with any other discount coupons on Wednesday). This event is sponsored by knoxmoms.com, MARSH, Shoney’s and Safe Kids of the Greater Knox Area.

Holiday edition of “Live at Five at Four”Wednesday, November 26, 4-5 p.m. Watch WBIR-TV Channel 10’s “Live at Five at Four” broadcast live from the 24th annual Fantasy of Trees at the Knoxville Convention Center! Join show hosts Beth Haynes and Russell Biven as they showcase designer trees in styles ranging from unique to traditional, take viewers on a tour looking at this year’s event theme “There’s No Business Like Snow Business,” highlight what’s new and share the spirit of the season from East Tennessee’s premiere holiday event.

Babes in Toyland ParadeWednesday, November 26, 7 p.m. Don’t miss the first and only indoor holiday parade of the season as children from area child care centers show off their colorful costumes while parading to the sounds of the Powell High School marching band. The parade will feature costumed characters including Shoney Bear, entertainers from Dollywood and a grand finale featuring Santa Claus. This fun parade will be broadcast live on WVLT-TV Volunteer News from 7-7:30 p.m. and is sponsored by Dollywood.

Santa’s Senior StrollFriday, November 29, 9 a.m. – noon This special event encourages seniors to stroll through the splendor and sparkle of this year’s holiday show as well as receive information on health topics of interest from sponsor Mercy Health Partners. Best of all, seniors 55 and older get a half-price admission of $5 to enjoy all of the

2008 Fantasy of Trees Major Event Sponsors

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Fantasy of Trees when they arrive during Santa’s Senior Stroll from 9 a.m. to noon. (This discount cannot be combined with any other discounts.)

Kris Kringle’s Kiddie PartyFriday, November 28, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. Bring out your little ones for the popular Kris Kringle’s Kiddie Party! Children will enjoy activities and interactive musical entertainment, have pictures made with Shoney Bear and receive a goody bag at this free event just for pre-schoolers. Seating is limited, so free tickets are handed out the day of the event at the Fantasy Theater area. This party is sponsored by Knoxville Pediatric Associates and U.S. Cellular®.

The funds from this year’s Fantasy of Trees will be used to purchase equipment for the hospital’s inpatient units, Surgery and Radiology; over the past 23 years, this holiday event has raised more than $4.6 million for the hospital. Fantasy of Trees has hosted more than 1 million people since 1985. This holiday event would not be possible without thousands of volunteers and their contribution of more than 155,000 volunteer hours to make Fantasy of Trees a reality this year. Children’s Hospital would like to thank everyone who makes this event a success, ensuring Children’s Hospital can continue to provide the best in pediatric health care to the children of this region. For more information about the 2008 Fantasy of Trees, visit www.etch.com/fantasy.cfm or call (865) 541-8385.

SaTurday November 29 – 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sunday November 30 – Noon to 6 p.m.

TicketsAdults: $10; Children 4-12: $5

Children under 4: Free

WedneSday November 26 – 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

ThurSday (Thanksgiving Day)

November 27 – 3 to 9 p.m.

Friday November 28, and

2008 Fantasy of Trees assistant co-chair Jody Cusick and co-chairs Sarah Munsey and Sarah Beth Carlon (left to right)

Show Times

by Christie Sithiphone, student intern

Pediatrician ProfilesPediatrician ProfilesAge – 33

Family – Wife, Annah Courts; children,

Brighton (9) and Ashton (4)

Name of Pediatric Practice – Loudon Pediatric

Clinic, PC

Personal Interests – church, family, snow

skiing and football

Academic Background/Prior Experience

B.S.. – University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 1998

M.D. – Marshall University, Huntington, W.V., 2005

Internship and Residency – University of

Tennessee, Chattanooga

Age – 41

Family – Wife, Barbara Summers Blevins;

son, William (3)

Name of Pediatric Practice – Knoxville

Pediatric Associates

Personal Interests – fly fishing, hiking

and backpacking

Academic Background/Prior Experience

B.S.. – Auburn University, Auburn, Ala., 1989

M.D. – University of Alabama School of

Medicine, Birmingham, Ala., 1995

Internship and Residency - Le Bonheur

Children’s Medical Center, Memphis

Why Pediatrics?

Above all other specialties, pediatricians just

about always have a smile on their faces. Kids

are fun … and most of them are even when

they are sick. People often say that children are

our future, but I want to be a part of who they

are today.

Greatest Influence –

My parents: my dad for teaching me work ethic

and motivation, and my mom for teaching me

patience, tolerance and acceptance.

Philosophy –

You only get one chance with your children.

Do all you can to not mess it up.

Proudest Moment as a Pediatrician –

One single proud moment doesn’t come to

mind, but it puts a smile on my face whenever

I see a new child who was referred to me after

speaking with a satisfied family.

Why Pediatrics?

I can really relate to my patients because I

am a big kid at heart.

Greatest Influence –

My twin sister was my greatest influence

leading me into medicine. My wife continues

to be my greatest influence daily.

Philosophy –

I always strive to give the finest,

compassionate medical care to my patients.

Proudest Moment as a Pediatrician –

My proudest moments are when I feel I have

become a part of my patients’ families.

Marc Courts, M.D.

Cameron Blevins, M.D.

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Children’s News

CarePages service enhanced to better help families stay in touch Children’s Hospital continues to offer an innovative service for families that have children with chronic or serious illnesses and injuries. Called CarePages, the Internet-based communications system offers an opportunity for families to create simple web pages about a sick or injured relative who is a patient at Children’s Hospital. CarePages recently introduced significant improvements to its service, including better navigation, an easier login and registration process, a new look and feel, and several new add-on features and tools for users. CarePages offers patient web pages that help relieve stress and anxiety for Children’s Hospital patients and families by making it easy for them to stay in touch during a hospital stay or any time the child is receiving medical care. The service provides a way to update relatives and friends without the need for repeated phone calls or e-mails. CarePages also makes it possible for relatives and friends to send messages of encouragement. A patient’s CarePage can be created in less than five minutes, and then it can be updated as often as the family chooses. Guests to the page can see updates about the patient and photos any time they access the family’s web page. CarePages also makes it possible for families to help the hospital in return. Through CarePages, patients and families can recognize staff members who have provided superior levels of care. Children’s Hospital’s CarePages can be accessed through computers in the hospital’s Family Resource Center, in a patient family’s home or from any computer by visiting www.etch.com. CarePages are password-protected, secure and in compliance with all patient privacy regulations. The CarePages service is offered free to Children’s Hospital patient families, thanks to funds raised by the annual Star 102.1 Radiothon. Children’s Hospital is grateful to Star 102.1 for their continuing support of this important service for our patient families.

Children’s Hospital’s new vision statement is “Leading the Way to Healthy Children.” In this new series in It’s About Children magazine, we will share with our readers some of the many ways we are “Leading the Way.” We will highlight outstanding practices by Children’s Hospital departments – things that are, although quite commonplace at our pediatric medical center, actually rather unique. This series will showcase the exceptional work done at Children’s Hospital and demonstrate how the hospital is a great place to work.

“Out of Harm’s Way: A Closer Look at Disaster Preparedness” First was September 11, 2001. Then came Hurricane Katrina. And pandemic flu fears continue. Two major disasters that did happen in the U.S. and one that could happen have required health care professionals to become increasingly familiar with disaster preparedness. The Respiratory Care Department at Children’s Hospital focused on the basics of disaster preparation at its recent annual conference. “Out of Harm’s Way: A Closer Look at Disaster Preparedness” was the theme for the ninth annual Respiratory Care Professional Dynamics Seminar, which took place September 10 in Knoxville. According to Shelia Ware, Director of Respiratory Care at Children’s Hospital, this year’s seminar date was not chosen by chance – it was the day before 9/11, the date of one of the key disasters in U.S. history. Because of the topic, the seminar targeted ALL emergency planners in the region, not just respiratory care professionals and not just Children’s Hospital employees. What is exceptional about this is that the Respiratory Care Department worked independently and voluntarily to put the conference together, open it to regional emergency planners, and recruit high-profile speakers – the department was not responding to upper management requests for such a time-consuming and demanding project. “We wanted to put things on a practical level with real-world applications,” Ware said. “For example, what would you do if your medical records were four feet under water? Or what does it feel like to have no choice but to evacuate your high-acuity patients on ventilators? How do you flush toilets if you have no water? Where do you safely place generators?” The workshop featured speakers who have been through disasters, giving them the experience to discuss everyday procedures, ethics and other issues that they experienced and learned from. Speakers included:

Don Birou –• a Hurricane Katrina veteran; captain for the special operations team with the New Orleans Fire Department with more than 43 years of experience in the areas of fire fighting and special operations; coordinator for hazardous materials (Haz/Mat) and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) response teams for major events in New Orleans (including Mardi Gras and Super Bowl XXXVI); consultant with the Department of Homeland Security; and a U.S. Navy veteran. William L. Gill, M.D. – • a Hurricane Katrina veteran; Medical Director for the Level III-Regional Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Tulane Hospital for Children; former Co-Medical Director of the Level III NICU at MCLNO-University Hospital (Charity) prior to Hurricane Katrina; fellowship trained in clinical neonatology and board certified in both pediatrics and neonatal-perinatal medicine; professor of clinical pediatrics at the Tulane School of Medicine; and U.S. Navy retiree.

Jan Glarum – • A counterterrorism/disaster consultant, instructor and speaker in support of civilian and military operations nationally and internationally; co-developer of the Pandemic Influenza Planning and Preparedness Course taught at the Center for Domestic Preparedness; 28 years of experience in the fields of response, planning, assessment and training; and co-author of two books and one field guide on preparedness.

Birou spoke on the disruption of hospital operations during a disaster, while Dr. Gill shared his NICU experiences at Tulane during Hurricane Katrina. Glarum discussed the National Incident Management System and predicting a pandemic flu in the Knoxville area. Glarum also stressed using smaller, frequent events such as seasonal influenza as “practice” for a larger event; by putting measures in place now, hospitals can be better prepared, Ware said. Birou’s experience during Katrina was overwhelmingly horrific, and he shared sometimes graphic examples observed as he worked 24/7 from August 28 to December 16 with only seven days off. Gill spoke following Birou, describing a successful NICU evacuation conducted in record time with no bad outcomes for the babies. Gill talked about finding resources from some of the most unlikely places, such as the father of a cancer patient at the hospital who also happened to be a pilot who served as a link to help get pilots and helicopters to aid in the evacuation. The contrast in the two men’s Katrina experiences was powerful and educational, Ware said. Close to 100 health care professionals attended the conference. About half of those were Children’s Hospital staff, while the other half represented a number of hospitals and organizations in the region. Ware said conversations started immediately after the conference’s conclusion as to things Children’s Hospital can and should do to be better prepared for a disaster. “Small changes were implemented beginning the next morning,” she said. “The conversations showed the depth of planning already here but also helped us to challenge each other.” “Respiratory Care’s focus on emergency training will now be different as a result of this day,” Ware said. “Dr. Gill’s experience with a highly functioning team who knew what they had to do, in spite of the most challenging circumstances imaginable, did some amazing things. We want to provide our staff with the training on how we’d respond to local threats with hopefully that same degree of certainty and courage. Respiratory Care is remodeling our required three-hour disaster training class with those elements in mind.” In follow-up emails to Ware, the speakers praised the conference: “What a wonderful day!!” Dr. Gill wrote. “I was as inspired as everyone else. The program fit together so very well, and the messages came across loud and clear. Thanks so much for letting me be a part of it.” “It was my pleasure to present and meet the wonderful people from the Knoxville area,” Birou wrote. “I’m pleased to hear that positive changes are occurring that will assist the hospital staff and responders in preparing and responding to a major event. It was a privilege to present to such a wonderful group of people; I believe virtually everyone in the room thanked me at one point or another and talked with me on a personal level as if we were old friends.”

Leading the way to Healthy Children

10

the growing childhood obesity epidemic. He also championed a major emphasis on pain management and a less-invasive pediatric sedation service. “I have continually been impressed with his dedication to our medical center,” said Bob Koppel, President/CEO Emeritus of Children’s Hospital. “He was a great asset to the Board of Directors and served with distinction in the position of Chairman for eight years.”

Star 102.1 On behalf of Star 102.1 radio, Chris Protzman, General Manager for Journal Broadcast Group (the parent company for Star 102.1) accepted the radio station’s award for Community Service by a radio/television station on October 3 at the THA conference luncheon. This award is given to a broadcast organization that has demonstrated leadership and service in their local communities in association with member institutions of THA. Star 102.1 works year round to support the East Tennessee community, especially its children, and the station has been fully committed to making life better for its customers, clients, listeners and the general public. The station provides exceptional coverage of health care issues related to children and does an excellent job promoting services and fundraisers that support Children’s Hospital and other charitable organizations in the Knoxville community. The Star 102.1 Radiothon, a major annual fund-raising event, directly benefits Children’s Hospital’s Home Health Care and provides the funding for the hospital’s CarePages service. Through the hard work and dedication of the radio station’s management, staff and on-air personalities, the event has grown each year. Radiothon reached the $1 million mark quicker than any fundraiser that benefits Children’s. The radio station is not limited to the Radiothon in terms of community service time and efforts. On-air personalities Marc, Kim and

Frank make personal appearances at Children’s Hospital in the months after the fund-raising event to deliver teddy bears purchased through contributions during Radiothon. In addition, the radio station is a major media sponsor of two other Children’s Hospital fundraisers, “Jammin’ In Your Jammies” and the University of Tennessee’s Dance Marathon. In the summer, Star 102.1 helps sponsor Shoney’s Restaurants KidCare ID program, a program supported by Children’s Hospital.

Laura Barnes Laura Barnes was recognized at the THA conference luncheon for Nurse of Distinction as an Executive on October 3. This award identifies individuals with outstanding contributions to nursing by registered nurses employed at a THA member hospital, health system or home health agency. Barnes began her career at Children’s Hospital in April 1974 as a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit staff nurse. Since then, she has served in numerous positions, including Head Nurse, Assistant Director of Nursing Services, Child Life Coordinator, Director of Children’s Home Health Care, Director of Child Health Education and Nursing Director of Critical Care Services. In her current position as Vice President of Patient Care Services, Barnes oversees the supervision of all the hospital’s nursing units (Emergency Department, Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care, Outpatient Clinics, Inpatient Services and Surgery), as well as the hospital’s Rehabilitation Center and the departments of Quality Management, Social Work, Child Life, Pastoral Care, Infection Control and Home Health Care. Barnes’s responsibilities also include managing the budget and financial viability for many clinical areas. When she joined the staff as a nurse in 1974, patients made approximately 25,000 visits to the hospital annually. In the 2007-2008 fiscal year, patients made more than 155,000 visits to Children’s Hospital. Perhaps one of Barnes’s most noteworthy contributions is that she always takes time to work with individual staff members on how they can better serve patients and encourage innovative approaches to enhance patient and family experiences – both medically and emotionally.

by Christie Sithiphone, student intern

On its 70th anniversary, the Tennessee Hospital Association (THA) recognized Jim Bush, recently retired Chairman of the Board of Directors; Laura Barnes, Vice President of Patient Care Services; and Star 102.1, sponsor for Children’s Hospital’s Radiothon, for three awards that were presented at its annual meeting October 1-3. THA’s annual awards program recognizes individuals and organizations who have made a contribution to the goals of the association or one or more of its institutional members. Honorees are selected by an anonymous group of THA members. “Children’s Hospital was honored to nominate Jim Bush, Laura Barnes and Star 102.1 for THA awards, and we are delighted they were all named recipients this year,” said Keith Goodwin, President/CEO of Children’s Hospital. “The long-term dedication of Jim to the Board of Directors and Laura to the hospital’s nursing staff have been absolutely vital to the hospital’s growth and expansion over the years. And support from Star 102.1 has provided key funds to help Children’s Hospital provide the best care to children in East Tennessee and the surrounding areas. “We extend our congratulations and our thanks to Jim, Laura and the staff of Star 102.1 for all their support to the hospital,” Goodwin said.

Jim Bush Jim Bush accepted his award for Meritorious Service by a Board Member on October 2 at the THA Trustees Luncheon. This award recognizes leadership and service by individuals in support of THA member hospitals, health systems and home

health agencies. Bush retired as Chairman of the Children’s Hospital Board of Directors in June 2007. For more than two decades, Bush played an invaluable role in the growth and expansion of

Children’s Hospital and its many services. The hospital undertook its largest construction and renovation project in the institution’s history under Bush’s leadership. The expansion increased the hospital’s licensed beds from 122 to 152 and renovated an additional 72,000 square feet of existing space. Bush most recently supported the establishment of the new Weight Management Clinic to help

Jim Bush

Chris Protzman

Children’s Hospital staff, supporters recognized at annual THA Awards Banquet

Children’s News

11

Integrated operating rooms: the new standard in quality surgical care

Helping zoo babies Children’s Hospital is dedicated to the local community, and sometimes that means helping an organization that is very different from our own – such as Knoxville Zoo. Several years ago, Children’s Hospital donated some isolettes to the zoo for use with animal babies. The isolettes had been used in the Haslam Family Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for premature and sick infants. They still worked but featured outdated technology and no longer were suitable for use at Children’s Hospital. However, the isolettes were perfect for the zoo, which gratefully accepted the donation to help its ever-growing population of animal babies. Most recently, the isolettes were used in the summer of 2008 in the care of two red panda cubs at the Knoxville Zoo, Henry Ford and Samuel. Henry Ford, the red panda pictured here on July 30 in one of the isolettes, was born June 16 at the Detroit Zoo (which explains his name), while Samuel was born this summer at the Knoxville Zoo. Both red panda cubs are being hand-raised by animal keepers, and during their earliest weeks, they spent time in the isolettes. “The isolettes donated by Children’s Hospital provide a stable environment that allows the veterinary team and keepers to closely monitor infants and small animals under critical care,” said Sherrie Burr, Knoxville Zoo animal health clinic curator. “We use them to control temperature, humidity and even noise levels. They also allow us to control and limit movement of animals to avoid potential injuries. “We find that animal infants seem to be more comfortable in a setting where they feel secure, and the isolettes provide that special environment,” Burr added. Henry and Samuel are now thriving and growing in their new home at The Boyd Family Red Panda Village at Knoxville Zoo and no longer require the use of the isolettes. Visit the Knoxville Zoo soon to see these healthy red panda cubs and the zoo’s many other animals.

As modern medicine continues to advance, medical care providers strive to stay up-to-date with the latest developments. Only by implementing the newest technologies and innovative procedures can hospitals continue to provide the highest quality care. Integrated operating rooms are recent additions to Children’s Hospital. These top-of-the-line surgical rooms feature high definition cameras as well as mounted equipment, which allows for easier navigation in the OR by reducing clutter. Special surgical equipment designed specifically for small bodies makes Children’s Hospital’s new operating rooms friendlier to young patients. With the integrated ORs, surgeons at Children’s Hospital can enhance their ability to perform less invasive surgical techniques, such as laparoscopic procedures, which offers patients a shorter recovery time. “The benefit I see in these ORs is the fact that we can now take even greater advantage of two driving forces in modern medicine – technology and minimally invasive surgery,” said pediatric surgeon Alfred Kennedy, M.D., who was instrumental in the process of adding the integrated ORs. In addition to providing better care for almost 11,000 surgery patients annually, the new integrated ORs simplify the work of surgeons, pediatric anesthesiologists and nurses, allowing them to focus more on monitoring patients than transporting equipment in and out of the room. Medical personnel also have the ability to analyze X-rays at the operating table, and all equipment is centrally controlled, which further increases efficiency. Children’s Hospital’s budget for the renovation was more than $1 million. Hospital fundraisers such as Fantasy of Trees and the Children’s Miracle Network telethon helped raise the money to make the integrated operating rooms a reality. Children’s Hospital also received a governmental grant of $292,000 to assist with funding.

by Logan Clark, student intern

tuck them in at night with the same type of song or prayer that you would choose? Perhaps your parents or your spouse’s parents, a married brother or sister, or even a close friend would be best suited to raise your children. Would you really want your family and possibly friends in court fighting over custody of your children because you failed to plan? Do you have enough life insurance and other assets to support your children until they are grown, educated and on their own? Perhaps you would want the people who are raising your children to also be in charge of the funds you would leave for their support. But you might prefer to have a separate individual or a trust company manage the money for them.

“Why do we need a will? If something happened to both of us, wouldn’t Mom and Dad get the kids?” The answer to this question is, “Not necessarily.” The fact is that your state has a plan for taking care of your children and for distributing all that you have accumulated during your lifetime should you decide not to make a will. But their plan may be very different from yours. Our lawmakers simply cannot know the preferences of each person; they have to write one law that applies to all. As hard as our judges might try, they must base their decisions on those laws if you fail to give other instructions. If you fail to do a will, you are not leaving any instructions about the custody of your children or how they are to be raised. You are allowing the legislature, via the laws they have written, and the courts, via their interpretation of those laws, to determine the custody of your minor children, should such an unfortunate need ever arise. If you were choosing a person to care for your children, you would probably look at many different factors. Who raises their children the way you are raising yours? Who has religious beliefs that are closest to yours? Who has a large enough home? Who is in good health? Who would treat them the way you would? Who would take them to baseball games, ballet lessons, soccer practice, swim meets, school plays or whatever activities they are interested in? Who would take photographs to document all these important events? And who would

Whatever you answered to the questions here, a properly prepared will is the ONLY way to assure that your wishes are carried out. For more information on wills and estate planning, including a copy of our booklet, “Personal Information Record,” please send your name and address to us via the reply form below. Or you may email one of us or call us at (865) 541-8244 if you prefer. And thank you for your interest in the children entrusted to our care.

• David Rule, Director of Development, dsrule@etch.com

• Teresa Goddard, CFRE, Senior Development Officer, tgoddard@etch.com

• Joe Brandenburg, Major Gifts Officer, jwbrandenburg@etch.com

Estate Planning Because your children are precious, a will is vital

Include Children’s Hospital in your estate plans.Join the ABC Club. For more information, call (865) 541-8441.

Please send the FREE planning booklet, “Personal Information Record.”

Name______________________________ Address____________________________________________________________

City___________________________ State_______ Zip_____________ Phone (______) ___________________________ r Please call me at the phone number below for a free confidential consultation concerning planned giving.

r Please send me more information about deferred giving.

r I have already included Children’s Hospital in my estate plan in the following way:

__________________________________________________________________________

r Please send me information about the ABC Club.

Children’s Hospital Development Office • (865) 541-8441

The state of Tennessee has given Children’s Hospital an extension through 2008 to increase its number of specialty license plates. The hospital is required to maintain a minimum of 1,000 tags to keep the plate in effect, but as of press time, the hospital was still slightly below the required minimum.

With your help, there is still an opportunity to do more for the children the hospital serves by enhancing your car with an attractive Children’s Hospital plate. But most importantly, you can help make Children’s Hospital an even better place for area children.

The specialty license plate has been a labor of love from the beginning. After Children’s Hospital applied to the legislature in 2002 and received approval, Morris Creative Group in Knoxville donated their artists’ time to prepare the plate’s design. Volunteers stuffed mailings to help sell the initial 1,000 plates. Since the plate first became available, Children’s Hospital has received $71,894.95.

In an effort to increase sales, Children’s Hospital sought help from an advertising class at the University of Tennessee. “We need fresh, innovative

ways to market the license plate as a fundraiser in the East Tennessee community,” Amanda Armstrong, Director of Annual Giving for Children’s Hospital, said. After conducting research, students proposed various ideas for spreading the word about helping the hospital through license plate purchases. Several of their ideas have been put into effect, including featuring banner ads on the website of WBIR-TV

Channel 10 and designing kid-friendly ways to track sales at pediatrician offices.

The plate is available at any time through your local County Clerk’s office, and the cost of the plate is $35 in addition to each county’s renewal fee. Children’s Hospital receives nearly $16 from each plate sold. Simply drive to your local county clerk’s office, take in the plate from your car and your registration, and tell them you would like a Children’s Hospital plate.

Purchasing a license plate is an easy way to support the hospital. Please consider renewing your

Children’s Hospital plate each year and encouraging friends and family to join you.If you have questions about the specialty license plate, contact your local

County Clerk’s office or the hospital’s Development Department at (865) 541-8441.

by Logan Clark, student intern12

License plate deadline extended; purchasers can still help area families

13

UPCOMING EVENTS TO bENEfIT CHILDREN’S

Children’s Hospital Volunteers unveil 2008 holiday greeting card

calendar of events

Mark your calendars noW for several upcoming events to entertain families and benefit Children’s Hospital. Thanks to the generous people of East Tennessee who host and participate in these events, Children’s Hospital can continue to provide the best pediatric health care to the children of this region.

Artist Joyce Simms Designs Card for Both Children and Adults

Joyce Simms has always enjoyed drawing and doing creative projects. While obtaining a degree in music, she also took art and interior design classes at Florida State University and at the University of Tennessee. Currently, she has a shop, The Painted Pig, at Knoxville’s Southern Market and works as an interior designer and decorative artist.

Simms has been a volunteer with Children’s Hospital’s Fantasy of Trees for the past two years. Because of her involvement in the annual holiday event, Simms was asked to do artwork for this year’s Children’s Hospital Volunteers’ annual holiday greeting card sale.

After looking at the cards sold in the past, Simms came up with the concept of featuring

Jammin’ In Your Jammies It’s that time of year again for families to get comfortable and put on their favorite pajamas for a weekend of wintertime fun. This year’s “Jammin’ In Your Jammies” event will take place January 30 through February 1 at the Holiday Inn Select at Cedar Bluff. Registration includes a one-night hotel room stay, dinner, snacks, breakfast and all activities and entertainment. In the evening, families have many activities to choose from, such as swimming in the indoor pool, playing games, participating in a pajama contest or dancing to music provided by Star 102.1 radio. A family of four can enjoy an overnight stay for $130, and additional guests are $30 per person.

mice for this year’s card design. Simms wanted something that would be humorous and appealing to both children and adults, like cards from previous years featuring snowmen and other animals. Inside this year’s card, she included the sentiment, “Warmest Thoughts for This Holiday Season.”

“Being asked to do artwork for the Children’s Hospital holiday card has been an honor and a challenge,” Simms said. “It is truly wonderful to be involved in such a special project.”

Cards are $7.50 for boxes of 10 cards or may be purchased individually starting at 75 cents per

Families have the option of registering at 5 p.m. Friday and concluding their stay with a Saturday morning brunch OR registering at 5 p.m. Saturday and ending with a Sunday morning brunch. All proceeds from this event benefit the Children’s Hospital Child Life Department. This is a Committee for the Future signature event and is sponsored by All Occasions Party Rentals, DeRoyal, and Star 102.1 radio. For more information or to register, call the Children’s Hospital Development Office at (865) 541-8608.

UT Dance Marathon On February 20-21 students at the University of Tennessee will be dancing the night away for Children’s Hospital Hematology/Oncology patients. The event will take place at the Tennessee Recreational Center for Students (TRECS) on UT’s campus from 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. Activities throughout the night will include live music from local bands, a children’s carnival for Hematology/Oncology patients and an opportunity for the patients to throw pies at some Children’s Hospital staff members. UT students will also learn a Dance Marathon dance to perform at the end of the 14-hour celebration. Dance Marathon is the largest student-run philanthropy in the country, with more than 80 colleges and universities “dancing” for children’s hospitals in their areas. Last year’s Dance Marathon at UT raised $91,000 for Children’s

card for 25-299 cards, 70 cents per card for 300-599 cards, 65 cents per card for 600-899 cards and 60 cents per card for 900 or more cards. All cards help raise funds to provide special services for children and their families.

For more information on how to order the holiday greeting cards, please contact the Children’s Hospital Volunteer Services office at (865) 541-8136 or email wharalson@etch.com.

by Christie Sithiphone, student intern

Hospital Hematology/Oncology Clinic. For more information, call the Children’s Hospital Development Office at (865) 541-8745.

Cutest Little Baby Face The 19th annual “Cutest Little Baby Face” contest will begin March 7-8 at Belz Outlet in Pigeon Forge. The contest is open to children ages 6 and younger, with Gary Woods Photography in Sevierville taking photos of the participants. The entry fee for preregistration is $5, and registration at the event is $7. The fee includes a 5x7 portrait of the participating child, a T-shirt and goody bag. Pictures will be taken on March 7 and 8 and will be posted for voting on March 20 and 21 at Belz Outlets. A $1 donation to Children’s Hospital will count as 100 votes. The child with the most votes is named the winner and will be announced on March 21 during the “Baby Face Parade.” Last year’s event raised more than $18,000. Contestants may preregister by completing a registration form at Belz Outlet or by calling the Children’s Hospital Development Department at (865) 541-8745.

by Christie Sithiphone, student intern

In an attempt to protect the body, the immune system of the allergic person produces antibodies called immunoglobulin E (IgE). Those antibodies then cause mast cells (allergy cells in the body) to release chemicals, including histamine, into the bloodstream to defend against the allergen “invader.”

What is a food allergy reaction like?

Histamine causes symptoms that affect a person’s eyes, nose, throat, respiratory system, skin and digestive system. An allergic reaction can be mild to severe and can occur right away or within a few hours after eating a certain food. Some of the first signs can be a runny nose, an itchy skin rash such as hives or a tingling in the tongue or lips. Other signs include:

tightness in the throat • hoarse voice • wheezing • cough • nausea • vomiting • stomach pain • diarrhea •

In the most serious cases, a food allergy can cause anaphylaxis. This is a sudden, severe allergic reaction in which several problems occur all at once; it can involve the skin, breathing, digestion, the heart and blood vessels. A person’s blood pressure can drop, breathing tubes can narrow and the tongue can swell. People at risk for this kind of reaction need a plan for handling emergencies, when they might need to get special medicine to stop these symptoms from getting worse.

How do I know if my child has a food allergy?

Sometimes it is easy to figure out that a child has a food allergy. He or she might get hives or have other problems after eating a certain food. But sometimes, the source of the problem is a mystery. Most foods have more than one ingredient, so if a child has shrimp with peanut sauce, what is causing the allergy – the peanut sauce or the shrimp?

Doctors believe allergies may be hereditary, which means if you or a close relative have certain allergies like hay fever, your child is more likely to develop the allergies. Some children are born allergic to certain foods, whereas others develop food allergies over time. This may be due to surroundings or

changes in the body as they grow older. Many people react to a certain food but are

not actually allergic. For example, people with lactose intolerance get stomach pain and diarrhea from milk and other dairy products. That does not mean they are allergic to milk. They don’t feel good after drinking milk because their bodies cannot properly break down the sugars found in milk.

Q: What will the doctor do?

A: If you think your child may be allergic to a certain food, schedule a doctor’s visit to get it checked out. If the doctor thinks your child might have a food allergy, he or she will probably suggest that you make an appointment with a doctor who specializes in allergies. The allergy specialist will ask you about your child’s past reactions and how long it takes between eating the food and getting the symptom, such as hives. The allergist also may ask about whether anyone else in your family has allergies or other allergy-related conditions, such as eczema or asthma.

The allergist may also want to do a skin test. This is a way of seeing how the body reacts to a very small amount of the food that is causing the trouble. The allergist will use a liquid extract of the food and, possibly, other common allergy-causing foods to see if you react to any of them. The doctor will make a little scratch on the skin and drop a little of the liquid extract on the scratched spot or spots. Different extracts will go on the different scratch spots, so the doctor can see how skin reacts to each substance. A reddish, raised spot shows an allergy to that food or substance.

Q: How are food allergies treated?

A: There is no special medicine for food allergies. Some can be outgrown, and others a child will have his or her whole life. The best treatment is simply to avoid the food itself and any foods or drinks that contain the food. One way to figure that out is to read food labels. Any foods that might cause an allergic reaction will be listed near or in the ingredient list. Doctors and allergy organizations also can help by providing lists of safe foods and unsafe foods. Some people who are very sensitive may need to avoid foods just because they are made in the same factory that also makes their problem food.

Q: What should I do if my child accidentally eats something he or she is allergic to?

A: Stay calm and follow your emergency plan. Before a slipup happens, it’s a good idea to create a plan with a doctor and your child. The plan

Few issues are closer to our hearts or more crucial to our future than the health of children. As an abundance of children’s health issues hit the media spotlight last year, it was a challenge for many parents to keep track of them all or determine which matter most. Some strike close to home and involve things parents do routinely to keep their children safe and healthy. Others, for now at least, seem to be in the hands of lawmakers or scientists, far removed from our immediate lives, yet no less important to children’s well being. In 2008, Children’s Hospital has highlighted eight of these important children’s health issues to watch. Each issue of It’s About Children this year focused on two topics. This list was not meant to be comprehensive, nor does it suggest that other health issues aren’t also important. But we think these eight subjects will have a lasting impact on children’s health well into the future.

Food Allergies: Outlawing PB&J Why are food allergies a growing problem? The incidence of food allergies doubled over

the last decade and now affects about three million school-age children, including one in every 17 children age 3 or younger. Research suggests some food allergies are lasting longer into childhood than in the past. Food allergies can have far-reaching effects on every aspect of a family’s home and social life, as parents try to manage children’s exposure to allergens. Even children who don’t have food allergies are affected, facing new restrictions on what they can eat and bring to daycare, schools, summer camp and even birthday parties. A recent federal law required food makers to plainly state whether their products contain any of the top food allergens (milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat and soy). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) identified food allergies as a public health issue and funded research to learn what causes them and to develop options for treatment and prevention.

What is a food allergy?

An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to a substance – in this case, a food item – that is harmless to most people. But in someone with an allergy, the body’s immune system treats the substance (called an allergen) as an invader and reacts inappropriately, resulting in symptoms that can be anywhere from annoying to possibly harmful to the person.

part 4 of 4

‘08Food Allergies: Outlawing PB&Jand Obesity: Beyond the Body

should spell out what to do, who to tell, and which medicines to take, should a reaction occur. This is especially important with a food allergy that can cause a serious reaction (anaphylaxis). For these allergies, people may need a shot of epinephrine with them. This kind of epinephrine injection comes in an easy-to-carry container that looks like a pen. After receiving an epinephrine shot, the child will need to go to the hospital or a medical facility, where medical personnel can make sure the reaction is under control.

What can we expect of this issue in the remaining weeks of 2008 and into 2009?

As the incidence of food allergies continues to rise among children, more families and communities will be contending with them, whether their children have allergies or not. With more school lunchrooms becoming peanut-free zones, staples like PB&J could become relics of the past.

Obesity: Beyond the BodyWhat are the emotional effects of obesity?

Being overweight or obese can significantly affect a child’s daily life, potentially causing serious physical and psychological problems now and in the future, says a recent study. Researchers from Yale University and the University of Hawaii at Manoa pored through 40 years of findings to analyze the extensive, often endless, stigma that overweight children commonly endure. According to the study, children and teens carrying around excess pounds may be the targets of bias and stereotyping not only from their peers, but also teachers and, surprisingly, their parents. Children who are overweight frequently experience unfair treatment, prejudice and discrimination, says the study, and are often:

prone to low self-esteem, depression, and • suicidal thoughts

teased, bullied or rejected by peers (even as • early as preschool)

more likely to develop unhealthy dieting • habits and eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia

The cruel treatment and social disadvantages associated with being overweight may have lasting, harmful effects on everything from children’s physical health to their education, from their relationships to their jobs.

What are the physical effects of obesity?

Overweight and obese children are at risk for developing medical problems that affect their present and future health and quality of life, including:

high blood pressure, high cholesterol • and abnormal blood lipid levels, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes

bone and joint problems•

shortness of breath that makes exercise, • sports or any physical activity more difficult and may aggravate the symptoms or increase the chances of developing asthma

restless or disordered sleep patterns, such as • obstructive sleep apnea

tendency to mature earlier (overweight • children may be taller and more sexually mature than their peers, raising expectations that they should act as old as they look, not as old as they are; overweight girls may have irregular menstrual cycles and fertility problems in adulthood)

liver and gall bladder disease•

depression •

Cardiovascular risk factors present in childhood (including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes) can lead to serious medical problems like heart disease, heart failure and stroke as adults. Preventing or treating overweight and obesity in children may reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease as they get older.

How can I prevent my child from becoming obese?

The percentage of overweight children in the United States is growing at an alarming rate – 1 out of 3 children are now considered overweight or obese. The key to keeping children of all ages at a healthy weight is taking a whole-family approach. It’s the “practice what you preach” mentality. Make healthy eating and exercise a family affair. Get your children involved by letting them help you plan and prepare healthy meals, and take them along when you go grocery shopping so they can learn how to make good food choices. Avoid falling into some common food/eating behavior traps:

Don’t reward children for good behavior •or try to stop bad behavior with sweets or treats. Come up with other solutions to modify their behavior.

Don’t maintain a clean-plate policy.• Be aware of children’s hunger cues. Even babies who turn away from the bottle or breast send signals that they are full. If children are satisfied, do not force them to continue eating. Reinforce the idea that they should only eat when they are hungry.

Don’t talk about “bad foods” or eliminate •all sweets and favorite snacks from children’s diets. Children may rebel and overeat these forbidden foods outside the home or sneak them in on their own.

If you eat well, exercise regularly and incorporate healthy habits into your family’s daily life, you’re modeling a healthy lifestyle for your children that will last. Talk to your children about the importance of eating well and being active, but make it a family affair that will become second nature for everyone.

What can we expect of this issue in the remaining weeks of 2008 and into 2009?

The fight against childhood obesity will focus on prevention through fitness and healthy eating strategies that are integrated into home, schools and communities. These efforts will take into account the psychological, social and emotional issues that play a role in obesity — and their effects on children’s development.

compiled by Logan Clark, student intern

15Article edited and abridged from the KidsHealth section of www.etch.com. © 2008 The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth. Used under license.

UPCOMING COMMUNIty edUCatION Classes

CPR Certification CourseDate: December 8Time: 6-10 p.m. This certification course teaches the American Heart Association chain of survival -- from when to call 911 to how to effectively administer CPR to an infant, child or adult. This course is designed for anyone who may be expected to respond to emergencies at home or in the workplace. Participants must be at least 14 years old. Following the course, participants will receive an American Heart Association Heartsaver certification card. This course is $40 per person.

safe sitterDates: December 6 and 13Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

(lunch is provided) Safe Sitter is a national organization that teaches young adolescents safe and nurturing babysitting techniques and the rescue skills needed to respond appropriately to medical emergencies. Instructors are certified through Safe Sitter nationally. Participants must be ages 11-14. This course is $20 per person.

Class size is limited, so preregistration is required. All classes are offered in the Koppel Plaza at Children’s Hospital, unless otherwise noted. For more information or to register for any of these classes or to receive our free Healthy Kids parenting newsletter, call (865) 541-8262.

Announcements about upcoming classes can be seen on WBIR-TV 10 and heard on area radio stations. Or visit our Web site at www.etch.com and click on “Healthy Kids Education and News.”

Children’s Hospital’s Healthy Kids Campaign, sponsored by WBIR-TV Channel 10 and Chick-Fil-A, is a community education initiative of the hospital’s Community Relations Department to help parents keep their children healthy.

and all contributions are greatly appreciated no matter how big or small. Funds raised during the telethon will be used to purchase new and sophisticated medical equipment for a number of hospital departments. Support from the community through the telethon ensures that each child who comes to Children’s Hospital, now and in the future, is able to receive the care he or she needs.

Children’s Hospital is a charter member of the Children’s Miracle Network. In 1983, the hospital participated in the first telethon that raised nearly $95,500 in East Tennessee, all of which remained at Children’s Hospital for the sole benefit of our patients. Since its origin, the telethon has raised nearly $29 million for our pediatric medical center.

Viewers will once again have the ease of donating to Children’s Hospital online during the broadcast. Those watching the broadcast on WBIR-TV can log on to www.etch.com and

click on “Make A Donation” on the left side of the home page to make their contribution.

For more information about the Children’s Miracle Network broadcast, or if you would like to volunteer at the telethon, call (865) 541-8441 or visit www.etch.com.

by Christie Sithiphone, student intern

The beginning of a new year means it’s time again for the

annual Children’s Miracle Network Telethon to benefit Children’s Hospital.

2009 marks the 27th year of the fundraiser. It will take place on Sunday, January 25, and will be broadcast live from 3:30 to 11:30 p.m. on WBIR-TV Channel 10.

Last year’s CMN broadcast raised more than $1.8 million for Children’s Hospital. Without the support of people from the region and their ongoing commitment, Children’s Hospital could not continue to fulfill its vision of “Leading the Way to Healthy Children.”

The success of this year’s Children’s Miracle Network telethon is vital in helping Children’s Hospital grow. Even in tough economic times, Children’s Hospital needs support more than ever,

27th annual Children’s Miracle Network Telethon

set for January