Partners in Caring Spring/Summer 2020

Spring/Summer 2020: The COVID-19 Issue

Partners in Caring FROM CONNECTICUT CHILDREN’S MEDICAL CENTER FOUNDATION

Inside this Issue…

A Message from Our CEO New Lupus Clinic Opens Meet Our All-Stars Updated Spaces Designed with AYA Patients in Mind First Pediatric Outpatient Dialysis Center in the State Now Open And much more!

A MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

James E. Shmerling, DHA, FACHE President and Chief Executive Officer

Dear Friends, Since everything else in the world has been turned on its head in the last three months, the Foundation at Connecticut Children’s decided that sharing an all-digital version of its Partners in Caring newsletter wouldn’t seem too shocking.

While it is called our Spring/Summer 2020: COVID-19 Issue, I assure you—it’s largely (and thankfully) not about the coronavirus.

Rather, we want to acknowledge the incredible dedication of our team members and supporters. During these extraordinary days, we have witnessed the tremendous depth and breadth of our staff’s devotion to living out our mission and providing expert, family-centered care to children.

When families were forced to stay home and stay safe, their children missed vital medical appointments.

We responded by quickly and dramatically increasing our telemedicine capabilities. We went from providing one “video visit” on March 1 to now scheduling over 600 children for video visits daily.

At the same time, we have been blessed by the generosity and sheer humanity of both long-time supporters and new friends.

So, we praise our team members. We thank our donors—those who regularly support us, those who have come to our aid during the pandemic and those who will be inspired to give. We’d love to have you visit our Foundation website to donate today and have an impact on our work and the children who need our expert care.

Now, we take this opportunity to shine a light on some of the other incredible work that continues at Connecticut Children’s, pandemic or no pandemic.

Wishing you brighter days ahead when you can safely gather with friends, embrace family and be reminded of all that is good and kind. May we never take the simple pleasures of life for granted, when life returns to “normal.”

Sincerely,

James E. Shmerling, DHA, FACHE President and CEO, Connecticut Children’s All photos on pages 1-13 (excluding the cover and inside cover) were taken pre-pandemic, before social distancing and universal masking protocols were advised.

SPRING/SUMMER 2020

Partners in Caring F R O M C O N N E C T I C U T C H I L D R E N ’ S M E D I C A L C E N T E R F O U N D AT I O N

New Clinic

Shines Light on Lupus Christian Peoples is living a full life again, thanks to the care he has received from Barbara Edelheit, MD, (left) and Sherene Mason, MD, at Connecticut Children’s new Lupus Clinic.

Lupus is a sneaky disease and that’s why it’s often referred to as “The Great Imitator.” An autoimmune disorder, it can mimic many other conditions and can affect any system or organ in the body. That makes it both difficult to diagnose and challenging to treat. Kids with lupus may be shuttled from one specialist to another, waiting weeks or even months between appointments, hoping for a definitive diagnosis.

But now, Connecticut Children’s is addressing this situation with its new Lupus Clinic, which brings multiple specialties together to provide a comprehensive approach to diagnosis and treatment options. And that’s good news for patients like Christian Peoples.

A Trip to Remember It was supposed to be a trip to remember—and it turned out to be a trip the 20-year-old Manchester resident will never forget.

Christian and his sister were in Hawaii in June 2019 visiting an old family friend, who is a retired Navy Seal.

“It’s always been my dream to go diving with him,” Christian said, “so we did. And I guess the sun and salt water must have gotten to me. I had been experiencing minor swelling and pain in my fingers and ankles on and off for a while, but when we came up to the surface, my ankles were severely swollen and extremely painful, and by the time we “Kids with lupus were ready to leave, vary a lot in how I couldn’t even feel they present . . . It’s or move my middle remarkable to think fingers.”

The emergency department in Hawaii couldn’t figure out what was wrong, so they sent him home to Connecticut. His

of all the varied combinations (of symptoms) there can be.”

- Barbara Edelheit, MD Division Head of Rheumatology (continued on page 2)

New Clinic Shines Light on Lupus (continued from page 1) family doctor wasn’t sure either, but suggested important labs.

“I had to get so many blood tests done,” he recalled. Finally, low kidney function brought him to Connecticut Children’s.

Caring for Christian When he met with Barbara Edelheit, MD, Division Head of Rheumatology, he told her about the pain in his fingers and his diminished appetite. “I lost about 10 pounds,” he said, “and that was one of the signs.” Dr. Edelheit was concerned that Christian was developing lupus due to the constellation of abnormal labs, arthritis, weight loss and his poor kidney function. She spoke with the team in the Division of Nephrology, where nephrologist Sherene Mason, MD, arranged for a kidney biopsy to provide critical information as to the type of kidney involvement.

Christian’s story is unusual only because he’s male. Ninety percent of patients with lupus are female, and the disease is most prevalent in those of African or Latin-American descent, or Asian or Native American. And, as with Christian, the most common symptoms are arthritis and kidney disorders. Then there is the distinctive facial rash that gives the disease its name: “Lupus” is Latin for “wolf,” and to the 13th-Century physician who first identified the disease, the rash—which typically stretches across the bridge of the nose and both cheeks—looked like a wolf bite.

But lupus can affect any organ or system in the body. “Kids with lupus vary a lot in how they present,” Dr. Edelheit said. “It can cause cognitive and neurologic problems; it can present as a cardiology issue. We had a young male with a lot of hair loss, fever and arthritis but no kidney involvement. It’s remarkable to think of all the varied combinations there can be. Kids come in with seizures, bleeding in their lungs, disorientation. Most people don’t think of strokes in a young person, but that can be their first presentation of lupus.”

The Need for a New Clinic That is why the concept of the Lupus Clinic is so important.

Because lupus can affect so many body systems, treatment has to be coordinated between different specialists. And coordination is not always easy. If a private practice pediatrician suspects lupus, he or she will likely put in a request for consult from a single specialist, and it might be months before a biopsy is taken.

By combining several specialties in the new Lupus Clinic, which opened January 10, that biopsy can happen within a day. And that makes it more likely that the disease can be treated before it does significant organ damage.

Coordination also means treatment can be more effective. “To determine the ideal immunosuppressive therapy, it is critical to know the specific type of kidney involvement,” Dr. Edelheit said.

“Dr. Mason and I choose the medication together, we taper the steroid medication together; it’s a collaborative process.”

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Partners in Caring

Christian, a member of his university soccer team, must avoid too much sun and stress, but enjoys an active lifestyle.

That collaborative approach applies in other ways in the Lupus Clinic. The staff includes a full-time psychologist, because there are a range of psychological and social issues that come with a child having a chronic disease like lupus. The team also includes a social worker to help children and their families find outside resources that can provide a range of support services. A nurse provides education on medications that the patients have to take. And, of course, there are other divisions at Connecticut Children’s that both refer patients to the Lupus Clinic and provide specialized care for them.

Back in the Game For Christian, treatment was intensive. “I was in there every day for two weeks,” he said. It included eight-hour infusions of powerful drugs that left him feeling awful. But it got him back on his feet and back in the game at Western New England University, where he is a sophomore and a member of the soccer team. His treatments were so effective that he was playing soccer again by October.

Today, Christian takes several pills daily and avoids getting too much sun, salt and stress, but with those few considerations, he is back to living his normal life. And those are the kind of results that all kids with lupus want.

To support patient care at Connecticut Children’s, please visit give.connecticutchildrens.org/partners or call the Foundation at 860.837.5700.

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Foundation

Riley Kalajainen

All-Star Spotlight

Meet the

Brandon Demkowicz

2020 All-Stars Whether they started life as a micro-preemie in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or received a shocking cancer diagnosis as a teenager, Connecticut Children’s 2020 All-Stars represent a diverse group of pediatric patients.

They range in age from 5 to 17 (as of June 1), and are as courageous as they are resilient.

Eli O’Mara

Eliamys Rivera

Ariella Botts

Michael Ramsdell

Nevaeh Roy

Fatima Briley

Connecticut Children’s new All-Star program celebrates patients who have received diagnoses that required them and their families to battle for their health. Our All-Stars are winning their battles, thanks to the extraordinary care provided at Connecticut Children’s.

Throughout the year, our All-Stars will bring awareness to Connecticut Children’s programs and services, as they inspire hope and support Connecticut Children’s mission of caring for the physical, social and emotional needs of all children.

Our 2020 All-Star patient families are grateful for the care their children have received and continue to receive at Connecticut Children’s, and they are proud to share their stories.

Learn more about our All-Stars and the Divisions and programs that mean the most to them on the Foundation website at connecticutchildrensfoundation.org/all-stars.

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Foundation

Partners in Caring

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AYA LOUNGES

Spotlight on Connecticut Children’s

Revitalized Spaces

Designed for Adolescents and Young Adults

Apple pie, blueberry pie and a new guitar signed by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who were among the sweet surprises at a doubleribbon-cutting celebration March 4 at Connecticut Children’s. But the two renovated lounges on the 8th and 5th floors of the hospital, designed by adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients and patients with blood disorders, were the “rock stars” of the day. Read on to learn how gifts from Teen Cancer America (TCA) and Lyman Orchards have created special spaces of respite for AYA patients at Connecticut Children’s.

Glenn Taylor, MD, a board member of Teen Cancer America, displays the guitar signed

by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend of The Who—a special gift for the new AYA 8th-floor lounge.

A “Rockin’” Retreat for Inpatient Respite Brandon Demkowicz is only 17, but he’s familiar with the music of The Who, a legendary English rock band formed in 1964 with founder-frontman Roger Daltrey on lead vocals and singer-songwriter Pete Townshend on guitar.

“Yeah—‘Baba O’Riley!’” the Farmington teen responded enthusiastically, when asked about his familiarity with the band and his favorite song. Moments later, Brandon, who is a cancer survivor and patient representative for the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Advisory Council at Connecticut Children’s, had the privilege of holding a guitar signed by the two rock legends.

The guitar was presented to Connecticut Children’s by Glenn Taylor, MD, a board member of Teen Cancer America (TCA).

Teen Cancer America, co-founded by Roger and Pete, provided a $250,000 grant to support the growth of the Reid R. Sacco Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program at Connecticut Children’s. This included the expansion and renovation of the AYA Lounge on the 8th-floor inpatient unit, which was unveiled that morning to patient families, hospital staff and leadership. It also included support for an AYA Program Coordinator.

“Teen Cancer America was established in 2012 by Roger Daltrey of The Who; that may seem like an odd person to be involved in such a charity, but he is a wonderful patron of the cause for adolescent and young adult cancer care and brought it from England here to the United States,” said Dr. Taylor, an orthopedic surgeon who trained at Newington Children’s Hospital, the predecessor to Connecticut Children’s.

Dr. Taylor is also Roger Daltrey’s brother-in-law.

“I don’t play guitar,” Dr. Taylor said, “but this is a guitar signed by Roger and Pete and it’s to be displayed in your facility here.

Some put it in a case so that it’s not touched; other places leave it out so kids can strum it and have some fun with it.”

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Partners in Caring

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Foundation

AYA LOUNGES

A Space to Call Their Own Brandon, a senior at Farmington High School who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in February 2016 and finished his treatment in May 2019, was pleased with the outcome of the new lounge, designed with input from the AYA Cancer Advisory Council and patients from the Sickle Cell Program.

“Despite the incredible health care I received here, there was always this lingering sense of isolation and boredom that plagued long stays in a hospital bed,” Brandon said. “That is why I am so excited to be here today to see all of our hard work—planning, designing and brainstorming this AYA Lounge—finally come to life.”

The lounge features a media area, art and game-playing zone and a quiet reading nook. It also serves as a space where AYA patients can socialize and build relationships with peers and get a respite from their hospital rooms.

“There are so many amazing features that I don’t even know where to begin,” Brandon said. “I think the most important thing is there is something here for absolutely everybody—whether you just want a quiet place to read, or you want to do some fun arts and crafts.

I think each and every patient on the 8th floor can find something here for respite—and that’s really special.”

A Growing Partnership According to Dr. Taylor, the mission of the Teen Cancer America organization, based in Los Angeles, has been well-received. “TCA is now partnering with about 30 hospitals across the United States, with additional partnerships planned,” he explained.

“We are so proud and pleased to be able to partner with Connecticut Children’s,” Dr. Taylor added. “It really is wonderful that Connecticut Children’s embraces the principles of the AYA movement to improve the lives of adolescents and young adults with cancer.”

A look inside the 8th-floor lounge reveals an inviting new space for AYA patients.

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Foundation

Partners in Caring

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AYA LOUNGES (continued)

Our Kids & Causes

Participating in the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the updated AYA Lounge in the Cancer Center were (from left): Michael Isakoff, MD, John Lyman III, Executive Vice President of Lyman Orchards; and Connecticut Children’s patients Jonathan Ffrench; Brandon Demkowicz, a member of the AYA Cancer Advisory Council; and Hannah Forstall.

Lyman Orchards Gift Supports Teen Lounge Upgrade Three floors away, a makeover and upgrade of the existing Teen Lounge—along with celebratory apple and blueberry pies—were a cause for celebration at the Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders. A $25,000 gift from Lyman Orchards’ annual Sunflower Maze made the renovation possible.

“We could not have done this in our clinic without John Lyman, Executive Vice President of Lyman Orchards,” said Michael Isakoff, MD, Clinical Director of the Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders.

For the past 13 years, Lyman Orchards, located in Middlefield, Connecticut, has been operating a Sunflower Maze from which they donate $1 for every ticket sold toward Connecticut Children’s Division of Hematology/Oncology.

“We really have valued our relationship with Connecticut Children’s and the work you are doing,” John Lyman III, an eighthgeneration member of the Lyman family, told patient families, hospital staff and other guests in attendance at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “When the request came in this year for the lounge, we said, ‘Phenomenal—that’s great!’”

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Partners in Caring

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Foundation

AYA LOUNGES

From Outdated to Updated The Teen Lounge, which was built with the rest of the Cancer Center in 2012, had become outdated. With input from the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Advisory Council as well as patients from the Sickle Cell Program, the 5th-floor lounge now boasts a fresh new look and a cozy feel, complete with a chalkboard wall, a new Apple TV, two computers, an X-Box, PlayStation 4, and a cabinet filled with card games, board games, puzzles, movies and arts and crafts.

“Adolescents and young adults are a unique population who, historically, have not done as well with cancer therapies as younger or older populations, and we’ve really strived to develop a program that will do better for those patients in treating their cancers,” Dr. Isakoff said. “It is critical for patients to have a space where they can engage with other adolescents and young adults, and to not feel like they have toddlers always running around them. It’s a balance for those patients, and to provide that kind of space is really unique.”

Deeply Rooted and Strongly Committed The Lyman family has been farming the land in Middlefield since 1741—when George Washington was 9 years old, Mr. Lyman noted. “We now have nine and 10 generations coming along, so we are very much committed to stay a family business and continually farm the land, using it in productive ways.”

And that includes supporting the work of Connecticut Children’s.

Since 2007, Lyman Orchards has raised more than $120,000 to benefit Connecticut Children’s Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders. This year’s Sunflower Maze is tentatively planned for August.

To support research and other programs benefiting AYA cancer patients, please visit give.connecticutchildrens.org/partners, or call the Foundation at 860.837.5700.

A peek inside the newly upgraded AYA Lounge in the Cancer Center.

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Foundation

Partners in Caring

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Our Partners

2020 Connecticut Champion Named Natalie is a delightful 7-year-old who enjoys therapeutic horseback riding, coloring and painting. She also loves school and hopes to be a teacher someday.

An inspiration to others, Natalie—a patient at Connecticut Children’s—has been named the 2020 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) Champion for Connecticut Children’s.

Natalie’s care journey at Connecticut Children’s began at birth. Born with two holes in her heart, she went on to face a host of other medical conditions, including a tethered spinal cord, gastrointestinal and urological dysfunctions, and more. At age 5, she was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder known as KBG Syndrome, which affects several body systems and helped explain her range of symptoms.

Thanks to the support of our dedicated CMNH corporate partners and programs, Connecticut Children’s is able to provide Natalie and all of our pediatric patients with the care they need to achieve their dreams.

Meet Natalie, the 2020 Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) Champion for Connecticut Children’s.

To read Natalie’s inspiring story, visit the Foundation website at connecticutchildrensfoundation.org/champion-natalie.

Annual Costco Campaign Planned for September 2020 Costco locations in Enfield, New Britain, Waterbury, Brookfield, East Lyme and Milford are gearing up to host their annual fundraising campaign to benefit Connecticut Children’s, a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.

During the campaign, cashiers will sell paper “Miracle Balloons” at the registers for a $1 donation; medium-sized balloons will be available for donations ranging from $5 to $10 and above, and large balloons can be purchased for a $100 donation. The “Miracle Balloon” sales account for almost two-thirds of the money raised during the month-long campaign. In addition, Costco will sell 4-foot jumbo balloons to local businesses for $500.

Last year, Costco raised nearly $220,000 for Connecticut Children’s and has donated more than $2 million to the children’s hospital since 1995. Costco is one of Connecticut Children’s largest fundraising partners. This year’s campaign will take place September 1-30.

Walmart & Sam’s Club Prepare for Summer Campaign At Walmart & Sam’s Club, a “round-up” campaign will get underway June 22 at numerous locations throughout the state. Customers will be invited to “round up” their purchase at the checkout counter through July 19 to benefit Connecticut Children’s.

Guilford, Hamden, Hartford, New Haven, Torrington, Naugatuck, Southington, New Milford, Waterbury, West Haven and Milford will all be fundraising for Connecticut Children’s.

Last year, the Walmart and Sam’s Club campaign raised more than $230,000 to benefit Connecticut Children’s.

The Sam’s Club in Newington and Walmart locations in Manchester, Putnam, North Windham, Norwich, Groton, East Windsor, Waterford, Lisbon, Old Saybrook, Brooklyn, Branford, Cromwell, Wallingford, Bristol, Avon, Rocky Hill, Newington,

To keep abreast of all of our CMNH partner campaigns, please visit connecticutchildrensfoundation.org/shoptogive.

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Partners in Caring

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Foundation

Our Partners

UConn Students Celebrate “Big Win” at HuskyTHON University of Connecticut students celebrated another “big win” this year as HuskyTHON raised a record-breaking $1.5 million for Connecticut Children’s.

The breathtaking total was announced at the conclusion of an 18-hour dance marathon held February 22-23 on the Storrs campus, the culmination of the students’ yearlong fundraising efforts. The marathon is one of hundreds held across the country each year under the auspices of the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, of which Connecticut Children’s is a member.

More than 3,000 UConn students participated in the annual event, which hosted 41 “Miracle Families” from Connecticut Children’s.

Among those dancing the night away with the UConn students was 7-year-old Audrey Pavlok (pictured here). To read Audrey’s story, please visit the Foundation website at connecticutchildrensfoundation.org/huskython-2020.

To view HuskyTHON’s “Big Reveal” video, click here.

QTHON Goes Virtual A global pandemic did not stop Quinnipiac University (QU) students from raising money for a cause they care about. After eight successful years and raising more than $1 million, the QU students were not going to let COVID-19 ruin their 9th Annual QTHON Dance Marathon benefiting Connecticut Children’s, their local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital.

Using the popular Zoom platform as well as other social media outlets like Instagram Live and Facebook, more than 1,200 QU students came together on April 9th to continue the fight for children’s health. After a year of planning, fundraising and 12 hours of virtual dance, the QTHON community raised an amazing $206,697.59 for Connecticut Children’s.

To read the full story, visit connecticutchildrensfoundation.org/qthon-2020.

To view QTHON’s virtual dance marathon “Reveal,” click here.

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Foundation

QTHON’s management team revealed the final total for the virtual event at the end of the evening on April 9th.

Partners in Caring

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Gifts from the Heart

Lemonade Stand Spells Sweet Success for Young Fundraisers What started out as a whim to sell lemonade in their neighborhood has grown into a successful annual fundraiser for the Greatest Need Children’s Fund at Connecticut Children’s.

When 4-year-old Jenna and 2-year-old James Laufer wanted to set up a lemonade stand in 2011, their mom, Jill Gelfenbien, was game, with one condition: They had to use their profits to benefit others. Over seven summers—with the support of their Wethersfield, Connecticut, community and the Create Your Own Fundraiser program offered by Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Foundation—the pair have raised over $22,000 to help patients receive the treatment they need to heal and get back to the business of being kids.

To read the full story, visit connecticutchildrensfoundation.org/jjlemonade-2019.

To learn how to turn a whim into sweet success for Connecticut Children’s, go to connecticutchildrensfoundation.org/host.

Foundations Support Playroom Renovation It was a joy-filled day February 12, when the Starlight Children’s Foundation, in partnership with the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation, dedicated a renovated playroom at Connecticut Children’s.

The new Starlight Site—a $49,500 renovation project at Connecticut Children’s— was created with young patients in mind, including those connected to IV poles and monitoring equipment, or seated in wheelchairs and strollers. Starlight Sites strive to brighten the lives of all kids battling illness by transforming hospital environments into bright, fun, kid-friendly spaces.

The renovated playroom, located on the 6th floor of the hospital, features updated technology and is a place where Child Life staff will offer creative play, art activities, game nights and performances for patients. Patients will also be able to visit with family and friends in a relaxed, non-medical space.

“We’re honored to partner with the Starlight Children’s Foundation and Connecticut Children’s to provide pediatric patients with a playroom, which provides an environment that is vibrant, fun and reminds them about the joy that being a child can bring,” said Kari McHugh, Executive Director, Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation.

If you would like to make a difference in a child’s life, please visit give.connecticutchildrens.org/partners.

Partners in Caring

A 7th-floor inpatient playroom at Connecticut Children’s received a head-to-toe makeover over the past winter, supported, in part, by the Bright Horizon Foundation for Children. The Bright Horizon Foundation supports the creation of Bright Spaces—warm, safe, enriching places for children in difficult circumstances.

The updated playroom serves patients of all ages, from infants through early teens, and features an infant area with pull-up bar, dramatic play area, Wii stations, and portable kits for patients who are under isolation and unable to visit the playroom.

Funds for the project were raised by Bright Horizons at Orange, a daycare in Orange, Connecticut. Center Director Morgan Stein led the fundraising project in memory of her nephew, who passed away as a young child.

Child Life assistant Alexandra Emmanuel and a patient work on a craft in the renovated playroom on the 6th floor of the hospital.

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Playroom Receives “Bright” Makeover

The ESPN Kids Center, a Bright Horizons daycare, and other Bright Horizons leadership were also involved in identifying toys and furniture for the renovated playroom at Connecticut Children’s.

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Foundation

Spotlight on Connecticut Children’s

An Oasis for

Pediatric Outpatient Dialysis Patients When Connecticut Children’s broke ground on its new pediatric outpatient dialysis center last August, not one shovel of dirt was overturned. But what emerged from the sawdust on the fourth floor of the medical center is an amazing state-of-the-art facility that provides a soothing, serene oasis for pediatric patients who need life-saving dialysis treatments.

On March 30, the Robert R. Rosenheim Foundation Dialysis Center at Connecticut Children’s officially opened as the first outpatient dialysis center of its kind in the state. Built with philanthropic support from generous donors and designed with the unique needs of children in mind, it was named for the late Robert R. Rosenheim whose Foundation provided a $1.5 million gift toward its completion.

“For too long, children have undergone dialysis in this state alongside adults without a place of their own,” said Cynthia Silva, MD, Division Head of Nephrology. “For years to come, families will feel Mr. Rosenheim’s spirit through the compassionate care their children receive in this space.”

A Center for Kids

Construction of the new Robert R. Rosenheim Foundation Dialysis Center at Connecticut Children’s was completed in March 2020.

Incorporating neutral tones, textures, images of native grasses and a bird motif, as well as variable colored lighting that helps to calm patients as they prepare for dialysis, the Center is equipped with private treatment rooms large enough for a family and an isolation treatment room for patients who require it; it also includes a space where parents can learn how to administer at-home dialysis. Most importantly, it is a facility where pediatric patients who require dialysis to live are treated by medical professionals who are experts in the unique needs of children.

A Fulfillment of Wishes “Although Bob had no specific requests, his intentions were quite clear: His wish was that his money be used for the benefit and well-being of children and animals,” said Michael J. Samartino, CPA, a trustee of the Foundation. “The Robert R. Rosenheim Foundation Dialysis Center will fulfill Bob’s wishes by benefiting many children today and, hopefully, for years to come.”

To see more photos, or to add your support to the Dialysis Center, please visit connecticutchildrensfoundation.org/ dialysis-center-2020.

Shyanne Franklin, 19, a patient of Dr. Silva, remembers what it was like to undergo dialysis without the benefit of a pediatric center.

“At 2 years old, I had both kidneys removed and had to go on dialysis,” said Shyanne, who was diagnosed with a kidney disease called nephrotic syndrome at 8 months of age. “We tried to do peritoneal dialysis at home, but due to many infections, it failed to work and I had to be admitted to Connecticut Children’s, where I received dialysis. I lived in the hospital from age 2 until I received my kidney transplant at 6 years old.”

While some patients, like Shyanne, undergo dialysis as an inpatient, others who have received it on an outpatient basis have had to travel back and forth to adult centers throughout the region. With the new Center at Connecticut Children’s, that will change.

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Foundation

As patients follow the floor’s curved path from the waiting room to the exam and treatment areas, they encounter birds in flight and an enchanting interactive light wall that changes with the seasons.

Partners in Caring

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Our Kids & Causes

Concorso Ferrari & Friends Celebrates 20th Year

It will be a cause for celebration this fall as Concorso Ferrari & Friends rolls into town, celebrating all makes and models of luxury Italian automobiles—and a major milestone anniversary.

The year 2020 marks 20 years of Concorso Ferrari & Friends, a signature automobile event in Southern New England, which attracts thousands of car enthusiasts and spectators from near and far. Traditionally held in June, this year’s event will take place on Saturday, September 26, in West Hartford from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Please note new event location, just across the street at the Town Hall Parking Lot—50 South Main Street, West Hartford.)

Attendees will once again enjoy a spectacular view of vintage, exotic and modern makes and models of Italian cars—from Alfa Romeos to the supercars of Ferrari, Pagani and Maserati. Car owners and spectators can also visit the many unique shops

and restaurants in West Hartford, and listen to music and driver interviews featured throughout the day.

The event is free and open to the public and benefits Connecticut Children’s.

Over the past 19 years, Concorso Ferrari & Friends has raised more than $1.3 million in support of patient care at Connecticut Children’s. Proceeds from the 20th Anniversary event will provide funding for the Greatest Need Children’s Fund at Connecticut Children’s.

For more information and event updates, please visit: give.connecticutchildrens.org/concorso.

Also, be sure to follow us on Instagram: @concorsoferrari, and on Facebook: Concorso Ferrari & Friends.

“Fore the Kids” with Geno Geno Auriemma’s Fore the Kids Charity Golf Tournament will tee up for action on Monday, August 3, at the Hartford Golf Club. The 18th annual event will begin with the traditional golf tournament at 11 a.m. In light of evolving social distancing measures, the Tournament Committee is currently exploring all possibilities for the post-tournament program.

For golfing enthusiasts and fans of Coach Auriemma, August 3rd will provide the ultimate golfing experience. Over the past 17 years, the Geno Auriemma Fore the Kids Charity Golf tournament has raised more than $2 million to benefit patient care at Connecticut Children’s. Proceeds from this year’s events will benefit the Greatest Needs Children’s Fund at Connecticut Children’s.

For the latest information, please visit give.connecticutchildrens.org/geno.

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Partners in Caring

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center Foundation

Our Kids & Causes Save the Date for Connecticut Children’s 2020 Gala Although we are living in a historic and uncertain time, what hasn’t wavered is Connecticut Children’s dedication to providing outstanding pediatric care to children from across the region and around the world.

That dedication will be celebrated this year at Connecticut Children’s 2020 Gala.

We invite you to join us—in a safe and sound manner—on Saturday, November 14, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., to toast a century of pediatric healthcare advancements and Connecticut Children’s COVID-19 healthcare heroes.

For more information about this year’s event, visit give.connecticutchildrens.org/gala or email bpelczar@connecticutchildrens.org.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Many of our events continue to be rescheduled due to COVID-19. Please visit connecticutchildrensfoundation.org/calendar for any changes to the following schedule: Mon., June 1 Dairy Queen Icon Fundraiser Participating Dairy Queen locations across Connecticut

Sat., Aug. 22 CLUBWAKA Sand Volleyball Charity Classic Revolutions Volleyball Courts South Windsor, CT

Sat., Sept. 12 5K Run for Nancy’s Kids MDC Reservoir West Hartford, CT

Mon., June 22 – Sun., July 19 Walmart & Sam’s Club Campaign Various CT locations

Sat., Aug. 22 Mel’s Run St. Joseph’s Polish Society Bristol, CT

Sun., Sept. 20 Miles for Miracles 5K Mortenson Riverfront Park Hartford, CT

Fri., Aug. 28 The Hartford Personal Lines Golf Blue Fox Run Avon, CT

Sat., Sept. 26 Concorso Ferrari & Friends Town Hall Parking Lot West Hartford, CT

Tues., Sept.1 – Wed., Sept. 30 Costco Campaign Various CT locations

Thurs., Oct. 1 Allied Printing Services Foundation Golf Tunxis Plantation Farmington, CT

Fri., July 10 I.B.E.W. Golf Tournament Poquonock Golf Club Bristol, CT Thurs., July 23 Dairy Queen Miracle Treat Day Various CT locations Wed., July 1 – Fri., July 31 Ace Hardware Round-Up Campaign Various CT locations Mon., Aug. 3 Geno Auriemma’s “Fore the Kids” Charity Golf Tournament Hartford Golf Club West Hartford, CT Fri., Aug. 21 Ben Nascimbeni Jr. Memorial Golf Outing Simsbury Farms Golf Course Simsbury, CT

Thurs., Sept. 3 Jacob Osit Memorial Golf Fore the Kids Blackledge Country Club Hebron, CT Wed., Sept. 9 Connecticut Department of Transportation Golf Tournament Tunxis Country Club Farmington, CT Sat., Sept. 12 Aces for Kids Golf Outing Blue Fox Run Golf Course Avon, CT

Sat., Oct. 10 Eversource Hartford Marathon Bushnell Park Hartford, CT Sun., Oct. 18 Reid’s Run 5K Trail Run/Walk Winding Trails Farmington, CT

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