Inspire
Trauma Care at Wilcox
MESSAGE
FROM SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT DAWN M. DUNBAR
Aloha from the Foundations of Hawai‘i Pacific Health,
I’m so honored to be greeting all of you as the new leader of our philanthropy department at Hawai‘i Pacific Health. While this is a new beginning for me in this role, I am very familiar with the work of our medical centers and it only inspires me more. Not-for-profit work has become my life’s passion. I am personally moved by how we can all change things for the better by doing whatever we can for others.
Growing up in Hawai‘i, my sense of Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, Pali Momi Medical Center, Straub Medical Center and Wilcox Medical Center has been based on a personal experience or a story from a friend or loved one who faced a medical challenge. Now that I am a part of the team that helps to fund these critical programs and services of these medical centers, I have an even greater appreciation for the awardwinning care that exists in our backyard.
Our team is not clinically based, we are stewards of the work done by the many doctors, nurses, residents and staff who deal one-on-one with patients and families. We have the honor of learning the intricacies of medicine and then relating as any family member would—we connect via our emotions. It’s easy to cry when a donor does because we’ve saved their life or someone very close to them. We have also been asked to help design meaningful ways to remember someone who has passed away, and have come up with ideas for families celebrating a birth or survivorship.
Many times, we are on a parallel track to a medical journey that has no end but is driven by an endearing spirit and a wish to help others in similar situations. This is work that is hard to explain, difficult to measure and rewarding beyond words. I am thrilled and inspired for this next chapter.
As you read this edition of Inspire magazine, I hope there’s something you can relate to that makes you proud of what we do as well. It brings me sincere joy to be at Hawai‘i Pacific Health and to join this outstanding team on this new journey.
Warmest aloha, Dawn M. Dunbar Senior Vice President, Philanthropy
your gift, your impact
Straub
Medical Center
Neoprobe Gamma Detection System
Thanks to your gifts, Straub Medical Center will purchase a Neoprobe Gamma Detection System to more accurately map lymph nodes in breast cancer and melanoma patients. This new system replaces a 16-year-old machine in Straub Oncology. The state-of-the-art technology will help identify lymph nodes most likely to have cancer cells for removal and biopsy.
Kapi‘olani
Medical Center for Women & Children
Portable X-ray Machine
Donations made at Hawai‘i Walmarts, Sam’s Clubs and for the Kidz For A Cause campaign went toward purchasing a portable x-ray machine for pediatric patients. The convenient imaging machine is smaller and more mobile, so young patients can receive care right in their rooms.
Pali Momi Medical Center
Pupillometer System
Thanks to community contributions, Pali Momi was able to purchase two Pupillometer Systems for the intensive care unit. The device accurately and reliably measures an individual’s pupil size and reactions. This data can indicate neurological problems and is especially useful in the care of unconscious patients.
Wilcox Medical Center
Crash Cart and Defibrillators
Donations for Wilcox Medical Center resulted in a new crash cart and two defibrillators for trauma cases. Crash carts can be rolled quickly to patients in immediate need of lifesaving medication and equipment. Defibrillators deliver an electric current to restart the heart. These are critical resources for the operating room and emergency department.
Events
Ko Olina Children’s Festival
The Ko Olina Resort Association continues to be a strong supporter of Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children. The fourth annual Ko Olina Children’s Festival raised $55,000, with 100 percent of ticket sales going to Kapi‘olani. More than 2,000 people came out for this year’s festival which included a giant sand sculpture, activities promoting beach safety, music performances and Disney movies including Beauty and the Beast as the feature film on the beach. The Ko Olina Resort Association has now donated more than $200,000 through
this event to Kapi‘olani to help care for the children of Hawai‘i.
Colonel Harland Sanders Foundation
Members of the Colonel Harland Sanders Foundation traveled from Canada to attend
a special blessing ceremony for Kapi‘olani’s Rehabilitation Department, which is named in the foundation’s honor. An additional $100,000 donation was made to the Women's Medical Surgical Unit. The foundation reflects the values of Colonel Sanders and his wife, Claudia, who believed that with success came an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.
Kiewit
Kiewit knows construction and acts of kindness! Every month, a crew that best embodies the safety-first culture of Kiewit receives an award and has the opportunity to name a notfor-profit which will receive a company donation. Kiewit gave a gift to Straub Medical Center. A safety mindset is part of the fabric of Kiewit, an employee-owned company.
Kaua‘i Community Federal Credit Union
After 18 years, the Kaua‘i Community Federal Credit Union golf tournament has become a signature event on the island. This year’s tournament raised
$36,000 for Wilcox Medical Center’s Pediatrics Services and will help fund equipment and programs specifically for maternity, labor and delivery, and infant care. Some of the money will also support Wilcox’s Simulation Lab.
Tanioka’s Check Presentation
Special thanks to Tanioka’s Charity Foundation for committing to be one of the first major donors to the new Hawai‘i Pacific Health Cancer Center at Pali Momi Medical Center. This state-of-the-art facility will provide comprehensive treatment and support services in Central and West O‘ahu. Mahalo to the Tanioka ‘ohana for leading the way in the community as a strong supporter of cancer care. Phase one of the center opened in October.
Colonel Harland Sanders Foundation
Ko Olina Children’s Festival
Tanioka’s Charity Foundation
Kiewit
healthier is making
a $1,000,000
difference in our community
Hawai‘i Pacific Health employees just completed the most successful Employee Giving Campaign in the company’s history by donating over $1,000,000 to the following community programs:
u Kapi‘olani Medical Center’s Animal Assisted Therapy Program
u Patient emergency assistance funds at Straub Medical Center and Pali Momi Medical Center
u The new Chaplain Services Program at Wilcox Medical Center
u Children’s Miracle Network, Aloha United Way and Kaua‘i United Way
We would like to extend a heartfelt mahalo to all of our employees, not only for the lifesaving work that many of you provide every day, but also for the caring spirit and genuine love of our community you have demonstrated through your generosity. Hawai‘i is a healthier place because of you.
Mahalo
a million times
At Hawai‘i Pacific Health, we believe charitable giving starts with us. This year’s Employee Giving Campaign is a wonderful example. Our employees raised a record $1,057,128 through personal gifts and pledges.
“It is truly inspiring to see the generosity that is demonstrated by our own employees,” said Hawai‘i Pacific Health President and CEO Ray Vara. “They have embraced our mission of creating a healthier Hawai‘i and are making a difference for our patients, their families and the communities we serve.”
The theme for this year’s campaign was “Our Voyaging in Giving,” which celebrated the recent voyage of the Hokule‘a. Employees were invited to make a gift in support of the philanthropic programs that directly benefit patients and families. This year the funding supported Animal Assisted Therapy, Patient Emergency Funds and the Chaplaincy
Program. The record total surpassed the campaign’s $1 million goal, and was raised over a one-month period by more than 4,100 staff members.
“It’s so heartwarming to see how employees engaged in the campaign, from making their donation to volunteering to be team leaders as well as running campus fundraisers,” said Director of Annual Giving Amanda Price. “Whether it was karaoke contests or plate lunch and bake sales, every campus found ways to make the campaign visible and fun.”
In total, 48 onsite events raised $77,000. This was Hawai‘i Pacific Health’s 16th Employee Giving Campaign.
The Kapi‘olani SPD team presenting the proceeds from their delicious SPD Delights sale.
The Straub Clinic Float Pool Team created unique items and savory treats for their “Snacks & Crafts” sale
Pali Momi Cupcake Wars—Teams competed by designing and selling cupcakes.
from a Trauma WALKING AWAY
Wynand and Mary Clare Egberts always dreamed of coming to the islands.
“We had a two-week trip planned, but the second week took an unexpected turn,” said Wynand.
Their Hawai‘i adventure included stays on Maui and the Big Island, right before they reached Kaua‘i. On their second day, Wynand and his son, Adam, decided to try skydiving. Wynand jumped tandem, but in the air, something went wrong.
“We had a sudden crash landing,” Wynand said. “We fell two to three stories from the sky.”
The 61-year-old took the brunt of the fall. He broke both of his ankles, damaged his spine and was rushed to the hospital in terrible pain. Wynand’s wife, Mary Clare, was on her way to the pool with Adam’s wife, Amy. The phone rang. Looking at Amy’s face, she knew something was wrong.
“Your heart sinks because you knew it was a possibility, but you didn’t think it was going to happen,” Mary Clare said.
She went immediately to Wilcox Medical Center’s Emergency Room. There, she reviewed her husband’s x-rays and met with the trauma team. Mary Clare is the president and CEO of a four-hospital system in Canada. But in that moment,
Wynand and Mary Clare Egberts
she was simply a worried wife watching her husband go into surgery. The staff at Wilcox was there for her.
“I started to cry and whoever walked me out to the waiting room, sat me down and said, ‘He’s going to be fine,’” she said. “’I know this is going to be tough on you, but we’ll keep you informed.’”
The family was also impressed with the orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Daniel Judd had just begun his shift that day and decided to take the lead on Wynand’s operation. It was fortunate timing for the active family. Dr. Judd is an ankle and foot specialist and worked for nearly seven hours to ensure his patient would regain as much mobility as possible.
“It is a privilege to work with so many skilled providers, when complicated cases like his come in,” Dr. Judd said. “It is very reassuring to know that there is a strong team backing you up, everyone striving to provide the highest level of care possible.”
The operation went well. Recovery was going to take some time. Dr. Judd came by every day to check on Wynand, taking the time to change his patient’s bandages and to remind him that this was a life-altering event.
Wynand left Kaua‘i in a wheelchair and had to stay off his feet completely for three months. But back in Canada he felt even more confident in what was done at Wilcox.
“My orthopedic surgeon is blown away with what he saw in x-rays and what my healing incisions look like,” said
Wynand. “Even the physical therapist can’t believe the range of motion that I have in those joints, and they attribute a lot of that to the skill of Dr. Judd.”
Mary Clare echoes the accolades, both from a professional and a personal perspective.
“I’m impressed that there is that type of trauma care on a small island like Kaua‘i. It’s unbelievable,” said Mary Clare. “The caring and compassion was simply incredible. I hope to inspire my
staff to function at that level because of the difference it can make in both the family’s and the patient’s experience.”
While he still faces challenges, Wynand is moving forward. He is now walking, driving, cycling daily and has even hit the golf course twice. He still has to elevate and ice his ankles three times a day to reduce swelling. Wynand will likely never run again, but that isn’t keeping him from his next big goal—getting back on skis with his family. And another trip to the islands may also be in the Egberts future.
“For the first month or so, we couldn’t talk about going back to Hawai‘i,” Wynand said. “Now I can actually say I want to return to Kaua‘i and walk into Wilcox. My goal is to come back and shake Dr. Judd’s hand, standing!”
Excellence in Emergencies: Wilcox Trauma Center
AS THE LARGEST NOT-FORPROFIT HOSPITAL ON KAUA‘I, Wilcox Medical Center recently earned recognition for its excellence in emergency care. The emergency department is the first in Hawai‘i to earn verification by the American College of Surgeons (ACS) as a Level III Trauma Center. The verification recognizes a center’s dedication to providing optimal care for patients in several categories, including prompt assessment, intensive care, surgery, resuscitation and stabilization of injured patients.
The ACS verification process is distinguished by the rigor and breadth of its requirements. A team of ACS trauma experts visits hospitals for an on-site review. The experts who examined the 20-bed department meticulously reviewed everything from readiness and resources to commitment and patient care.
Dr. Daniel Judd
A New Pace in Life
Running is more than a pastime for Kenton Eldridge, it’s a way of life.
“I think running is one of the best sources for maintaining good health,” Kenton said.
He would know. The 74-year-old has completed 19 marathons in 27 years. At the peak of his training, he was running 75 hours every week.
In 2015, Kenton and his friends decided to do the Big Sur International Marathon in California. He started conditioning for the long-distance challenge immediately.
By February 2016, three months prior to the marathon, Kenton and his running partner had increased their weekly mileage to 55 miles, including lots of hills. Then, while jogging on a treadmill one morning, he stepped off and lost his footing.
“I felt really funny,” Kenton said. “It was something that never occurred to me before. The dizziness and the feeling that I was going to pass out continued, so I said ‘Call the ambulance.’”
Something was definitely not right. On the way to Straub Medical Center, Kenton’s training heart rate went from 132 beats a minute to 232 beats.
“When I arrived at Straub’s Emergency Department I knew my condition was extremely serious,” he said. “They told me that my heart rate was at 265.”
Kenton was experiencing ventricular tachycardia. The rapid heart rhythm is a precursor to ventricular fibrillation, a condition where the heart’s rhythm is so rapid that it stops pumping blood. This can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
Fortunately, Kenton’s condition was stabilized and he avoided a cardiac arrest. But, after examination, doctors decided
to install a defibrillator. He recovered, and five weeks later, the active grandfather was hitting the slopes, skiing with his two grandkids.
“We usually see ventricular tachycardia occurring in people with other heart conditions, so it was a bit unusual that it happened in someone as fit as Kenton,” said Dr. Jeremy Lum, Kenton’s cardiac electrophysiologist. “Thankfully he got medical attention immediately and made a terrific recovery, in part due to his excellent health.“
“I have such confidence in the doctors at Straub,” Kenton said. “I don’t hesitate to go and to recommend it to other people.”
He believes the frightening condition was a result of the way he used to train. In rare cases electrolyte imbalances can contribute to the development of ventricular tachycardia. Drinking water was never a priority for Kenton during those intense running sessions.
“I really pushed it,” he said. “A lesson to be learned is that if you run you have to drink… and get the right amount of electrolytes.”
Lesson learned. Kenton now makes sure to drink at least 13 glasses of water every day of his very active life. The senior bikes, plays tennis and is now considering registering for marathon number 20. He has added confidence in the fact that his defibrillator has tracked a normal heart rate the past 18 months. Kenton’s greater focus on his health and the care he can count on from Straub should help him go the distance.
“I have such confidence in the doctors at Straub. I don’t hesitate to go and to recommend it to other people.”
KENTON
Pictured above: Kenton’s most prized medal came from his 36.5 mile trek from Kihei to the top of Haleakala¯ for the Run to the Sun.
ELDRIDGE
“Breast cancer care is very important but if you don’t give patients reconstruction options, you’re not finishing what you started,” Dr. Helen Hui-Chou said. As a highly skilled, board certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon at Pali Momi Medical Center and the daughter of a breast cancer survivor, Dr. Hui-Chou is extremely passionate about breast reconstruction.
Dr. Hui-Chou’s sentiments echo the message of the national Breast Reconstruction Awareness campaign and its October BRA Day celebrations, which also promote a breast cancer ribbon image with its loop closed. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons is working to make reconstruction an essential part of the treatment process for breast cancer patients so they are aware of all of the options through their journey to recovery and survivorship. It is crucial for a medical center to provide those connections between plastic surgeons and general surgeons by having a multi-disciplinary team work together to provide comprehensive care for each patient. Dr. Hui-Chou collaborates with various surgical oncologists at Hawai‘i Pacific Health to determine the best treatment plan for each individual patient.
However, many patients often don’t know that health insurance covers breast reconstruction for both breasts, even if only one is diagnosed with cancer. There’s also no time limit. Patients can undergo breast reconstruction when they feel ready, whether that’s months or years later.
The big part of this new insight for women is sometimes overcoming the perception of plastic surgery. Gone are the days of procedures being about surgically enhancing yourself, it’s more about a healing process in different areas.
“The majority of plastic surgeons are rebuilding something that has become abnormal,” Dr. Hui-Chou said. “Whether it’s a dog bite, car accident or cancer, it’s just trying to help patients rebuild their lives.”
Luana Scanlan-Himalaya feels as if her life was dramatically improved by breast reconstruction.
“It made me whole again,” Luana said. “I feel like a new woman.”
A cancer diagnosis in 2013 caught Luana by surprise after a regular mammogram discovered a mass in her right breast.
“It was hard to hear,” Luana said. “I’m like ‘No, you must have someone else’s test results. It can’t be me.’”
From that point, the Kapolei mother of four went through test after test, a biopsy and several operations. Besides her breast, doctors found cancer in her lymph nodes under her arm. Luana chose to get a lumpectomy and undergo intense chemotherapy and radiation.
After her treatment, Luana was cleared of cancer and in remission. Shortly after that, her right breast started to get engorged, red and hot on a regular basis. She worried that the cancer was back, but tests showed no cancer. The painful symptoms continued for two years along with fevers and flu symptoms.
Luana went to visit Dr. Hui-Chou at a time when her right breast was hurting again. Dr. Hui-Chou explained that the symptoms she experienced were similar to others with side effects from radiation treatment.
After reviewing her breast reconstruction options, Luana chose DIEP flap surgery. This is a reconstructive procedure in which blood vessels, called deep inferior epigastric perforators (DIEP), as well as the skin and fat connected to them, are harvested from the lower abdomen and
Luana Scanlan-Himalaya
transferred to the chest to reconstruct a breast after a mastectomy. This procedure also does not sacrifice any of the abdominal muscles. It’s like having a tummy tuck and breast reconstruction at the same time.
In Luana’s case, her tissue was very damaged from radiation therapy so she chose to have a mastectomy, followed by a DIEP flap procedure to rebuild her breast shape.
“The thought of using your own tissue to heal the broken parts of your body is amazing,” Luana said. “Since I’ve had the DIEP flap, I’ve experienced no pain. It’s such a relief, mentally and physically. I’m not worrying anymore.”
Dr. Hui-Chou performed the surgeries for Luana’s breast reconstruction. Dr. Hui-Chou came to Pali Momi specifically to provide the DIEP flap procedure in the islands.
“I had met surgeons in Texas and California who would say ‘The Hawai‘i health
systems send us surgeries for DIEP flap because no one in Hawai‘i is doing it,’” Dr. Hui-Chou said. “I thought to myself, it’s not fair that patients who want this have to fly away from home and their family for such a big surgery elsewhere.” So she moved to Hawai‘i for a chance to deliver the specialized surgery.
While introducing a new advancement in care for local patients was a feat in itself, Dr. Hui-Chou found herself equally as proud of the yearlong process required to make the service available.
“Setting it up in a place that never had it, leading a staff who had never done it or seen it, training nurses who never monitored it, and taken care of it— the challenge of that was more of the accomplishment,” she said.
A vital part of delivering this type of reconstructive procedure is having the best medical tools and resources to ensure surgical success. Donors who gave in support of the Pali Momi Women’s Center would help by funding
a Spy Elite, one of the most advanced fluorescence imaging systems.
The Spy Elite enables surgeons to visualize microvascular blood flow and the delivery of blood in tissues during surgery.
“If I didn’t have this, I wouldn’t do the surgery,” Dr. Hui-Chou said.
She uses the Spy Elite to visualize how the dye moves through the blood vessel into the flap. When the flap lights up, it confirms that the tissues are viable with good blood flow. This is impactful if you consider Dr. Hui-Chou is dealing with blood vessels that are so small that the sutures used to put them together are finer than a human hair.
“A lot of hospitals can’t afford the most advanced or innovative care,” she said. “If you don’t have donors, you wouldn’t be able to offer patients some of the things that come with top of the line care.”
Luana certainly feels like she received the best possible outcome.
“Coming out of this, I feel much stronger, like my future is endless,” Luana said.
The sense of satisfaction is mutual for Dr. Hui-Chou.
“For me it’s kind of an ingenious technique to take something we don’t normally want and make something they really want and need to have back,” she said. “I think that’s why it’s such a good option for some women and I want to be able to do it.”
Helen Hui-Chou, MD, FACS looking through the operating microscope that is also used during the DIEP flap breast reconstruction surgery.
Community Challenge Gift on Kaua‘i
For centuries, couples have marked their years of marriage with specific gifts. After 15 years, tradition dictates a crystal present, the 25th has earned you silver and 50 years together calls for gold. Instead of buying a diamond for their 60th anniversary Ken and Betsy Greenbaum are choosing to donate $60,000 to Wilcox Medical Center.
“We have used the hospital on several occasions and found it to be a wonderful institution,” Ken said. “We also believe the community has been good to us, so in any way we can return that kindness to the community, we’d like to do that.”
The Greenbaums hope their contribution will inspire more giving. They are asking their friends and neighbors to give to Wilcox as well.
“It takes a caring community to make sure the hospital succeeds,” Ken said.
The goal is to support cancer care at Wilcox as well as fund a blood irradiator, a piece of equipment critical for trauma and cancer patients’ recovery. Irradiated blood is treated with radiation to eliminate white blood cells in the donated blood. This is necessary to avoid a rare but serious complication called transfusion-associated graft-versus-hostdisease or TA-GVHD, this is when white blood cells in the donor’s blood attack the recipient’s system. TA-GVHD can cause illness or death.
“It currently takes 24 to 48 hours to get irradiated blood to Wilcox and it has a very short shelf life,” said Jen Chahanovich, chief executive officer at Wilcox. “Bringing this lifesaving technology to Kaua‘i will allow our patients to be with their families during these difficult diagnoses.”
The cause is personal for Ken. He lost his brother to cancer and is passionate about making sure the best possible medical care is available to those who need it when they need it. He and his wife built a retail furniture business, Greenbaum Home Furnishings, on strong family values. Now four children, 13 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren later they are celebrating, as they call it, “60 years of togetherness” by giving back.
“Kaua‘i captured our hearts,” said Ken. “As we age, we are all concerned with our health. It’s nice to have a place where you can go and you know you will be taken care of like Wilcox.”
Make a donation
If you would like to be a part of this community challenge gift, you may use the envelope provided in this publication. Please note “challenge gift” next to the box listed for Wilcox Health Foundation.
Pictured above: Greenbaum Family, from left to right; children Cindy, Jon and Steve with parents Ken and Betsy.
Sho Ishida is a busy young man. The 17-year-old volunteers at a local hospital, plays piano for his temple and works part-time at an attorney’s office. But even when the ‘Iolani student’s schedule is packed, he makes time to walk to Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children once a month with a very special delivery— a donation from him and his mom, Junghyun.
It’s an inspired gift from an inspiring person. When he was 7, Sho’s father suddenly died from a heart attack. Four years later, he and his mother were living near Fukushima when one of Japan’s largest earthquake left them homeless. The then 13-year-old had just spent a summer studying in Hawai‘i and decided to move here. As a native Japanese and Korean speaker, it was a big adjustment, one that was made easier by how he was accepted at school.
“Everyone at ‘Iolani School was supportive, so I am not having great difficulties in Hawai‘i,” Sho said. “It took a while to get used to the weather and having no winter.”
Soon he was thriving, and it was then that he remembered something his mother told him when he was a third grader in Japan.
INSPIRING SPIRIT
Sho Ishida
“My mom said, ‘You’re going to live your life by helping people.’ I took that to heart,” Sho said. “I was saving my money because there was nothing I wanted to buy. Then it dawned on me. It would be more purposeful to donate it.”
Sho thought of his dad’s unexpected death and his mother’s frail health and decided to give part of his small paycheck to Kapi‘olani and his mother matched it. “I know it’s not much, but I want to give in any capacity I can,” Sho said.
His small gifts have added up. Sho and his mother have now donated thousands
of dollars. Soon, the high school senior plans to give even more to help those in need. He plans to become a physician and work in pediatrics.
“Doctors can play a key role in bringing happiness and hope to a family in need of treatment,” he said. “I wish to aid many patients who cannot afford treatment.”
You can be sure Sho will do just that with the same courage, tenacity and generous spirit he has shown his entire life. And through it all, he’ll continue to inspire others with his journey.
Signature Touch Kapi‘olani’s Auditorium Seats
THE CARING EMPLOYEES of Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children leave their marks on the medical center and its patients every day. Recently, they were given an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy. Staff members were invited to name a chair in Kapi‘olani’s new Nan Inc. Auditorium. On April 18, Kapi‘olani unveiled more than 150 plaques, funded by personal contributions to the 2016 Employee Giving Campaign. Each was engraved with a special sentiment to recognize a child born at Kapi‘olani, honor a family or to celebrate an employee’s years of service at the medical center. These chairs will stand as a tribute to our dedicated employees for years to come.
“My husband and I donated a chair as a thank you to Kapi‘olani. I see the difference we make every day, and I feel lucky to work in a facility and with a staff as great as Kapi‘olani’s.”
SUZIE SO-MIYAHIRA, DIRECTOR OF IMAGING AND WOMEN’S CENTERS
“My donation for the chair is to honor my son Sgt. Drew Scobie who we lost to the war in Afghanistan in 2014. Drew was very proud of me working here at Kapi‘olani. Hopefully, in the future one of my grandchildren may work here and they will always have his chair as a memorial.”
KAREN TAO, CLINICAL SERVICE LINE MANAGER
“I am so proud to work at Kapi‘olani and being a mother of three young children, this is the only place that they have and will receive treatment. I felt that having our name somewhere would make my kids feel special and part of the Diamond Head Tower project.”
KARIN SHINKAWA, RN, CLINICAL SUPERVISOR
“I chose to donate a chair in hopes that it can give children and their families many good days and inspire others to do the same.”
KAUILA NOAH-CASISON, RN, M.S.N., DIRECTOR OF RESOURCE SERVICES
MiracleMOMENTS
CREDIT UNIONS 5 IN 5 CAMPAIGN
Many thanks to Hawai‘i’s Credit Unions! In late 2013, Hawai‘i’s Credit Unions created a statewide initiative named “5 in 5” to raise $500,000 in five years for Kapi‘olani Children’s Miracle Network. Not only did the employees exceed the goal, they are celebrating sooner than expected. In June 2017, Hawai‘i’s 61 credit unions presented Kapi‘olani with a check for $536,444. The money was raised in less than four years through a variety of events including golf and bowling tournaments, bake sales and craft fairs. In honor of the achievement, the rehabilitation reception area in Kapi‘olani’s Diamond Head Tower was named “Hawai‘i’s Credit Unions for Kids.” We are very grateful for the support of our credit unions!
DON QUIJOTE
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I ALOHATHON
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa students raised $12,540 at their second annual AlohaThon benefiting Kapi‘olani’s Children’s Miracle Network, almost doubling their 2016 total. AlohaThon participants danced for 12 hours and created fundraising teams to challenge others to raise money.
The most memorable challenge came from the event’s public relations director, Promise Sarmiento. Promise promised to donate her hair to cancer patients if AlohaThon reached its $12,000 goal. When the students revealed the final numbers, Promise snipped off her hair and explained, "I want to not only be a role model for the keiki, but for anyone who wants to do something to help! A simple gesture of donating your hair means more than you will ever know.”
Phi Mu fraternity started the event in 2016 and it continues to grow. The student-led team is already counting down the days to AlohaThon 2018 and hoping for another record-breaking year.
Mahalo to our newest local partner, Don Quijote! In July, Don Quijote stores launched the company’s inaugural CMN program with the Miracle Balloon Campaign. Customers were asked to donate, then write their names on colorful paper balloons. Don Quijote turned those tags into creative displays that impressed shoppers from Honolulu to Pearl City to Waipahu. The three locations of Don Quijote raised more than $11,400 for Kapi‘olani’s Radiothon for Kids. The money will support medical services that might not otherwise be possible.
COSTCO WHOLESALE
During the month of May, Costco Wholesale Warehouses held its Miracle Balloon Icon Campaign. The familiar balloon icon reminded Costco members at all seven locations to donate. They did in record-breaking numbers. Hawai‘i Costcos raised more than $474,000, a 46 percent increase from last year! In the past, funds have supported lifesaving equipment, such as Cardiohelp units, which take over the work of a child’s lungs and sometimes heart. This year, donations will go towards the new Kapi‘olani Emergency Department where an imaging room will be named in honor of Costco.
RADIOTHON 2017
Mahalo to our sponsors, our partner KSSK (iHeart Radio) and our community for another successful Radiothon for Kids! The benefit for Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children broadcast live from the center’s dining room for 30 hours on August 10 and 11, telling patients’ and caregivers’ miracle stories. Through these generous donations and the amazing efforts of KSSK, we were able to exceed the 2017 goal by raising $227,345 for Hawai‘i’s only Children’s Miracle Network hospital.
Patient Impact
Incredible moments happen at every Radiothon. One of this year’s best surprises was when Grace Church, a pediatric patient, was sharing her story with Michael W. Perry and Karen Keawehawai‘i. Grace talked about video games,
a way she distracted herself from her challenges while she was hospitalized. She said if she could donate anything to the playroom, it would be another game cart. KSSK surprised Grace live on air with her dream game cart, made possible by Children’s Miracle Network donations.
Community Partners
“Winnie’s
sole job is to provide unspoken support and comfort to Kapi‘olani’s patients. She is overflowing with love and is always eager to share it.”
DR. WENDI HIRSCH, KAPI‘OLANI CHILD PSYCHOLOGIST AND WINNIE’S HANDLER
Radiothon has become a trademark event that brings the community together, connecting patients, families, volunteers and donors for a shared cause—the health of our keiki. We were honored to not only have D. Suehiro Electric, HMSA and AlohaCare as returning sponsors, but also to welcome new community partners including Don Quijote and Holokai Catamaran, which brought fresh energy to the event.
iHeart Radio Partnership
Since 2006, Kapi‘olani, Children’s Miracle Network and KSSK have partnered to help fulfill Kapi‘olani’s mission of creating a healthier Hawai‘i. The lively spirit that surrounds the benefit is partly thanks to the personalities that present it.
Michael W. Perry, Karen Keawehawai‘i, Sweetie Pacarro, Scotty B. and Curt Williams are Radiothon veterans who bring unmatched energy to the event year after year. We are so honored to have their sincere support.
Winnie’s Radio Debut
A Paw-sitively Paw-some moment was when Winnie made her Radiothon debut and introduced a new group of listeners to the Animal Assisted Therapy Program at Kapi‘olani. Winnie is Kapi‘olani’s new Chief Canine Officer and carries on the legacy of Tucker, a golden retriever who gave patients comfort and joy for almost a decade.
Grace Church (on right)
MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS
Invaluable Partnership: Burn Care
The only burn center in Hawai‘i is located at Straub Medical Center, and it is an invaluable statewide resource. Straub is called to work with the Honolulu Fire Department on burn emergencies. Firefighters respond in the field and our medical team responds at the bedside, working together to help a person recover.
The Honolulu Firefighters Foundation (HFF) has taken that support a step further by funding the needs of Straub’s Burn Center. In 2014, a $75,000 grant from HFF allowed Straub to create a state-of-the-art hydrotherapy system wet room, which transforms the traditional tub treatment to a specialized shower. The showers are more comfortable for patients and are easier to sterilize, greatly reducing the risk of infection. In fact, no hydrotherapy patients have contracted infections since the new system was installed.
HFF has released another $75,000 grant to develop the program even more. Straub will use this money over the next three years to expand burn life-support classes for first responders and emergency personnel who transfer patients to the Burn Center. The grant will also help purchase specialized burn-care mattresses which redistribute patients’ weight to relieve pressure on the skin, alleviating pain. Lastly, Straub plans to incorporate “recovery in art” by painting the rooms in comforting colors and adding images of nature. These artistic touches have shown to reduce pain, decrease anxiety and accelerate the healing process.
“In the past 34 years we have treated well over 1,000 critically burned patients with the success rate equal to mainland burn care centers.”
DR. ROBERT SHULTZ, BURN CENTER
DIRECTOR
The Honolulu Firefighters Foundation presented a $75,000 check to Straub’s Burn Center.
Cuddle Cot:
Precious moments for a grieving family
When Harper Posey Bennetts was born on June 13, 2015, she lived 15 hours before passing away in the arms of her parents, Lauren and Matt.
“I was 37 weeks pregnant when I was admitted to the hospital,” Lauren said. “We knew something wasn't right with our daughter, but we had no idea that we would leave the hospital without her.
“When her umbilical cord was cut she did not breathe. CPR was performed on her for 17 minutes before she was brought back.”
Those moments without oxygen left Harper brain dead. Lauren and Matt made the painful decision to take her off life support.
Moments after dying, the human body starts to deteriorate. In the case of infants, it means parents have very little time to say goodbye. Cuddle Cots have a cooling device that preserves a baby in a bassinet or crib, adding precious moments for a grieving family.
On what would have been Harper’s first birthday, Matt and Lauren asked family and friends to help fund a Cuddle Cot for Kapi‘olani Medical Center for
VOLUNTEER ENDEAVOR: A LASTING LEGACY
“My parents embraced volunteerism and treasured their time and friends at Pali Momi, especially those at Guest Registration.” JOANNE ABE
Pali Momi Medical Center celebrated its history by remembering a couple who dedicated 20 years to serving the hospital. Robert and Janet Abe were among 12 original volunteers when the hospital opened its doors in 1989.
“When Pali Momi first opened, my father was assigned to do the guided tours,” daughter Joanne Abe said. “He later worked in Guest Registration to help patients check-in. My mother
would open the Pali Momi Gift Shop where she volunteered. Every Friday was boldly marked on their calendar as ‘volunteer day.’ Fridays were sacred days to my parents.”
Women & Children. In 2017, Lauren and her son, Rhys, came to the medical center to present it to the staff. The Cuddle Cot allows parents to spend up to five days in a hospital room with their child.
“We will continue to raise money and donate these in Harper’s honor,” Lauren said. “We want families to be given an option of having more time with their baby.”
The Abe ‘ohana made a gift that honors their parents’ spirit and belief in giving back to the community. The Robert and Janet Abe endowment will support volunteer services and the cancer center at Pali Momi. The Volunteer Services Fund helps our community volunteers do amazing work by providing wheelchairs, book carts and crafts to support the healing process.
“A friend reminded me, ‘You celebrate a person's life by remembering he or she is still with you.’
“I celebrate my parents’ life every day,” Joanne said.
From left to right: Terrill Johnson, Lauren Bennetts, Rhys Bennetts, Ethan Tanner and Amanda Tanner.
Above: Joanne Abe with current and retired volunteers of Pali Momi Medical Center, including some who worked with her parents.
A racing atmosphere made for an exhilarating experience at the Grand Prix Soirée, a benefit for Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children.
As the only pediatric specialty hospital in the Pacific, Kapi‘olani continues to keep pace with patient needs because of generous supporters. The Grand Prix Soirée was a festive way to celebrate how donations accelerate our efforts to care for keiki.
Proceeds from the soirée will help fund the new emergency department that will open in the Diamond Head Tower in December. The expanded space will have larger patient treatment rooms that will enhance the workflow and allow family members to stay close to loved ones. The new emergency department will also feature new trauma rooms, triage rooms, state-of-the-art equipment, as well as new and separate pediatric and adult waiting areas.
Our sincere mahalo to all of the donors and table sponsors, including presenting sponsor Saks Fifth Avenue, for making Kapi‘olani‘s Grand Prix Soirée such a success. Special thanks to co-chairs, or “lead drivers,” BJ Kobayashi and Stephanie Gambetta for planning and creating an event to remember! The contributions of the Soirée Committee were invaluable–going above and beyond the “pit crew” duties. Soirée Committee members were Sean and Kimberly Hehir, Peter and Michelle Ho, Kathy Inouye, Patrick Kobayashi, Alana Kobayashi Pakkala, Dustin Sellers, Martha Smith, Kelly Sueda, Ray Vara and Linda Woo. The checkered flag effect came to life thanks to Brad Nicolai and his team who transformed the Velocity showroom into a racing venue. We are honored to have community leaders who are truly committed to helping our medical center create a healthier Hawai‘i for our children and future generations.
Top photo: Brad Nicolai, Soirée co-chair Stephanie Gambetta and Shelley Crammer
Bottom photo: Kapi‘olani Health Foundation Former Board Member Alana Kobayashi Pakkala and friends
Velocity was the ideal venue for the Kapi‘olani’s Grand Prix Soiree. Guests took in all the fast-paced fun by getting behind the wheel for video race car games, enjoying Italian cuisine and dancing the night away to the live music of Play!
KAPI OLAN I ‘ GR PRIX SOIRÉE
9SEPT2017
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