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What’s Inside
GET TO KNOW RILEY’S NEWEST AMBASSADORS
Elliot Preddie Indianapolis
Three Cheers for Riley! pages 1-9:
Meet the 2022 Riley Champions. Pages 10-13 Special Section: Annual Report See how your gifts made an impact on kids
Pages 14-15 Riley News and Highlights Asthma research awards, Maternity Tower opening and more
BRYSON FAUS FORT WAYNE, INDIANA
Page 16 A Legacy of Giving How the Wood family is helping build a better future for sick kids
We welcome your story suggestions. Please email ideas to g OMozzi@Rileykids.org
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2022 RILEY CHAMPIONS
DREW BARNES E V A N S V I L L E ,
I N D I A N A
Drew Barnes enjoys being silly sometimes.
He also loves to build things, whether with Magna-Tiles or paper towel rolls and tape. Drew was referred to Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health with congenital heart disease a day after his birth in December 2013 to Evansville residents Ben and Deidre Barnes. His heart operation at just 4 days old was the first of six surgeries. “Through it all, Drew is still the funny, thoughtful, and energetic kid he’s always been,” says Riley Pediatric Cardiologist Mark Ayers, M.D., who implanted a pacemaker just before Drew turned 5. “He has such a positive spirit, even in the face of adversity.” Drew’s device transmits data to Riley’s Pacemaker Clinic quarterly, supplementing his twice-yearly checkups. But Drew’s parents say people, more than technology, make Riley a special place. Drew’s care team also includes Riley Cardiothoracic Surgeon Mark Rodefeld, M.D., and Riley Pediatric Cardiologist Ryan Alexy, M.D. Everyone at Riley who comes into contact with Drew “all care about him like he’s their own, and they care about us as a family just as much,” Deidre says. “Riley gives us years with these kids that we love.” Drew is a second-grader at Resurrection Catholic School, which teaches philanthropy by giving each first-grader $5 to support an organization or activity. Drew’s big brother and sister gave their money to Riley, and Drew followed suit last year. The family has made notecards and prayer stones for donors to raise additional funds. “He and his entire family really embody the spirit of Riley Champions,” says Dr. Ayers, who nominated Drew for the Champions program. Deidre admires her son’s bravery, even when he feels anxious. “There are a few things he can’t do, but to him it probably feels like a lot,” she says. “I want him to feel as normal as possible and know that he can do whatever he wants to do.” “It’s great that they saved my life,” Drew says of Riley. “It’s a great hospital and I’m so glad they picked me to be a Champion. Am I going to be famous?” To his friends at Riley, he already is.
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2022 RILEY CHAMPIONS
BRENNA BLOSSER P LY M O U T H ,
Brenna Blosser from Plymouth, Indiana, was a healthy 13-month-old when her life took a sudden turn.
After fighting a cold she became inconsolable and began vomiting. Her left leg also turned ice cold. Doctors at a South Bend hospital determined her best chance for survival was a urgent helicopter flight to Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health. Brenna’s heart was barely functioning and dangerous clots filled her arteries. Doctors would not discover the cause until later: an unknown virus had attacked Brenna’s heart, causing myocarditis. Riley Pediatric Critical Care Physician Mara Nitu, M.D., took
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I N D I A N A
the lead on Brenna’s case, ultimately advocating for Riley Pediatric Interventional Radiologist Francis Marshalleck, M.D., to perform a procedure that had never before been done on a child of her size, breaking up a large blood clot in her femoral artery. “Trying the impossible is always something you need to consider in medicine,” Dr. Nitu shares. “That was the one chance we had to give her.” Riley Pediatric Cardiologist Mark Hoyer, M.D., led Brenna’s cardiology care. Slowly she progressed from waiting on the heart transplant list to regaining normal heart function. “I joked with her mother that Brenna was getting her heart back for Valentine’s Day,” Dr. Nitu recalls. Brenna’s biggest remaining challenge was atrophy in her lower left leg. Despite a series of surgeries, her growth and mobility were limited. “I decided this was not a lifestyle that provided me fully with what my potential was. It was going to slow me down, so I decided to get it removed,” says Brenna. “I was 11. It’s a lot for a child.” “Being a teenager is a challenging time for anybody,” says her father, Brad Blosser. “To have the additional challenge of the prosthetic concerned me. But she has done nothing but shine.” Today, Brenna’s family remains grateful for Riley Hospital and particularly appreciative of Dr. Nitu. “She’s a go-getter,” says Brenna’s mother, Mindi. “She finds solutions.” Those same words describe Brenna, who aspires to be a trauma surgeon. Now 17, the straight-A student at Plymouth High School manages the football team and is an avid Riley Dance Marathon participant. As Brenna says, “I don’t let anything slow me down.” For other kids dealing with medical challenges, she offers this advice: “Keep it in your mind that there’s always hope. This is just one thing in your life, and you have to make the best out of it.”
Everything they did made me who I am. I would thank them a million times if I could.” - Brenna Blosser
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2022 RILEY CHAMPIONS
ALLIE BOWMAN B L O O M I N G T O N ,
I N D I A N A
“
It would be nearly impossible for Allie to enjoy everyday life without help from Riley.” - Jill Bowman Allie’s Mom
One of Allie Bowman’s teachers says it best when describing the 15-year-old Riley Champion: “Allie’s spirit and wisdom are beyond her years.” Allie has made it her life’s mission to spread awareness and understanding of Tourette Syndrome. Allie’s parents noticed the first signs at age 8. Allie’s mother, Jill Bowman is a nurse. She was aware of a history of Tourette Syndrome in the family. When Jill noticed sudden twitches, known as tics, they were referred to Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health. The family would manage the tic disorder with treatment from both inpatient and outpatient clinics at Riley over the years. There was also pain, and Jill says that was her biggest concern at the time. “I was desperate,” says Jill. “I would do anything to make her stop hurting. We got a team at Riley to work together. It was like magic. So, for me, it saved my kid’s life.” That team includes Riley Pediatric Neurologist Aline Hamati, M.D., and Riley Clinical Psychologist Ann Lagges, Ph.D. Jill says it would
be nearly impossible for Allie to enjoy everyday life without help from Riley. Allie sees her role as a Riley Champion as an opportunity to give back to the program that helped her in dealing with Tourette Syndrome. She has shared her experience with classmates and advocated at the state level for the Tourette Association of America. In March of 2019, she traveled to Washington, D.C., for training as a youth ambassador to spread awareness and understanding of the disorder. She has found a strong voice in poetry, writing extraordinary poems about life with Tourette to help people understand. Allie’s favorite activities include writing, drawing, and reading books daily. “I lose myself in books,” she says. “They are just a whole new world for me to look into.” She is also in the drama and art club at the Academy of Science and Entrepreneurship in Bloomington. In becoming a Riley Champion, Allie says she is excited and looking forward to connecting with others who have invisible disabilities or Tourette Syndrome.
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2022 RILEY CHAMPIONS
SAMANTHA & MILES BROWN W E S T F I E L D ,
I N D I A N A
On a sun-drenched late summer afternoon, 8-year-old Samantha Brown and her 4-year-old brother Miles play in their backyard. It is a vision that
provides great comfort and relief for parents Jeff Brown and Melissa January. Two years ago, each child was diagnosed with cancer just months apart. “It was devastating,” says Jeff, describing the stark difference between then and now. “There were so many unknowns at the time we found out.” These days, Samantha devotes her free time to gymnastics, tumbling, cheerleading, and Girl Scouts. Miles is working on his baseball swing for tee-ball and learning to play golf. Both enjoy playing with Scout, the family’s golden retriever puppy. But on August 23, 2019, when Samantha was 6 years old, normal childhood pursuits were interrupted. What started as a low-grade fever and fatigue led to an appointment with Samantha’s doctor. That’s when physicians discovered a mass lodged under her ribcage. Samantha’s father says an MRI revealed a rare form of kidney cancer, called Wilms tumor. “There was a 2 1/2-pound tumor on her left kidney,” says Jeff. “That is where we began our first journey with Riley.” Surgeons had to remove Samantha’s kidney, and as she underwent lengthy chemotherapy treatment at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, the family was dealt a second blow. In December of 2019, Miles was 2 years old when he went in for a checkup. Doctors would diagnose Burkitt’s leukemia, an aggressive cancer that left multiple tumors on Miles’ kidneys and liver. “It was a second gut punch,” says Jeff. Riley Pediatric Oncologist Michael Ferguson, M.D., led both children’s care. Miles spent 54 straight days at Riley Hospital and underwent six months of chemotherapy. Samantha’s treatment also included 20 rounds of chemotherapy. Today, both Samantha and Miles are in remission. In July 2021, the Brown family held a bell-ringing ceremony to mark both Samantha and Miles as cancer-free. They ordered a custom-made bell for the occasion. “Riley is a big part of our family,” says Jeff. “We’re big supporters of Riley and think everyone else should be too. You never know when you’re going to need them and they’re there for you, and everyone’s there to support you.”
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2022 RILEY CHAMPIONS
SAVANA CALERO M O R O C C O ,
I N D I A N A
at Riley. “I learned so much from her,” Maggie says. She still treasures a storybook Savana made for her, including a page that reads, “My favorite part about the hospital is going to surgery because Maggie comes with me and we dance and sing together.” Now 14, Savana still loves listening to music and dancing. Maggie says the spirit that helped Savana in her tough medical journey still shines in her: “She radiates joy and positivity and hope and resilience.” As a complication of her anti-rejection medicines following the second transplant, Savana has been treated for four bouts of PTLD, a type of cancer. Currently in remission from PTLD and stable from her transplant, Savana returns to Riley as needed for ongoing care. “They’re right on point,” Mary says of her Riley care providers. The Calero family shares their story to raise awareness of organ donation for one simple reason, she adds: “If it wasn’t for organ transplant, I wouldn’t have Savana here.” Mary’s dream for her daughter is that Savana is “healthy and happy and able to do things that she wants to do.” For now, the eighth-grader at Rensselaer Central Middle School is just excited to be a Riley Champion.
Savana Calero weighed just under 2 pounds when she was born more than three months early. Her prematurity caused intestinal damage that led to
her first surgery at 4 months old — the first of six she would undergo before her second birthday. As gastrointestinal disease threatened Savana’s life, Mary Calero traveled with the youngest of her four children from their home in Morocco, Indiana, to Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health for treatment. In May 2012 Riley Pediatric Transplant Surgeon Richard Mangus, M.D., gave Savana a new small bowel. After Savana’s release from Riley, she and her mother were in a serious car accident, and the trauma caused Savana’s body to reject the transplant. In a second procedure in July 2013, Dr. Mangus performed a multi-organ transplant that involved her small intestine, stomach, liver and pancreas. Savana was 5 years old. During her difficult recovery, she formed a special friendship with Child Life Specialist Maggie Huffman, who was then new
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2022 RILEY CHAMPIONS
CARLIE EVANS A N D E R S O N ,
I N D I A N A
Born on March 27, 2019, Carlie Evans weighed 1 pound, 4 ounces. Not only was she battling all of the
challenges of a micro-preemie, Carlie was diagnosed with a critical heart defect. Physicians at the hospital where she was born struggled to help her grow big enough for surgery. They told her father, Delmon Evans, there was nothing else they could do. He called Carlie’s mom, Carrie Hyatt. “That was an awful conversation,” he said. Carrie and Delmon were offered palliative care to let their now 3-month-old daughter die peacefully. Carrie didn’t want to give up on her daughter. With the help of social media she grabbed the attention of Riley Pediatric Cardiologist Anne Farrell, M.D. In the span of a few days, baby Carlie arrived at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health with a strategy in place to save her life. Carlie didn’t know it, but she was now in a hospital recently ranked #5 for pediatric cardiology and surgery by U.S. News and World Report. Riley Pediatric Heart Surgeon Mark Turrentine, M.D., was confident in his ability to help Carlie, whose heart was only about the size of a strawberry. Dr. Turrentine is adept at a less invasive technique to access the heart from a baby’s side, and on July 1, 2019, Carlie underwent surgery to repair a narrowed aorta. “Dr. Turrentine was so calm,” said Carrie. “I thought, ‘Buddy, you better show me all this confidence!’” Surgery was a success, and today Carlie’s energy and joy belie the shaky way she came into the world. Her prognosis is so good she sees Dr. Farrell just once a year. That prognosis speaks to how far Riley has come thanks to donor support. When Dr. Farrell came to Riley in 1999, the hospital likely would not have attempted the surgery Carlie needed on such a small baby. “That confidence has come with improved technology and years of expertise,” said Dr. Farrell. “Being able to give hope to a family that thought they were going to lose their child – that’s what it’s all about.”
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Being able to give hope to a family that thought they were going to lose their child – that’s what it’s all about.”
- Anne Farrell, M.D.
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2022 RILEY CHAMPIONS
BRYSON FAUS F O R T
W A Y N E ,
I N D I A N A
“
I want to help other kids like me just in case they are afraid.” - Bryson Faus
On March 5, 2013, Caitlin and Brian Faus welcomed their first child, a son named Bryson. It was the best day of their lives.
But in less than 24 hours, joy turned to panic when doctors told the Fauses that Bryson had a life-threatening congenital heart defect. A LifeLine flight to Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health was Bryson’s best chance at survival — if he survived the journey from Fort Wayne to Indianapolis. “We were told to take pictures because they weren’t sure he would make it to Riley. That was the hardest thing I’d ever heard,” Caitlin said. Bryson did make it to Riley. Even now, he likes to defy the odds stacked against him. “One time a friend told me, ‘You can’t shoot a basket ’cause you’re too small!’ Well, I proved him wrong,” Bryson said with a smile. Soon after landing at Riley, Bryson was stabilized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and his parents and grandparents were able to see him. “When we walked through that door we could breathe a sigh of relief and know he is in the best hands possible,” Caitlin said. Further testing showed that Bryson had a combination of
heart defects that were extremely rare. The chances of one of them alone, an interrupted aortic arch, is one in a million. Bryson underwent his first open heart surgery at 7 days old. To date, he has had 13 surgeries on his heart and kidneys. Today, Bryson is an active 8-year-old who loves singing and dancing, baseball, robots, and Legos. He returns to Riley for regular visits with Riley Pediatric Cardiologist Mark Hoyer, M.D., and Riley Pediatric Urologist Richard Rink, M.D. The Fauses are amazed by the genuine care of Riley’s staff. “They walk in the room and it’s as if they instantly know Bryson and us,” Caitlin said. Bryson participates in Riley Dance Marathons and loves raising awareness. “I want to help other kids like me just in case they are afraid,” he said. Bryson will need several more heart surgeries throughout his life. But for the Faus family, coming back to Riley feels like coming home. Caitlin says that walking through the hospital’s doors still brings the same wave of relief as their first visit. “We’re at Riley. We’re good.”
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2022 RILEY CHAMPIONS
ELLIOT PREDDIE I N D I A N A P O L I S ,
I N D I A N A
“
Riley will always be the place that saved my son’s life in more ways than one.”
Elliot Preddie now pursues sports he once dreamed of playing. The 13-year-old recently registered
for flag football and is looking to pick up soccer. He loves swimming and is an accomplished Taekwondo athlete. In 2019, a stem cell transplant to treat sickle cell disease helped open the door to more activities for Elliot. “Riley will always be the place that saved my son’s life in more ways than one,” says Elliot’s mother, Tremesha. “We are a Riley family for life.” Elliot was just six months old when he made his first visit to Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health to treat symptoms of sickle cell disease. Pain crises are a major symptom of the disorder, as sickle-shaped red blood cells block blood flow through tiny blood vessels in the body. The pain kept Elliot from physical activities as simple as playing in the
- Tremesha Preddie Elliot’s mother
backyard sprinkler or building a snowman. Elliot’s father, Terrence, remembers how Riley had a way of making his son comfortable during treatment. “It was their attention to the kids. We felt more comfortable at Riley, and he would bounce back from his crises a lot faster.” Elliot’s care team is led by Riley Pediatric Hematologist Seethal Jacob, M.D. His disease progressed to the point where he needed monthly blood transfusions. Elliot would also undergo surgery for Moyamoya, a rare progressive cerebrovascular disorder caused by blocked arteries at the base of the brain. The procedure significantly reduces risk of stroke. Ultimately, Elliot underwent a stem cell transplant, as doctors discovered he had an adult cousin who could serve as a donor. Elliot was in the hospital for 37 days. Eventually, tests showed his bone marrow grew back 100 percent free of sickle cell. Now the family looks forward to Elliot sharing his story. They are hopeful that Elliot can make many others aware of the disease and cures. Elliot’s 5-year-old brother Carter also has sickle cell, and the family is hoping to see the same health outcome for him. “Sickle cell is a disease that is really hard on children,” says Terrence, “and they don’t understand and don’t know why. We can provide some hope to families who go through it.”
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SOPHIA STEBING A V O N ,
I N D I A N A
It’s the smile on 18-month-old Sophia Stebing’s face that quickly spreads to others nearby.
Her mother fondly remembers the first time she saw it. “It took maybe two or three months for her to start smiling,” says Jessica Stebing, who would exaggerate a smile to show Sophia how it’s done. “And then one morning she just woke up and gave me the biggest smile and now that’s how she always smiles. She will smile with her entire face.” Jessica and Chris Stebing were overjoyed to learn they were expecting their first child in July of 2019. A few months later, a routine ultrasound revealed they were having a little girl. But the ultrasound did not detect a nasal bone, which is an early indicator of Down syndrome. Additional testing found there was a 99 percent chance their daughter would be born with Down syndrome, so a team coordinated by Riley Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist Jennifer Weida, M.D., worked closely to carefully develop the safest birth plan given Sophia’s diagnoses. Sophia was born safely on St. Patrick’s Day “with a beautiful head of red hair,” says her mom. Since children with Down syndrome commonly have heart issues, doctors performed an echocardiogram that revealed several heart defects. At 5 months of age, Sophia underwent heart surgery at Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health. The surgery went well. “We were so grateful to take her home,” says Jessica. “Then for her to come through on the heart surgery so well. They think that will be the only heart surgery that she’ll ever need.” Jessica says before heart surgery, Sophia was struggling to put on weight, but today she is growing and thriving. In addition to regular checkups, Sophia has a full schedule of weekly physical therapy appointments to develop fine motor skills. “I hope she can be a positive role model and a positive face for people with Down syndrome,” says Jessica. “Sometimes Down syndrome is not presented in the best way, and people are afraid of what that can look like. My hope is that she can put a new spin on things and that people can see what a blessing it is to have a child with Down syndrome.”
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I hope she can be a positive role model and a positive face for people with Down syndrome.” - Jessica Stebing, Sophia’s mother Riley Children’s Foundation l RileyKids.org l 9
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Your passion is helping Riley lead the way in pediatric healthcare in Indiana and beyond. Here is your impact on kids by the numbers.
Carter Preddie Indianapolis
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2020/ 2021
ANNUAL REPORT
Kennedy Strayer, Whiteland, Indiana
SOURCE OF
CONTRIBUTIONS $0M
$5M
Community Giving
$10M
$15M
$20M
(Includes gifts from dance marathons, schools, community fundraising events, service organizations, and individual gifts of less than $10,000)
$15,565,428
Corporations $5,788,086
Major Gifts $3,960,141
Foundations $3,264,542
Planned Giving $4,600,555
TOTAL:
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2020/20 21
ANNUAL REPORT A leader in surgical excellence: Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health was named Indiana’s only Level 1 Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons.
Small hearts, big impact:
Ranked among the top five pediatric heart programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, Riley has some of the lowest mortality rates in the nation for complex heart procedures.
Stronger starts:
The Riley Maternity Tower is home to Indiana’s only obstetrics intensive care unit and emergency department, and the state’s largest NICU — providing the highest level of care to moms and babies.
Search for cures:
The Riley-affiliated pediatrics research program, an enduring collaboration with Indiana University School of Medicine, is ranked sixth in the nation for NIH Research funding, totaling more than $32 million in 2020.
Cancer care:
Riley continues to offer new research-based cancer treatments not available anywhere else in the state and is the only CureWorks member in the Midwest – a collaboration between five children’s hospitals to increase access to cutting edge cancer therapies.
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TOTAL GRANTS
AWARDED
$0M
$10M
$5M
$15M
$20M
Pediatric Research and Education $15,437,507
Clinical Programs $6,838,823
Maternity & Newborn Health $3,951,862
Family Support Programs $8,600,724
Camp Riley $249,887 Museum Home $243,979 Other $554,796
TOTAL:
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RILEY NEWS AND HIGHLIGHTS
Riley Researchers Awarded $12M to Pursue Personalized Therapies for Severe Asthma A group of researchers led by Benjamin Gaston, M.D., has been awarded a 5-year research program project grant (P01) from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute totaling just over $12 million. The award will fund the development of personalized therapeutic approaches for severe asthma. According to Dr. Gaston, who is the Billie Lou Wood Professor of Pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine, about 10 percent of all people with an asthma diagnosis have severe asthma. Patients with severe asthma require more intensive treatment for their symptoms, and many have life-threatening asthma exacerbations. The research team’s vision is to test a patient with severe asthma to determine which treatment will be most effective. Riley’s High Risk Asthma team sees about 250 patients per year.
OF NOTE g MIRACLE RIDE
Unable to host its annual event in 2020, the Miracle Ride Foundation returned to host the 27th annual Miracle Ride on August 24-25. This event has raised over $6.8 million for Riley Children’s Foundation. Mark your calendar to join them in Indianapolis on June 4-5, 2022.
g
g IU AND PURDUE DANCE
MARATHONS
Congratulations to Indiana University Dance Marathon for raising $3,090,215.23, and Purdue University Dance Marathon for raising $689,438.23 through this year’s events. After hosting virtual events in 2020, both schools held in-person dance marathons in 2021 in accordance with CDC guidelines.
g RILEY PARALYMPIAN
Congratulations to Riley Hospital patient and Middlebury, Indiana, native Sam Grewe who earned a gold medal in the high jump at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
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Calling All Artists! Do you know a Riley kid who loves to draw? We are looking for new masterpieces for our Riley Child Art program brought to you by Messer Construction Co. Visit https://bit.ly/rcfchildart to fill out our interest form.
Riley Maternity Tower Welcomes First Patients The Riley Hospital for Children Maternity Tower began welcoming patients on Sunday, November 7, 2021, transforming care for moms and babies in Indiana and beyond. The new facility centralizes all inpatient childbirth and newborn care offered at three downtown Indiana University Health hospitals. By combining the high-quality maternity care of IU Health with the highly skilled pediatric care of Riley, the Maternity Tower offers the best and safest maternity and newborn health services under one roof. Thanks to the exceptional generosity of our donors, Riley Children’s Foundation has proudly provided more than $25 million toward the lifesaving and life-changing care that will take place in the Riley Maternity Tower. These donations will help more moms safely welcome their babies into this world - moms like TaQuita Edwards, pictured above. TaQuita welcomed her baby, Ari Fowler, the first baby born in the Maternity Tower, just after 4p.m. on Nov. 7th. “It was a great experience from walking in the door to delivering,” TaQuita said. The five-story building houses a 45-bed Level 3 NICU. When added to the 60-bed Level 4 NICU in Simon Family Tower, makes it the largest NICU in Indiana and among the largest in the country. The Riley Maternity Tower also includes a Level IV Obstetrical Care Unit — allowing the highest level of care for both mother and baby. The Riley at IU Health Maternity Tower is the only facility in Indiana with all services located in the same building.
New Indiana Champion for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals! Riley patient Tate Hartzler from Russiaville has been named the 2022 Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Hospitals Champion for the state of Indiana. CMN Hospitals Champions serve as ambassadors for the importance of children’s healthcare in their local community. Congratulations, Tate!
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A LEGACY OF GIVING Helping build a better future for sick kids
Tom Wood’s legacy in central Indiana extends far beyond the auto dealerships bearing his name. By generously supporting pediatric research at
Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, the Tom and Julie Wood Family Foundation is making hope a reality for sick kids in Indiana and around the world. Before he died of lung cancer in 2010, Tom and his wife Julie talked about starting a family foundation as another way to contribute to their community. Julie, who was married to Tom for 51 years, is now carrying out their vision with their son Jeff and daughter-in-law April. “Tom’s whole philosophy was giving back to the community that made our family successful,” Julie said. “It’s a big mission on our part to give back; it’s a responsibility we all share.” Nearly a decade ago, the Wood family learned about the powerful collaboration between Riley Hospital for Children and the Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research. When Wells Center investigators make an important discovery, they partner with physicians at Riley to launch clinical trials — the next stage of research that allows new therapies to be offered to patients under careful guidelines to determine if they are safe and effective. This allows scientific breakthroughs to move from the laboratory to the patient care setting. But even the most promising studies cannot move forward without support. Since 2013, the Wood Family Foundation has partnered with Riley to propel medical discoveries through bridge funding initiatives. Bridge funding sustains research projects during lapses in grant funding that might otherwise shut down an investigation. “Through Riley we are able to fund this important research,” Julie said. “The people we’ve worked with are so enthusiastic about what they do and excited when they find success, and we’re able to share in that.”
“
Riley is doing cutting-edge research that is going to benefit people for decades to come.”
- April Wood
April, Julie, and Jeff Wood
Bridge funding also leverages results and ensures scientific momentum. Fueled by generous support from donors like the Wood family, the pediatric research program at Riley Hospital for Children continues to grow in impact and national prestige. In 2020, the program was ranked sixth in the nation in funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). “We’ve seen incredible results from all the doctors involved with the Wells Center,” April said. “We’ve seen so many of their grants and research be approved and go to the next level or be fully funded by the NIH. Riley is doing cutting-edge research that is going to benefit people for decades to come.” The Wood family encourages others to join them in supporting pediatric research at Riley, where talented doctors, nurses, researchers and staff are making progress to help children with life-altering and life-threatening conditions. The recently established Wood Family Bridge Fund for Emerging Therapies is another avenue to provide researchers with the support they need to seek cures. Funding for emerging therapies provides essential resources to launch new clinical trials and support ongoing trials. “The way the doctors are able to help some of the smaller diseases that get ignored and don’t get the big dollars, it’s impressive and very gratifying,” Jeff said. “It seems like we pick the right people to give to, and they are making the most of it and getting results.” Researchers funded through the Wood Family Foundation are finding new targets for treatment, discovering pathways to prevention and testing new therapeutics. And while the Wood family began their philanthropy with cancer research, their support has now expanded to serve many types of pediatric research. “It’s a blessing and a privilege,” Julie said. “We just hope we can save as many lives as possible.”
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FINAL WORD
Imagine All That’s Possible
Riley Messenger Winter 2021/2022 Dedicated to friends and partners of Riley Children’s Foundation Riley Children’s Foundation 30 S. Meridian St., Suite 200 Indianapolis, IN 46204-3509 RileyKids.org Email: Riley@RileyKids.org
J. Murray Clark
Chairman, Board of Governors
Elizabeth A. Elkas
President and Chief Executive Officer
Meghan Miller
Chief Operating Officer
Karen Spataro
Chief Communications Officer
Editor Olivia Mozzi Art Director David Birke Contributing Writers Nancy Alexander Laura Buckner Sarah Holsapple Bruce Kopp Trisha Lawless Sydney Miller Photography Allyson Corbat Paul D’Andrea Rachel Matthews
Just imagine… Imagine the anguish Jeff Brown and Melissa January felt when they learned that both their daughter and son had cancer. Imagine the weight Mary Calero carried as she watched her daughter endure multiple surgeries – including two organ transplants – only later to be diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Or the grief Carrie Hyatt and Delmon Evans felt when initially told by doctors elsewhere there was nothing left to do for their 3-month-old daughter except help her die peacefully. Each of these families overcame the unimaginable. Their children – among our 2022 Riley Champions and Junior Champions presented by Kroger – are not only surviving, but thriving. The common thread that runs through each of their stories is Riley Hospital for Children. And you, our donors. Thanks to your generosity, Riley had the right team of experts in place to treat Carlie Evans, Anderson, Indiana Samantha and Miles Brown’s cancer, and to support Savana Calero on a medical odyssey that began when she was born three months early, at just under 2 pounds. Because of your selfless support, the heart program that repaired little Carlie Evans’ strawberry-sized heart and helped her defy the odds is ranked 5th in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Because of you, unimaginable pain and fear transform into promise and hope every day at Riley. Our new Riley Champions are living proof. This holiday season, as you consider where to direct your giving, I ask you to pause for a moment to imagine the next mom and dad who will sit across from a doctor and learn their child has cancer. Or the parents who will discover that the baby they dreamed about has a hole in her heart. Or the family that is bracing itself for their child’s 13th surgery in a few short years. Then imagine how Riley can rewrite their futures with our help. With warm wishes for a joyous holiday season,
Elizabeth A. Elkas President and CEO Riley Children’s Foundation
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