A Place for Me

A Place for Me A story for every child at UnityPoint HealthSt. Luke’s Hospital

Table of Contents Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (319) 369-8160

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NICU (Lifeguard) Transport Team (319) 213-8817

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Ronald McDonald Family Room®

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(319) 369-5192

Pediatric Services (319) 861-6800

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Dr. Rhys B. Jones Dental Health Center (319) 369-7730

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Witwer Children’s Therapy

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Teaching Interventions to Empower and Strengthen Families (TIES)

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(319) 369-8001

(319) 558-4861

Concussion Management

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Inpatient Child/Adolescent Program (3 East)

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(319) 369-7331

(319) 369-7190

Child Protection Center (CPC) (319) 369-7908

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Children’s Specialty Services (319) 369-8535

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Every child has a story At UnityPoint Health - St. Luke’s Hospital, our goal is to write the happiest ending possible for each child whose life we touch.

St. Luke’s is the place where young patients get the special care they need, from a new life just entering the world…to an abused child…or a teen struggling with depression. We’re here for families, too, with unique services like Eastern Iowa’s only Ronald McDonald Family Room.

What do St. Luke’s programs really mean to the children we help? On the following pages we’ll let them tell you in their own words. The stories are true. Some names were changed due to the sensitive nature.

These are the stories that inspire us every day. But there are so many chapters yet to write. So many children who need our help—and yours.

St. Luke’s Foundation depends on the generosity of people like you to support St. Luke’s in giving children and families the health care we’d like our loved ones to receive. Your contribution can put a smile on a child’s face, help a premature baby draw her first breath or give a neglected child hope for the future.

Mary Klinger, President UnityPoint Health – St. Luke’s Foundation

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

BY THE NUMBERS

Brevyn’s Story I was born four weeks early. My mom and dad

363

say they weren’t worried. They’d already had

That’s how many babies and families St. Luke’s NICU cared for in 2015. It’s up 54% in just five years.

Plus they knew St. Luke’s could take care of

19.4 Average length of days stayed

1 St. Luke’s has the only AAP Level III NICU in the Cedar Rapids area

my big sister so they’d been through it before. me if there were problems. Boy, were there problems! I couldn’t breathe, I had a blood clot, bleeding in my head and I was really sick.

Good thing St. Luke’s NICU was there. It’s a

St. Luke’s Neo natal Transpor t Team is spec transport critic ially trained to ally ill or prem ature newborn s.

special place for babies like me who are born needing extra care. My doctors and nurses helped me get better. They took care of my mom and dad, too, and helped them stay strong. I went home after 20 days. Today I’m a little slower than some kids at certain things. But my mom says I’m “all boy” and doing great!

Imagine a newborn so tiny she could fit in her daddy’s hand. Every day, St. Luke’s AAP Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit takes care of the smallest of the small. In fact, St. Luke’s ranks among the best hospitals in the world in providing NICU care for low birth weight babies. Our family-centered NICU features private suites for each mom and baby, specially designed to help premature infants grow and develop. And the area’s most experienced team of specialists helps ensure neonatal babies never have to be transferred out of Cedar Rapids except on rare occasions. After baby goes home, follow-up care provides early intervention for developmental delays.

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Rainee’s Story AS TOLD BY HER GRANDMOTHER, SANDEE Rainee was born at Waverly Health Center, but she needed special care they couldn’t provide. We are so happy they transferred her to St. Luke’s NICU. Everyone with St. Luke’s was top of the line in every way. They took Rainee to St. Luke’s by helicopter. The nurse, respiratory therapist, and pilot were extremely professional and caring. And the NICU staff was excellent.

If it were not for all of you, we would not have our beautiful granddaughter alive and doing well today.

When critical care is needed, nothing replaces speed of care, expertise and experience.

Our AAP Level III NICU allows babies to be transferred to St. Luke’s from other area hospitals by our neonatal transport team, which can use a high-frequency portable

NICU (Lifeguard) Transport Team

BY THE NUMBERS

208 NICU or pediatric patients transported by Lifeguard ground or air ambulance in 2015

25 Average response time is just 25 minutes within a 40-mile radius of St. Luke’s Hospital

1 St. Luke’s was the first in the Midwest to provide air and ground transport with a high-frequency ventilator

ventilator aboard Lifeguard air ambulance.

When minutes matter, St. Luke’s Neonatal Transport Team is ready with advanced, onboard medical equipment and an experienced crew specially trained in transporting critically ill or premature newborns. St. Luke’s team is one of only a few transport teams in the U.S. equipped with a portable high-frequency ventilator that’s superior to conventional forms of ventilation at helping tiny babies breathe.

St. Luke’s Ronald McDonald Family Room

BY THE NUMBERS

1,059

Over 1,000 families used the Ronald McDonald Family Room in 2015

24/7 The Family Room is available around the clock for families of children admitted to St. Luke’s for treatment

1 It’s the only Ronald McDonald Family Room in the Cedar Rapids area

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Gabriel and Nora’s Story AS TOLD BY THEIR MOM, EMILY We knew we were going to have twins. We just didn’t know they’d come so early. I was about halfway through my pregnancy when I went into labor. We couldn’t have asked for a better team to care for the babies and I. Nora weighed only 19.1 ounces at birth and Gabriel was a teeny bit bigger. They spent the next 24 weeks (Nora) and 19 weeks (Gabe) in St. Luke’s NICU, and Matt and I were there every day. We’re so thankful for St. Luke’s Ronald McDonald Family Room! We could sleep and enjoy a home-cooked meal without having to leave Nora and Gabe. It was a joyous day when we finally took our babies home.

But we’re glad St. Luke’s and the Ronald McDonald Family Room were there for us.

A critically ill newborn lies in St. Luke’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. While skilled staff provide round-the-clock care, anxious parents watch over their baby, reluctant to go far. They know their child’s condition can change in an instant.

The Ronald McDonald Family Room serves as a home within the hospital for families with an infant, child or teen admitted to St. Luke’s.

Parents can eat, sleep, shower or simply recharge, while remaining steps away from their child’s bedside. And by keeping families close, the Family Room helps children cope and heal better, while reducing stress for their loved ones.

Pediatric Services

BY THE NUMBERS

10,000+

Over 10,000 children have been admitted to St. Luke’s Pediatrics Unit/Pediatric Intensive Care since 2009

17 With 17 private rooms, St. Luke’s Pediatrics unit is Cedar Rapids’ largest

0-18 We offer services for children from infants through age 18

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Alexis’s Story Ever since I was a baby, I’d throw up for like six hours straight.

It was awful. It took a lot of tests and a visit to Mayo Clinic to find out I have Crohn’s disease. Fortunately there’s a medication that really helps. And because my pediatrician and St. Luke’s coordinate with the doctors at Mayo, I can have my treatment right here. Every few weeks I go to St. Luke’s after school and get medication through an IV. At first I’d hold Mom’s hand really tight while they put the needle in, but now I’m OK with it. I’m glad my doctor, St. Luke’s and Mayo Clinic are all working together to help me get better. Mom says it’s the way health care is supposed to be.

Kids come to the hospital for all kinds of reasons. A broken leg. Routine respiratory infections that aren’t so routine in a tiny baby. And kids like Alexis who rely on St. Luke’s for outpatient treatment. Our pediatric hospitalists, nurses, dietitians and therapists are specially trained to understand the unique needs of young patients. And because we know hospitals can be a scary place, our Pediatric units are family-friendly environments designed around a child’s comfort and recovery. For critically ill or injured babies, children and teens, St. Luke’s provides the highest level of care.

Dental Health Center

BY THE NUMBERS

6,013

Patient visits in 2015 by children and developmentally disabled adults

94% Most patients are from low-income families covered by Medicaid or are uninsured

6 to 8 Number of weeks patients have to wait for an appointment due to lack of clinic space

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Gwen’s Story I have Angelman Syndrome. Daddy says I’m missing a gene and that’s why I have seizures. It’s also why I can’t talk, but it doesn’t mean I don’t understand stuff. That’s one reason I love the Dental Health Center. Dr. Bansal talks to me and explains things like I’m a regular 8-year-old kid. She also understands what makes me special, like the way my muscles twitch so it’s hard to stay still. She knows how to handle it, so I’m never worried. Once I had a tooth pulled and Dr. Bansal even sang to me while she worked. I think that’s great! Sometimes I watch DVDs during my exam and I love that, too. My parents just say t Photography : Rebekah Stewar of sy te ur co o ot Ph

they love how everyone there takes such great care of me.

Many of us take dental health for granted. But for low-income families, lack of access to dental care means children are often left with untreated tooth decay. Kids may suffer from chronic toothaches, painful abscesses, disfigured smiles and difficulty eating.

For more than 40 years, the Dr. Rhys B. Jones Dental Health Center has provided comprehensive dental services for low-income children.

We also offer specialized care for developmentally disabled children and adults. And our Prevention and Early Outreach Program conducts screenings at Linn County schools. Through treatment, prevention and education, we help children and special-needs patients get the quality dental care they need.

Witwer Children’s Therapy

BY THE NUMBERS

800

We work with about 800 babies, children and teens each year

24,277 Total patient visits at our Cedar Rapids and Hiawatha clinics in 2015

26% Increase in patient visits since 2012 means we had to put kids on waiting lists because programs are full

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Luke’s Story I hated eating! Even soft food hurt to swallow and everything I ate made me gag—or worse. My mom says I’ve vomited in nearly every restaurant in Eastern Iowa. My parents didn’t know what to do. Then they took me to Witwer. Turns out I had a LOT wrong. I didn’t chew or swallow right, I’d had acid reflux practically my whole life, plus I had something called Sensory Processing Disorder. No wonder I couldn’t eat! But the therapists at Witwer are super nice. They taught me how to chew and swallow so eating’s a lot better now.

They worked with my school, too, so the teachers and therapists would know how to help me. School is fun…and mealtime’s not so bad either.

Every child deserves a happy, active life. But some kids are challenged from the start. They may have special needs as the result of Down syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, ADHD, developmental delays or other disorders. Witwer Children’s Therapy has a rich history of transforming children’s lives by helping them achieve their full potential. Our evidenced-based, kid-friendly approach to physical, occupational and speech therapy incorporates play to make learning fun. Witwer also provides counseling and support for families coping with the stress of caring for a child with disabilities. The magic of Witwer happens every day, as skilled therapists help kids enjoy the best life possible.

Teaching Interventions to Empower and Strengthen Families (TIES)

BY THE NUMBERS

$0

Our TIES early intervention program is FREE for families with children 18 months to 5 years

1 The only program of its kind in Iowa

40 TIES is accredited through a program that’s been helping families of young children for more than 40 years

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Collin’s Story I don’t mean to be bad. But when you’re only four, you do bad things sometimes. Like when my sister wouldn’t give me her toy and I pulled her hair really hard. Or my mom gave me a time out and I screamed and kicked. It felt like my parents were always punishing me and I couldn’t do anything right. Then they took the TIES class. Mom says it showed them how to stay calm when I act out. Now they don’t just punish me for being bad—they reward me when I’m good, too. I like that, so I try to be good as much as I can. I’m glad TIES helped my mom and dad be better parents, so I can be a better kid.

Parenting would be a lot easier if kids came with an instruction manual. Instead, parents of young children often struggle with the best way to handle behavioral issues, from tantrums to bedtime battles. St. Luke’s Teaching Interventions to Empower and Strengthen Families (TIES) offers stressed-out parents a helping hand, teaching the skills they need to be successful in improving their young child’s behavior. This unique program provides hands-on instruction in real-world situations. Then, through our “payback” approach, parents who graduate return to help incoming parents by sharing the skills they’ve learned. Together we find the strengths in the most difficult child and most reluctant parent.

Concussion Management

BY THE NUMBERS

100,000

The Centers for Disease Control estimates more than 100,000 concussions occur in high school sports each year

11.2 Concussions per 10,000 “athletic exposures� (practice or game) among high school football players

80% More than 80% of concussions resolve within three to four weeks with proper management

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Sam’s Story It was a great game…till I took a hard hit. As soon I came off the field, our athletic trainer started asking me questions. Then he told Coach I likely had a concussion. So instead of going back in the game, I went to St. Luke’s ER. The doc there told my parents even a mild concussion can affect your thinking, make for males, est concussion risk gh hi e th s ha ll ba While foot athletes. est risk for female soccer has the high

you irritable and keep you from sleeping. Later we met with my family doctor. Bottom line, my parents, the doctors and my coaching staff were all on the same page. It took three weeks, but we all followed the guidelines and I received a clean bill of health. Now I’m cleared to play—just in time for the big game!

Remove/Reduce physical and mental demands Educate on potential symptoms Adjust/Accommodate for the student athlete academically Pace the student back to activity and learning

A concussion is not just a bump on the head. It’s a traumatic brain injury that can change the way your brain works. Even a mild concussion needs proper treatment. Now St. Luke’s has launched the Cedar Rapids Concussion Management Program to help student athletes in our community safely recover and return to their normal activities. Developed by a multi-disciplinary panel of providers, this “virtual clinic” of primary care and specialty physicians, emergency department personnel, coaches and athletic trainers uses nationally recognized REAP guidelines to create the support system injured student athletes need.

Inpatient Child/ Adolescent Program (3 East)

BY THE NUMBERS

1,000

3 East treats about 1,000 children and adolescents each year

34%

3 East’s 24 beds account for more than 1/3 of all inpatient child/ adolescent beds in the state of Iowa

65 Number of days in 2015 when St. Luke’s Emergency Department had to keep a child overnight because no bed was available anywhere in Iowa

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Noah’s Story Nobody wanted me. I was taken away from my mom ‘cause she didn’t look out for me. It seemed like people were always hurting me. Sometimes it made me so MAD, I’d hurt myself.

The foster homes they sent me to didn’t know how to help me with my anger. Then they sent me to St. Luke’s. I’d still st team! ember of the 3 Ea m st we ne e th el, therapy dog Meet Mab acquire a trained us ed lp he n tio da al problems.

The Foun ional and behavior ot em ith w s nt tie to help pa

get mad, but when I tried to hurt myself, the staff didn’t yell.

They hugged me, held me and told me I was a good person.

No one ever told me that before. I started to think, yeah, maybe I am a good kid after all. Now I live with my grandma.

And you know what? For the first time in my life, somebody wants me.

Childhood is supposed to be a happy time. But some kids struggle with emotional and behavioral problems that can overwhelm them—and their families. When children or adolescents become a danger to themselves or to others, 3 East, our Inpatient Adolescent Program, provides a secure, safe and supportive treatment environment. 3 East offers family-centered programs for children (ages 6-12) and adolescents (ages 13-18) experiencing suicidal thoughts or behavior, substance abuse, mood disorders, psychosis, or problems related to stress, trauma or abuse. We help patients and families manage behavior and develop new coping skills, with the goal of helping children return to home and school.

Child Protection Center (CPC)

BY THE NUMBERS

752

In 2015, the CPC provided services to more than 700 children from 40 counties

90% The overwhelming majority of children are abused by someone they know

9,832 More than 9,000 pre-K through 5th grade students attended Safetouch presentations during the 2015-16 school year

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Emily’s Story He told me not to tell anyone. He said I’d get in trouble if I did. He said no one would believe me anyway. But one day I finally told my mom. She hugged me and said she loved me.

Then she took me to the Child Protection Center. Everyone there was so nice. They explained things in a way I could understand and made me feel safe. They kept saying what happened was not my fault. They even said I was a hero for telling the truth! A lot happened after that—a medical exam, the trial. But I stayed strong through all of it. What happened to me was a terrible thing. But I’m glad the Child Protection Center was there when I needed it.

Every year, hundreds of children in Eastern Iowa suffer abuse, usually at the hands of someone they know and trust. When abuse—particularly child sexual abuse—is suspected, the Department of Human Services and law enforcement agencies turn to the Child Protection Center (CPC). The CPC is a safe haven where kids can go to tell their story, have a physical exam and begin the healing process. We work as a team to help children get the help they need. We also fight child sexual abuse through Safetouch, teaching kids what to do if someone tries to touch them in an unwanted manner.

Children’s Specialty Services

BY THE NUMBERS

307

Patients and families helped

by Children’s Specialty Services in 2015

6 to 8

Kids typically spend 6 to 8 weeks in our program

3

Our Connections team provides services in three Cedar Rapids schools we’d like to help more

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Haley’s Story Sometimes it just gets to be too much, you know? You’re so depressed and it doesn’t help when people say just snap out of it. Like. It’s. That. Easy. Last summer things got really bad for me.

When I woke up, I was in the ER. They said I OD’d. After I went home, I started going to the Adolescent LIFE Program. There were actually other kids there like me, and people who really understood what I was going through. After awhile, I didn’t feel like such a loser any more. In fact, I’m looking forward to going to college. I even know what I want to be now. I want to be a social worker, so I can help other kids the way the LIFE staff helped me.

A teenager overwhelmed by depression. A child struggling to fit in at school. Parents who don’t know where to turn for the help their child needs. St. Luke’s Children’s Specialty Services provide outpatient treatment and support for children, adolescents and families coping with mental, emotional and behavioral concerns.

Adolescent LIFE helps teens avoid hospitalization or make the transition home from the hospital or other placements. The Children’s Treatment Program works with elementary-age kids with serious behavioral and emotional difficulties. We also partner with Cedar Rapids schools through Connections, an in-school program for children with the highest behavioral needs.

P.O. Box 3026 Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-3026

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What Will Your Story Be? Together we can create healthier tomorrows for kids and families throughout Eastern Iowa. The next chapter is up to you.

Consider a gift today – call St. Luke’s Foundation at (319) 369-7716 or visit unitypoint.org.