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Walking with a purpose
"He’s a miracle kid.
It’s how Cambi Cassanelli describes her son, Bryson, who was born three and a half months premature at 2 pounds, 7 ounces. Bryson has bronchopulmonary dysplasiaa lung disease that severely impairs his breathing. After three months in a suburban hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, Bryson went home, but got progressively worse.
“I didn’t think he was going to live,” Cambi says. “He was so weak. He couldn’t breathe. It breaks my heart to watch the old home movies.”
Today, Bryson is treated by Andrew Colin, MD, clinical director of Pulmonary Medicine, and his condition is improving. He’s on six medicines, compared to 14 previously, and a low dose of oxygen. To show her gratitude, Cambi participated in last year’s first Miles for Miracles Walk for Children’s Hospital Boston, and will do the same this year.
“As sad as it can be in a hospital, Children’s gives you the most incredible gift when they care for your kids,” Cambi says. “We could never repay Children’s. A walk is something we could do.”
Last year, the Cassanellis raised $2,870 by asking friends for donations, and were honored by the outpouring of generosity. For this year’s walk, held Saturday, June 19, she plans to raise even more money.
At the Boston Marathon in April, Maria Davila, RN, BSN (above), the Day Charge Nurse in the Neonatal ICU, was the first woman from Massachusetts—and the 12th overall—to cross the finish line in the 50 and older category. Here, she cares for patient Allie Beliveau. “These little patients are my passion and running marathons has given new meaning to my life. I see a parallel between their experiences and marathoning: we just keep moving forward to the next bend in the road and life.”“The little boy we didn’t think would live is blowing us all away,” Cambi says. “We have Children’s to thank.”
Join us for the 2nd annual Miles for Miracles Walk for Children’s Hospital Boston, with 7- and 2-mile courses along the Charles River. All walkers are asked to collect $100 in pledges, and walkers who raise $500 or more join Children’s Miracle Maker club and win prizes.
All money raised supports the hospital’s neediest areas. Register to walk or form a team by visiting www.chtrust.org/walk, or by calling ext. 5-6666 or 1-866-303-WALK. Children’s gives special thanks to Kohl’s, a Miles for Miracles presenting sponsor, along with sponsors StrideRite, Aquafina, and the Credit Unions of Massachusetts for helping make Miles for Miracles possible.
Marathon Monday a big day for Children’s
On April 19, 150 runners completed the famed Boston Marathon on behalf of Children’s while raising nearly $800,000 toward a $1 million goal—with donations still pouring in. For the second consecutive year, Todd Duchene, who was touched by the hospital when his daughter had heart surgery here, was Children’s Kids at Heart team’s top fundraiser.In other news, the second annual Katie Lynch Award was presented to Children’s Michael Rich, MD, assistant in Medicine, who ran the marathon on behalf of his patient, Jaime, who nominated him for the award. Lynch, who died of an aneurysm in 2002, was a long-time Children’s patient. Never defined by her illness, Lynch was a hospital employee, motivational speaker, and member of the Kids at Heart team—completing her own mini marathon for Children’s.
Children’s thanks all of its runners, the patient families who inspire the runners through long months of training, and the team’s corporate sponsors: Kohl’s Department Stores, Oechsle International Advisors and United Airlines.
