Houston Texans Randy Bullock and Ben Jones, TORO and Houston Texans Cheerleaders visited patients who are battling cancer at Texas Children’s Hospital in honor of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The visitors donned gold pins and sported gold pompoms, symbolizing childhood cancer awareness, while participating in games and taking photos with patients. View event photos by clicking on the photo above.
Every summer, Texas Children’s staff and their patients make the 90-mile trek to Camp for All, a 100-acre, barrier-free recreational facility that enables children with special needs to experience the thrill of camping just like normal kids their age.
“It’s a place where they feel safe and comfortable because everyone is just like them,” said Texas Children’s Neurology Chief Dr. Gary Clark, who is the lead physician at Camp Spike N Wave. “In partnership with the Epilepsy Foundation, we provide the medical infrastructure so children can have a safe camping experience, while doing everything that anybody would do in any other camp.”
Wheelchair bound or not, children engage in a fun-filled week of adrenaline-pumping activities like zip lining, rock wall climbing, swimming, horseback riding, archery, rope courses, basketball, and canoeing in a lake. They build friendships and unleash their independent spirit, while focusing less on their illness or physical disabilities.
Texas Children’s oncologist Dr. ZoAnn Dreyer is the medical director for Camp Periwinkle. She and her staff collaborate with the Periwinkle Foundation to bring more than 185 patients from Texas Children’s Cancer Center to camp each summer.
“Often times, our patients are marked by their cancer,” Dreyer said. “Being in the normal environment can be really tough for them. Here at camp, the playing field is equal for everyone.”
Camps like Camp Periwinkle and Camp Spike N Wave would not be possible without the diligent efforts of Texas Children’s own, Dr. Robert Zeller, chief of the Blue Bird Clinic, who collaborated with other physicians to create Camp for All in 1993.
“I had a patient with epilepsy who couldn’t go to camp because camps wouldn’t accept children with this condition,” Zeller said. “This prompted me to develop a camp for children with medical and physical challenges where they can discover life without barriers. It’s my way of giving back to my patients.”
Peyton Richardson, a 13-year old currently undergoing treatment for acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) at Texas Children’s Cancer Center, has been chosen to ride on a float at the 127th Rose Parade for Northwestern Mutual, the presenting sponsor for the 2016 Rose Bowl Game in Pasadena, CA. The theme of this year’s parade is Find Your Adventure.
Peyton, who was diagnosed in January, is an aspiring ballerina who dreams of taking a ballet lesson from a principal dancer. Her dream will come to life as part of the float. Northwestern Mutual dedicated their float in this year’s parade to bringing awareness to childhood cancer. Peyton’s story was chosen from submissions from across the country of patients detailing their dreams. Peyton’s video speaks to her passion for dance. Her adventure will be brought to life in roses through Northwestern Mutual’s float design and the Richardson family will have the special opportunity to ride in the Rose Parade.
Northwestern Mutual is committed to raising awareness, accelerating the search for cures to childhood cancer and providing support to families battling the disease.
“We are humbled by Peyton’s passion to fight cancer and desire to share her story with others,” said John Kordsmeier, president of the Northwestern Mutual Foundation. “Peyton’s adventure on display will be very inspiring and will drive more awareness and support for all families affected by childhood cancer.”
Did you know you are eligible to enroll in the Texas Children’s Hospital 403(b) Savings Plan? It’s a great benefit and an easy, disciplined way to save for retirement. Making even a small contribution each pay period can really add up over time.
Perhaps your situation has changed since you first learned about the organization’s retirement program or maybe you just need a quick reminder. Either way, here are a few reasons to enroll in the 403(b) Savings Plan today:
The more you prepare now, the more comfortable your future will be when you retire. If you have a personal retirement plan, you will be less dependent on the government’s social security retirement benefit program, the future solvency of which is unknown.
Texas Children’s will match up to 50 percent of the first 6 percent of your pay per pay period, helping you boost your retirement savings and reach your goals faster. The maximum per pay period employer contribution is the lesser of 3 percent of your gross salary or 50 percent of your contribution.
Need another reason to enroll? The sooner you begin saving, the more time your money has for potential growth. For example, an employee with a $20,000 annual salary who is contributing 6 percent of their earnings to the 403(b) Savings Plan could save $117,000 in 30 years versus $50,000 in 20 years, assuming a 7 percent annual rate of return.
You are always 100 percent vested in your contributions to the plan as well as any earnings on them. Texas Children’s matching contributions and any earnings vest according to the following schedule:
You are eligible to receive your vested earnings when you retire or leave Texas Children’s.
To enroll in the Fidelity-managed 403(b) Savings Plan, click here or call 800-343-0860. It only takes 60 seconds! To track your earnings, go to www.netbenefits.com/atwork.
For more information, schedule your on campus in person investment review with a Fidelity representative, call 800-642-7131, Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Central Time or go online at http://getguidance.fidelity.com. You also can call a Fidelity Workplace Planning and Guidance Consultant at 866-711-0352.
Thank you for exemplifying our core values, especially Embracing Freedom – with freedom comes opportunity. Boundless, wide open and unknown, it can be daunting to some, but we recognize the potential in the unexplored and venture forward, blazing our own trail in the name of care.
Tamila Holland from the Child Protective Team is the latest Texas Children’s Super Star employee. “If I can somehow put a smile on a child’s face, or bring comfort to a parent’s heart and mind: that is my constant motivation at work,” said Holland. Read more of Holland’s interview, and find out how you can nominate a Super Star.
Q&A: Tamila Holland, July 2015 Employee
Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
Tamila Holland, LVN with the Child Protective Team for seven years.
What month are you Super Star for?
July 2015
Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
My boss, Lisa Creamer, and the Child Protective Team masqueraded a mock meeting to present me with the award.
What does it mean to be recognized for the hard work you do? How has the organization helped you achieve your personal and professional goals?
It was truly hard to be recognized, because I absolutely have a passion for what I do and it doesn’t ever seem like hard work to me. This organization (CPT Team) is such a positive influence and motivator in my professional goals and endeavors. This team is constantly pushing and encouraging educational improvement as well as personal skills to increase my aptitude in this profession.
What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
I honestly feel we all are “Super Stars.” The dedication and devotion I see each and every day with my peers and how they interact with our young patients are a continual reminder of how special and super our staff is.
What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
If I can somehow put a smile on a child’s face, or bring comfort to a parent’s heart and mind: that is my constant motivation at work.
What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
Texas Children’s Hospital has provided me with ongoing opportunities and incentives to learn, develop and grow. I work with an awesome team and great mentors.
What does it mean to you that everyone at Texas Children’s is considered a leader?
While the formal definition of leader is: “one who leads or commands a group, organization or company.” I am inclined to believe that Texas Children’s employs leaders because this organization continues to be an inventive and constantly has a new and improved vision.
What is your leadership definition?
Concluding that a leader is one whom creates an inspiring vision of the future, leadership motivates and inspires people to engage with that vision.
Anything else you want to share?
I would just like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for endowing me with this grand acknowledgement as Super Star. It is so hard to obtain this award without sharing it with the grand persons I work with every day. I am on a great team, and this is a great place to work.
The Clinical Research Center/Research Resources Office will present the Clinical Research Award for Third Quarter 2015 to Dr. Scott Wenderfer, Department of Pediatrics-Renal, Baylor College of Medicine.
The award was established by the Clinical Research Center in collaboration with the Research Resources Office to recognize and honor individual contributions to protecting the best interest of the research subjects and compliance with applicable rules and regulations.
Dr. Wenderfer’s research activities focus on Inflammatory Kidney Diseases and Lupus Nephritis.
Congratulations to Dr. Wenderfer.
Each day, as patients come in and out of Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers coping with hospital stays, chemotherapy, hair loss, pain and a multitude of fears, they are often greeted by a smiling face asking them if they want a distraction. A moment to sit still and write what they’re feeling. The smiling face is that of Anita Kruse, or Christian Spear, or one of the other many volunteers of Purple Songs Can Fly. Kruse founded the program at Texas Children’s nearly 10 years ago and has since helped produce nearly 1,000 songs written and sung by patients and their siblings. Each song holds a special meaning to the families whose children have participated. For some, it’s a window into the fears, for others, it’s a chance for hope, for many, it’s a way to express the feelings that are so hard to communicate.
As the national Childhood Cancer Awareness Month reminds those across the country of what these children endure, A Journey to Hope, a musical produced by Purple Songs Can Fly, brings to light what it’s like to be a cancer patient at Texas Children’s. The musical was performed as a thank you for the staff and families of the cancer center.
One in every 285 children in the U.S. will be diagnosed with cancer. A heartbreaking statistic that is all too real for the staff at Texas Children’s Hospital Cancer and Hematology Centers. Each year, more than 600 of those children are diagnosed here. During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, the fence around Texas Children’s playground between Abercrombie and West Tower is adorned in gold ribbons, one for each child diagnosed here over the last 365 days.
The month continues with several events for patients, families and staff: