One Step in the Journey to a Healthy Life Thousands of patients come through the doors of the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio and each one is very special in their own way. So many beat unimaginable odds and we are just one step in their journey to a healthy life. Here’s an inspiring story from just one of the patients we are privileged to serve: (L-R) Hope and Pete, Rhea’s grandparents, and Amy, Rhea’s mom, are Rhea’s (center) biggest fans. Rhea is a fun, talkative five-year-old with a love for cheerleading. In April 2013, Rhea, her mother, Amy, and her grandmother, Hope, set out on a girls’ beach trip. Their journey was brought to a halt when the vehicle they were driving was struck by an 18-wheeler. Rhea suffered a massive spinal cord injury and her vocal cords were severely damaged. She was flown to the nearest hospital and was not expected to survive through the night. She underwent surgery and miraculously, after two weeks in the hospital, she began communicating by blinking and didn’t show any signs of brain damage. Rhea received extensive one-on-one physical therapy at the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio and was discharged in September 2013. She continues weekly outpatient occupational therapy at the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio today. To read Rhea’s full story, check out our latest issue of Putting Children First.

Children’s Hospital Mural Inspires Nine-Year-Old to Make a Difference The thoughtful actions of one nine-year-old girl are making a difference for patients being treated at the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio. Inspired by the eight-story “Spirit of Healing” mural of a guardian angel watching over a young boy on the building of the hospital, Delaney decided she wanted to give back. “We were driving home from Corpus Christi during Spring Break and we passed by the mural at the hospital and I started thinking about all of the children who had to stay in the hospital during their Spring Break, and during the holidays,” Delaney said. “I decided to help the kids by raising money for the hospital. I later found out that the Children’s Hospital treated my friend when he was sick with Leukemia. He is much better now, but I wanted to do something to help.” As soon as she unpacked from her trip, Delaney began making pot holders, a hobby she had with her mom and brother. She went door to door in her neighborhood selling the pot holders and telling her neighbors what she was doing and why. “So far, I’ve sold 21 pot holders,” Delaney said. “I also decorated jars and delivered them to my neighbors and asked them to keep the jars for a while to fill with their spare change.” Delaney stopped by the hospital last week to drop off her first batch of earnings. She plans to continue selling pot holders during her summer break and already has 12 on order. “I also plan to sell my old toys and have a garage sale to raise more money this summer,” she added. “The day I took my money to the hospital, I had raised $113 and was told that there were 113 patients spending the weekend at the hospital. I hope to raise $113 more by the end of the summer.” Delaney is an inspiration to us all! To learn more about how you can make a difference for the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio like Delaney, visit us online at ChildrensHospitalSAFoundation.org/events.

Corner Store Kicks off 20th Annual Fundraiser Corner Store customers and associates are once again supporting the The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio during the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Miracle Balloon fundraiser. Funds generated during the June 1 – June 30 campaign will serve the 70,000 children treated annually at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio. In addition, this year Corner Store will donate $1 for every ICEE purchased on June 20. “We are excited to congratulate Corner Store for helping make miracles happen for local kids for the past 20 years,” said John Lauck, president and CEO of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “Funds raised through these annual campaigns provide life-saving care and needed treatments for kids at our member children’s hospitals.” “We are grateful to Corner Stores for their continued commitment to serving the families in our community,” shared John E. Bel, president, The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation. “The funds raised from this campaign help ensure that every child receives life-saving, world-class medical care they deserve, regardless of their parents’ ability to pay.” As with all Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals point of sale fundraisers at the registers, all donations made during the Corner Store campaign will stay local and benefit kids treated at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio.

Vote for The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio to win a $30,000 donation from White Cloud VOTE HERE: http://bit.ly/1IvsgBj The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio is a part of its national Real Comfort, Real Kids video contest with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. White Cloud, a paper products company, asked entrants to submit a one-minute video answering the question “How would you bring more comfort to kids in your hospital?” The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio’s video is one of 14 included in the contest with a chance to win one of three donations. The hospitals with a video voted in the top three will receive a $30,000 donation from White Cloud. No child will ever be denied care at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, even if their parents cannot afford to pay. The The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation exists to ensure that sacred promise is kept, inspiring the community’s compassion, and matching their goodwill to the Hospital’s vision and needs. Dollars raised support treatment, research and health-related programs, as well as capital projects. Vote daily at: http://bit.ly/1IvsgBj

Help fund Miracles with Sam’s Club & Walmart Walmart customers and Sam’s Club members are asking customers to support kids in San Antonio, Victoria and Laredo by making a donation of $1 or more at the retailers’ 57 locations to raise funds for the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospital, now through June 14. Customers and members can add a “Miracle Balloon” donation during checkout this spring, with 100 percent of funds going directly to the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, helping kids in their own communities. Since 1987, Walmart and Sam’s Club fundraising across North America has provided more than $750 million for pediatric care. Funds are used by the community hospital depending on the greatest need — helping to provide necessary charitable care, establish critical care wings, introduce therapy programs, and fund specialized, life-saving treatment and equipment.

Put Your Money Where the Miracles Are Meet the newest spokesperson for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals: Jennifer Lopez, a mom and longtime supporter of children’s hospitals. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, of which Children’s Hospital of San Antonio is a member, is kicking off a new campaign to bring awareness to the importance of donations to children’s hospitals. At the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals funds treatment, research and health related programs. When you give to the Children’s Hospital of San Antonio, you help ensure that every child receives life-saving, world-class medical care they deserve, regardless if their parents cannot afford to pay. Join her in supporting all we do for kids by getting your free #MiracleBand at http://mymiracleband.org. To help support the campaign and Put Your Money Where the Miracles Are, make your online gift today at ChildrensHospitalSAFoundation.org.

Elite Students in Philanthropy Will Bailey and Austin Lazo, University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) students, were recognized for their outstanding fundraising efforts, individually raising more than $1000 for The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation during the San Antonio Dance Marathon. In recognition of their efforts, they were guests of Dr. Yu-Tze Ng., section chief for the pediatric neurology at The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio. They were also treated to breakfast, a tour of the hospital and were presented with a plaque. From left: Terry Kyle, Will Bailey, Austin Lazo and Dr. Yu-Tze Ng Cardinals for Kids, the largest student philanthropy group at the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW), raises funds and awareness for The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation. They hosted the San Antonio Dance Marathon on April 11 and raised a total of $20,366.26 for the Children’s Hospital. “We are truly grateful to all the efforts of the UIW Cardinals for Kids and especially to Will and Austin for leading the charge in fundraising,” noted Terry Kyle, vice president, The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio Foundation. ““They continue to think of fun and exciting ways to raise critically needed funds for The Children’s Hospital of San Antonio.”