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Go Country 105 Cares for Kids Radiothon
Friday, December 18, 2009

Updated: 12/18/2009 10:56

Go Country 105 cares for kids! Tune in on December 18th as Shawn, Ashley, Tonya, Paul and Ginny call out to country fans across the Southland to help Childrens Hospital Los Angeles continue to make miracles happen! Shawn and Ashley will be joining patients, families, doctors and nurses for a live broadcast from the hospital’s lobby from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. This one-day fundraiser will continue all day to raise as much support and awareness for Childrens Hospital Los Angeles as we can.
 
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles has been treating the most critically ill and injured children in our community for more than a century, and they need your help to continue caring for kids. More than 100,000 kids and their families needed Childrens Hospital Los Angeles last year, and no child is ever turned away regardless of a family’s ability to pay. It’s up to all of us to make sure this amazing hospital can continue to make a world of difference to children.
 
Be a Miracle Maker! For $15 a month (just 50 cents a day), you can personally touch the lives of children and families who depend on the care they receive from Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.
 
During the Radiothon, pledge your support by calling 877-335-KIDS (5437). You can also donate online by visiting childrenshospitalla.org/gocountry.
 
Thank you for caring about the children in our community!

AISHA
Age 8, Retinoblastoma

In October 2003, one week after her 3rd birthday, Aisha was diagnosed with cancer to both eyes. After undergoing six cycles of chemotherapy at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles' Vision Center, doctors opted to remove her right eye. She has 70% vision in her "good eye", as Aisha likes to refer to it, with limited peripheral and three-dimensional vision.

Aisha is aware the childhood cancer survivors have an increased risk of developing secondary cancers. Despite that she is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder from her treatments, she has never allowed that to slow her down. She tries to be active and loves to play with her dog Mia. She is often found to give insights to life and profound advice to adults and will have a kind word for everyone. She reminds herself to be "brave" although she has already conquered huge obstacles and holds on to hope that one day, with new technologies, we will be able to see again with both eyes.

ALLEN
Age 13, Car Accident Survivor

The accident happened when he was 11, in November, 2007. Allen and Rick were walking to the park to play football, and they were both struck by a car as pedestrians. Rick saw the car wasn't stopping at the last minute, but couldn't pull Allen away in time - Allen took the brunt of the blow. He suffered moderate to severe bleeding and swelling in the brain, as well as a fracture to his sinus cavity. No operations were needed, but he was in an unconscious state for a week. He spent that time in Children's PICU. While the doctors were hopeful that he would awaken soon, they told us that we needed to understand that he would most likely have suffered some mental or physical damage, and he may not be the kid we knew when he opened his eyes.

After a week, he did come out of his "comatose" state, and he was exactly the kid we expected. He lost nothing mentally, but he did take some time to come around. The left side of his body was in a very weakened state, due to nerve damage that was suffered on the right side of his brain. He spent 3 weeks in the rehab wing, and another 6 months in outpatient therapy, to relearn to walk again and use his left hand and arm to their full extent.

Today, you would never know that he had suffered the way that he did. We can see a SLIGHT "catch" in his left leg when he walks, if he's tired - but, once he's aware of it, he corrects it and is able to walk normally. He is still seeing his neurologist every 6 months (simply for check-ups), and is still limited in what he can do (as far as contact sports or rough play). We hope within the next year or two, he will be able to resume regular activities.

ANDREA
Age 17, Brain Aneurysm

At the tender age of four, Andrea had stroke, due to a ruptured aneurysm in her mid-brain. This was at the base of her spine (a cross section that sends signals to all her motor skills). She was first treated and with a wrong diagnosis at our local hospital in Pasadena, suspecting that she just had a simple flu. When she eventually did not get better and was having a double vision, they did a CT scan and found a bleeding on her brain. At this point, they decided to transfer her at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, under the care of Dr. Gordon MacComb. The team immediately performed 11 hours of life-saving surgery. After the surgery, she lost all of her motor skills and had to relearn everything from opening her eyes and swallowing to standing up and eventually walking.

Andrea was given a wheel chair and a walker upon discharge. However, we made a promise to ourselves that she would walk again. Through tough love and treating her as a normal child, she was able to get back to her own two feet and walk again! As a thank you to her doctors and Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, Andrea continues to give back by sharing her story to all who will listen.

Andrea Edoria turned 17 in February and is enjoying school, although it is challenging for her due to her disability. Andrea will be a junior this year at La Salle High School in Pasadena, and she has been an honor student since her freshman year. Andrea has also gotten into the California Scholarship Foundation and will be graduating with gold Cord. Her passion is journalism and hopes to study Law. Andrea has high hopes and dreams of going to USC or Stanford. Even with limited mobility, she will not let anything stop her from achieving her goals.

COLYN
Age 14, Mitochondrial Disease

Colyn, 14, is the youngest of 5 children, the most severely affected of 3 in his family, being followed at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles for a Mitochondrial Disorder. He was diagnosed at age 11 by Dr. Boles after suffering for years with an undiagnosed disorder that has affected multiple systems in his body including his stomach, immune system and lungs. Despite living nearly 100 miles away, Colyn is seen at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, the closest appropriate medical facility, on average of weekly, by 9 different specialists.

Throughout his childhood years, Colyn has maintained a positive attitude often being an encouragement to those around him and inspiring others. Colyn enjoys playing video games, watching Star Trek, camping, and being with his friends. He has also enjoyed traveling around the country with his family.

Colyn is getting ready to begin his 9th grade year with his teacher at home.

EDNA
Age 13, Brain tumor

My name is Edna. I am 13 years old. I have gone through two craniotomies to remove a malignant brain tumor and to insert a shunt. I endured 6 weeks of radiation to my brain and spinal cord, along with many blood transfusions, the insertion of a nasal-gastric feeding tube and nine bouts of chemotherapy. All of this was to help keep me alive and help me live longer. I lost all my hair, eyelashes, eyebrows and my weight dropped to 44 pounds. My weight became critical for my treatment. People would just stare at me.

Through my journey, I have met other children with my same condition that did not survive the treatments. I think and wonder why they didn’t make it and why I’m still here. Maybe I tried hard to be strong and live longer, because I didn’t want to see my mother cry. Maybe because I tried to be brave and I pretended that I wasn’t in a lot of pain when I really was, or maybe my great-grandmother (who is in heaven) asked God to keep me alive longer. I like to believe that it was a little of everything. One thing I know for sure, I always prayed to God, and I know in my heart that with every prick of the needle and with every pill I took, he was right there with me. Everyday that I wake up, I thank God for giving me a mother who sacrificed everything to stay by my side to make my life as normal as possible in the midst of my pain and agony.

I am now disabled because of everything I have been through. The whole left side of my body is weaker now. I finished my chemotherapy in July 2006 and I am now suffering the side effects. My hearing is bad because of the chemotherapy (it affects hearing). I believe in miracles, because I have survived what others haven’t and feel that my story and my life is a miracle in itself, because I am still here.

I thank my doctors and all the wonderful people who took care of me at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and for all of those who prayed for my body to be strong. Mostly, I thank God for allowing me to see, think, walk, talk, read, write and breathe.

Thank you!

EILEEN
Age 10, Open Heart Surgery

Eileen Garrido was born on March 10, 1999 at Whittier Presbyterian Hospital. At the time of her birth, she was diagnosed with a serious heart condition known as Tetrolagy of Fallot. This complex heart condition includes a hole between the walls of the heart and many levels of obstruction from the right ventricle to the lungs.

One month after her birth, Eileen underwent her first heart surgery at Children's Hospital LA to insert a “shunt” that would allow more blood flow to her lungs and help extend her life. A year later, in April of 2000, Eileen underwent her second heart surgery at Children's Hospital LA to repair her heart. Although Eileen had a lot of healing ahead of her, the surgery was a complete success.

As a toddler, Eileen was always listening to music. She loved the Disney Sing-Along videos. It was not uncommon to find her singing around the house. In January of 2007, Eileen began taking voice lessons. In December of 2007, Eileen recorded her first CD titled “Part of Your World” in which she sang her favorite Disney songs. Shortly after this, Eileen fell in love with classical theater after seeing the Broadway musical “The Phantom of The Opera”.

In June of 2009, her second CD titled “Angel of Music” was released which contains music from Les Miserables, Disney, Phantom of The Opera, and a song written by her called “Melody”. In July of 2009, Eileen inspired the creation of her organization known as “Beating Hearts” which is dedicated to helping raise funds for hospitals that treat sick children especially those with cardiovascular illnesses. Eileen donates a portion of all CD sales toward this cause. Her goal, “to make sure every child has a healthy beating heart”.

Eileen's hobbies include playing the piano, drawing, camping, and taking care of her dog Lucky, her hamster Chestnut, her turtle Willy, and seven gold fish. Eileen also enjoys going to school and has maintained perfect attendance since kindergarten including never being late. She is a member of the drama club at her school and graduated from the fourth grade on the Principles Honor Roll. Her dream is to one day attend Julliard and study music.

GRANT AND JETT
Ages 10 and 7, Atrial Septal Defect and Congenital Hyperplasia

When Grant (10) was three years old, it was discovered that he had congenital heart disease -- Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) - a hole in the wall that separates the upper chambers (atria) of the heart. This causes blood to leak from one atrium to the other.

We were told that his heart was already enlarged, and he would need open heart surgery in order to "patch" this hole, which was the size of a quarter. If the hole had gone undetected, Grant most likely would not have lived beyond his teens. The surgery was scheduled for six days after his 5th birthday.

We are fortunate to live near Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles where we have access to some of the best doctors in the world. Grant's cardiologist was Dr. Vaughn A. Starnes, Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Co-director, Heart Institute. He is a recognized expert in heart and lung transplants, repair of congenital heart defects, and heart surgery in children and newborns.

Grant ended up having not one, but two patches on his heart, as while during surgery Dr. Starnes discovered that Grant also had "anomalous pulmonary veins" -- a defect where 1 or more of the 4 pulmonary veins that normally return oxygen-rich or red blood from the lungs to the heart, return to the wrong chamber in the heart. The doctors channeled these veins from the right to the left, and created a tunnel with the second patch, so that the tunnel wouldn't close up on the veins. Grant had three veins that were anomalous. Both chambers of his heart were enlarged.

Thanks to the team at Childrens Hospital, Grant has no restrictions on his activities. It's been five years since the surgery, his heart has gone back to its normal size, and he leads a life of a healthy 10-year-old boy -- soccer, basketball, running, jumping, rough-housing with his brother, the usual. Grant had this to say, "Childrens Hospital is great -- it helped me a lot, and everybody is real nice. Dr. Starnes is awesome!"

JONATHAN
Age 11, Tumor on tongue at birth

Born with macroglossia, Jonathan was admitted to CHLA's NICCU at birth. He had 10 surgeries before age 2 at CHLA. The ENT doctors took good care of him. By the time he was 2, his tracheostomy was removed and he was able to breathe through his nose.

Now a thriving child, Jonathan is going onto 5th grade. Jonathan enjoys playing baseball and basketball.

STEPHANIE
Age 15, Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

Stephanie has been treated at CHLA for Leukemia for the past 3 ½ years. She loves the color pink, enjoys playing baseball, swimming and piano lessons.

Stephanie has some personal experience with making difficult plays. Not only is she a huge fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers, she’s been an outfielder on a Highland Park baseball team (also the “Dodgers”) coached by her dad.

The trick is being ready for whatever life throws you and having a good team — equally true when you’re up against an opponent like cancer. “You have to stay strong. Don’t give up,” says Stephanie, 14, who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in May 2005. She underwent two years of chemotherapy at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, first weekly, then monthly, finishing treatment in October 2007.

That difficult time was made easier by joining Teen Impact, a support group in the Childrens Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases for adolescents and their families facing cancer and blood diseases. It’s part of the hospital’s comprehensive perspective on care.

At each meeting, Stephanie met with fellow pre-teens and teens, some of whom also had ALL. Her parents, Denese and Andre, found comfort talking to other family members. “You come out refreshed, because you’ve laughed with each other or shared something,” says Stephanie. This summer, she took part in a Teen Impact adventure therapy trip to Lake Arrowhead. Now, she’s concentrating on her second year at Immaculate Heart High School and keeping up with her favorite band, the Jonas Brothers. “Good things can come out of whatever you’re going through,” says Stephanie, who should know.

TIANNA
Age 15, Churg-Strauss syndrome

I have pretty much always been sick. I cannot remember when I was ever healthy. But I would have never dreamed, not even in my worst nightmares, that I would ever be diagnosed with a very rare systemic vasculitis known as Churg-Strauss syndrome.

When I was diagnosed in 2003 my world came crashing down. I was scared. I didn’t know what to do. Thanks to CHLA all those fears disappeared. The doctors and nurses were unbelievably patient and cooperative at explaining my disease to my parents and I. The emotional support was amazing. I feel so much love at CHLA. I don’t think I would have survived if it weren’t for CHLA.

In 2005, Shelia, the nurse manager of the pulmonary clinic in CHLA, put my name up for Make-A-Wish. Thanks to Sheila and Make-A-Wish my dream came true that very Christmas. My dream of going to Disneyworld finally came true. Thank you Sheila; thank you CHLA.

Today I am now 15 years old. It has been 6 years since I have been diagnosed. I am taking about 15 types of medicines daily. I don’t complain. I am just happy to be alive. My hobbies include hanging out with my friends, laser tag, drawing, reading, shopping, swimming, etc. I love all colors, but my very favorite is blue. The reason why is because blue is the color of Earth. I also LOVE Disneyland. When I am at Disneyland, I feel so happy and carefree. That’s why when I grow up I want to become a Disney Animator/director/Imaginer. Wow, I am going to be very, very busy when I grow up. Hopefully I will be so busy I won’t have time to go to the hospital so often.