1. Not only does Cody Shearrow walk the halls as a nurse in the Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders, but the recent nursing grad was once a patient here.
Cody went through treatment for Leukemia at Children’s. As a nurse in the cancer center, he shares his journey with others who are on a similar path.
Lauren O’Neal and Lisa York say goodbye as sweet little Ella Wombacker gets ready for her homecoming.
3. We saluted our employees who are here when the kids need them, including holiday weekends. Thank you to our hardworking employees for all they do, 24/7, 365 days a year.
Nurse Michael Hanzel gets a hand from 11-month-old Kaiya Willrich as he listens to her heart.
4. For Kelly Musick, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) is more than where she works. The clinical coordinator at Akron Children’s has the unique perspective of being both an employee and a patient family.
Jacob and Benjamin, Kelly’s twin boys, arrived to the NICU on Halloween 2018 and stayed there until Christmas morning.
5. We congratulated our neuromuscular program for becoming a Certified Duchenne Care Center Program by Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy.
The center is one of only 30 that have been certified nationwide.
6. As Kolt Codner prepares for his first marathon, he has no lack of motivation. Kolt plans to complete the Virtual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay by running 26 laps around Akron Children’s Hospital.
His son, Andrew, AKA Iron Andrew, is currently receiving treatment for B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and plans to cheer his dad on from his window.
7. Our Dance Unlimited students shared their first-day-of-school photos.
The Dance Unlimited program replaced typical physical therapy sessions to benefit kids dealing with a variety of diagnoses, including Down syndrome, cerebral palsy (CP), autism, Spina Bifida, paralysis and pulmonary problems.
8. As the Virtual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay neared the kick off of its virtual races, we placed a spotlight on past heroes who helped bring spirit and inspiration to the race route since “hero zones” debuted at the race in 2016.
The Akron Children’s Women’s Board has hosted numerous heroes at its zone over the years, and we’re proud that the heroes continue to thrive and inspire others as friends, students and patients.
9. Thanks to your generosity, $215,794 was raised for Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley at this year’s Miracles & Promises Radiothon!
Special thanks go out to Mix 98.9 Youngstown and News Radio 570 WKBN, who hosted this year’s radiation in their studios due to the pandemic.
10. When sickle cell disease showed up on one of her daughter Kamryn’s newborn screenings, her mom, Kimisha, did the research and turned to Akron Children’s Hospital.
The Sickle Cell program at Akron Children’s Hospital will care for Kamryn until she reaches adulthood.
