Baptist Health Foundation

A publication of B A P T I S T H E A L T H F O U N D A T I O N , Children First impact WINTER 2014 PUTTING Baptist Health Louisville and Baptist Health La Grange recently received funding for new equipment designed to help our littlest patients. Photo: Andrew McElroy For the past 60 years, WHAS Crusade for Children has been one of our community's leading advocates for pediatric special needs, donating 100% of all funds it collects to organizations that support children with special needs. This year, the Crusade, in collaboration with the Baptist Health Foundation, donated $75,252 for specialized equipment for Baptist Health. "The nurses and staff at Baptist Health bring great skill and vast knowledge to the care they provide young patients, and having the most up-to-date technology and equipment allows them to do even more," says Scott Childers, executive vice president of the Baptist Health Foundation. "Partnering with WHAS Crusade for Children allows us to outfit our campuses with the best equipment available so we can better provide for the children and concerned parents who trust us during difficult times." This is just the latest in a series of generous donations WHAS Crusade for Children has made to the Foundation, which total nearly $250,000 since 2011. The Latest Care The most recent donation will help purchase three Panda infant warmers at Baptist Health Louisville and outfit the Hospital's Pediatric Rehabilitation and Occupational Therapy programs. Baptist Health La Grange will use a portion of the funds to help purchase a pediatric LiteGait® system. "WHAS Crusade for Children is honored to partner with the Foundation as we both strive to accomplish the common goal of providing the best healthcare possible for children throughout Kentuckiana," says Dawn Lee, president and CEO of WHAS Crusade for Children. "Baptist Health does such a terrific job meeting the needs of the children we serve. It is the people of this community who make it possible for WHAS Crusade for Children to provide area agencies, hospitals and schools with funds to help children with special needs. We thank each and every person who makes a donation each year." , For more information about giving, visit www.SupportBaptistHealth.org. A New Way to Walk The pediatric LiteGait® system at Baptist Health La Grange is a partial-weight-bearing gait therapy device that will help children with Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, developmental delays, traumatic brain injuries and other issues regain muscle control and mobility in a safe environment closer to home. The equipment will be purchased with a portion of the generous donation from Baptist Health Foundation and WHAS Crusade for Children. "LiteGait allows us to gradually encourage normal walking patterns," says Gary Costelle, director of Rehabilitation Services and Sports Medicine at the Hospital. "The effects of this system are life changing. It's one of the best and easiest ways to transition children to walking again or even for the first time, and it will be part of our growing pediatric rehabilitation program." Jessica Johnston, OT, left, and Lauren Haselton, PT, right, work with 5-year-old patient Jonathan McClellan using the new pediatric LiteGait system. According to Haselton, the new equipment is essential in proper gait training for Jonathan, who has cerebral palsy. Jonathan's mom Lisa has seen improvement in him from working with the therapists. 3

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