Walking into our hearts

The Spokane Shriners Hospital has 5 floors. The 5^th floor houses the OR and administrative offices like finance and performance improvement. The 4^th and 3^rd floors are home to patient care areas such as OPC, inpatient, rec therapy, social work, and nutrition. From the 5^th floor all the way down to the 1st floor with security and environmental services, all the staff had a singular experience, a singular unifying force.  This force was a 7-year-old boy from Gaza who stayed as a patient receiving prosthetic legs. His name was Wesseem, and “force” is an understatement.

Wesseem was born with a condition known as bilateral tibial hemimlia, a condition causing a malformation in his lower legs. Arrangements were made by the Washington State chapter of the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, a non-profit organization created “to address the medical and humanitarian crisis facing Palestinian youths in the Middle East.” Working with the care management team at the Spokane Shriners Hospital, arrangements were made to bring Wesseem and his mother, Sadia from their home in Gaza to Spokane with the goal of giving the young boy the ability to walk.

When mother and son arrived in Spokane, neither spoke a single word of English. As Wesseem recovered from the bilateral amputation surgery to prepare his legs to fit into custom prosthetics, the staff (nurses and security guards alike) took to teaching the lad English words and phrases. Soon his legs were healed enough to fit into his first pair of prosthetics. As Wesseem’s coordination improved, so did his English. His world expanded at the same rate as his vocabulary. Neither could keep pace, however, with the growth of his confidence. It wasn’t long before the entire hospital was introduced to a personality that would leave its mark long after he was reunited with his father and three siblings in Gaza.

With an open floor plan from ground to 5^th floor, the voice they would all come to know could be heard from anywhere in the hospital. At any point, anyone could know where he was just by listening. He raced his physical therapists down the halls, narrowly missing a nurse walking out of a room. She would smile affectionately as he sped away on his wheelchair at first…then a walker, then crutches and finally on his prosthetics without any help! Wesseem was nearing his dream of walking; of playing soccer with his friends.

Wesseem didn’t know was that as he was racing he was also learning. As he walked down to the security desk, only to call someone from the 5^th floor to bring him water, he was growing in skill and strength. Finally, he was ready. He had made new friends, nay, family and learned a new language. He learned to walk. Staff watched Wesseem walk out the front doors. Then, they did what they always do. They wiped away bittersweet tears of joy and pride and turned back to the inpatient rooms ready to give their hearts to the next child, just now checking in.

 

A Family Tradition

The sun was shining in late September when over 100 guests gathered to witness an important moment at the Spokane Shriners Hospital – the dedication of a special room on behalf of Al and Ruth Sanft, an extraordinary couple who were among our most loyal friends during their lifetimes.

As part of the Naming Opportunities program, the Sanft children elected to honor the memory of their parents with a significant donation to designate the third floor gym The Al and Ruth Sanft Rehabilitation Gym.

Al and Ruth were life members of the Nile Temple and Daughters of the Nile, respectively. Their four children, Barrie, Brina, Louie and Nettie, continue Al and Ruth’s legacy of philanthropy while also commemorating their loving parents, who were lifelong benefactors of the Spokane Shriners Hospital. While Al and Ruth’s legacy of giving spanned 50 years, son Louie has been an advocate for the past quarter-century, with donations from fund-raisers and personal contributions totaling more than $150,000!

Through the continued support and generosity of families like these, the Spokane Shriners Hospital is able to continue its 90-year tradition of providing life-changing treatment pediatric orthopaedic specialty care.

On that September day, there was a palpable sense of excitement as the Sanft Family and guests listened to a grateful patient express his appreciation for the hospitality and care he had received at the Spokane Hospital and the ways in which his treatment has affected him – his spine straightened, his pain reduced, his life forever changed for the better.

Following a ribbon cutting and celebration of the newly-named Al and Ruth Sanft Rehabilitation Room, guests travelled to the WSU Shrine Football Game in Pullman, Washington, where Louie Sanft presented yet another check for the benefit of the Spokane Shriners Hospital.

To learn more about available opportunities to commemorate someone special in your life, contact Angelique Heinzen, Director of Development, by calling 509.252.3370 or at aheinzen@shrinenet.org

A football game and a hospital. A good thing? Yes!

By: Kristin Monasmith

Director of Public Relations — Shriners Hospitals for Children – Spokane

Every summer since 1947, the “best of the best” in Montana high school football have come together to play in the Montana East West All-star Football Shrine Game to support Shriners Hospitals for Children – Spokane.

68 years of Montana communities coming together for an amazing cause. 68 years of great Montana football. 68 years ago… the football game founders had no idea the game they started would turn out to be the longest continuous Shrine game in the U.S and one of the oldest high school all-star football games in the United States.

The three Shriner Temples from Montana; Algeria in Helena, Bagdad in Butte and Al Bedoo in Billings work together to organize this amazing event to support Shriners Hospitals for Children – Spokane. All told, the game has raised more than $1,000,000 for the Spokane Shriners Hospital. In 2013 the Montana Shrine Game raised $146,000, the top donation from a Shrine Football Game in the United States to date.

Each year, Montana high schools’ finest players are selected to compete in a game not only to raise money, but to also help raise awareness of the expert pediatric orthopaedic care at the Shriners Hospital in Spokane, Washington.

The Spokane Shriners Hospital hit a milestone in 2014, celebrating its 90^th year! For 90 years, Shriners Hospitals for Children ― Spokane has been providing expert orthopaedic care to kids from birth to age eighteen regardless of their ability to pay.

Addison Benson, the 2014 Shriner Game Ambassador on the golf course. Photo credit: Larry Mayer

The Spokane Shriners Hospital treats conditions ranging from serious orthopaedic issues requiring extended care and multiple surgeries, to simple fractures and sports injuries easily corrected through same-day surgery. In addition, what some people may not know is that patients also receive physical rehabilitation, radiology, lab services and casting all within the hospital.

Addison Benson, the 2014 Shrine Game creates a promo for the football game at KTVO

In order to provide the best in orthopaedic care for the kids in our region, the hospital’s medical staff includes four fellowship trained pediatric orthopaedic surgeons, a pediatric hospitalist and four orthopaedic physician assistants and five anesthesiologists, all experienced in pediatrics.

“When your child has an orthopaedic concern, what is most important is finding an expert who understands the needs of growing bones and joints,” says Dr. Bryan Tompkins, one of Shriners Hospital Spokane’s four pediatric orthopaedic surgeons.

What We Treat:

• Scoliosis
• Knee & hip disorders and injuries
• Foot & hand injuries/deformities
• Shoulder injuries
• Sports injuries
• Club foot
• Limb discrepancy/limb loss
• Fractures/dislocations (stable)
• Prosthetics & orthotics
• Cerebral Palsy
• Rehabilitation/therapy
• Gait Analysis Lab

“Shriners Hospitals for Children – Spokane has been treating kids with orthopaedic conditions for ninety years and we are definitely poised for the next ninety,” said Peter Brewer, Shriners Hospital Spokane Administrator. “We certainly could not do this without the support of our Shriners, communities and friends through events like the Montana East West Shrine Game, we are grateful for the support.”

The hospital treats kids from all over the state of Montana. Kids like Megan, who had spine surgery and went on to win a high school state title in the high jump… or Ryan, who couldn’t walk without pain for years, came to the Spokane Hospital, had surgery and will be attending college this Fall… or kids like this year’s Game Ambassador Addison (above) who runs, jumps and plays just like any other little six year old.

Getting kids back to being kids, that’s what the hospital is all about.

Access to care at the Spokane Shriners Hospital has never been easier. The hospital accepts most major insurance networks. But, whether or not a family has insurance has never been a factor, acceptance for care is based only on medical need.

Do you know a child we can help? If you would like more information or to would like to request an appointment, please call toll free: (888) 895-5951 or visit www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/spokane.

If you would like more information about the 2014 Montana East West Shrine Game and the event activities, please visit www.montanaeastwestshrinegame.org.

Honors for Outstanding Supporters

Shriners Hospitals for Children — Spokane was graced recently by three extremely generous contributions to our mission and our cause. Two bequests by members of both Calam and Nile Shriner Temples and a donation from the Country Fair Barbeque Ladies of the Tri-Cities totaled over $6 million! We are both grateful and humbled by the support of these groups. We wouldn’t be able to provide the expert care and nurturing environment to our incredible kids without their continued support or that of so many others in the community.

The Country Fair Barbeque Ladies have been supporting our hospital for 44 years. In that time, they have provided equipment which has been used for clinical care, innovative research, improved recoveries and, of course, for providing enjoyable stays that are fondly remembered by many children. Over 25 years ago, the group was responsible for funding the original equipment used in the Movement Analysis Laboratory in the Spokane Shriners Hospital (one of only 9 fully accredited such labs in the nation). The group later helped fund the “big toy” in the playground area. Most recently, they were honored for all their efforts by the hospital, naming the family waiting room in their honor.

Cliff (a member of the Calam Temple for over 50 years) & Elsie Lathen left a large bequest to the hospital system’s endowment fund. Chuck Wilder, a member of the Nile Temple for 45 years, also left a large bequest to the Spokane hospital. Their legacies will live on in the smiles of the children of our hospital for years to come. Their generosity was commemorated with medallions which were placed on the Philanthropic Society Wall in the entry to the Hospital.

We take great pride in providing the best in pediatric orthopaedics to our children in an environment where every patient and their family feel welcome and important. This requires having expert providers, outstanding nurses and cutting edge equipment. Most importantly, it requires people who truly love this hospital and its mission. For all this to come together, we rely heavily on the support of our community. We never cease to be amazed by the support we consistently receive. Thank you to all of you.

WSU Shrine Game

For over 20 years, Louie Sanft has been giving generously to the Spokane Shriners Hospital.  In that time, he has donated over $35,000!  The latest  contribution came in the form of a check for $3,500 presented to Shriners, Shriners Hospitals for Children – Spokane staff, and to a very special Shriners Patient Ambassador.  Among the Shriners present were El Katif Potentate Buck Buchanan and Calam Potentate Rob Turnipseed  The presentation was made during the WSU vs UI Homecoming football game at Martin Stadium.

On Hand to help recieve the donation was Spokane Shriners Hospital Patient Ambassador, Hannah Cvancara. Hannah has been a Shriners patient since birth.  Ever since Hannah’s left leg was amputated, she has continued to push herself academically and physically, participating in six different sports, completing the Navy SEAL fitness Challenge in May, and sings and plays piano. In February of 2013, she received the honor of being crowned Miss Spokane 2013.  She was presented with an autographed WSU Football.  Hannah, currently a WSU Freshman, is a perfect reminder of the great things that Shriners Kids can perform with expert care and a positive attitude.

The night, however, focused on the generosity of Mr. Louie Sanft.  His fundraising efforts brought $3,500 to help children just like Hannah.  Thank you, Louie for all your efforts.  You are a true humanitarian.