Expressions, Spring 1997
News
- Inaugural Walter's Children's Charity Classic benefits LLUCH
- Handcar relay pumps up excitement
- Health fair provides 925 free immunizations
- Children's Hospital honors hometown heroes at annual gala
- Clergy Conference focuses on child abuse
- NASA launches research in new Chan Shun Pavilion
- Breast cancer survivors share strength at fashion presentation
- Hundreds converge to run out cancer
- Nordstrom Women's Health and Mammography Center opens
- Lighting up lives through Loma Linda Hospice
- Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House celebrates grand opening
- Free flu shots popular among seniors
- TMR heart surgery offers alternative to bypass surgery
- Pediatric Heart and Lung Transplantion conference attracts international audience
- Series provides alternatives to heart disease
Inaugural Walter's Children's Charity Classic benefits LLUCH
Luxury cars and sick children are two things not usually associated with each other. But with the partnership between Walter's Mercedes Benz of Riverside and LLU Children's Hospital, sick children are benefiting from money raised through the Walter's Children Charity Classic annual charity golf tournament.
Held at the Canyon Crest Country Club in Riverside last November, the inaugural tournament hosted more than 100 players and raised $50,000.
The next tournament will be held on September 29. For more information, call (909) 688-3332.
Handcar relay pumps up excitement
To raise money for a new infusion pump for Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, Chuck Hammond, Clem Grieco, Kevin Holman, and Tim Hutchins along with 48 Union Pacific employees took time out of a weekend to pump a railroad handcar for more than 30 miles from Riverside to City of Industry, California.
The second annual endeavor raised $4,200 for Loma Linda University Children's Hospital.
Health fair provides 925 free immunizations
Loma Linda University Children's Hospital had the highest attendance at a Kids Care Fair of 35 sites in Southern California for the fourth consecutive year. Health professionals provided free immunizations, medical and dental screenings, and health information to over 2,500 people.
Children's Hospital honors hometown heroes at annual gala
To honor those who make a difference in the lives of children, the Children's Hospital Foundation has inaugurated the Hometown Hero Award. This year 10 individuals were recognized with awards on the evening of the Fourth Annual Children's Hospital Foundation Gala: A. Gary Anderson, Larry Beynon, Glenda Burnett, Debi Faris, Kent Paxton, Suzie Prado-Cardoza, Charlie Seymour, Tom and Candy Spiel, and Nila Stein.
The Gala was held at the Loma Linda University Drayson Center on February 2. Singer Rita Coolidge entertained more than 600 guests, and Bob Eubanks hosted the event.
For his exceptional service for children, the Honorable J. Patrick Morris was honored with the Shirley N. Pettis Award. This award was established in 1995 to recognize distinguished and outstanding service in improving the status of children.
Clergy Conference focuses on child abuse
Every day, in brutal and subtle ways, children are abused: physically, sexually, emotionally, spiritually, directly and indirectly as witnesses to abuse. Too often this occurs in the home at the hands of those who should be protectors. The damage to the child is life-long, affecting deeply all areas of life.
The second annual Clergy Conference, sponsored by Loma Linda University Children's Hospital, Medical Center, and Behavioral Medicine Center in December 1996, educated and equipped about 300 clergy, health-care workers, and other caregivers with tactics and techniques for helping families address their problems appropriately. Attendees were also empowered with how to protect children from further damage.
"Clergy and religious workers have opportunities to help these children," says Tim Evans, MDiv, Children's Hospital chaplain and conference coordinator. "They have eyes to see signs and ears to hear the soft cries for help."
At the second annual Clergy Conference, "When Love Hurts: Children at Risk at Home," held at Loma Linda University, special recognition was given to Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Rogers. Future honorees will be awarded the Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Commitment to the Spirituality of Children Lifetime Award for their dedication to children of the Inland Empire.
NASA launches research in new Chan Shun Pavilion
Loma Linda University and Medical Center recently opened the Cancer Institute's research facility, located in the new Chan Shun Pavilion. The LLU/NASA Radiobiology Laboratory, a collaborative outgrowth between the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the Proton Treatment Center, occupies a significant portion of the Chan Shun Pavilion and supports a research program with the goal of understanding the effects of proton radiation on astronauts and their equipment while traveling through deep space.
In exchange, the NASA scientists have agreed to share their findings with researchers at Loma Linda University and Medical Center. This research will help provide more innovative approaches to cancer care.
Breast cancer survivors share strength at fashion presentation
For most breast cancer patients, finding the best ways to look and feel good during and after breast cancer treatment can be a challenge. To demonstrate the beauty found in the courage, strength, and coping abilities of individuals who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, the Loma Linda University Cancer Institute and Nordstrom Galleria at Tyler in Riverside co-sponsored the third Annual "Making the Most of Me" last October.
The fashion/image presentation increased public awareness of breast cancer issues including early detection, the latest treatment options, reconstruction, survivorship, and other issues. An audience of more than 400 included breast cancer survivors, their families, friends, caregivers, and others interested in learning about this life-threatening disease, which will affect one in eight American women.
Hundreds converge to run out cancer
With inspiration to support the fight against cancer, more than 450 runners and walkers participated in the eight kilometer Running Out Cancer race in Loma Linda last October. Sponsored by the LLU Cancer Institute, the annual race began with the release of 12 doves symbolizing freedom and hope for the future that a cure for cancer will be found. Proceeds from the race are used to promote excellence in patient care and to support the fight against cancer.
Nordstrom Women's Health and Mammography Center opens
In an effort to provide convenient, direct access to high-quality mammography in a friendly, non-threatening environment, Loma Linda University Cancer Institute collaborated with Nordstrom to open The Women's Health and Mammography Center in Riverside's Nordstrom Galleria at Tyler in September 1996.
Women can make an appointment or simply walk up to the counter, receive a pager, and shop until paged for their mammogram. This method creates a convenient, less threatening, and less stressful experience.
The Center, located in Nordstrom's Health and Beauty Center on level one, operates Monday through Thursday, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Lighting up lives through Loma Linda Hospice
Loma Linda Hospice believes the terminally ill should have the opportunity to live as comfortably as possible during their final days. In addition to helping the patient die with dignity at home, the hospice team extends support to family members during their loved one's illness to support and help them express and understand their emotional grief. In 1996, the hospice team provided physical, social, psychological, and spiritual care to 239 patients as well as hundreds of family members.
Each year, Loma Linda Hospice sponsors Light Up a Life to support patients and their families. In 1996, 260 people contributed nearly $12,000 through this effort.
Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House celebrates grand opening
The Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House celebrated its grand opening as a "home away from home" for families of children receiving treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital and other nearby medical facilities.
Many of the children brought to Loma Linda University Children's Hospital for treatment come long distances which creates a hardship for their families. The House serves families from other countries as well as families who are forced to choose between a daily commute of several hours in order to be with their children or to pay an unbearable extra expense for local lodging.
"The Ronald McDonald House has served more than 350 families since the House opened on September 12, 1996," says Mark Chow, executive director. "The House serves as a low-cost, yet pleasant home-away-from-home for up to 18 families at a time."
Candace Spiel (left), chair of Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House's board of trustees, and five children help Ronald McDonald cut the ribbon to officially open the new Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House last September.
Free flu shots popular among seniors
More than 1,400 seniors drove their cars up to a nurse or walked to a tent to receive a free flu shot at Loma Linda University Community Medical Center last September.
According to the Department of Health, 80 percent of all flu-related deaths are among the senior population.
For information on the various benefits available to seniors through Community Medical Center's "Just for Seniors" program, call (909) 796-6618.
TMR heart surgery offers alternative to bypass surgery
Marlon Wasemiller, like many 76-year-old men, developed incapacitating angina from coronary artery disease. Unfortunately, studies of his heart revealed that all of the blood vessels to the side of his heart were irreversibly blocked, while some vessels on the front and back of his heart could be bypassed.
In the past, bypass surgery could be done but would have been only partially successful since some of his heart would still be starved for blood.
But last September, Mr. Wasemiller was the first person in a series of clinical trials to undergo a combined procedure of coronary artery bypass plus transmycardial revascularization (TMR) with an excimer laser delivery system, developed by United States Surgical Corporation at Loma Linda University Medical Center.
According to Steven R. Gundry, MD, head of cardiothoracic surgery at Loma Linda University Medical Center, TMR is a relatively new procedure in which holes are drilled through the heart muscle into the left ventricle (pumping chamber) which contains oxygen-rich blood. "Blood can travel through these holes directly into the heart muscles," said Dr. Gundry. "In fact, this is the way most reptiles nourish their heart muscles."
Until now, this procedure has been tested using a "hot" laser which is so hot that it generates steam bubbles inside the heart. In contrast, the excimer laser is a "cold" laser which is intended to produce minimal damage to the surrounding heart tissue. It is hoped that this new laser can extend the benefits of bypass surgery, and may, in time, be able to replace bypass operations.
For more information on participating in the clinical trials for TMR heart surgery, call (909) 558-4652 or (909) 558-4208.
Pediatric Heart and Lung Transplantion conference attracts international audience
More than 350 physicians and other health professionals from around the world attended Loma Linda International Heart Institute and Loma Linda University Children's Hospital's Third Loma Linda International Conference on Pediatric Heart and Lung Transplantation in January in Rancho Mirage, California.
The conference focused on current scientific data from all academic disciplines involved in pediatric heart and lung transplantation, the long-term dilemmas that affect quality of life and limit survival of children following heart and lung transplantation, and the practical management techniques and strategies used in pediatric heart and lung transplant programs in many areas of the world.
Series provides alternatives to heart disease
Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer in America, responsible for more than 2,600 deaths each day. San Bernardino County has the highest number of cardiovascular disease deaths in California. Since Loma Linda is located in this county, the potential for saving lives is significant.
To help decrease these deaths, the International Heart Institute, Emergency Cardiac Care Center, and Center for Health Promotion (CHP) presented "Take Heart '97," a series of educational events for the community on how to live a heart-healthy lifestyle.
Held during February -- American Heart Month -- over 1,000 in the community attended a free health fair and educational meetings presented on exercise, control of heart disease risks, heart disease reversal, heart-wise cooking, hypertension and stroke awareness, medications, and stress.
The CHP offers health classes throughout the year. For information, call (909) 558-4594.
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