Category Archives: Events
Join Us for Adaptive Sports Fun on May 5th!
Mark Your Calendar for Sunday, May 5
Sunday, May 5, will be a great day for a bike ride—regardless of the weather! Make plans now to attend the Adapted Bike and Sports Expo sponsored by Gillette and Courage Center.
You’ll have a chance to:
- See and test ride the latest adaptive hand cycles, bicycles and trikes
- Participate in adaptive rock climbing and ropes demonstrations
- Learn about adapted recreation offerings in the Twin Cities
It’s fun. And it’s free!
One person looking forward to the event is Tony Mliner, who has cerebral palsy. He hadn’t ridden a bike since he was a child—until he came to Gillette Lifetime for physical therapy. “We saw the bikes in the therapy room and it piqued his interest,” says Cindy Kreidler, Mliner’s aunt. “He rode through the whole therapy room with a smile on his face.”
The benefits of biking are numerous, particularly for people who have disabilities. “It will give him mobility, allow him to exercise, and help him meet people,” Kreidler says. Mliner says he hopes to increase his strength, core stability, balance, and reaction time.
“Because of my disabilities, I need a special bike that has been adapted for me,” he says. “Then I can ride successfully, safely and with greater independence.”
At least eight bike vendors will attend the expo this year, giving families a variety of bike options to try. “If you’re looking for an adapted bicycle for yourself or your child, I highly recommend this event,” says Krista Ash, Gillette therapeutic recreation specialist. She and other Gillette staff will be on hand to answer questions and introduce the most appropriate vendors for each situation.
Because insurance typically doesn’t cover sports equipment, Mliner and his family are planning a fundraiser for May 18. Gillette therapeutic recreation specialists can help Gillette families learn about grants and other funding options
12th Annual Adaptive Bike and Sports Expo
Sunday, May 5, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fort Snelling Base Camp
Bloomington, Minn.
For more information, contact Krista Ash at 651-312-3138 or kristaash@gillettechildrens.com
Epilepsy – Family Education Day
Saturday, April 13, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wilder Center
451 Lexington Parkway North
St. Paul, Minnesota
Gillette and the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota invite you to learn more about a child’s stages of development and the effect of those stages on epilepsy. You’ll learn about living well with epilepsy and hear about these topics:
- Life Stages and Epilepsy: Fostering Self-Efficacy Across the Life Span—Jen Maytum, doctor of nursing practice.
- The Importance of Sleep in Children With Underlying Neurological Conditions—Laurel Wills, M.D.
- Helping Children and Families Adjust to Seizures: What Parents Should Know—Katherine Buhrke, Ph.D.
- Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota: Resources and Report
This event is free and includes a box lunch. For more information, email Nikki Baker at nbaker@efmn.org. To register, email rsvp@efmn.org.
Gillette Families Celebrate Rare Disease Day at the Mall of America
This past Saturday, more than 150 Gillette patients and their families gathered at Mall of America to recognize, and celebrate, Rare Disease Day. Co-hosted by Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare and the University of Minnesota Center for Orphan Drug Research, Rare Disease Day raised awareness of children living with rare medical conditions and the importance of continued research for improved treatment outcomes. As part of Rare Disease Day, families heard from representatives with Gillette and the U of M, and had a blast meeting SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, and other friends from Nickelodeon Universe.
Although this is Minnesota’s first Rare Disease Day, it is celebrated throughout the U.S. and around the world as a way to call attention to the importance of funding for orphan drugs – drugs used to treat unusual medical conditions, but which often don’t make it out of laboratories. This is often because prioritization is put on drugs that would help conditions affecting millions, rather than the fewer individuals with rare disorders.
Here in Minnesota, Gillette—a hospital that specializes in treating kids with disabilities and complex medical conditions—has partnered with the U of M’s Center for Orphan Drug Research since the 1990s to research and develop new treatment advancements for rare medical conditions. Such treatments have already helped thousands of families in Minnesota and beyond, and have potential to help thousands more.
Family Focus Edition – Upcoming Events
Muscular Dystrophy Lab Day/Open House
Saturday, Feb. 9, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Paul and Sheila Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center
Academic Health Center, Fourth Floor
University of Minnesota
Visit the Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Center to tour the lab, meet the staff, and get to know the researchers who are working toward a cure for muscle diseases. Kids and families can take part in fun “research experiments.” Enjoy free parking and refreshments. For more information, call 612-626-0822 or email mdcenter@umn.edu.
Muscular Dystrophy Association: Muscle Walk
Saturday, March 9, 7:45 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Mall of America
Bloomington, Minn.
This event brings people together in a fundraising effort to defeat muscle disease. To register, visit www.musclewalkmda.org/2013twincities
Epilepsy – Family Education Day
Saturday, April 13, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wilder Center
451 Lexington Parkway North
St. Paul, Minnesota
Gillette and the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota invite you to learn more about a child’s stages of development and the effect of those stages on epilepsy. You’ll learn about living well with epilepsy and hear about these topics:
- Life Stages and Epilepsy: Fostering Self-Efficacy Across the Life Span—Jen Maytum, doctor of nursing practice.
- The Importance of Sleep in Children With Underlying Neurological Conditions—Laurel Wills, M.D.
- Helping Children and Families Adjust to Seizures: What Parents Should Know—Katherine Buhrke, Ph.D.
- Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota: Resources and Report
This event is free and includes a box lunch. For more information, email Nikki Baker at nbaker@efmn.org. To register, email rsvp@efmn.org.
Light Up the Night Gala
Saturday, May 4, 6 p.m.
Minneapolis Marriott southwest
5801 Opus Parkway
Hopkins, Minn.
Enjoy dinner, silent/live auctions and entertainment—featuring composer and guitarist Billy McLaughlin—while you support people who have epilepsy. Tickets are $100 per person and sponsorships are available. To learn more or order tickets, visit the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota website at www.efmn.org
Parent Connect Programs
Twin Cities; Fargo, N.D.
Ongoing
For information about Parent Connect programs in the Twin Cities and Fargo, N.D., or to learn about family events throughout Minnesota, visit the Epilepsy Foundation of Minnesota website at www.efmn.org.
Rett Syndrome Caregiver Education Day
Saturday, April 20
Gillette staff, University of Minnesota researchers, and the Minnesota Rett Syndrome Research Association will hold their sixth annual conference in April. It’s devoted to the latest in supportive therapies, research and education to improve the lives of people affected by Rett syndrome. Watch for details in next month’s Family Focus Edition.
Thank You, KS95 for Kids Sponsors!
As we gear up for the KS95 for Kids Radiothon this Thursday and Friday, we wanted to take a moment to recognize, and thank, our generous sponsors who have made this year’s event possible.
Target
C.H. Robinson Worldwide
Treasure Island Resort & Casino
Anytime Fitness
Deli Express
Larkin Hoffman
CenturyLink
SuperAmerica
Dairy Queen
Suave Kids
Mall of America
Axa Advisors
Comcast
Be sure to listen to 94.5 FM, KS95, on Thursday, December 6 and Friday, December 7 for opportunities to have your gift matched by our KS95 for Kids partners.
Science-Minded High Schoolers Experience Surgery Simulation
Students from St. Paul’s Washington Technology Magnet School took a break from reading, writing and arithmetic today. Instead, they came to Gillette to scrub in for surgery — literally! Gillette welcomed biomedical and anatomy students into its newly opened Surgery Simulation Center, part of efforts to help them learn about, and experience, careers in the medical field. Students participated in scenarios they might encounter as a physician, nurse, technician, or biomedical engineer working in an operating room.
We’re excited to help young people learn more about careers in health and medicine. But surgical simulation also plays a critical role in training, patient safety, and continued innovations in patient care. Because Gillette’s Simulation Center is unique positioned — it’s directly adjacent to real-life operating rooms and imaging suites —medical staff can rehearse procedures in the actual surgical environment (most hospital Simulation Centers are located at off-site facilities). Co-location in the operating room also allows staff to utilize the space even during short periods of free time.
Thank you to Washington students and teachers, and to Gillette’s surgery staff, for making today a success!
Happy National Doctors Day from Gillette
From improving patients’ independence to offering families a level of pediatric expertise unavailable elsewhere, Gillette physicians make a tremendous difference in the lives of the children and families we serve. In honor of National Doctors Day, we’re sharing some little-known facts about our talented physicians here at Gillette. Did you know:
- Gillette orthopedic surgeons travel annually to Quito, Ecuador to perform complex procedures on children, and to train South American physicians in the latest surgical techniques.
- Our pediatric rehabilitation medicine group is the largest in the U.S.
- Gillette’s specialty care focus attracts physicians from throughout the U.S. and beyond. Last year alone, we added more than 10 new doctors!
- We have among the nation’s largest practice groups of board-certified pediatric orthopedic surgeons.
- U.S. News & World Report recognizes Gillette as among the nation’s Best Children’s Hospitals in pediatric orthopedics and pediatric neurology/neurosurgery.
Do you have a special message for a doctor at Gillette? Leave a comment below!
Pediatric orthopedic surgeons Jim Gage, Steven Koop and Tom Novacheck are among the Gillette physicians who perform orthopedic care in Quito, Ecuador, in partnership with physicians from around the world.
KS95 for Kids Returns December 9 & 10
The KS95 for Kids Radiothon returns to the airways this December, just in time to celebrate the season of giving! We’ll broadcast live from Mall of America’s Bloomingdale’s Court – and, as always, on 94.5, KS95 – sharing inspiring stories of local kids who are triumphing over complex disabilities or childhood cancer. Listeners will have to option to call-in their donations, or stop by the mall on Friday, December 9 (6:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.) and Saturday, December 10 (7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) to make a gift in person.
Tune In…Collect Change…Help Local Kids!
We’re thrilled to welcome back the KS95 for Kids’ Change for Kids program, as well. Individuals, schools and community organizations can collect change for the chance to attend an exclusive party at Mall of America’s Nickelodeon Universe on Sunday, March 4th. Click here to learn more and sign up! We’ll collect change, and distribute party vouchers, at the Mall of America on December 9 and December 10.
Want to get the latest KS95 for Kids news and updates? “Like” KS95 for Kids on Facebook. On Twitter? Follow us @KS95forKids.
Hispanic Radiothon es una Gran Celebración
On Friday and Saturday, we took to the airwaves to raise awareness of, and funds for, Gillette. And we did it in a way that, while relatively new, is proving effective for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals across the U.S. Inspired by these successes, we partnered with Radio Rey, Land O’Lakes and Cub Foods to hold our first-ever Hispanic Radiothon, Radio Rey with Love for the Kids. Throughout the two-day event, Radio Rey shared the stories of families in the Twin Cities Hispanic community whose children receive care at Gillette. Bilingual Gillette employees, too, spoke about their dedication to Gillette’s mission. Pre-taped interviews were combined with live on-air broadcasts from Cub Foods locations in St. Paul and Minneapolis. The result? A high-energy fundraiser that raised more than $13,000 through call-in and walk-up donations!
Thank you to our friends at Radio Rey, Land O’ Lakes, and Cub Foods for their support. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event!
This family - pictured with Andrea from Radio Rey - stopped by our donation box in St. Paul.
One of our featured families visited us in Minneapolis - and dropped off money they'd collected from family and friends.
Radio Rey's colorful truck drew attention to our walk-up table.
These guys - pictured with Andrea from Radio Rey - donated $20 each!
Diego from Communidades Latinas Unidas en Servicio and his son, Rafael, stopped by to show support.
A Weekend of Raising Awareness for Hydrocephalus
Did you know that September is Hydrocephalus Awareness Month? With last weekend’s events a success – Gillette’s Childhood-Onset Hydrocephalus conference on Saturday, and the 2nd annual Minneapolis Hydrocephalus Walk on Sunday – we couldn’t think of a better time to share more about the condition, which occurs when too much fluid builds up on the brain. Click here to learn about causes and treatments for hydrocephalus.
Here at Gillette, more than 1,500 children come to us for help managing their hydrocephalus. Two of those kids are Jack Borchardt and Lana Sorenson. Jack’s mom, Tara, organized the first-ever Hydrocephalus Walk last year. Lana’s mom, Heather, headed up this year’s walk. We thought today would be a great time to check in to see how Jack and Lana are doing. And we’re happy to report the answer is: great!
Jack is thriving in second grade – he especially likes reading and math – and outside of school, loves practicing his counting skills by beating his dad at Monopoly. Although Jack still struggles with some effects of the condition, he hasn’t needed surgery for more than a year and a half. “At Gillette, we can get everything we need,” Tara says. “They help me be the best mom I can be.”
Lana is an energetic, imaginative 5-year-old — and proud big sister to a new baby brother. A summer surgery at Gillette has changed Lana’s life for the better, according to Heather. “Even though a hospital stay is not usually an enjoyable thing, Lana still talks very fondly of her nurses and her time at Gillette!” she says.
Are you a family member of a child with hydrocephalus? Join the Minneapolis Hydrocephalus Support Group on Facebook.
Gillette's Hydrocephalus Walk team included neurosurgeon Dr. Michael Partington and nurse practioners Terri Schultz and Amanda Seeley.
Lana proudly holds her team's sign at the Hydrocephalus Walk.
Another shot of the Gillette team.
Team spirit!
Before the start of second grade, Jack enjoyed a trip to Washington state - and the Seattle zoo.
