Community Update

Market Basket Hosts Celebrity Turkey Bowl

Turkey Bowl 2018

The Market Basket Foundation hosted a Celebrity Turkey Bowl on November 8, 2018. 16 local celebrities gathered to compete on behalf of the charity of their choice at Market Basket in Beaumont, Texas. Teams of two took turns rolling a 12-pound, frozen turkey down the aisle toward 10 bowling pins. Don Brake with NASH FM 101.7 and Jazzie Redd with Magic 102.5 chose to compete for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

After an entertaining morning filled with flying frozen poultry, Greg Kerr and Kimberly Rusley with FOX 4 were crowned Turkey Bowl Champions. Market Basket awarded them an impressive trophy and donated $1,000 to the charity of their choice. As for everyone else, Market Basket generously donated $500 to each celebrity’s selected charity.

Thank you, Market Basket, for hosting such an entertaining competition and for your generous donation. And, special thanks to Don and Jazzie for participating on behalf of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. The donation we received will help sick and injured kids in Southeast Texas get the life-saving medical care they deserve.

Read more local stories from Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

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Golden Pass LNG Golf Tournament

Golden Pass LNG 2Held at the Beaumont Country Club, this year’s Golden Pass LNG Swinging for a Miracle Golf Tournament was a hole in one, with businesses and organizations from all over the community coming together to golf for two great causes: Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals and the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation.

The weather was crisp and cool, making it a perfect tournament day for all 38 golf teams. With team representation ranging from restaurants to industry to health care companies, we were able to educate a wide variety of community business people about the mission of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. A delicious lunch was provided by WOW Food Concepts. From serving breakfast to delivering drinks and snacks, we could not have hosted this event without our wonderful volunteers. This year we raised over $40,000 to help sick and injured kids in Southeast Texas get the care they need.

Golden Pass LNG played a huge part in the success of our tournament by returning as our Platinum Sponsor and bringing four teams of talented golfers to participate. We greatly appreciate their generosity and continuous support of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals in Southeast Texas!

 

1st Place - Merrill LynchCongratulations to our winners!

First Place — Merrill Lynch

Second Place — Renegade Industrial

Third Place — Golden Pass LNG

Closest to the Pin — Josh Hieronymus

Longest Drive — Jerry Nathan

Pelican Cooler Raffle — Josh Baker

 

Read more local stories from Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

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Walmart Raises Over $55,000 for CMN

 

Walmart Associates Tour St. Elizabeth

This year, Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, customers and members from across Southeast Texas raised over $55,000 for local Children’s Miracle Network  (CMN) Hospitals, CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth and Jasper Memorial.

Customers and members were given the opportunity to donate at the register during Walmart and Sam’s Club’s fundraising campaign in October. In addition to the register campaign,  Walmart associates enjoyed hosting fundraisers throughout the year.

West Orange Popcorn Sale 10.05.18 2Walmart associates in West Orange rolled up their sleeves and participated in Fundraising Friday. Each Friday, they hosted a different fundraiser for CMN Hospitals. One day, they took turns selling popcorn to associates and customers. Another day, they cooked up savory links and served them in the break room with ice cold drinks for a $5 donation. Associates were thrilled to participate knowing their hot meal helped kids at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth and Jasper Memorial.

The managers at Walmart in Jasper are great sports when it comes to raising money for sick and injured kids. Dakota (left) and Sam (right) were challenged to dress up and stay in “jail” until they raised over $200 in donations. Thankfully, they both met their goal and were released before the end of the day.

Jasper Jail Unicorn Dakota Nagy 09.14.18 1

Jasper Jail Chicken Manager Sam 09.14.18 3Bridge City associates got creative by making a wishing well at the front of the store. They posted a sign inviting customers to “toss a coin and save a life.”

Together, the eleven Walmart and Sam’s Clubs in our area exceeded expectations by raising over $55,000. We are so grateful to the associates at each store who put their heart into the fundraising and really have fun with it.  We are looking forward to another year of exciting fundraisers in 2019.

Read more local stories from Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

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Hospitalized Girl Receives Special Doll

Moana Doll with NG Tube2A pediatric patient at CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth was feeling uncomfortable and withdrawn after receiving an NG tube in her nose to help her get better. Her stress levels were high and she was not healing as quickly as doctors expected. Thankfully, St. Elizabeth’s Certified Child Life Specialist, Ashley Bares, came to the rescue.

After making a few adjustments, Ashley gave the patient a one-of-a-kind Baby Moana doll donated by The Walt Disney Company. When the little girl saw that Moana had an NG tube just like she did, she was tickled with excitement. She started talking more and began to heal. Now, she’s back at home with her family and her new, custom Moana doll.

Read more local stories from Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals.

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Panda Warmers for Infants

Panda_Warmer_bro_e_Seite_6_Bild_0001_275X285The CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation recently purchased a Panda Warmer for the Center for New Life, the Labor and Delivery Unit at CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital. This purchase is part of an overarching project with the goal of outfitting the Center for New Life with a total of 19 Panda Warmers (one for each of the 19 Labor and Delivery Rooms). To date, the Foundation has already raised funding for nine Panda Warmers.

We are still in need of 10 additional Panda Warmers to complete the project.

The warmers are primarily used for two reasons: resuscitation and stimulation. Last year alone, 300 newborns at the Center for New Life needed resuscitation. The resuscitation devices are available to all of the 2,000+ deliveries each year at CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital. These warmers provide lifesaving resuscitation therapy in times of emergency.

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Comprehensive Cancer Care at CHRISTUS

affirmThe CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation (Foundation) is proud to announce major medical equipment additions to the Mamie McFaddin Ward Cancer Center and to the Cancer Floor at CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital. For the past several years, the Foundation has worked with local foundations and individual philanthropists to update these cancer care centers with state of the art equipment to offer the best in cancer detection and treatment.

In the past year alone, the Foundation has secured $486,000 in funding for the following pieces of major medical cancer equipment:

$316,000 for a 3D Breast Biopsy Guidance System and accompanying DynaCAD MRI Software. The 3D Breast Biopsy Guidance System is a minimally invasive procedure that provides more precise targeting of mammography abnormalities, resulting in improved workflow, less patient radiation dose, and shorter patient procedure time. The DynaCAD MRI Software, which is connected to the 3D Breast Biopsy Guidance System, enhances productivity and accuracy.

$118,000 for a BK Ultrasound Unit and treatment planning software. This offers a safe and effective treatment for patients who are not suitable for traditional prostate surgery. This unique ultrasound system will allow CHRISTUS to implement a robust hospital-based program that is safe, convenient, well-tolerated, and highly effective.

$52,000 grant for a Bone Density Machine – a system vital for cancer patient care – for the Cancer Floor at CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital. The new Bone Density Machine is vital to the health of our cancer patients here in the hospital. Many of the medications that cancer patients take can cause bone loss. With this system, CHRISTUS physicians can more easily detect bone loss and treat it while it is still manageable.

In addition, this Bone Density Machine will be used by physicians checking for osteoporosis in the general patient population, as well as with gastric bypass patients who are more prone to bone loss due to diet changes. As patients age, this machine assists the physicians with creating prevention plans and treatment plans.

In 2015, the Foundation secured $425,000 to purchase 3D Mammography, which presents a clearer picture to the radiologists, decreasing the number of unnecessary callbacks. The 3D Mammography is more likely to detect invasive cancer at an early stage, catching the tumor before it spreads.

In 2014, The Foundation secured another $425,000 to purchase 3D Mammography for the Mamie McFaddin Ward Cancer Center.

“The Foundation is proud to have raised over $1.3 million to help offer the best in cancer detection and treatment at our CHRISTUS facilities in Beaumont. We strive to give CHRISTUS patients peace of mind knowing they are getting the highest quality in cancer care right here at home,” said Ivy Pate, Foundation President.

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November 17 is Saint Elizabeth Memorial Day

Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, 1207-1231
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, 1207-1231

Elizabeth was born to the King of Hungary in 1207. When she grew up, she was politically matched to a Prince, whom she loved, and had three children with him. Although she was living as royalty, Elizabeth’s true passion was caring for the poor. She did this each day but, after a while, her husband began to pressure her to stop. So, she became creative and started leaving the castle to meet the poor with food and staples hidden in her frock.

Becoming suspicious, one day her husband followed her and questioned what was in her frock. Elizabeth turned to him and, just before she opened her frock, the food and staples turned into beautiful, red roses. Seeing the roses, her husband was satisfied never questioned her again.

Today, you will notice that most pictures of Elizabeth portray her with food and red roses. In her short lifetime, she had a hospital built for the poor and became known for having fed 900 starving people daily during a great famine. Tragedy struck when her husband was killed in a crusade followed by a political struggle which drove her from the castle. Elizabeth then lived and worked with the poor and died in 1231 at the age of 24.

In 1235, Pope Gregory IX canonized her as a saint. This means that the Church believes the example of Elizabeth’s life is a model we can learn from. It is with great pride that we have our hospital, CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth, named after her. We are honored to remember the example of her life on her official memorial day, November 17th.

New Defibrillators for Emergency Department

zoll-r-series-als-defibrillator-with-expansion-pack-2_zpswboiqick_1024x1024The CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation received a grant from The Hearst Foundations for eight defibrillators for the Emergency Department. A defibrillator is an electrical device that provides a shock to the heart when there is a life-threatening abnormal heart rhythm. The defibrillators are used close to 2,400 times a year, averaging about 200 times per month. Because they are in constant use, upgrading these pieces of equipment was vital.

The Hearst Foundations are national philanthropic resources for organizations and institutions working in the fields of Education, Health, Culture and Social Service. They work to ensure that people of all backgrounds have the opportunity to build healthy, productive and inspiring lives. In operation for over 70 years, The Hearst Foundations have made over 20,000 grants totaling over $1 billion.

The Hearst Foundations have given a total of $250,000 to the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation. These generous grants enabled us to renovate the CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and purchase lifesaving equipment for the Center for New Life and the Emergency Department.

The CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation is honored to be a recipient of The Hearst Foundations’ continued generosity.

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New Equipment for NICU

Transport IncubatorThe CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation received a grant from the Will Rogers Foundation Brave Beginnings Program to purchase one transport incubator. Brave Beginnings is a program of the Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation working to ensure ventilators and vital neonatal equipment are always available to newborns in critical need. Since 2006, Brave Beginnings has contributed millions of dollars to facilities across the United States. Each year, the program spends roughly $1 million in grants awarded to hospitals nationwide. The funds are used to purchase vital equipment for Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) caring for fragile lives born too soon.

Transport Incubators are vital to the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas St. Elizabeth NICU. Every admission to the NICU is transported from the delivery room to the NICU in a transport incubator. Additionally, admissions from the emergency department and well newborns requiring diagnostic testing off the floor are transported in a transport incubator.

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New Breast Cancer Prevention Equipment

Maintaining momentum for state of the art equipment in breast cancer prevention and care, the CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Foundation secured funding for a 3D Breast Biopsy Guidance System. This funding was made possible by the generosity of a local foundation, The Mamie McFaddin Ward Heritage Foundation, and a local donors, Teressa Kountz and Tonya Heldeston.

“We are so grateful to have funding from foundations and from individuals in our area who are committed to continuing the CHRISTUS ministry by funding major medical equipment. This helps us provide lifesaving care to our patients,” said Ivy Pate, Foundation President. “The Mamie McFaddin Ward Heritage Foundation has been a steadfast supporter of CHRISTUS for years, and we are so blessed to continue that philanthropic relationship. In addition, we are honored to have the generous support of individuals like Mrs. Teressa Kountz and Tonya Heldeston, who helped fund two different piece of breast cancer prevention equipment.”

This new Biopsy System will help us to build on the measurable successes we have seen from the 3D Mammography — improved early detection rates and improved accuracy in diagnoses. This Biopsy System normally accompanies 3D Mammography systems, but had not yet before had the funding to order it.

3D Mammo Biopsy

The 3D Biopsy System is a minimally invasive procedure that uses x-ray imaging to guide the physician directly to the lesion in the breast that cannot be seen with standard 2D digital mammography. This system provides precise targeting of mammography abnormalities seen only on 3D images, aiding in confirming clearer and more definitive diagnoses. This new system speeds targeting the lesion, resulting in improved workflow, less patient radiation dose, and shorter patient procedure time.

DynacadThis system is designed with patients’ physical and emotional comfort in mind, offering more accurate, less invasive, less painful, and less time-consuming procedures for both the patient and the physician.

In addition, local donors Teressa Kountz and Tonya Heldeston also funded the new DynaCAD MRI Software. This software system, which is connected to the 3D Biopsy System, will enhance our radiologist’s confidence, productivity and accuracy. Our very own Dr. Lemeshko is the only radiologist in the Southeast Texas area that can read this software, enabling more patients to stay close to home rather than having to travel to Houston.

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