iHeartMedia Augusta’s Cares for Kids Radiothon returns to Children’s Hospital of Georgia

For the 19th year, Children’s Hospital of Georgia will host the Cares for Kids Radiothon, which will air on WBBQ 104.3, 105.7 The Bull and Kiss 96.3. The event, taking place from Dec. 5-7, is also sponsored by News 12/NBC 26.

Miracle stories featuring patients, families and staff will be aired from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 7 a.m. to noon Saturday during this Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals fundraiser for the area’s only children’s Miracle hospital.

The final tally will be announced at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Anyone can become a “Miracle Maker” by pledging just $15 a month at 1-866-412-KIDS (5437) or at caresforkidsradiothon.com. You can also pledge by texting CHOG to 51555.

More than $205,000 was raised last year during Radiothon to fund specialized pediatric care and equipment at Children’s.

Here are some of the ambassador patients listeners will learn more about during Radiothon:

Hudson

• Hudson got sick on Thanksgiving in 2018 and it got to the point where he could no longer hold himself up.
• What his parents thought would be a quick trip to the Children’s emergency room ended in a 22-day stay.
• Hudson, who was diagnosed with viral encephalitis, got so weak that he ended up having to relearn how to sit up and walk again due to so much loss of strength.
• Today, he is doing well and will spend the holidays with his family.

Philip K.

• At 20 weeks pregnant, parents Chris and Ann learned their fourth son, Philip, had a major heart condition and were immediately referred to Children’s Hospital of Georgia to see a cardiologist.
• The team determined the plan of care would be for Philip to be born full term and then undergo heart surgery to begin the repairs, but Philip had other plans. He was born premature, weighing only 3 pounds.
• Philip spent the first 69 days of his life in both the NICU and PICU.
• On Friday, July 27, Philip underwent heart surgery at just 5 pounds to have a modified B-T shunt installed, which allowed his heart to operate with single-ventricle function for several months to grow big enough to be a candidate for the full corrective procedure.
• On Feb. 6, Philip arrived early in the morning at Children’s ready for the first day of the rest of his life. Philip was in the operating room that day for over 10 hours as the Ped CT Surgical team performed the open-heart procedure, which included a B-T shunt takedown and a Rastelli procedure. He is now able to live a normal life with his three older brothers.

Lucas

• Shortly after his family moved to Augusta, Lucas was not feeling well; he woke up with a high fever and jaundice. Upon entered the emergency room at Children’s Hospital of Georgia, his parents received the shock of a lifetime: Lucas had cancer.
• From the beginning, Lucas said, “I am not going to let cancer beat me — I will beat cancer.”
• Currently, Lucas is two years into the fight, with a year and a half left of treatment. His parents say, “We will beat it. We have no choice.”

Skye

• Skye was born with bladder exstrophy, a rare condition that occurs in about 1 in 50,000 babies, where the bladder is exposed to the abdominal wall.
• Skye was admitted directly to the NICU after birth due to being septic and having difficulty breathing.
• Her surgery to fix the bladder issue lasted about eight hours. Her pelvic bones were cut and reshaped, followed by closing her abdomen and placing her bladder where it should be. Only a handful of surgeons are able to do this.
• Skye was sedated for about three days post-surgery and her recovery entailed traction (attaching a weight to the feet so the lower legs are unable to move) for five weeks. This will be a lifelong journey for her.

Jaycier

• Jaycier was born at 26 weeks and 6 days and spent 105 days in the NICU.
• Mom said the hospital turned her fear into faith.
• Jaycier was a fighter and thrived during his time in the NICU. He received a “graduation ceremony” as he left the hospital.

Bristol

• Six-year-old Bristol became ill three years ago from an ear infection that wouldn’t heal.
• Blood tests would later confirm she had acute lymphotic leukemia and she received chemotherapy and CAR T-cell therapy off and on until January of this year.
• She has been in remission ever since.

Caring for kids like these requires expertly trained pediatric specialists because they’re not just little adults. That’s why community and national support is so vital to keep the not-for-profit Children’s Hospital of Georgia running smoothly by enabling the purchases of unique items like Kangaroo Chairs, Gliders, Mamaroo Swings, transilluminators, Child Life supplies, bassinets, blanket warmers, and funds for several annual kids’ camps.