Miracle stories headline Children’s Hospital of Georgia fundraiser

Kirkland quads benefited from specialized pediatric care at CHOG, the local CMN Hospital

When Julianne Kirkland, began having contractions at just 23 weeks of carrying quadruplets, one of her physicians suggested she consider reducing the pregnancy to two babies. But Julianne and husband Matt said that was not an option.

“We felt like God gave us four babies, so we were going to trust him with all four,” Julianne recalled. Since her pregnancy was then considered extremely high risk, the Kirklands, of Watkinsville, Ga., were sent to maternal-fetal medicine specialist Dr. Paul C. Browne at Augusta University Medical Center.

“Dr. Browne was a ray of sunshine,” Julianne said. “He told us, ‘We’re going to make it. We’re going to get you past 28 weeks.’ He believed in us, and I knew we were where we needed to be.”

Against incredible odds, the Kirkland quadruplets – three boys and a girl, weighing from 2 pounds, 11 ounces to 3 pounds, 11 ounces – were delivered by C-section on March 21, 2015. Because they were about eight weeks premature, boys Ashton Blake, Meyers Wayne, and Walker Hayes, and baby girl Bradlee Ann where wheeled down the hall to the adjoining Children’s Hospital of Georgia, where they were cared for in the Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

“Everyone at the hospital has been amazing. We can’t say enough about Dr. Browne and the staff at the Children’s Hospital,” said Julianne. “We feel truly blessed with four healthy babies.”

You can hear more of the remarkable Kirkland quads story and other miracle stories during the 31st annual Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Celebration, broadcasting live from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 28 on WAGT-TV from the lobby of the Children’s Hospital of Georgia. This annual event celebrates the culmination of funds from the prior year’s fundraising efforts to benefit programs and services at CHOG, the area’s only children’s hospital.

The CMN Hospitals broadcast will include video tours of the hospital; conversations with patients, donors and staff; and recognition of committed partners and supporters. Viewers also will get a first-hand look at the specialized pediatric care found only at CHOG.

Hospital staff, local volunteers and celebrities from WAGT and WRDW-TV will man a phone bank, accepting donations for the hospital during the fundraiser. Telethon officials celebrated a record-breaking $1.35 million in donations, pledges and fundraising events at last year’s telethon.

For more information on the broadcast, and to watch more miracle stories, visit the 26nbc community page.

To make a donation to the Children’s Hospital, call 706-922-5437 (KIDS) or toll free at 866-412-5437 (KIDS), or visit giving.augusta.edu/telethon.

The 154-bed not-for-profit CHOG is the second-largest children’s hospital in the state, providing the highest level of pediatric critical care and neonatal intensive care, as well as a wide range of general and complex health care for children. Donations help fund the many resources needed to enhance and maintain the quality of care children receive – from the smallest bandage to the most precise surgical instrument.

CHOG has been a beneficiary of CMN Hospitals since 1986.

Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals® raises funds for 170 children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada, which, in turn, use the money where it’s needed the most. When a donation is given it stays in the community, helping local kids. Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $4.7 billion, most of it $1 at a time. These donations have gone to support research and training, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all in support of the mission to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Learn more at CMNHospitals.org.