Lurie Children's Hospital

Miss International 2012, Krista Wanous; me; and Miss Teen International, Caroline Crowley with a precious patient who had a crush on Krista!

For my very first appearance, I met up with Miss and Miss Teen International 201.  Denise from WKPR escorted us downtown to Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital. We spent time with truly resilient patients who are some of the youngest, yet some of the bravest there are.  As a parent, I have a hard time when my children even have ear infections, so to be one of those parents with children who need the help of experts is something I can't fathom.  But, they do so with such grace and optimism.  There are times in life you must simply have faith and believe there is a plan. The facility and its staff perform some of the most advanced life-save procedures in the Midwest.  It’s why I’ve spent years running and climbing tall buildings for them!

Morgan was so excited to try on the crown in spite of her surgery! She was part of my good luck at Mrs. International.

Our visit to Lurie’s also meant the chance to meet once again with the miraculous Morgan Miller. As Mrs. Illinois International I had the chance to meet with Morgan the week before heading to Mrs. International. At the time, she was in the ICU and intubated; her doctors were mystified about why she continue having encephalitis. At that point she couldn't talk due to her breathing tube. Morgan could only wave her hand.  But...only a couple of weeks later she's able to sit up, she's able to speak and her recovery has been going very well. We saw Morgan just a day after she received a shunt. Her room was covered with cards and well wishes from people all over the country. It was an honor to make one of my very first appearances with her.

She now has over 13,000 followers on a special Facebook prayer page which set up for her. The power of prayer!!  Go like it and follow her journey! It was a great day (in spite of some of Chicago’s worst traffic ever) spent with Miss International 2012, Krista Wanous and Miss Teen International 2012, Caroline Crowley.  I loved watching them with the children and learned much from them both. They have been extraordinary queens and I'm sure we'll see much more them in the coming years!

Be the change,

Amy Gregorio
Your Mrs. International 2013

www.luriechildrens.org
https://www.facebook.com/PrayersForMorganMiller

Children’s Hospitals & Clinics of Minnesota Wins International Award for Therapeutic Art Program!

Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota received the top international award for “Use of Art in the Patient Environment” from the International Academy of Design and Health for its program “Arts & Healing and Urban Renewal.”

The Minnesota healing arts program was selected out of almost 100 submissions from organizations representing more than 30 countries around the world. The award honors organizations specifically for professional excellence and ability to bring research and design into creating a health-promoting environment.

Children’s Arts & Healing and Urban Renewal project, which was launched in January 2010, has been entirely supported through the generosity of the community, through individual, corporate and government grants. The program has been well received by patients and families with 80 percent indicating in a survey that they stop and personally interact with the art. In addition, for children participating in the hands-on art projects, 41 percent said they felt better after the project.

“A growing body of evidence suggests the integration of arts positively contributes to health outcomes and the health care experience for patients, families and staff,” said Theresa Pesch, RN, executive director, Children’s Foundation, and VP, Development, Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. “We believe that the experience of art is healing and designed an integrated program where our patients and families can view and interact with art, make art and watch live performances.”  

http://www.childrensmn.org/starrynight/about-the-event/art-award

I am so proud of Minnesota for being a leader in the field of art-based therapy. In order to continue growing this fantastic program, I have been asked to help co-anchor a live children’s television show broadcasted throughout the hospital! I am so excited and cannot wait to get going on this project and bring a little love, light and laughter to these young patients.

Art Heals!

Krista Wanous

Miss International 2012  

Arkansas Children's Hospital

During a recent trip to Little Rock, Arkansas, I was delighted to spend several hours at the Arkansas Children’s Hospital at Camp Wannaplay.  This hospital is dedicated to the needs of children who need top notch medical care.  Even though the doctors and nurses take their jobs seriously, they haven’t forgotten about the children’s need for fun and distraction.  Camp Wannaplay is directed by a dedicated Recreation Specialist who ensures that the children on her floor have a fun variety of activities rangeing from crafts to the ever-popular video games.

During my visit the specialist prepare an activity called no-snow globes.  This clever leader re-purposed baby food jars by gluing a fun plastic action figure to the inside of the lid and then filled the jar with water and glitter.  Once the lid was screwed back on the jar acted just like a snow globe.    You can see that I had to make one too!

Always focused on queenly activities, I brought a supply of puffy paper crowns and princess stickers just in case a little girl needed a smile.  I made one crown that featured flowers and Princess Peach in honor of one little girl’s favorite character from Mario Cart, another fun feature of the play area. 

If I had a child with a medical issue I would feel comfortable putting them in the capable hands of the staff at AR Children’s Hospital.  The bright colors, cheerful staff and the creative therapies work together to make it a comfortable place for healing. 

XO,

Krista Wanous

Miss International 2012 

Children's Hospital Radiothon

Since being crowned Miss Teen International 2012, I have learned about and become involved in many new organizations. One that is really close to my heart is the Children’s Miracle Network, which raises funds for patients of Children’s Hospital and their families.

Several times yearly, Children’s Hospital of Alabama holds “Radiothons” to raise funds for Children’s Hospital of Alabama. The goal of the Radiothon was for listeners to pledge to be a “Miracle Maker” for the year of 2013. This requires a monthly contribution of $15.00 for the remainder of the year. However, one-time donations and monthly donations of any size were very much appreciated, as well. A local radio station, 95.5 WTVY, broadcast throughout the week encouraging listeners to call into the Miracle Maker Hotline to make their pledge.

Walmart of Dothan donated part of their store for the Miracle Maker Hotline to operate. Volunteers came in shifts to answer phones throughout the week. I was able to volunteer on the last night of the Radiothon. I was amazed at the number of people in the Alabama, Georgia, and Florida area that made the decision to be Miracle Makers. The patients at Children’s Hospital are very close to my heart. I am so grateful for all of the people that made donations to help Children’s Hospital continue to treat any and all patients in need of medical attention.

Words cannot justify the amount of time and effort Mrs. Angie Sherrill spends to ensure that every Children’s Miracle Network fundraiser is a success.

Thank you so much to the Troy University Phi Mu’s for volunteering at the Radiothon.

With love and appreciation,

Caroline Crowley

HGH Birthday

For those of you that have closely followed my blog, you may remember Hannah Grace Harrison, the inspiration for one of my favorite charities, Hannah’s Gifts of Hope. Hannah Grace passed away from childhood cancer at a young age. To celebrate what would have been her 7th birthday, a large group of Hannah’s Gifts of Hope volunteers threw a huge birthday bash on the oncology floor of Children’s Hospital of Alabama in her honor. The oncology floor is in the new Children’s Hospital building. Every inch of the colorful hospital was covered in Christmas decorations!

During the birthday party, we made Christmas crafts and ate cupcakes with the patients. The biggest surprise of all came in the form of a mini toy store! Hannah Grace’s parents brought gifts for every child and sibling on the oncology floor. We covered the lobby floor with every kind of toy imaginable in hopes of brightening the day of the patients and their family. Thanks to our wonderful supporters, every child was able to choose three of their favorite toys. So many toys were donated that we were able to leave hundreds in the activity room for future patients to enjoy during their treatments.

Unfortunately, due to patient confidentiality rules, we were unable to take photos inside the oncology ward. However, I assure you that every child we met had the time of their life! I met some of the strongest, most amazing children during my visit to Children’s Hospital.

My mom and I were preparing to leave when a lady asked if I would mind going to the Cardiac Floor and meeting her granddaughter, Victoria. Victoria is 12 years old. She was experiencing fatigue and dizziness and began passing out frequently at school. Extensive tests revealed that her heart was functioning at about 10%. She is currently waiting to receive a heart transplant. Please keep Victoria and her family in your prayers!

All my love,

Caroline Crowley

Children's Hospital

Thank you to the United Health Group, Project Smile, and Children’s Hospital for asking me to be their celebrity guest on November 6th during an afternoon of festivities, food, and fun…all for these amazing children and their families.

Prior to the children arriving, the volunteer training by Project Smile was very well done. It was an opportunity to learn about a program started by a college student in 1998, which in and of itself is really cool. It never ceases to amaze me how one person can make such a difference in this world! Please take a few minutes to learn about Project Smile:  http://www.projectsmile.org/

United Health Group and Project Smile Volunteers

Also, United Health Group, which is a significant supporter of Project Smile and the American Heart Association, deserves a very big thank you for bringing me into the event. I was not only able visit with the kids and their families, but I was able to share the spotlight with Flat Stanley. Many of the attendees were well acquainted with Flat Stanley, who was visiting me from New Jersey via California and were willing to pose for a picture with my well traveled guest.

Volunteers and guest star Flat Stanley

As many of us know, it is often difficult to smile when you are a patient in a hospital…which is why people caring enough to bring the fun to you and do all that they can to give you a break from the challenges is really a gift.

With love and appreciation,

Sarah Bazey
Mrs. International 2012

Children's Hospital

On Thursday, Beef-O-Brady’s in Dothan helped raise funds for Children’s Hospital in Birmingham, Alabama by donating fifteen percent of the night’s sales to the hospital. Children’s Hospital is dedicated completely to serving the children of Alabama and the surrounding area. It is the third largest pediatric medical facility in the country. Children’s Hospital is a non-profit organization that relies on fundraisers to continue to be one of the only hospitals that does not turn any child away. So many people came to support Children’s of Alabama. We hope to hold more fundraisers in restaurants throughout the state soon!

Meet my beautiful new friend, Louisa!

 

Rosemary and Soles helped support Children’s Hospital of Alabama just by eating dinner with us!

I even got asked to sign a few of my beautiful Clay Spann autograph cards during the fundraiser.

 

Mrs. Angie Sherrill, the representative from Children’s Hospital of Alabama, does such an amazing job of organizing fundraisers to serve the families that visit the hospital.

 

Caroline Crowley