For August’s blog post we here at True Clean Restoration are going to talk about a subject near and dear to our hearts. The Children’s Miracle Network. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH) was established nationally in 1983 to help children by actively supporting improved health care for millions of young people around the world. CMNH’s mission is to generate funds and awareness programs for the benefit of children served by its associated hospitals, now numbering more than 170 nationwide. The nearest Children’s Miracle Network hospital to Bloomington/Normal and the surrounding areas is Children’s Hospital of Illinois in Peoria.
Since 1983, Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals has raised more than $5 billion – most of it $1 at a time – for 170 children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada, which, in turn, use the money where it’s needed the most. Those donations have gone to support research and raining, purchase equipment, and pay for uncompensated care, all to save and improve the lives of as many children as possible. Their mission is to increase funds and awareness for local children’s hospitals.
62 children enter a Children’s Miracle Network Hospital for treatment every minute – that’s one child every second. Some are battling cancer. Some are suffering from a traumatic injury. Others require constant care because they were born too early, or with a genetic disease. Regardless of why the kids are there. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals always have their doors open. Below is the story of one such little girl.
“My name is Lindsey Krueger. I am going to tell you the story of what happened to me last summer. I was 9 years old at the time.
It was Sunday, June 8th 2014. Summer vacation officially starts the next day and I was VERY excited. We had a FUN afternoon at the beach and had come home for dinner. Our neighbors stopped over unexpectedly and my sister Lauren, my neighbor Makayla and I went to play behind our house.
I had the GREAT IDEA of climbing a tree that was growing out of a rock fence. I was about 20 feet up in the air when it happened. The branch broke and I fell. I hit the back of my head on a big rock. I was unconscious and when I woke up I was dizzy, throwing up and bleeding from the back of my head. I was VERY dizzy so Lauren and Makayla tried to help me walk back to the house (about 200 yards). I couldn’t keep going so Lauren ran to our house and told my Mom that I was hurt. My Mom ran to me and carried me back to the house, then put me in the car and rushed to St. Michael’s Hospital.
At the hospital, they put a stiff neck brace on me that was VERY uncomfortable. I had to have a “cat” scan of my head that showed two areas of bleeding on my brain. The doctor stapled my scalp and then I went for an ambulance ride to St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. I was very queasy, dizzy and had a HEADACHE!
I don’t remember much until about Wednesday. My room was kept dark and quiet or the room would start spinning and I would get nauseous again.
My sister Lauren was very upset about what happened and cried all night. My Dad brought her to see me the next day, she cried REALLY hard when she first saw me. She said she kept seeing me fall and seeing the blood when she would close her eyes.
A very nice lady from Child Life came into my room (I was still out of it) and gave Lauren a book called “I Saw a Terrible Thing”. The lady’s name was Jordan. She really helped my sister. She read the book to us and then took Lauren to talk about what happened and do some crafts. Lauren had a lot of fun with all of the Child Life Specialists! The Specialists Lauren, Jordan, Lindsey and Taylor spent a lot of time with her. She felt a lot better and wasn’t so upset.
I wasn’t able to go the activity room until Thursday. Once I felt better we went outside to the play area twice and also made some crafts! I had to wear sunglasses when I was out of my room because the light bothered me. The Child Life people checked on me often and asked if I wanted to have them play a musical instrument or just talk. I felt very tired all the time and lost 7 pounds in 7 days!
Dr. Fernandez was my doctor in Peds ICU. He was very nice to me and SUPER smart. He checked on me a lot during the day. He was funny. I was moved out of Peds ICU on Thursday. I was able to go home Sunday June 15th. It was Father’s Day! I was in the hospital for a week.
All of the nurses, doctors and Child Life people were very nice; they took great care of me.
What “miracle” means to me is that God is watching over me, He keeps me safe. I think it’s a miracle that I am perfectly fine now.
I know that life can change in one second!
When I was better and Dr. Fernandez asked me if I was going to climb anymore trees; I said NO WAY!
He smiled and said YES YOU ARE, JUST DON’T FALL OUT OF THEM!”
There are many ways people can help. One way is they can request a free Miracle Band. They can wear it to show their support, be photographed with it and share that photo via social media when they donate! This helps raise awareness for the incredible good this organization does. You can become a miracle maker and organize a campaign for fundraising. It can be as simple as a lemonade stand, car wash or sports event. Below is a link to the Children’s Miracle Network Website where you can donate, order a band or learn more.
http://give.childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/
You can also use the services of True Clean Restoration. True Clean provides certified professionals, skilled in restoration, drying services, sewage remediation, water damage services, fire damage services and carpet cleaning. From August 15 to September 15, use True Clean Restoration Services and mention that you want to be part of our Children’s Miracle Network fundraiser and we will donate 5% of the total cost of your services to the Children’s Miracle Network. Just call us at 309-664-8577 or click this link to send us an email and we can get you scheduled!
Let’s make a difference!
