1998 Donations

 

April 1998

First Donation
Hemodialysis Pump
A continuous Venovenous Hemodialysis Pump that will perform life saving treatment on very critically ill children who are too unstable to receive conventional hemodialysis. The goal of this treatment therapy provided with this equipment is to stabilize blood imbalances in patients who have damaged renal function due to their illness. Doctors hope to save lives, but in some cases of irreparable brain damage and ultimately death, this therapy is also used to keep a child's organs perfused until organ donation can be accomplished. The machine is in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Miller Children's Hospital at Long Beach Memorial where Cherese was born in 1974. Cherese will always be our inspiration and guide us with her heart and soul, as each gift truly is from her.

July 1998

Nasal Dysplasia Research
One of Cherese's very dearest best friends, Sophia Pen, gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, Olivia, just 13 days after Cherese left on her Semester at Sea trip. And unfortunately, Cherese never even saw a picture of her. Olivia was born with Nasal Dysplasia, a malformation of the nose and surrounding tissues. Olivia is being treated at Children's Hospital of Orange County, also known as CHOC, where she has undergone several surgeries.
Cherese's gift was given to CHOC for research in hopes of finding out what causes the malformations and cleft-craniofacial defects of the palate, face and skull. Cherese would do anything to help Olivia and children like her. Perhaps with research, we will someday have answers and cures. I know Cherese is watching over Olivia.