Cola, a golden doodle mix, joins Kiko at American Family Children’s Hospital as the only two facility dogs in the state of Wisconsin. Our facility dogs provide custom interventions in conjunction with coping plans for patients. This program is supported entirely by philanthropy.

While no family would choose to spend so much time in the hospital with their child, Sarah and Ryan Judd’s unwavering commitment to making hospital life as normal, if not fun-filled as possible, allowed their daughter not only to heal physically but emotionally as well. By trusting the doctors, nurses, therapists and child life specialists, Sarah and Ryan set the tone for Kinsley to view her care team as an extension of her family.

Sarah Russell’s heart went from perfectly healthy to 10% function in just one day. Fortunately, she had the team at the UW Health Heart Transplant Program helping her and she received the gift of life with a heart transplant eight days after her cardiac event.

Thanks to the advances in immunotherapy, skilled oncologists at the UW Health | Carbone Cancer Center and a little bit of genetic luck, Nelson Turner is now cancer free.

After decades of living with chronic kidney disease, a vital transplant gave Pleasant Rowland a healthy kidney, a bright future, and a broader philanthropic scope. She is expressing her profound gratitude through a transformational contribution that will change the face of transplant at the UW Health Transplant Center.

Following a successful kidney transplant at UW Health, Jeff Bakiares and his wife, Lynn, were so moved by the care Jeff received that they focused their philanthropic endeavors on the field of nephrology with a remarkable man in mind, Dr. Didier Mandelbrot.

What UW Health is doing to address shortages for those who need organ transplantation.

Diane’s legacy lives on, giving other women diagnosed with ovarian cancer new hope and inspiring the science and research at UW, every day, forever.

“Too many women are told that incontinence is inevitable as we age or following childbirth. We know it doesn’t have to be this way, and our mission is to share that message broadly and connect those who are experiencing these symptoms with solutions that work for them.” — Dr. Heidi Brown

“Alzheimer’s disease takes an enormous toll on families, but thanks to work being done at UW Health, there is reason for hope.” — Matt Lepay

“We have seen firsthand how dementia and Alzheimer’s have scourged so many in our parents’ generation. Jill and I are determined to make things better for our generation and the ones that follow.” — Jim Kubek

CHAMPs facility dogs provide comfort to sick kids.

After her lung transplant, Jennifer Johnson is using her experiences to help other patients and raise awareness around organ donation.

“We can never say ‘thank you’ enough for what American Family Children’s Hospital has done for our family.”

“We are so happy to have this very fine children’s hospital as a part of the Madison landscape.” — Jerry Weygandt

“I was blessed to live so close to a world-renowned transplant center.” — Pleasant Rowland

“We want to increase awareness because this cancer center set the gold standard years ago and continues to raise the bar each and every day.” — Andy North

“This initiative allows us to wrap our arms around the state and support cancer research and cancer care wherever needed.” — Greg Gard