You make our vision of caring for children and families a reality
When 11-year-old Sezar needed a new heart, generous gifts from donors like you meant we were ready. You gave Aiden comfort and a special teddy bear to help him understand his life-changing medical treatment. And you’re helping Doug Dean explore ways to give children with Down syndrome a brighter future.
By supporting clinical care innovation, pediatric research and the essential soft touches needed for healing, you make it possible for us to turn our vision of making life better for sick children and their families into reality. We are so grateful for your partnership — thank you.
Nikki Stafford, MS, MBA, FACHE
President, American Family Children’s Hospital
Vice President, UW Health Kids
Meet Sezar, our first pediatric heart transplant recipient
Twelve-year-old Sezar is obsessed with soccer. But in just a few short weeks in the summer of 2023, his health radically declined, taking him from the field to the pediatric intensive care unit. Doctors quickly realized that the same heart that beat for soccer was also beating too hard for his adolescent body. After spending two months at the children’s hospital, Sezar is back to playing the game he loves so much.
“These are the best doctors, the best nurses, the best interpreters; they were like a family and made Sezar feel like he wasn’t at the hospital.”
— Sam Almustafa, Sezar’s father
Child Life provides comfort and care for Aiden and his family
Aiden Topper’s teddy bear and backpack are a special part of his medical care plan for severe pulmonary hypertension. Through play and fun, the specially-trained Child Life specialists and facility dog, Cola, made the transition to a new way of life a bit easier for both the active three-and-a-half-year-old and his mom.
“I’m going to cry – they were amazing. The relationship they built with Aiden was so needed.”
— Andrea Topper, Aiden’s mom
New research explores how brain structure shapes language growth in infants with Down syndrome
A pilot grant launched new research to explore how brain structure shapes language growth in infants with Down syndrome. Researcher Doug Dean III hopes this will lead to improved therapies for children and better quality of life for kids and adults living with Down syndrome.
“There hasn’t been a lot of work done to understand how the brain grows and develops in infants and children with Down syndrome. We’d like to understand brain development over the entire lifespan.”
— Doug Dean III, PhD, assistant professor of medical physics and pediatrics
You’re part of a generous and caring community
We’re so grateful to have you as part of the American Family Children’s Hospital community. While the inspiration to give may be unique, our donors are unified by the heartfelt desire to ensure that children have the best possible opportunity for a happy, healthy life. We’re pleased to introduce you to some of the generous donors who make it possible for us to provide remarkable health care for children and their families.
George Fait’s family continues their father’s legacy
More than 200,000 children have access to specialty care because of a transformational gift of $3 million that established the George Fait Family Pediatric Specialty Clinics in 2007. A second generous gift from the George Fait family of $2.6 million benefits patients and families today and funds research to improve the lives of children with a rare heart disease tomorrow.
“My brother, sister, and I want to fulfill our father’s wishes to make a significant contribution to benefit the entire community.”
— Diane Zillner, George Fait’s daughter
Decades of support from Friends of UW Health
Friends of UW Health is a dynamic and devoted group of volunteers that has raised more than $9 million for American Family Children’s Hospital. Friends was established in 1976 to support patients and families of UW Health, and they’ve been remarkable ambassadors for the children’s hospital for the past two decades. Their signature gala held in March 2023 raised more than $890,000, and their Hearts and Hands event hosted in February 2024 raised $122,000.
Kids supporting kids
The student council at Cambridge Elementary School in Wisconsin organized a heartwarming free movie night for the community, raising funds for American Family Children’s Hospital. The group got their inspiration from the courageous journey of a local child who bravely fought cancer with the hospital’s help last year. “I felt truly inspired to support such an important cause and contribute to its mission,” one of the students proudly shared.
Surgeon and his family inspired by patients
UW Health Kids pediatric cardiac surgeon Josh Hermsen, MD, and his wife, Jessica, established the Hermsen Family Fund. This endowment provides perpetual support for the patient and family fund at the children’s hospital to assist families with travel and living expenses. “At the end of the day when the work is done, I get to go home, but for patients and families, the hospital is their second home and that’s a hardship,” Josh said. “If we can help make it easier and more comfortable for the family to be there for their child, then that’s worthwhile.”
Grateful patient family gives back
Gratitude has inspired Barbara Stretchberry to support American Family Children’s Hospital for more than 15 years. Her child, Sam, now 20 years old, has been under the care of numerous specialists since infancy. “I feel so fortunate to have the children’s hospital right in my backyard,” Barbara shared. “American Family Children’s Hospital is a tremendous gift to our community and has attracted so many talented doctors, clinicians, and researchers. I wanted to give back to the place that has given Sam and me so much.”
Mary Cornelia Bradley Donor Society
We invite you to view the honor roll of individuals, families and organizations that have become a part of the Mary Cornelia Bradley Society by giving a gift to American Family Children’s Hospital or the Department of Pediatrics in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health.
Mary Cornelia Bradley’s parents, Professor Harold C. Bradley, PhD, and Josephine Bradley, established the first children’s hospital at UW-Madison in their daughter’s memory in 1920. Through the Mary Cornelia Bradley Society, her legacy lives on, saving the lives of other children.
Thank you
On behalf of all our patients and their families, our providers and staff — we thank you for your support. Together, we are creating a healthier future for children.
