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A West Chester family will be participating in Cincinnati Children’s annual fundraising walk, Cincinnati Walks for Kids at Coney Island, this Saturday in support of the care Brody Hammons has received.

Brody Hammons, his mom Ric Muskopf and their family will be participating in Cincinnati Walks for Kids, Cincinnati Children’s annual fundraising walk, on Saturday, Oct. 20, at Coney Island. Photo provided.

Hammons was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy after he had experienced seizures shortly after he was born.

“Brody sees so many departments at Cincinnati Children’s,” said Ric Muskopf, Brody’s mother. “He is always coming in for tests, and he’s part of a clinical trial. The family-centered care we receive makes us feel like Children’s is a second home. So many people come from all over the world to get care here and it is so comforting to know it is so close to us.”

Cincinnati Walks for Kids opening ceremony, which will honor patients, will begin at 10 a.m. The walk will follow immediately after the ceremony.

Walkers may choose a 3-mile or 1-mile walk route. All walkers will receive a finisher’s ribbon as they cross the finish line, followed by a complimentary lunch.

Families can also visit the Remembrance Garden, a serene setting to honor loved ones. Muskopf will be visiting the Remembrance Garden in honor of her daughter, Berklee, who passed away from a congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

There is no registration fee to participate in Cincinnati Walks for Kids. Each walker, however, is asked to raise at least $25. All walkers raising $25 or more will receive a Cincinnati Walks for Kids t-shirt.

People of all ages can participate in the walk and can register online at www.cincinnatichildrens.org/walk. Walkers can also check in advance Friday at Cincinnati Children’s Liberty Campus in the second floor conference room from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Walker check-In on the day of the walk will be held from 8 to 10 a.m.

For more information about the event, call 513-636-2941.

Posted in: Events, News |

Tags: Tags: Brody Hammons, Cincinnati Children's, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Liberty Township, Cincinnati Children's Liberty Township, Cincinnati Walks for Kids, Cincinnati Walks for Kids Coney Island, Ric Muskopf

Two siblings, two debilitating diseasesand two heart transplants … in two months

At Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Zhania Coleman 7, sleeps in her room as nurse Amy Maher measures her vital signs. Zhania’s brother Zion Coleman 10, playing on his laptop, left, both recently received heart transplants. Photo by Glenn Hartong.

John Johnston reports

As her family’s minivan motored along the highway, 7-year-old Zhania Coleman sat in the back seat happily recounting the five days she’d spent at summer camp.

But the girl’s emotions changed quickly that day, July 20, when her mother got a phone call from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. A donor heart had arrived; Zhania’s seven-month wait for a transplant was about to end.

Although great news – her survival depended on a new heart – it was also overwhelming and frightening. Zhania had a meltdown in the minivan. “She was hysterical,” her mother said.

The vehicle pulled over. Zion Coleman, who is 10, climbed into the back seat with his sister.

“It’s OK,” he told her. “I did it. You’re gonna be cool.”

If anyone is uniquely qualified to be a calming presence, it is Zion, who seven weeks earlier underwent a heart transplant at the same hospital.

So far in 2012, Cincinnati Children’s has performed 11 heart transplants, the most in any year since its first transplant in 1986.

The Coleman kids are unusual cases, not just because they’re siblings who received their hearts less than two months apart, but because it was the first time the hospital performed such transplants on children with sickle cell disease. Nationally, that scenario is “a rare event,” said Dr. Clifford Chin, medical director of pediatric heart transplant services at Cincinnati Children’s.

Zion and Zhania were preschoolers when diagnosed with sickle cell, an inherited blood disorder that causes red blood cells to take the shape of crescents, or sickles, and results in less oxygen being delivered to the body’s tissues. (more…)

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Children's, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Liberty Township, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati Children's Liberty Township, Zhania Coleman, Zion Coleman

Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center presented Alicia and Jim Lang of West Chester with its 2012 Making a Difference Award in April.

Alicia and Jim Lang recently received the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center’s Making a Difference Award. Jim works at the medical center and Alicia has been a long time patient at the medical center. Photo provided.

Alicia Lang, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis 15 years ago and began treatment at Cincinnati Children’s at the age of 5, leads a patient advisory group at the medical center. She also stays personally involved with patients by speaking to them about self-management of the disease and sharing her personal stories to help staff understand the human side of patient care.

Lang continues to volunteer her time at the hospital despite the decline in her own health, as she continues to wait for a double-lung transplant.

Meanwhile, Jim Lang has been involved for more than a decade at the medical center in helping drive quality improvement initiatives in the treatment and care of patients with cystic fibrosis.

“Alicia and Jim have given staff an unvarnished view of what it’s like to be on the other side of the stethoscope in dealing with this disease,” said Kay Fricke, patient coordinator in Access Services at Cincinnati Children’s. “And, they’ve done it with humor and grace.”

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Alicia Lang, Alicia's Lungs, Cincinnati Children's, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Liberty Township, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati Children's Liberty Township, Cystic Fibrosis, fundraiser, Jim Lang, Lakota West

For the 44th year, The Enquirer will recognize a select group of area women for their contributions to our community through its Women of the Year program.

Women of the Year’s class of 2011 will be profiled in a special section of The Enquirer on April 15 and honored at a luncheon at the Hyatt Regency on April 26.

Sheila Munafo-Kanoza of West Chester was one of the 10 women honored by the newspaper. Below is her background from a post on Cincinnati.com.

Sheila Munafo-Kanoza of West Chester Township founded the Companions on A Journey program to provide grief support services that serve thousands in the region. She is also involved with the Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty Township, West Chester Alliance, Women of the Power of the Purse, Pro Seniors and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

Tickets to the April 26 Women of the Year luncheon are $38. Reservations are required. For more information, call Mary Donaldson at 513-768-8112.

Posted in: News |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Children's, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Liberty Township, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati Children's Liberty Township, Community Foundation, Community Foundation WCL, Community Foundation West Chester/Liberty, Enquirer Women of the Year program, Pro Seniors, Sheila Munafo-Kanoza, WCL Community Foundation, West Chester Alliance, Women of the Power of the Purse

The Lakota West Student Government is hosting its second annual candy gram sale for Valentine’s Day. The sale, which will benefit Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, will begin Wednesday.

During the fundraiser, which will end Feb. 13, students can purchase candy grams for $1. The candy grams – a lollipop and a personalized message from sender – will be sold in the Lakota West cafeteria annex until Feb. 13.

Lakota West students Taylor Kenshaw, Francine Sullivan, Krupa Suthar and Zachary Vo will deliver the proceeds to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital on Valentine’s Day.

Last year, the school raised $900 during the event.

Posted in: Events, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Children's, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Liberty Township, Cincinnati Children's Liberty Township, Francine Sullivan, Krupa Suthar, Lakota West candy gram, Lakota West candy gram sale, Lakota West Student Government, Taylor Kenshaw, Valentine's Day, Valentine's Day Liberty Township, Valentine's Day West Chester, Zachary Vo

Urban Active and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital began their fourth annual holiday toy drive Wednesday. The toy drive will take place through Dec. 22.

During the drive, local Urban Active members and non-members who donate one new unwrapped toy for children from infant to 18 years old, will receive the choice of one of the following: a personal training session, a 14-day buddy pass, a free tan/upgrade or a small smoothie.

“Our mission is to bring joy to thousands of children during this Christmas holiday season,” Urban Active CEO Royce Pulliam said. “I am so proud to have an incredibly compassionate team at Urban Active and very loyal members who have the same vision as we do, which is helping those less fortunate.”

Urban Active, 9282 Allen Road in West Chester, also has Greater Cincinnati locations in Western Hills, Kenwood, Hyde Park, Deerfield, Colerain, Erlanger (Ky.), Bellevue (Ky.) and Florence (Ky.).

Posted in: Business, News |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Children's, Cincinnati Children's Liberty Township, Urban Active, Urban Active West Chester

The Hammons/Muskopf family of West Chester will be participating in the fifth annual Cincinnati Walks for Kids, benefiting Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Oct. 16. The walk will take place at Coney Island. Registration for the walk is from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. The walk itself and activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Hammons/Muskopf family has received services from a variety of departments at Cincinnati Children’s including Outpatient Surgery, Fetal Care Center, Urology, Nuerology, Cardiology, and ENT. They visit the hospital most frequently because their 6-year-old son, Brody, was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Erica Muskopf, a mother/stepmother of six, says that she and her husband, Andy, are looking forward to walking this year. Erica’s ex-husband and Brody’s father, Rick also joins them in the walk as well.

“We like participating in the walk because it’s a time for our family and friends to gather together to support Cincinnati Children’s,” Erica said. “We always enjoy ourselves.”

The family’s team name for the walk is Brody’s Superheroes and they are raising money for the Comprehensive Neuromuscular Center.

“We feel like we have family at Cincinnati Children’s,” Erica said. “We’ve built relationships with our children’s health care providers and we know we are going to receive the best care every time we go to the hospital. I feel like I can ask our children’s doctors and nurses anything and I feel like a part of their team.” (more…)

Posted in: Events, Recreational events |

Tags: Tags: Cincinnati Children's, Cincinnati Walks for Kids, Erica Muskopf, Hammons, Muskopf