Children's Cardiac Carnival Fuels Bonds Between Bay Area Families

Pensacola, Florida
Sunday, September 30, 2007 @ 12:00 AM EDT
by: Alvin Peabody
Sunday's News Journal
apeabody@pnj.com

Saturday was an exciting day for 6-month-old Nicolas Billiot. Cuddled in the arms of his mother, Tessie Maddox, Nicolas was all joy as he was surrounded by his favorite pediatrician, Dr. Mary Mehta, and nurse Cindy Demos. Together, they enjoyed a fun-filled day of activities designed especially for them at the Miracle Camp in northern Escambia County. The event was billed as the first-ever Children's Cardiac Carnival, which targeted kids up to age 18 who are coping with heart problems. In addition to Nicolas — who has Down syndrome — an estimated 160 children, parents and other family members and more than 50 volunteers from throughout Northwest Florida participated. Sacred Heart Hospital, Nemours Children's Clinic and the Naval Aviation Schools Command in Pensacola co-sponsored the one-day event.

"It's just so wonderful to see Nicolas outside a hospital setting," said a beaming Demos, a cardiac sonographer at Nemours. "I think it does wonders for these kids."

"That is precisely the intent of the carnival," Mehta said, as she surveyed a campground filled with children and adults engaged in activities, including a rock-climbing wall and face painting. "While many of these kids are not well physically, the goal of this event is for patients and families to know that they can live normal lives and to their full potential," said Mehta, a pediatric cardiologist at Nemours. The event also allows for "good networking and educational" opportunities, said Judy Huss of Crestview. She and her husband, Benjamin, traveled from their home to bring 1-year-old Berkeley, who has heart problems, to the carnival. "This type of event helps bring together families united by a common problem, allowing for people to share and learn from each other," Huss said.

Miracle Camp was founded five years ago by Sacred Heart. It is set in a wooded, 40-acre nature preserve and provides retreat and adventure to children and adults with chronic and life-threatening illnesses. "We're very excited to be able to provide a place where those who are physically or emotionally challenged can come and enjoy the natural beauty of the land firsthand," said camp director Bambi Provost.

modified: Monday, January 28, 2008 @ 11:13 AM EST
created: Monday, January 28, 2008 @ 09:53 AM EST

About Nemours

Nemours, one of the nation’s largest pediatric health systems, is dedicated to achieving higher standards in children’s health. Nemours offers an integrated spectrum of clinical treatment coupled with research, advocacy, and educational health and prevention services extending to all families in the communities it serves. Starting with Alfred I. duPont’s bequest over seventy years ago, Nemours has grown into a multi-dimensional organization offering personalized clinical and preventive care focused on children.

Nemours owns and operates the Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Delaware and major children’s specialty clinics in Delaware (Wilmington), Florida (Jacksonville, Orlando and Pensacola), Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Bryn Mawr) and New Jersey (Atlantic City and Voorhees). Having recently received preliminary approval from the State of Florida, Nemours will establish a new full-service children’s hospital as part of an integrated pediatric health campus in Orlando. KidsHealth.org, the world’s most visited pediatric health care Web site for parents, kids and teens, is a project of Nemours.

Nemours employs over 4,400 individuals, including 430 pediatric physicians, specialists and surgeons who cared for approximately a quarter of a million children in 2007. The organization’s goal is to align with parents, physicians, community leaders, children’s advocates and elected officials to ensure optimal wellness for every child. Additional information about Nemours can be found at www.nemours.org.