Be part of the family at Le Bonheur through this unique campaign, A Family Affair.

Webster defines family as a "group of people united by common convictions or a common affiliation." Family is a central focus at Le Bonheur.  The Le Bonheur Family is dedicated to providing exceptional care for all children.  This mission is carried through and supported by a family of outstanding clinicians, a devoted staff, generous donors and committed volunteers.  These groups come together for one very important affiliation and with the same conviction of service, quality and teamwork.

This year, we have brought three families together for our signature campaign that highlights Le Bonheur as the true miracle-making center for pediatric care in the region.

Click here to make a donation in honor of one of our Family Affair Families

Families were nominated to participate in a friendly competition beginning with a kick-off on April 10th. The “family” that raises the most funds for Le Bonheur at the end of the campaign will receive the title and recognition as the 2008 Miracle Maker Family of the Year at the Miracle Maker Blast, a circus theme event on June 5th at The Memphis Zoo Northwest Passage.

Our 2008 A Family Affair Families

The Tashie Family 
Ryan’s parents, Dino and Chrissy Tashie, remember their son’s first days vividly. Their second son was clinging to life in the neonatal intensive care unit at the birthing hospital. On the eighth day, Ryan’s condition was getting worse. The ventilator wasn't helping. 

“Our son was slowly slipping away. We were desperate,” Chrissy said. Late that night, the Pedi-Flite transport team came to transport their son to Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center where Ryan could receive the kind of sub-specialty care he needed. “I will never forget that sight – here came our heroes to rescue our sweet little son. They carefully hooked him to a portable ventilator and with precision, transported him to Le Bonheur,” Chrissy said. 

In the caring hands of Le Bonheur’s physicians, nurses and therapists, Ryan was getting better. Within 24 hours, Ryan was off the ventilator. Gradually throughout the next four weeks, Ryan’s condition improved. He moved from the Intensive Care Unit to the Special Care Unit to his own room and finally home. But Ryan’s Le Bonheur story wasn't over yet. For the next three years, the hospital’s physicians would continue to closely monitor Ryan’s health each month. He would eventually need a kidney transplant. 

On Sept. 4, 2007, it was time for the rambunctious and energetic 3-year-old to receive a new kidney. The donor was his father. Over the years, the Dino and Chrissy drew strength from their extended family who knew first hand the healing power a new kidney can have. Ryan’s uncle, Pete Tashie, was also the recipient of his father’s kidney 24 years earlier. And the same surgeon, Dr. Santiago Vera, performed both transplants. Dino’s kidney was removed at Methodist University Hospital and transported to Le Bonheur Children’s were Ryan was waiting. The surgeries went smoothly and Ryan was back home in six days. 

Ryan is doing phenomenally well. In seven months since the transplant, Ryan has gained 10 pounds and grown 3.5 inches. “I cannot, in words, express to you how grateful we are for Le Bonheur,” Chrissy said. “We never would have dreamed four years ago that we would have needed them the way we have. Le Bonheur saved our son’s life.”

The McCarter Family 
When Angela McCarter first learned about the Bunny Room at Le Bonheur Children’s, she was making plans to host a toy drive at a Tigers football game. As director of Marketing for University of Memphis Athletics, Angela heard about the Bunny Room and wanted to help raise awareness and collect toys. Less than two months later, Angela and her husband Steven were standing in the Bunny Room as their 4-week-old son Matthew was wheeled into surgery. What the McCarters initially believed to be a cold had been diagnosed as congestive heart failure. Matthew’s heart was filling his entire chest cavity, and his kidneys were failing. 

“The surgeon came in and told us Matthew was going to have heart surgery in the morning. From that moment on, my husband and I were in complete shock,” said Angela. “The staff at Le Bonheur took over, they told us every second what was going on, what was going to happen, and what we should do.” 

Matthew underwent several surgeries and procedures during the course of three months. On Dec. 28, 2007, Matthew’s heart was successfully patched with a graft. Doctors believe this graft will keep Matthew from undergoing any further surgeries on his heart. The McCarters stayed in the hospital for almost three weeks after Matthew’s last surgery. 

“While there we interacted with a lot of employees of Le Bonheur, from cafeteria workers to surgeons. Every one of them showed genuine concern for Matthew and our family,” Angela said. Having worked with Le Bonheur both professionally and as a patient mom, Angela holds a dual-perspective on the inner workings of the hospital. “Working with Le Bonheur, there has never been a time we did not know what was going on or what was going to happen,” said Angela. “As a parent, they have always made us feel like what we say matters. 

Even now, while working on A Family Affair, the lines of communication are always open. The only difference is now when we have to go to Le Bonheur, it is lots more fun!” The McCarter family is reaching out to family and friends to raise money for Le Bonheur. “Participating in A Family Affair gave us an opportunity to give back to Le Bonheur, which has given us so much,” Angela said. “We are truly blessed to have this wonderful children’s hospital in our own backyard. Le Bonheur’s staff, nurses, doctors and surgeons took care of our family and gave us our son back.”

The Blakely Family
Elizabeth Blakely was 3 years old when she had her first seizure. While eating pizza at home one evening with her family, Elizabeth stared off into space and became unresponsive. She appeared to have stopped breathing and was rushed by ambulance to Le Bonheur Children’s, where she was stabilized and referred to a neurologist for further testing.

Her initial scans all came back fine, but an MRI showed that Elizabeth had a small tumor in the frontal lobe of her brain. Although doctors believed her tumor was likely benign, they could not be certain unless it was surgically removed. Le Bonheur neurosurgeon Dr. Rick Boop and Elizabeth’s other physicians recommended that the Blakelys monitor Elizabeth for several months before considering surgery.

Elizabeth’s parents – Dr. Martin Blakely, a general surgeon at Le Bonheur Children’s, and Dr. Johnetta Blakely, medical oncologist at the West Clinic – were no strangers to the fields of pediatric surgery or cancer treatment. However, they suddenly found themselves in the role of any scared parents, trying to determine the best course of medical treatment for their child.

“That was one of the hardest parts, to not be a doctor but to be just a parent,” said Johnetta. “Having a medical background was a double-edged sword. We could both understand the watch and wait concept. Martin was reluctant to proceed with surgery because of the potential risks, while my stance was that until we had it out we would never know if the tumor was benign. We really had to take our cues from Dr. Boop and our team to tell us what we should do.”

After a period of observation, Dr. Boop decided the tumor should be removed, and on June 22, 2007, Elizabeth had surgery. The operation was successful, and while the tumor was benign, it was identified as the cause of her seizures. Although there was a risk of speech problems and weakness in her hands after the surgery, thankfully Elizabeth had no impairment whatsoever.

“Now Elizabeth is doing well, her MRIs have all been fine, and we’re hoping that in the next six months or so she’ll come off her seizure medicine and be like every other kid her age,” said Johnetta.

“I feel like Le Bonheur saved our baby. They do such a fabulous job of taking care of these babies, but they also do a really good job taking care of Mom and Dad and explaining what’s going on,” said Johnetta. “Without Le Bonheur, we wouldn’t have a great place to take our children…a hospital devoted to taking care of our kids.”