I often have families come to me looking for a magic formula that will cure their child’s cold and get rid of all the symptoms. Simply put: There is no magic formula for treating a cold, and there are no over-the-counter (OTC) products that are safe and effective for treating young kids.

You should never use OTCs in kids younger than 6, and I never recommend them in general.

Before we talk about the meds — let’s talk about colds.

As you probably know, colds are caused by viruses, tiny organisms that are transmitted easily when we cough, sneeze or otherwise come in contact with them. There are no antibiotics that treat these viruses — none, nada, zippo, zilch.

If there is going to be fever, it will be in the first one to three days of illness. Often, these fevers are 101 or lower, but we see higher fevers pretty frequently. A fever is not scary to pediatricians — it is the body’s natural response to the virus and actually can help the immune system function more efficiently.

The nose stuff generally follows pretty quickly. While at first runny and clear, the mucus quickly gets gunky, yellow and green. This is a sign that the body is fighting off the infection, and the color is not important. Symptoms can last up to two weeks.

The next thing we see is cough, which generally appears in the first few days. It starts off dry, and then gets harsher, deeper and junkier. The cough can take three weeks to go away – I know that is a really long time.

Let’s look at the OTC medications and how they might help (although, as I stated, they, for the most part, do not help.)

Fever: There are two types of medicine that can help decrease a fever in a child: acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol) and ibuprofen (e.g., Advil). These actually work, and are useful if the fever is making the child feel cruddy. If the child is happy and playful, even with a fever, there is no need to treat! Ibuprofen may work a bit longer than acetaminophen (six to eight hours compared with four to six hours), but both will bring a fever down.

Runny nose: The most common medications used for a runny nose are antihistamines. You may see diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine, brompheniramine (Benadryl, Dimetapp and many others) on the label. These have never been shown to make any difference in kids and have been associated with lots of bad side effects. They tend to dry up secretions, so in theory, less mucus. However, they also act on the central nervous system, causing sedation and a bunch of other potentially bad things. Not good for kids in general.

You can also find vasoactive agents, like pseudoephedrine. These meds act on blood vessels causing constriction, which in theory would decrease the swelling in the nasal tissues. Like antihistamines, they have been shown to be ineffective in kids, and have a ton of side effects as well, including sleep problems, heart beat irregularities and other unpleasant things. Stay away!

Cough: There are two types of agents for cough. The first are expectorants, like guaifenesin (used in Mucinex and others). These medicines are supposed to thin secretions and make it easier to cough up the mucus that forms in a child’s lungs in response to the virus. A number of studies have shown that this stuff doesn’t do anything for kids at all. Despite the cute ads, it is no better than a placebo (sugar-syrup).

The second cough medicine is dextromethorphan (the DM in all the cough syrups.) This is a cousin of codeine, which has been shown to help decrease cough in adults, but, interestingly, does not work in kids. DM has been been studied extensively, and is no better than sugar-syrup for cough in kids. It, too, has been associated with a host of bad side effects, including seizures, so it is something I would stay away from.

Among the most dangerous aspects of OTC cough/cold meds for kids is illustrated in a recent photo taken at a local pharmacy. There are multiple formulations of every OTC brand, and each can have one or more of these kinds of  meds. This leads to lots of confusion for parents. One person’s Dimetapp may be very different from another’s. This has led to overdosing and other bad things for kids.

The only thing that has ever really been shown to be better than a placebo (sugar syrup) for treating kids with colds is good old-fashioned honey. While honey should never be given to kids younger than 1, it has been shown to decrease cough in kids older than 1 with colds.

OK. So what are the take-home messages?

• If your child has a cold, know what to expect in terms of symptoms and duration. If things go longer than they should, if your child is not drinking or is acting very sick or has trouble breathing, he/she probably should be seen by a physician. It is always OK to give us a call with questions, and we can help you think through how to make your child more comfortable.
• Stay away form OTC meds. If your child is younger than 6 , you should never use them. If you have an older child, you should think carefully about whether using a medication that has never been show to help but has been show to have side effects is a good idea.
• If you are going to use an OTC med, be sure you know what is in it, and be sure that you are not using multiple different kids of the same medications. You do not want to overdose!
• Lots to drink and lots of love are always good ideas. Oh, and washing your hands often to decrease the risk of spreading the virus!

As pediatricians, we can do a lot to help ensure your child thrives. Sometimes the best thing we can do, however, is to help you protect them from unnecessary medications, and that can be magic.

Ben Hoffman, M.D.
Medical Director, OHSU Doernbecher Tom Sargent Children’s Safety Center
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital

I was proud to see the publication of a landmark brain repair trial carried out at OHSU and Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Our large team of researchers reported the results of this first-ever use of brain-specific stem cells in human patients.

The trial, begun in 2006, involved surgical transplantation of purified neural stem cells into six pediatric patients with the rare and uniformly fatal form of the brain degenerative disorder, Batten disease, plus extensive medical and imaging follow-up.

The cell transplants were also the largest undertaken in clinical trials, ranging from about 300 million to almost a billion cells per patient, and the first time cellular ‘brain transplants’ were utilized to help children.

The definitive publication of the OHSU trial demonstrates that the transplantation operations were all carried out safely at Doernbecher, and that trial patients tolerated the transplanted cells and related medications without serious complications.

OHSU and OHSU Doernbecher researchers and their collaborators at Stanford University and Stem Cells, Inc., the trial sponsor, also discovered that transplanted stem cells appear to survive in the brain for months to years after transplantation, offering hope that in future these types of transplants could help patients with various brain, spinal cord and retinal diseases that are currently untreatable.

Our stem cell transplantation trial was led by OHSU Doernbecher metabolic medicine specialist Robert Steiner, M.D., and myself. I was also privileged to serve as the treating surgeon for each of these six precious patients.

Batten disease is a devastating illness that has already claimed the lives of three of our six study patients, despite their stem cell-based therapy. During the trial, I have had the pleasure of knowing them and their marvelous, compassionate, and truly dedicated families, through their repeated visits to Doernbecher for more than five years.

The entire community of Batten disease families, caretakers, and researchers tremendously values their courage in volunteering to be a part of this groundbreaking attempt to works towards the development of a cure.

Nathan Selden, M.D., Ph.D.
Mario and Edie Campagna Chair of Pediatric Neurosurgery
Director, OHSU Neurological Surgery Residency Program
OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital

Myron Child and his daughter, Bekkie Child

My story with Doernbecher began over 20 years ago when my daughter, Beckie Child, was 16 years old. At the time she was a popular, athletic and vibrant teenager at Parkrose High School.

One day at basketball practice, Beckie had a great deal of pain in her leg. My wife, Geri, and I took her to the doctor and were told we needed to get to Doernbecher Children’s Hospital as soon as possible.

Beckie’s doctor at Doernbecher, Dr. Boss, diagnosed her as having osteogenic sarcoma in her left femur bone — Beckie was not expected to survive. In early December 1989, Beckie underwent two surgeries — one to remove the infected bone and replace it with a prosthesis and the other to insert a port-a-cath into her chest so she could begin her chemotherapy treatment.

During one of these operations, Geri and I went back to Beckie’s hospital room to wait for her surgery to be completed as there was not enough room in the operation room waiting area. Beckie shared a room with three other patients and their families. The room was loud, cramped and we did not have the privacy we needed, so we moved our chairs out into the hallway for some peace and quiet.

At this time we witnessed another family going through a very difficult time, again without the privacy they needed. This family eventually lost their daughter to cystic fibrosis. It was clear to me something needed to be done about the old hospital facility so families could have the privacy and peace they needed during such difficult times. We needed a new hospital!

The experience we had at the old Doernbecher hospital inspired me to turn to the kids of Oregon and southwest Washington to begin fundraising for a new hospital. We started the Kids Making Miracles (KMM) program in 1992 and it played an imperative role in the construction of the new OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital we know and love today.

Today, more than 20 years later, hundreds of area K-12 students continue to raise funds for the hospital through the Kids Making Miracles program. Since the program’s inception, students have helped raise more than $8 million. These funds have helped Doernbecher develop new clinical services, funded innovative research programs for serious childhood diseases, and it has allowed the hospital to address immediate children’s health care needs.

Even more importantly, students involved in KMM learn valuable lessons about the importance of philanthropy, helping their community and being leaders in their schools.

This past year, Beckie had her leg operated on again to remove the old prosthesis to replace it with new a new one. During this time, Beckie’s doctors found another cancerous tumor. It took two surgeries to remove the tumor, and she spent a lot of time in the hospital.

One day as Geri and I were visiting our daughter in the hospital, a nurse who was attending to Beckie explained that when she was a high school student at Tillamook High School, she had participated in the KMM program when she was a teen. She said she became a nurse because of her involvement in the KMM program.

I could hardly get over the reason she was a nurse today is because of what happened to Beckie when she was 16 years old and now this woman is taking care of Beckie as an adult. I am a true believer that things happen for a reason!

On Friday, May 10, the KMM Executive Student Council hosted the annual KMM Candlelight Ceremony at Doernbecher. This is a very special event where students from all over Oregon and southwest Washington come together to celebrate their efforts in fundraising for Doernbecher.

The ceremony took place at the OHSU Auditorium, followed by a procession down the hill and ending at the Miracle Garden in front of OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital where students ceremonially rekindled the Eternal Flame — a symbol of hope for kids and families at Doernbecher.

Myron Child
Emeritus Board Member
OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation

I have worked with pregnant women for 20 years as a dietitian and diabetes educator.

I love that pregnancy is a time of heightened awareness around the importance of good nutrition, which is why it is so fun to work with this patient population.

We now know that good nutrition is important — not only for the immediate health of the developing baby, but also for the baby’s future health as she grows into adulthood.

With this in mind, I set out to create a blueprint for healthy eating in pregnancy that reflected current science-based information that pregnant women could use to get the best possible nutrition during this important time.

The result of this effort is “My Pregnancy Plate,” which focuses on dietary patterns and is designed to guide people toward a nutrient-dense, well-balanced diet (“My Pregnancy Plate,” Spanish version”).

As a dietitian, I like to talk to people about their “eating style” because it’s a positive way to discuss nutrition and reinforces the goal of long-term healthy living. So, although it’s titled “My Pregnancy Plate, this blueprint, or tool, is a healthy way to eat before and after pregnancy, as well.

In pregnancy, mom’s additional need for energy is not very high, but her need for more micronutrients increases dramatically. Consequently, as the My Pregnancy Plate illustrates, a well-balanced pregnancy diet would include an abundant and varied amount of plant-based foods.

Moderate amounts of animal-based foods should be eaten, preferably non-fat/low-fat dairy, lean meats and oily fish. Small amounts of healthy fats in the diet should also be included.

There is a saying that sensibly emphasizes the concept of “thinking for two, but not eating for two.” Because foods or beverages containing a lot of sugar and/or saturated fat are high in calories and low in nutrients, these should be included on a very limited basis. Thanks to our graphic designer, the My Pregnancy Plate is a feast for the eyes, which brings me to my last point: healthy eating reflects balance, variety, moderation and enjoyment!

Christie Naze, R.D., C.D.E.
Clinical Dietitian
OHSU Center for Women’s Health

Editor’s note: Amy Wang with The Oregonian’s Omamas blog recently interviewed Christie about My Pregnancy Plate. You can read the article here.

As part of our training curriculum, pediatric residents at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital choose a special interest group (SIG) in which to participate. These groups allow us the opportunity to pursue other interests that may fall outside the everyday responsibilities of residency.

Last month our global health SIG held a health fair for the Neighborhood House Early Head Start program. Neighborhood House, a nonprofit social service organization, provides supportive services to more than 18,000 low-income families in the greater Portland area.

This event marks a great collaboration with Neighborhood House, OHSU and other area services and nonprofit organizations. Volunteers comprising general pediatricians, pediatric dentists, medical students, nurses and other volunteer organizations provided free health and dental screenings as well as lead screening to about 30 children.

With the help of the OHSU Doernbecher Tom Sargent Children’s Safety Center, we were able to arrange car seat installation appointments as well as offer valuable education regarding safety measures aimed at preventing childhood injuries.

OHSU Doernbecher residents provide free health screenings

In addition, we were able to provide each child with an age-appropriate book thanks to the Reach Out and Read program and local donations. Our medical student volunteers read to children waiting for their appointments and met with parents to discuss the importance of early literacy.

This is our second year partnering with Neighborhood House, and to date, we have provided health screenings and secure important follow-up for more than 80 children. While many of these children and families are assigned medical providers, obstacles to access, such as transportation limitations and language barriers, prevent many children from seeking regular health screenings.

Jeffrey Meyrowitz, M.D., third-year resident in pediatrics, OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital

As we move forward, our SIG hopes to broaden our partnership with Neighborhood House, providing more preventive health education and help to reduce some of the barriers impeding the families from establishing a regular medical home.

Jeffrey Meyrowitz, M.D.
Third-Year Resident in Pediatrics
OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital

On Saturday, April 20, the Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Foundation and the Friends of Doernbecher will host the 15^th annual Heart of Doernbecher Auction. Each year, we invite a family to share their Doernbecher story. The Rea family shared their personal story at the very first Heart of Doernbecher Auction 15 years ago. Today, Ryan Rea is a thriving junior at Washington State University. His family remains incredibly thankful for the care they received 22 years ago. Following is their story in their own words.

Ryan, Laura and Dennis Rea

My connection with Doernbecher Children’s Hospital began in June 1974 with my first job as a registered nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). From a nurse’s perspective, neonatal nursing was an exciting, fast-paced, challenging and oftentimes heartbreaking job. I could never have imagined then that 17 years later I would find myself on the opposite side of the infant warmer watching our precious baby struggle to survive.

From a parent’s perspective, nothing can adequately prepare you for the roller coaster ride an admission ticket to the NICU brings. A day in the life of a preemie can be the longest, most grueling, emotionally draining 24 hours a parent can experience … then it repeats itself day after day

Our dream of having a large family was almost derailed when following the delivery of our second baby, I suffered a cerebral hemorrhage that caused paralysis to my left side. After 26 days, the first sign of hope came with a slight movement of my big toe. Recovery took months of physical therapy and patience.

Ryan Rea, no bigger than a shoebox.

Obviously, thoughts of expanding our family further seemed unlikely, but six years later the desire for another baby began tugging at our hearts.

Wanting to take every precaution, we came to the OHSU High-Risk Pregnancy Clinic for advice, prenatal care and eventual delivery. Doctors determined my stroke had been caused by a drug I’d been given during delivery, which triggered a hypertensive episode that ruptured my right temporal artery. We were relieved to finally know what had caused my stroke, so we felt comfortable moving forward.

My third pregnancy was uneventful until the 26th week, when I came down with what I thought was the flu. Three days later I awoke with a violent headache and partial loss of vision. Fearing another stroke, we called my neurologist and rushed to the ER in Walla Walla.

A diagnosis of preeclampsia was made and treatment started. Further tests revealed I was in labor and our baby was in fetal distress. I was so focused on the headache and possibility of another stroke, I was barely aware of the contractions. Life Flight came from Portland and delivered us to OHSU, where doctors performed an emergency C-section.

Dr. Joe Gilhooly and Ryan Rea at the 2002 Heart of Doernbecher Auction

Born blue and limp with a rapidly failing heart rate, Ryan weighed 1 pound 9 ounces and was 13 inches long. Like all premature infants born less than 28 weeks gestation, Ryan faced many health risks, from serious breathing difficulties to cerebral palsy, intracranial bleeding and possible blindness. During his first 48 hours, Ryan struggled valiantly just to breathe.

He was fortunate to be in the Doernbecher NICU because, at the time, it was one of only five children’s hospitals nationwide participating in the trial study of surfactant therapy – a drug that helps tiny, immature lungs absorb oxygen.

There’s absolutely no doubt in our minds that together Doernbecher and surfactant therapy saved Ryan’s life. After 88 days in the NICU, weighing just 3 pounds 10 ounces, and measuring 15 inches long, we brought Ryan home.

Ryan Rea, high school graduation

Today, our miracle is a healthy and active 22-year-old, a tribute to the gifted hands of the Doernbecher NICU physicians and nurses and their commitment to providing cutting-edge medical care for premature and critically ill infants.

We feel blessed that Ryan, a junior at WSU, is majoring in AgEcon/Agribusiness, with plans to return to our family farm. We strongly believe it’s important to support causes that are dear to your heart, so that’s why we continue to support Doernbecher, so that it can continue to be successful in the future.

Laura Rea
Walla Walla, Washington

Julie Rose, PCC student in graphic design

April 13, 2013, marks the 19th annual OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital Memorial Service. It began with a few patient families, along with some hospital staff, casually inquiring if there could be some kind of annual remembrance honoring children and young people who had been treated at the hospital during the previous 12 months, but ultimately could not survive their individual health challenges.

Some patients had a long hospital history due to ongoing medical needs and were well-known to the staff. Others lived only minutes to hours in hospital care. Regardless of the length of life or duration of hospitalization, each life had importance and meaning. Each child had made a difference (sometimes a significant impact) on family, loved ones, friends or hospital staff.

These realizations amplified the value for an annual occasion of remembrance. They also underscored an important fact: Bereaved patient families find it comforting to know that their child is not forgotten, that the child’s life has somehow influenced others during whatever life span the child experienced. It is important that their child be remembered as an individual and not so much identified by an illness, injury or disease.

Memorial services are usually associated with the duties of chaplaincy, so it was that Doernbecher Chaplaincy was approached with the idea. Also contributing to the annual remembrance taking shape was a developing collaborative work relationship with Doernbecher’s Child Life team.With Chaplaincy’s focus on spiritual care and the Child Life team’s attention to enrichment and transitional needs, both services often interacted to support patients and their families in addressing end-of-life needs. It was obvious that the coordination and hosting of a Doernbecher Memorial could be most effective as a shared endeavor.

The Child Life team, led by Sandy Westfall, knew patients well and had a wealth of sensitivity and creativity to bring to the occasion — and they were willing to do so. Years later we learned that a joint hosting of an annual memorial service was considered unique and not a norm for children’s hospitals.

Chaplaincy and Child Life have been thankful for the helping hands of others. In the memorial service’s 19-year history, groups serving Doernbecher, such as hospital volunteers, the Children’s Cancer Association, Candle Lighters, Friends of Doernbecher, CHAPS and others too numerous to name have provided support through participation, goods and donation of time.

Through the years, support has never wavered, testifying to the value of the service. It is also worth noting that the memorial services initially were supported by unsolicited donations from patient families to help underwrite costs, but Doernbecher’s Chaplaincy and Child Life team have remained at the core of the service’s annual planning and coordination

Five to six weeks before the service, uniquely designed invitations and a cover letter of explanation are sent to the families of those to be honored and to hospital staff. Prior to the service, families are given the opportunity to set up individual displays honoring the remembered child in an adjacent room. The reception can be an opportunity for them to share their child’s display and story with others who may be interested. Supervised activities for younger children who would need diversion while the parents attend the service are available.

The service usually lasts a little over an hour. It consists of general remarks reflecting on the value, contribution and importance of the children remembered. The name of every child honored is read — between 95 and 120 children are listed in the memorial program each year.

Music selections are incorporated. A brief slide presentation is included of medical and ancillary staff in their varied hospital settings, acknowledging in a general way those who cared for the children and supported their loved ones. Slides of children’s art are also folded in the service format. Guests are given opportunity to briefly share remembrances and thoughts honoring a child or the children in general.

We endeavor to make the service culturally and spiritually sensitive. Because varied spiritual outlooks are represented, the service does not pursue a religious tone. It honors the spiritual of such an occasion, but in a nonsectarian way. The time closes with a reception. Food is served. Attending families and hospital staff have an opportunity to visit and reflect together.

Through the years, the response to the memorial has been positive. Obviously, for some to attend and re-enter the hospital campus is challenging. On a few occasions, after driving a considerable distance, a family has gotten to the auditorium door and decided they couldn’t stay because it was too emotionally difficult. Others have reported a sense of comfort, support and help after having participated in the memorial time.

Reactions vary for staff as well. Some report they find it emotionally hard to revisit patient loss. Others value the reconnection with patient families and remembrances of patients who have touched their lives. Chaplaincy and Child Life recognize that in a large group people will have varied reactions to journeying loss. We seek to meet individuals wherever they are and allow for their adjustments. Chaplaincy and Child Life are available before, during and after the service to circulate and provide support if needed.

A 19-year history suggests that the memorial service is addressing a need. It takes time and effort to put this occasion of remembrance together each year. We are appreciative of the assistance and support we receive from others in this annual endeavor.

We remain committed in our motivation that the children be remembered — they and their families are worthy of our recognition. Each life remembered has made a difference in some way. The collective impact of that difference has helped shape the OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital community — and continues to influence individual lives.

James Berry, M.Div., B.C.C.
Chaplain, Spiritual Services
OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital

Sandra Westfall
Manager, Child Life Program
OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital

At OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, where I’m a pediatric resident, inspiration is everywhere. I have the pleasure of working with talented, dedicated physicians and nurses every day. Yet, it is often patients and their families, their endless hope and caring, that make me want to be better and do more.

One afternoon not long ago, the mother of a patient in the OHSU Doernbecher cardiology clinic shared with me the story of her adorable son’s adoption from an orphanage in China. She said he was the fourth child from China that her family had adopted, and the third with congenital heart disease. (The Oregonian’s Katy Muldoon recently profiled this family.)

As she described their journey home from China, I was overwhelmed by her family’s capacity for love and generosity. In fact, they had extended their passion beyond their own family by starting Little Hearts Medical, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving care for children with congenital heart disease in Chinese orphanages.

We wrapped up the appointment and went our separate ways — I to my next patient and they to their lives in rural Washington — but throughout the following week I continued thinking about that mother’s story and I came to realize that I can do more. I have to do more.

Once I decided to get involved, the next question was how. How could I actually provide value to the organization and the children who need help?  I began emailing those involved at OHSU Doernbecher, trying to find out what I could do. I learned that Little Hearts Medical not only provides medical care to orphanages in China, but also medical supplies that are desperately needed in these orphanages. As a resident, I may not be able to travel to China myself, but I was sure I could find a way to help with funding for supplies and other expenses.

A few weekends later, while I was chatting to a colleague about my newfound love for running, it occurred to me that with the huge running community in Portland, a run could be a great way to raise money and awareness for Little Hearts Medical. I contacted Mike Lee, father and co-founder of the organization, and he was excited about the idea. In fact, he didn’t hesitate. It was a “let’s get started yesterday” type of response.

Over the next few weeks we scouted and identified a great location, signed up leagues of volunteers, procured sponsors and prize donations and designed a T-shirt for the runners. We’ve made great progress planning the event and with your help — sign up and spread the word! — we expect a wonderful turnout for the inaugural 5k for Little Hearts Medical.

Please join Little Hearts Medical for our 5K fundraiser at Marine Park in Vancouver, Wash., at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 13! To learn more, click here.

Whitnee Stuban, M.D.
Second-Year Resident in Pediatrics
OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital

“Be Prepared,” the motto of Boy Scouts, could also be adopted by parents of 6-month-old babies. When they begin to roll, scoot, crawl and pull-up on furniture, it’s time to child-proof the home.

Using safety products like baby gates, toilet locks, window stops and furniture wall straps can reduce injuries in the home. While nothing takes the place of the watchful eye of an adult, the correct use of childproofing products does buy caregivers time to react and helps keep children safe.

OHSU Doernbecher’s Tom Sargent Children’s Safety Center recommends that families consider installing the following items in their homes:

• Plug protectors in all electrical outlets and power cord strip covers to prevent access to electricity and reduce the chance of shock.

• Furniture wall straps to secure heavy furniture to walls and prevent it from tipping over on a child. Bookcases, chests of drawer and television cabinets are all good candidates.

• Window stops for all second-story and above ground windows. It is recommended that windows be blocked at a four-inch opening, this allows air circulation in a room but prevents window falls. Do not place anything under a window that would allow a child to climb up and access the window. Keep windows “Kid-Free Zones.”

• Wall-mounted gates at the top of stairs and pressure-mounted gates at the bottom of stairs will help reduce falls.

• Toilet locks can reduce the chance of drowning. In the bathroom, we remind families to never leave a child alone in the tub and be sure to store all cleaners and medications up and out of the way of children.

• We also encourage all families to post the number for Oregon Poison Center 1-800-222-1222 by home phones and in all caregivers cell phones.

The OHSU Doernbecher “Child-Proof” Safety Checklist can help you protect your child from unnecessary injury.

Many of us will be gathering at the Rose Quarter Saturday, April 27, at 9 a.m. for the annual March of Dimes “March for Babies” fundraiser. The March of Dimes’ mission is to improve the health of newborns by preventing birth defects, preterm birth and infant mortality, and OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital proudly partners with them to support this mission for newborns receiving care in the Doernbecher Neonatal Care Center (DNCC).

Having a baby born early or ill can be extremely stressful for families. During the past nine years, the March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program has provided emotional support, education and activities for families while their infants are receiving care in the DNCC.

Proudly sporting a “Big Brother” T-shirt.

The March of Dimes is able to provide funding for research and community grants, and help support programs because of the critical funds gained from events such as “March for Babies.”

The NICU Family Support Program provides parent care kits, sibling support, including Big Sister/Big Brother backpacks and T-shirts, toolkits for Dad, and care kits for moms on bed rest.

In addition, each month the NICU Family Support Program hosts at least 15 activities for NICU parents, including scrapbooking and craft hours, photography, parent support group lunches, dinners with former DNCC parents, Sibling Saturdays and other education hours.

In addition to providing such a wide variety of activities, the March of Dimes is a reassuring presence for families, what I like to refer to as, “a shoulder to lean on.” The value of this continued support for families is priceless.

DNCC toolkit for Dads

We welcome your support and invite you to join our DNCC team by clicking here.

Robbie Hennig, R.N.
Assistant Nurse Manager
Doernbecher Neonatal Care Center
OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital

Jennifer Horner, L.C.S.W.
March of Dimes NICU Family Support Program