OT: Children's Miracle Network Telethon

[shaunguth]

I don't mind sharing Jonathan's story at all! These are the stories that need to be told in order for people to get just a little glimpse of what is capable of happening right here in Peoria. There are 64 rooms in the NICU and they are full at times. There are many different situations from babies that just need to grow and learn how to feed......to the more extreme cases like Jonathan and other situations that keep babies there for an extended amount of time.

I had a good time spending the day at the CMN Telethon. It was very emotional to watch (especially the first hour, which focused on the NICU) and extremely gratifying to help raise money for one of the best facilities in the country! I look forward to many more years of doing whatever I can to help this cause that has overtaken our lives. It's actually kind of sad that it does take such a life-altering event to open one's eyes to such a cause and facility that is right here in my hometown.

Jonathan had a few different surgical procedures done on June 1 and it took him awhile to recover, but he came back off the ventilator on June 5. He really has been a different baby since recovering from surgery. He seems so much happier now and doesn't appear to be the "sick" baby he was. Of course, his lungs are his biggest issue and they will be for some time, but he has overcome so many other things. His oxygen level is back down to the lowest it ever was and we're going to be very busy over the next couple days with meetings, appointments, and training to prepare us for him coming home. Right now, the plan is to bring him home this Thursday, which will be his 5-month birthday!

Thanks again to BradleyFans for allowing this subject to be discussed here!

[Old Coach]

I don't mind sharing Jonathan's story at all! These are the stories that need to be told in order for people to get just a little glimpse of what is capable of happening right here in Peoria. There are 64 rooms in the NICU and they are full at times. There are many different situations from babies that just need to grow and learn how to feed......to the more extreme cases like Jonathan and other situations that keep babies there for an extended amount of time.

I had a good time spending the day at the CMN Telethon. It was very emotional to watch (especially the first hour, which focused on the NICU) and extremely gratifying to help raise money for one of the best facilities in the country! I look forward to many more years of doing whatever I can to help this cause that has overtaken our lives. It's actually kind of sad that it does take such a life-altering event to open one's eyes to such a cause and facility that is right here in my hometown.

Jonathan had a few different surgical procedures done on June 1 and it took him awhile to recover, but he came back off the ventilator on June 5. He really has been a different baby since recovering from surgery. He seems so much happier now and doesn't appear to be the "sick" baby he was. Of course, his lungs are his biggest issue and they will be for some time, but he has overcome so many other things. His oxygen level is back down to the lowest it ever was and we're going to be very busy over the next couple days with meetings, appointments, and training to prepare us for him coming home. Right now, the plan is to bring him home this Thursday, which will be his 5-month birthday!

Thanks again to BradleyFans for allowing this subject to be discussed here!

I'm closely connected to the CHOI Foundation on a personal level, so I love to hear your story of gratitude Shaun.

[shaunguth]

I will again be spending the day at the Children's Hospital Telethon tomorrow. If anyone would like to donate on behalf of Jonathan, please visit his page....

https://choi.osfhealthcarefoundation.org/jonathan

Let me repeat what I said last year....
This is extremely important to us and I'm serious when I say even $5 is greatly appreciated, because if everyone we know did that much, we'd be very satisfied with the results!

Jonathan is doing good right now and has only spent a week in the hospital this year. Last year, he was in the hospital a total of nine months!

However, a lot has happened since this time last year, including some new complications that were discovered not long after he came home from the NICU. This is all detailed at the above address.

Since my efforts were focused on the NICU last year, I would greatly appreciate this years' support going towards the Congenital Heart Center.

Thanks so much for your support!

[Da Coach]

Thanks to the great people at the Children's hospital, and the great volunteers and donors! I am glad to hear Jonathan is doing OK! Good luck Shaun!

[Old Coach]

Tomorrow's telethon airs from Noon to 5 PM on WEEK. Once again this year, there will be folks from the Bradley athletic department participating.

[Da Coach]

Reminder- Please help support the Children's Hospital Telethon.

Click on this link and then click the DONATE button-

https://choi.osfhealthcarefoundation.org/jonathan

Or call-
309-636-7134
or
877-574-5678

Or tune to WEEK, channel 25 to watch the telethon.

[jeffsu]

Great to see BU represented well today. Saw that Dr. Cross volunteered his time to man the phone lines for a bit. He even enticed his Twitter followers with a pair of front-row tickets to a game if they called him and donated!

I know some people here have issues with Dr. Cross, (I do not, for the record), but ALL of us should applaud that kind of great representation and class. Reflects great on the Athletic Department and BU as a whole.

[Old Coach]

Great to see BU represented well today. Saw that Dr. Cross volunteered his time to man the phone lines for a bit. He even enticed his Twitter followers with a pair of front-row tickets to a game if they called him and donated!

I know some people here have issues with Dr. Cross, (I do not, for the record), but ALL of us should applaud that kind of great representation and class. Reflects great on the Athletic Department and BU as a whole.

Nice post Jeff.

[tornado]

Jeff - I think everyone is unanimous in agreeing we have VERY good, hard working, and generous people working in the Athletic Department at BU..
in fact - we always have - going back 20, 30 years I recall the people at BU involved with numerous civic and local endeavors that took a lot of their time & energy -
I think that's one thing that makes Bradley not just special - but also a key piece of the entire community here in Central Illinois even for people who do NOT care about basketball nor ever go to Bradley.

[Old Coach]

Jeff - I think everyone is unanimous in agreeing we have VERY good, hard working, and generous people working in the Athletic Department at BU..
in fact - we always have - going back 20, 30 years I recall the people at BU involved with numerous civic and local endeavors that took a lot of their time & energy -
I think that's one thing that makes Bradley not just special - but also a key piece of the entire community here in Central Illinois even for people who do NOT care about basketball nor ever go to Bradley.

Agree 100%. Nobody twisted those folks' arms to be up there manning the phones yesterday. They did it because they wanted to.