Our Donor Stories
Over the years, we've heard scores of stories from our donors recalling the reasons they feel connected to MeritCare. We want our Web site, foundation.meritcare.com, to be a place where you, too, can connect with stories of courage and strength from around our region. Below, you'll find some of those stories. And, we invite you to share your story with us.
Thanks to Scheels of Fargo...
Thanks to Scheels of Fargo for their generous donations to MeritCare! Several checks were presented to MeritCare President and CEO Roger Gilbertson on July 21.
A $10,000 check was presented to MeritCare Children's Hospital. Money was raised during the inaugural Scheels Fargo Marathon event held in May. Presenting the check, left to right are: Jason Loney, Scheels Vice President of Marketing; Steve Hulbert, Scheels President; Mark Knutson, Scheels Fargo Marathon Executive Director; Sherry Senske, West Acres Scheels Manager; Dona Ochsner, Moorhead Downtown Scheels Manager; Steve Scheel, Scheels CEO; and Roger Gilbertson, MD, MeritCare President and CEO.
A second check for $6,247 was presented to MeritCare Roger Maris Cancer Center. The money was raised by a water bottle promotion held at Scheels this spring. Presenting that check, left to right, are: Steve Hulbert, Scheels President; Sherry Senske, West Acres Scheels Manager; Dona Ochsner, Moorhead Downtown Scheels Manager; Steve Scheel, Scheels CEO; and Roger Gilbertson, MD, MeritCare President and CEO.
Lee and Daktech help out
Kimi Lee, Brandon Lee, Nathan Kobrinsky, MD, and Mike Kelly
Brandon Lee has been to the MeritCare Roger Maris Cancer Center multiple times. Diagnosed with a brain tumor in the fall of 2002, Brandon was under the specialized care of a pediatric neurologist and a pediatric oncologist. He also spent many hours in the infusion center getting chemotherapy. At the Cancer Center there is a treatment room equipped with 'kidstuff' for the many pediatric oncology patients that are treated at MeritCare. After one visit, Brandon mentioned that the playstation game wasn't working properly. Staff agreed and said it was worn out.
Kimi Lee, Brandon's mother, explained the situation to a friend that worked at DakTech, a computer manufacturing company in Fargo. At Brandon' s next appointment, he had a surprise for his physician, Dr. Kobrinksy. Brandon and his mom brought Mike Kelly of DakTech with them. Together they presented a new computer system for the Cancer Center.
Brandon's treatment is complete but he knows many children will pass the time during chemotherapy, thanks to DakTech, by playing computer games.
Hornbacher's employees accept challenge
In May, Dean Hornbacher, President of Hornbacher's Foods of Fargo, presented a challenge to his employees: sell 10,000 Miracle Balloons to customers by the end of the month where all proceeds will be given to MeritCare Children's Hospital, the local Children's Miracle Network (CMN) hospital. Each time a balloon was purchased by a customer, Hornbacher's purchased one too!
Were they able to accomplish this? The answer is found in a letter from Hornbacher's. "Enclosed you will find two checks totaling $20,863. This is the result of our commitment to match the first $10,000 in Children's Miracle Network Balloon sales. As I expected our customers responded to our matching offer and purchased $10,863 worth of balloons. As I said on (June 1) the evening of the CMN celebration 'we have the greatest customers in the world.' The Fargo-Moorhead area is truly fortunate to have a facility like the Children's Hospital at MeritCare and Hornbacher's is proud to support its good works."
MeritCare Foundation is so appreciative of Hornbacher's efforts to involve their staff and customers in raising money for MeritCare Children's Hospital. Their first contribution was the first year of the CMN celebration in 1985.
Kohl's Associates present a check during MeritCare's Happy Hat promotion.
Businesses and individuals are very important to MeritCare Foundation. Many businesses contribute to our Foundation and one such business is Kohl's Department Store. A few years ago Kohl's initiated a program called "Kohl's Cares for kids". During the Back to School, Holiday and Spring seasons, Kohl's features special items for sale, with 100 percent of the profits being donated to Children's Hospitals.
Personal Stories from Donors
Grandpa Don was an incredible person with a big heart. He is a great role model and will be in our hearts forever. We love you grandpa!
Sandy was an angel on earth and I know she is one now. She brought joy to everyone she ever met. It was a privilege to grow up in the same township and the same era as she did. Hopefully, someday, cancer will be defeated and people won't die so young.
Arlitte was a wonderful role model to me as a student at St. Lukes School of Nursing many years ago when I was a nurse intern. I was able to work with her for almost 20 years in the maternal child division as an R.N. I will miss her much.
I am a three time cancer survivor. Soon to be four. At age seven I began a 2 year battle with lymphoma. At age 15 I started a 5 year battle with colon cancer. At 24 I married a woman from the Philippines and not long after we had our first child. A baby boy. At age 25 I was diagnised with Adenocarcinoma of the small bowel. We went through a year of chemo and surguries. I'm now 29 and my wife and I are expecting our second child. We just found out that I again have cancer. This time another varient of Lymphoma. I survived the last three thanks to the help of MeritCares Dr. Nathan Kobrinski. I plan on surviving this one too. I am also finishing my bachelors degree in Computer Science and will be starting my Masters in the spring. I currently manage a computer retail and repair shop in my area. Its been a tough battle but life is definitly worth living.
I heard about the Cares for Kids on the radio this morning on my way to work. My nephew had surgery at 10 days old for Pyloric stenosis at Children's Hospital in the cities. I know what a relief it was for my family that he had such great care near his home, and want to help families near my home in Fargo have the same support and care.