2003 CMN Champion
Simon Nelson
Four-year-old Simon Nelson has the heart of a champion, and on May 31, he will share that spirit when he represents North Dakota, western Minnesota and MeritCare Children's Hospital at the 2003 Children's Miracle Network (CMN) Celebration to be televised statewide in May.
The incident that earned Simon his place as CMN Champion actually took place two years ago. On January 22, 2001, young Simon, clad only in his pajamas, wandered out of his family's home near Hitterdal, Minn., into a 10-degree night. At 4:30am, Simon's mother, Janna, awoke to find the front door open. Sensing something was wrong, she went to check on Simon and his brother, DeForrest, only to find Simon's bed empty.
Simon's dad, Brian, ran outside to search for his then 20-month-old son. Panic gave way to horror, as he found the boy, unconscious and seemingly dead, about 100 yards from the house, lying in the snow in front of the door to the shop where he often played.
"I carried him into the house, wrapped my coat around him and called 911," Brian recalls. "I could see he was basically gone -- it's a miracle he's alive today."
The Nelsons credit that miracle to a lot of prayer and the quick thinking of the medical professionals who worked so hard to save their son's life that night.
The lifesaving effort began as soon as local emergency crews arrived on the scene. It then continued as Simon -- unresponsive and without a palpable pulse -- was airlifted to MeritCare Hospital in Fargo aboard a LifeFlight helicopter.
On arrival at MeritCare, Simon's body temperature registered only 68.1 degrees. Dr. Roxanne Newman, a MeritCare cardiovascular surgeon trained in pediatric cardiovascular care, opened his chest and hooked him up to a special child-sized heart-lung machine (the only one of its kind in the state) to warm him. Intensive treatment and care followed, and two weeks later, on February 5, Simon was released. He is now a healthy, active child.
Stories like Simon's are what CMN is all about. Founded in 1983, CMN is an international non-profit organization dedicated to helping children by raising funds and awareness for its 170 affiliated children's hospitals throughout North America. CMN hospitals, including MeritCare Children's Hospital, treat all children regardless of affliction or the family's ability to pay. MeritCare Children's Hospital is the only hospital in North Dakota to participate in CMN, and all funds raised in our area benefit research, education, programs and high tech equipment here at MeritCare.
The 2003 CMN Celebration, featuring Simon and his fellow Champions from all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces, will air on local NBC stations in North Dakota and on KVLY-TV11 in northwestern Minnesota. Money raised through the event will help others like Simon become champions in their own battles with hardship and disease.
CMN Champions