Patient Stories

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A Place to Call Home

With three preschoolers, the Bundys need frequent, reliable medical care. Where can they find a pediatrician who has extended hours, doesn't require appointments and offers quality, kid-friendly care? Read More

 

My Daddy Loves Me

Mom's purse sure looks fun – what's in there? And why does Grandma eat candy with a glass of water right after breakfast? Think like a kid and get a new view of poison prevention. Read More

 

A Charming, Disarming Champion

Alyssa Pratt happily filled her days with volleyball, friends and schoolwork – until last June. What happens when cancer enters the life of a 14-year-old? Meet our 2010 Children's Miracle Network Champion. Read More

 

A Blizzard of Winter Safety Tips

Snow for playing, ice for skating, hills for sledding. Ah, the gifts of winter! But what about safety? Whether at play, at home or on the road, you can take steps to keep you and your family safe. Read More

 

A Winning Year

What a year for Matt Garberg! He added inches, pounds – and confidence. The fast-growing 10-year-old gives you a tour of his reign as 2009 Children's Miracle Network Champion. Read More

 

I've Been Watchin' You

"I've been watchin' you dad, ain't that cool? I'm your buckaroo, I wanna be like you." What happens if you apply these lyrics by country singer Rodney Atkins to safety? What are your kids learning? Read More

 

Toys "R" Safe

From robotic hamsters to handheld games to the latest action figures, the toy aisle can be overwhelming. How do you pick the best – and safest – toy for the little one on your holiday gift list? Read More

 

Cooking up Memories

Thinking about holiday baking projects with your kids? Take a tip from first-grader Maddie Amundson: Always use sprinkles! And there's another important ingredient, too. Read More

 

Full Speed Ahead

NASCAR racer Natalie Sather wheels around the racetrack, driving to win. And when she visits kids at MeritCare Children's Hospital? She gains smiles and speeds healing. Read More

 

Let Safety Haunt Your Halloween

"Trick or treat!" says the Optimus Prime Transformer standing on your front step. Next to him stands a shy witch not even three feet tall. Meet Ben and Siena Newland, a Halloween duo with a message of safety. Read More

 

Monica's Gift

You don't even want to imagine it – a 14-year-old losing her life to cancer. Or a mother giving birth to a fatally-ill newborn. Is there anything a hospital can do to bring added comfort and care during such a difficult time? Read More

 

A Family Doubles

Remember your first airplane ride? By the ripe old age of 13 days, twins Adam and Bradley Morse of Bagley, Minn., had already flown not once, but twice. "It's a truly remarkable story," says their mom. Read More

 

Your Family's Busy Schedule

When your family needs care, you need options. Whether it's seeing your family doctor, visiting your child's pediatrician, swinging by FastTrack or heading to the South University or Children's Walk-in Clinic, we have the options you need. Read More

 

Dear Future

Matthew Garberg, the 2009 Children's Miracle Network Champion, is a fine example of the lifesaving care offered at the MeritCare Children's Hospital and Clinics. When MeritCare ended its Centennial year, we asked Matt to write a letter to the future that would be placed in a time capsule. Here's what he said. Read More

 

Up, Up and Away!

High flood waters, an airlifted evacuation and a life in the balance. It was no easy start for Danielle Littlefield's son. MeritCare's Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery rose to the challenge. Read More

 

Against All Odds

The deck was stacked against him. Born four months early and weighing barely over a pound, could this tiny, fragile boy survive? And if he survived, what obstacles would he face? Meet Matt Garberg, energetic third-grader and 2009 Children's Miracle Network Champion. Read More

 

The Boy Worth Every Penny

You've heard about the woman who swallowed a fly. Have you heard about Jack Oien who swallowed a coin? Read More

 

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Chad Vandrovec M.D.
Chad Vandrovec M.D.
Anesthesiology
Pediatric Anesthesiology

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