Unfortunately, over the next few days and weeks Michelle’s health turned critical. Michelle suddenly slipped into a coma induced by liver failure and the lives of both her and her unborn son were in jeopardy. Fortunately, the TEAMWORK and the relentless desire to FIND ANSWERS exhibited by the doctors and staff at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and Stanford Hospital & Clinics helped save both lives.

“To end up with the mom and child surviving all this is unbelievable,” said Dr. Esquivel. “The strength of being at a place like Packard and Stanford is the ability to have world experts in all fields, both pediatric and adult, collaborate on very complex cases like this,” Dr. Druzin added.

This will truly be a Christmas to remember for the Mattingly family. “We’re going to go a little crazy with gifts for the kids,” Michelle said happily. “It’s definitely their Christmas this year, and we are very, very thankful.”

And we are thankful to provide such miracles that make for a Merry Christmas. To read more about Michelle’s midsummer miracle, click here.

As a way to say thank you both hospitals will provide employees with a free meal consisting of pumpkin soup, green salad, roast turkey, garden lasagna, baked ham with cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, buttered baby carrots plus pumpkin or pecan pie. The meal will be  served on Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. Those working the night shifts get a special box lunch with cold turkey sandwich, fresh fruit and pumpkin pie.

In addition, Stanford Hospital & Clinics will host a holiday party for all employees on Wednesday, December 17. CEO Martha Marsh, and other members of the senior leadership team, will be on site handing out candy bars.

These events are provided to take care of our employees as they take care of our patients during the holidays. Read more about caring for hospital caregivers.

The six musicians are harpists Verlene Schermer, Barbary Grant, Pamela Bowen and Barbra Telynor, and guitarists Jeff Buenz and Jim Nichols.

They play whatever is requested, including Celtic, pop, classical or bluegrass. Grant’s signature is Bach’s “Prelude in C” and Schermer’s hits include “What A Wonderful World,” “Wind Beneath My Wings” and “Stand By Me.”

Sometimes the referrals come from nurses and other house staff. This small touch makes a big difference in the overall patient care.

Read more about these artists’ soothing music.

Thanks to selfless volunteers and generous donations Care-A-Van has provided 6,353 rides since 1998. Care-A-Van serves Santa Clara, San Mateo, Alameda, Santa Cruz, Monterey and San Benito counties. This highly utilized and appreciated community service is truly indispensable, especially for those with chronically ill children who require frequent trips to LPCH.

The 10-year anniversary finds the team planning for the future by moving their entire fleet to hybrid vehicles by 2013. One by one, the older vans will be replaced with fuel-efficient hybrids that will both preserve natural resources and lower operating costs.

Care-A-Van will continue to serve and strengthen the community for many years to come. Read more about the 10th Anniversary.

Over 150 local firefighters will receive advanced pediatric training on November 5, 7 and 14. “When searching out training for this, we wanted our people to receive the best we could find. Clearly the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Center for Nursing Excellence is arguably the best in the country. So the partnership only made sense to us,” said John Kammeyer, EMS Division Chief, Central San Mateo County Fire Departments.

The firefighters, using their own equipment, will enter unexpected simulations with the goal of rescuing lifelike pediatric mannequins. Nurses and doctors will review the videotape of each scenario to provide feedback on the technical and behavioral skills required to save kids’ lives.

Lynda Knight, RN, who developed the PAWWS program at Packard Children’s, offered a salute to the firefighters’ dedication. “These are true public servants. They’re taking this training because they know that saving lives is their mission. We’re proud to partner with them, and we expect to learn and share a lot through our work together.”

Read more about the pediatric emergency training the firefighters received from PAWWS.

The recently-released Fall 2008 Community Benefits Summary explains these contributions.

The hospitals’ economic impact was $444 million in both San Mateo and Santa Clara counties last year. In addition, both hospitals contribute financially to other nonprofits serving the local community. Instead of requiring taxpayer money, each institution is privately funded through hospital operations, philanthropy and debt financing. Packard Children’s, along with other hospitals, receives money from the statewide Children’s Hospital Bond Act of 2004.

Partnerships and programs in the community, emphasizing public service, are primarily aimed to provide care to those who need it regardless of economic status. Programs include Stanford Health Library, Packard Children’s partnership with the Ravenswood Family Health Center in East Palo Alto, and the School of Medicine and Stanford Hospital & Clinics’ involvement in the Arbor Free Clinic in Menlo Park.

These contributions demonstrate the importance both hospitals place on making a difference in the community. Read more about the Benefits Summary.

After several seasons with the Lakers, Turiaf joined the Golden State Warriors this summer. No stranger to the Bay Area, he recently paid a visit to Stanford Hospital’s Dr. Craig Miller.

In 2005 the Lakers sent Turiaf to Stanford Hospital because of his enlarged aortic root. Miller found that, without surgery, Turiaf could not only never play basketball again, but was risking his life. Miller implanted a graft to save the aortic valve, which has allowed Turiaf to continue his career.

Turiaf calls Miller simply as “The man who saved me.”

To read more about how the people at Stanford Hospital make a difference, read Warriors’ new big man Turiaf is all heart.

Nicole Barnhart, Olympic gold medal winner and Stanford alumna, will donate blood along with current Stanford soccer star Erica Holland. By making an appointment to donate, fans can meet Nicole and Erica and get autographs.

To make an appointment please call (650) 723-7831 or (888) 723-7831, or schedule an appointment online. Donors should be in good health with no cold or flu symptoms. They must eat well prior to donation, drink fluids and present photo identification at the time of donation. The process takes about an hour.

This event is a great example of the ways that Stanford University Medical Center works together work Stanford University to reach out and make a difference in the community.

Read more about the donation.

Laura Börk, a baby born with a rare and severe condition, was successfully treated using new methods of minimally invasive surgery. ”We’re one of the top pediatric hospitals in the world for minimally invasive surgery,” says Craig Albanese, MD.

Miles Coulson, a newborn waiting for a heart transplant, received a miniature, external heart pump attached by tubes. In the U.S. this procedure had only been used on just three other children, and never before for such a young child.

Joe Wise, a 15-year-old grew up with the energy-depleting disorder chronic mitochondrial myopathy. Working with the Packard medical team he uses a unique treatment plan that propelled his swimming career into the Paralympics in Beijing earlier this year.

The doctors, nurses and staff help make a difference everyday Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. Read more about these everyday miracles.

As Zenner slowly made her way toward a hospital auditorium, nurses and doctors showcased moving teamwork by lining the hospital hallway. Several wept, and the team hummed “Pomp and Circumstance.” The university’s longtime president, Rev. Paul Locatelli, personally awarded the diploma.

Zenner said she feels blessed to be among so many gifted doctors, “The nurses are so great, and everyone is so open to my questions. They go out of their way to find answers for me.”

Read more about Leslie Zenner’s graduation at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.