The bus ride home from the ball park

We are tired and on our way back to the hotel. Thank you National's for having us. It was first pro baseball game. We had a great time!!!!

The Children's Miracle Network Staff

We cannot thank you enough for making this such a special trip for our family. You all are such caring people and let your love shine through in all that you do for these kids, you not only made our twins feel like true champions, you made their sisters feel special too. If we lived closer, we would have you over for Sunday dinner. I feel like we have known you forever and you will always be part of our family. Please know that what you do deeply touches our hearts. We can't wait to see you in Orlando!!!!!

Lori

The top photo is anxiously waiting to get into the White House. President Obama visiting with the kids. As a parent it makes you feel so proud of your child and what they have overcome. It would not have been possible without the support of Children's Miracle Network and their support in helping children all over the country. We are very blessed.

Visit with Congressman Dean Heller

We had a special visit on our last day in D.C. with Congressman Dean Heller. It was an awesome visit, what a nice man who really cares about children and their health care issues. We felt right at home in his office (note the health care bills on the table, vol 1, 2 and 3 all different volumes). Contact your congressman to give your opinion on the different issues. Thank you for having us!!!!

Capitol Hill Luncheon

We had a great time at the Capitol Hill Luncheon, we made all kinds of new friends there too!!!!

We woke up the first morning and were greeted with smiles and open arms for hugs from the CMN staff and Wal Mart staff. We were treated to breakfast at ESPN Zone and games galore. Screech showed up from the Nationals and Mark Wills sang for us. Katy wanted to know if he was a rock star!!!! Miss America sang for us also, mom shed a few tears during those songs. We were honored to be surrounded by so many amazing families and wonderful children.

First night in D.C.

We arrive to a crowd at the airport and our name being announced. It was amazing. The CMN and Wal Mart staff greeted us and treated like we were royalty. What great people they are, so loving and really are passionate about what they do. They were thanking us for being there, when I should be thanking them, because of what they do I get to enjoy my precious twins everyday and their beautiful smiles. The twins thought we were staying in a palace and they were royalty. That is the way we felt, really special.

Departure to D.C.

Early morning departure on Sunday morning. We are so excited to go to D.C. and meet all of the champions we read so much about and the staff of CMN and Wal Mart. We had no idea what was in store for us. Thank you to Delta for all that they do for CMN and making our flights across the United States so special!!!

Miracles in Motion

What a great day! Many, many thanks to the Steven's family and volunteers for thier hard work to put this event together. Miss Nevada was in attendace along with our hometown favorite Archie from the Reno Aces. We had past champions as well as Katy and Paige running around Sparks Marina raising money and awareness for Chidrens Miracle Network. I know just from the people we spoke with as Katy and I walked the marina that the message is getting out. With 9 wacky stations to stop at and try different games it made the trip even more exciting. From ring toss to eating a donut without your hands to karate moves the stations were great fun. Our teenage daughter and her friends commented on how much fun that they all had which to me speaks for it's self. We get to take a short break for now and then off to Washington to meet the rest of the Champions. What an exciting trip this will be, all of us are counting the days and can't wait to get there.

Katy and paige spent the entire day on the course at Lakeridge Country Club helping raise awareness and money for the Renown Childrens Hospital here in Reno. Thanks to Costco for thier envolvement and support this is the 15th anuall tournement. We had great weather and alot of fun even though Dad's golf game isn't what it should be. The girls figured that a day at the country club is better than a day at school. I wonder where that kind of thinking comes from? All of the staff from Renown had them busy throughout the day running all over the course. Shari even had them driving carts at one point,thankfully there were curbs at the cart path to slow them down a little.

What a great day and an even better event to help our local chidrens hospital. We are so blessed and thankful that Renown is here that every event we can attend is something we all look foward to doing. We still have a couple more to do then off to Washington to meet the other Champions. What an amazing trip this will be for all of the kids.

Thanks Joel and Kiemmy and all the staff for a wonderful day see you Saturday morning.

Kick off Day

What an amazing day we had. The morning was filled with the Walmart kickoff rally followed by a little shopping spree with Miss Nevada. For my two girls it doesn't get any better than this. A long lunch then off to the ball park to help thank our very own Renown Childrens Hospital. With out their help and amazing NICU we wouldn't have our Champions here today. Thanks to everyone for such an amazing day. Katy and Paige are still talking about it and sleeping with their signed game balls.

After meeting Christina at a fund raiser the girls invited her to school for share day. Christina graciously accepted and spent the afternoon answering questions and signing autographs for all the kids.

Katy and Paige can't wait for the next fund raiser to start so they can spend more time with Miss Nevada

Katy and Paige's Story

Katy and Paige
Age 7
Premature Birth

Renown Children’s Hospital

Lori never thought she would conceive, so she was thrilled when she became pregnant with not only one child, but two. Despite an 80 percent chance of losing the twins, Katy and Paige were born premature at 28 weeks gestation.

Katy was born at 1 pound, 15 ounces. Two weeks after her birth, Doctors inserted a titanium clip close the valve in her heart. She also suffered from a brain bleed and faced cerebral palsy, which fortunately resolved on its own. It took over a year for Katy to recover.

Paige was the smaller of the two, born at 1 pound, 4 ounces. She had several infections during her stay at Renown Children’s Hospital, which included five ear surgeries. Paige also did not have the stamina to complete her feeds, and couldn’t gain the weight she needed. Slowly and steadily, however, the twins began to conquer their early set backs.

Though identical in appearance, these 7-year-old sisters could not be more different in personality. Katy is a nurturer and known to give therapeutic hugs when a person is upset while Paige’s matter-of-fact personality expresses, “Aren’t you over this yet?”

About Walmart and Sam’s Club

Wal-Mart has supported Children’s Miracle Network since 1987. Since then, Children’s Miracle Network and Wal-Mart have worked tirelessly together to help children by raising money for children’s hospitals. Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, customers and members have raised more than $500 million for children’s hospitals during the 23 year relationship. This is the second year Walmart and Sam’s Club have sponsored the Champions program.

Champions presented by Walmart and Sam’s Club

Champions presented by Walmart and Sam’s Club is a Children's Miracle Network program that brings attention to the important work being done at children’s hospitals by honoring remarkable children who have faced severe medical challenges.

The Champions program designates a champion child in every state who has bravely battled a serious injury or illness. The champions represent the nearly 17 million children treated at Children’s Miracle Network hospitals every year. The 2010 champions have dealt with a wide variety of injuries and illnesses including genetic diseases, heart transplants and traumas, as well as life-threatening staph infections.

As part of Champions presented by Walmart and Sam’s Club, the champions travel for a week in June to Washington, D.C., where champions traditionally meet with their state senators on Capitol Hill, and the President of the United States during a visit to the White House. The family then travels to Orlando, Fla., for a second week in November. There, champions meet Children’s Miracle Network sponsor, hospital and media partners who all convene to celebrate a year of medical miracles during the Children’s Miracle Network Celebration event at Walt Disney World Resort.