First Congenital Heart Center In Arizona Helps Save Premature Infant

Madeline Mosqueda was born at 28 weeks weighing one pound five ounces—the smallest baby ever delivered at Chandler Regional Medical Center. Adding to her problems, Madeline had a large ventricular septal defect (VSD), or hole in her heart, that could lead to congestive heart failure.

Doctors at Chandler Regional Medical Center worked with heart specialists at the Scott and Laura Eller Congenital Heart Center at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center to monitor Madeline’s condition until she gained enough weight to be transferred to St. Joseph’s. The transfer would allow Madeline to receive direct care from the first congenital heart center in Arizona.  

After 107 days, Madeline began suffering from congestive heart failure and needed immediate surgery. She was transferred to St. Joseph’s where she underwent open heart surgery to patch the opening between the heart’s ventricles. Madeline weighed just six pounds nine ounces, much less than the typical 10-15 pounds of babies undergoing VSD open heart surgery.

“Doctors at Chandler Regional were like family to us. We knew Madeline would continue to get the same care at St. Joseph’s,” said Rebecca Mosqueda, Madeline’s mother. “Doctors on both teams were constantly updating me about her care and progress. There was a process, a plan.”

Now six months old, Madeline has experienced an amazing recovery and no longer needs medication or supplemental oxygen. She receives follow-up care from the Scott and Laura Eller Congenital Heart Center at St. Joseph’s on a regular basis to maintain her positive health.

Health & Wealth Raffle funds have contributed to the Pediatric Cardiothoracic ICU at the Scott and Laura Eller Congenital Heart Center, where babies like Madeline are cared for. This unit cares for congenital heart patients throughout their stay at St. Joseph’s, eliminating transfers from unit to unit.

St. Joseph’s and Barrow Increase BRAIN Power

New traumatic brain injury program is the first of its kind in the nation

Traumatic brain injury, which is sudden trauma that causes damage to the brain, is the leading cause of death and disability in children and young adults, and has been called the signature injury of the Iraq war. Approximately 1.5 million Americans sustain a traumatic brain injury (TBI) every year.

St. Joseph’s Hospital and Barrow Neurological Institute, an internationally recognized leader in neurological treatment and research, are providing hope for patients with TBI through a program that is designed to comprehensively treat traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. The first of its kind in the nation, the Barrow Resource for Acquired Injury to the Nervous System (B.R.A.I.N.S.) program combines medical specialties to help every patient with an individualized plan for recovery. Specialties within the program include:

• Child neurology
• Diagnostics
• Intensive care
• Neurology
• Neuropsychology
• Neuroradiology
• Neurorehabilitation
• Neurosurgery
• Translational research
• Trauma care
  

Because the symptoms and severity of a traumatic brain injury can vary, the condition can be difficult to recognize and diagnose. Many patients are never treated and therefore struggle with daily activities throughout their lives.

“Our mission is to improve the outcome of those who suffer from neurological injury through comprehensive, individualized care and aggressive medical research,” said Javier Cardenas, MD, neurologist at St. Joseph’s. “This interdisciplinary program is just part of the groundbreaking work underway at St. Joseph’s.”

Your support of the Health & Wealth Raffle has contributed significant funds to brain injury research at Barrow Neurological Institute.

Goodyear Resident Gives Back
and Wins Big

Chris Rogers, age 31, experienced the impact of Raffle funds at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Barrow Neurological Institute first hand. In February of 2007, he had to have emergency neurosurgery because of an infection in his sinuses that went to his brain.

“I should be dead right now, but because of the fantastic doctors at Barrow I am here today,” said Rogers.

During Rogers’ recovery at Barrow, he would walk the halls of the hospital, and that’s when he first saw a Raffle sign.

“As soon as I found out about the Health & Wealth Raffle, my wife and I declared that with each tax return we’d purchase a 3-pack, and that’s our way to give to the hospital,” said Rogers.

Two years later, Rogers’ decision to pay it forward came back to him. Rogers’ name was pulled during the Spring Raffle and he was awarded a 2009 Dodge Challenger plus $11,000 in cash.

Rogers is one of the more than 104,000 winners in the Health & Wealth Raffle benefitting St. Joseph’s Hospital and Barrow Neurological Institute since it began in 2003. Now in its 13th run, the Fall 2009 Health & Wealth Raffle expects to bring more moments of good fortune and personal triumphs to the state of Arizona.

“So many people share their stories of how St. Joseph’s and Barrow have made a huge impact in their lives, just as it did for Chris,” said Kathy Rice, executive director of the Health & Wealth Raffle. “What I love about this project is everyone comes out a winner – the prize winners, Arizonans, because of the impact it has on the community, and most importantly the patients at St. Joseph’s and Barrow.”

Thank You

Thank you for participating in the Health & Wealth Raffle. Each ticket purchased helps St. Joseph’s Hospital and Barrow Neurological Institute stay at the forefront of medical care and introduce new medical firsts to Arizona. Proceeds from the Raffle are invested in innovative medical research, education and patient care.

Last year, more than 41,000 patients were admitted to St. Joseph’s. Approximately 70,000 patients visited our emergency department and nearly 430,000 patients visited on an outpatient basis. Funding from the Raffle helped provide the specialized care and services many of these patients needed.

Together, we are making one of the nation’s finest medical institutions even better.

Linda Hunt
President, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center