Happy ending leads to many happy beginnings

Transcription

1 The Nicklauses long-time devotion to Nationwide Children s Hospital assures that babies like Patrick Bibbee have a fighting chance B Y D A V I D S H E D L O S K I Happy ending leads to many happy beginnings ITH FIVE CHILDREN and a 22nd grandchild soon to arrive, no one has to remind Jack and Barbara Nicklaus that our most important natural resource is our children. The first couple of golf recognized this long before they endured one of the more frightening experiences of their lives, when their daughter, Nan, was stricken as a baby with breathing problems that eventually required delicate surgery. They turned to the doctors and nurses at Nationwide Children s Hospital to see them through that crisis. It was a happy ending for the Nicklauses, as Nan recovered fully. It was also a happy beginning. Since then, Jack and Barbara have looked outside of themselves and their family to seek ways to help others, to see to it that families in and around Central Ohio might have access to the special pediatric care that Nationwide Children s Hospital provides. That s why all the proceeds from the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance are directed to Nationwide Children s Hospital through the Nicklaus Children s Health Care Foundation. The foundation was established in 2005 with a simple mission to support programs and activities that advance and enhance the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood diseases and disorders in communities across the country. But this week, of course, is a special one. While the Nicklauses have broadened their horizons and their ambitions for giving, they continue to focus on what they can do to further the cause of Nationwide Children s Hospital, a cause to which they have been committed for more than 40 years. Shannon Bibbee holds his baby son, Patrick. 28 THE MEMORIAL

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3 Baby Patrick now weighs in at 4 pounds and is growing bigger and stronger every day. Because of the life-saving care provided to our daughter, Nan, Nationwide Children s Hospital and the staff at Children s Hospital always have had a special place in our hearts Jack s and mine, Barbara Nicklaus says. When we decided how we wanted to help others, we started with Nationwide Children s Hospital, and even as we have expanded our universe with the Nicklaus Children s Health Care Foundation, Nationwide Children s Hospital remains the most special relationship that we have. Its commitment to life-saving treatment and great care not only have inspired us, but also an entire community. We believe in this cause, Jack adds. It s incredible what happens every day at Nationwide Children s Hospital. It is something we are passionate about, and which has inspired us to do more for pediatric care in other communities through the Nicklaus Children s Health Care Foundation. But first and foremost our goal is to give back to the children here in our hometown of Columbus. The special alliance between the Nicklaus Children s Health Care Foundation and Nationwide Children s Hospital ensures that there are memorable stories of wonder, hope and everyday miracles worth celebrating. Amanda and Shannon Bibbee have one such story to share. The Bibbees were surprised but thrilled when they found out last year that they were expecting twins. But Amanda went into labor when the babies were only 23 weeks along, and their joy quickly turned to fear and worry. Shannon, who serves as an officer in the Army Reserves, was in training in Texas at the time. He flew home as soon as he got the call from Amanda that the babies were on their way. When he arrived in Columbus, he met his tiny babies, Paige and Patrick, who weighed in at about a pound-and-a-half each. They were perfect in every way, but very, very tiny, and the doctors cautioned the new parents that their chances for survival were not strong. They were both transported immediately to Nationwide Children s Hospital. Paige was the weaker of the twins, and, unfortunately, just six days later, she was no longer able to fight against the complications with which she was born. While the Bibbees were devastated, they held out hope that BABIES LIKE PATRICK RECEIVE SPECIALIZED CARE THAT IS DESIGNED TO MIMIC AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE WOMB-LIKE CONDITIONS. 30 THE MEMORIAL

4 [ S] COMMITMENT TO LIFE-SAVING- TREATMENT AND GREAT CARE NOT ONLY HAVE INSPIRED US, BUT ALSO AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY. B a r B a r a N i c k l a u s Patrick could be saved, and just a few hours after his little sister died, Patrick underwent the first of several surgeries intended to help him survive those harrowing first few weeks. Today, Patrick weighs in at about 4 pounds, and he is gaining weight every day. He has endured several more surgeries, but he is a tenacious little fighter, and his parents are amazed by his progress. They are hoping that he will go home close to what was to be his due date in mid-june, not long after this year s Memorial Tournament. Patrick s dad was able to be home for a couple of weeks after the twins were born, but he recently was sent to Iraq to serve a second deployment. He and Amanda communicate several times a week using Skype, so Shannon sees Patrick s progress live on the computer screen. It is hard for them to be separated, but it is reassuring for dad to see how much he is growing. Don t let that little baby fool you, says Shannon. He is a future paratrooper in the making. Patrick continues to be cared for at Nationwide Children s Hospital in the Memorial Tournament Neonatal Intensive Care Unit s Small Baby Pod, specially designed for the tiniest premature babies. Babies like Patrick receive specialized care that is designed to mimic as closely as possible womb-like conditions. Lights are dim, and the mood is quieter than the rest of the busy Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Dr. Christina Valentine with Amanda Bibbee and baby Patrick in the Memorial Tournament Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Nationwide Children s Hospital. 32 THE MEMORIAL

5 I AM ONLY TOO HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO TELL ANYONE ELSE ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE CARE THAT IS AVAILABLE AT. a m a N d a B i B B e e, m o t h e r Jack and Barbara Nicklaus, shown here with Mrs. Ann Wolfe, a passionate hospital benefactor, at the 2006 Memorial Tournament NICU dedication. Nationwide Children s Hospital doctors have seen terrific results with grouping the tiniest babies together. Dr. Leif Nelin, who heads the Small Baby Pod at the Memorial Tournament NICU, said that babies like Patrick continue to amaze him. Just a few short years ago, we could not possibly have saved a baby as premature as 23 weeks, Nelin says. It s been nothing short of incredible what we ve been able to accomplish. Extremely premature babies are surviving and thriving, thanks to medical advances. Patrick s mom, Amanda, says that she doesn t know what they would have done without Nationwide Children s Hospital. I ve met parents who have come from hours away. We are so fortunate that we live close to this incredible hospital, Amanda says. I had no idea what went on here before our babies were born. Now I wouldn t go anywhere else, and I am only too happy to be able to tell anyone else about the incredible care that is available at Nationwide Children s Hospital. That care is available to any family regardless of ability to pay, which is being accomplished through the charitable support from the Memorial Tournament and the Nicklaus Children s Health Care Foundation. What s more such support only stands to be strengthened and augmented in the future by the Memorial Tournament s new presenting sponsor, Nationwide Insurance, which has its own long and distinguished record of philanthropy and caring in Columbus. Put it all together, and the result is a remarkable tour de force of care and giving, which guarantees that babies like Patrick have every opportunity for health and wholeness. MT David Shedloski is editorial director of The Memorial. Jack and Barbara visit the Memorial Tournament NICU during its formal dedication in (2) 34 THE MEMORIAL