The first time Brittany and Tyler Tomjanovich rushed to the emergency department with their 5-month-old son, Mason, a child life specialist met them at the door—with water, a sandwich and compassion. That small act, made possible only because of your support, began a journey child life would walk with their family every step of the way. Mason has had six surgeries, over 100 appointments and countless blood draws – but because of child life, he isn’t afraid.

Seven-year-old Alaina lives with an incurable heart condition—but with nurse navigator Eden Jackson at her side, she also lives with joy.  Generous support from people like you allowed us to recruit nurse navigators to guide families like Alaina’s through surgeries, tough decisions and daily uncertainties with compassion and strength.  Eden reminds Alaina’s parents that they’re not alone, and Alaina can focus on just being a kid.

Gloria began having terrifying seizures just weeks after coming home from the NICU. They grew more frequent—and more dangerous. When medications failed, surgery was her only hope. Because of you, UW Health Kids is one of just two Level IV Epilepsy Centers in Wisconsin—the highest level of care and technology available to empower Dr. Raheel Ahmed to perform lifesaving brain surgery—and give Gloria the freedom to smile.

Sean and Steve Eiles finally realized their dream when they brought their newborn daughter Ellie home after a long adoption journey. Just months later, they were blindsided: Ellie’s liver was failing; only a transplant could save her.  With generous support from philanthropy, we built upon the UW Health Transplant Center’s long-standing history to develop UW Health Kids transplant programs dedicated to caring for children so Ellie could receive the gift of life.

Since 1997, the Andy Stolper Memorial Scholarship Award has generously supported students in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health’s Physician Assistant (PA) program. Andy passed away just before his 23rd birthday, but he lived his life as fully as possible. His inspiring journey led his mother, Judy, and her husband, Gene, to endow this scholarship in his honor to help other PA students achieve their goals.

Philanthropy helped bring visionary leader, Dr. Veli Topkara to Wisconsin. His expertise in heart failure and transplantation is advancing patient care, fueled by groundbreaking research and cutting-edge technology. With the support of generous gifts, we are paving the way for care innovation, providing hope and healing for patients today and generations to come.

Transplant recipients and their support person go through an extraordinary journey. A majority spend weeks away from home and expenses add up between time away from work and traveling to Madison for care. Extra support for hotel rooms and expenses not covered by insurance helps ease the burden.

A worried Isabella Hageman made the three-hour drive from Iowa City to Madison while her daughter Ali was being transported by Med Flight to American Family Children’s Hospital. Ali, just 2 ½ years old, needed a heart transplant. It would be 152 days—five months—until she was well enough to go home.

Your gift to support the Child Life program at American Family Children’s Hospital supports children and families in managing the stress and anxiety of hospitalization through 24/7 services provided by 20 Certified Child Life Specialists and additional team members.

After years of preparation and planning, the pediatric heart transplant program at the UW Health Transplant Center launched in March 2023. Sezar became the first pediatric patient to receive a heart transplant at American Family Children’s Hospital on August 22, 2023.

At just 2 ½ years old, Scarlett was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Even with the most aggressive treatment, it was likely the cancer would return, and it did. But a clinical trial only offered at UW Health Kids | Carbone Cancer Center at American Family Children’s Hospital is giving Scarlett hope.

Three weeks shy of her 16th birthday, Ky landed in the emergency department with a severe lung infection from influenza A. While most teens recover, Ky would need new lungs. It was the beginning of a long road to recovery powered by a team of medical specialists at American Family Children’s Hospital and Ky’s determination to breathe on her own again.

Aiden Topper’s teddy bear and backpack are a special part of his medical care plan for severe pulmonary hypertension. Through play and fun, the specially-trained Child Life specialists and facility dog, Cola, made the transition to a new way of life a bit easier for both the active 3 ½ year old and his mom.

Having a child in the hospital can have a huge financial impact on families, especially those who travel a distance for care. Gifts to the Patient and Family Fund are used by our social workers to provide extra support when needed.