A Dubuque boy who represents all Iowa children who have faced serious medical challenges participated in the Children's Miracle Network "2005 Foresters Champions Across America" program.
Alex Clark, 11, injured his leg while sledding in the winter of 2002.
X-rays showed an abnormality on his femur--the large bone in the thigh. Tests at University of Iowa Children's Hospital at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics diagnosed the problem as osteosarcoma, or cancer of the bone.
Joseph Buckwalter, M.D., UI Hospitals and Clinics orthopaedist and UI Carver College of Medicine professor and head of the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, performed a delicate bone graft, replacing the cancerous portion of Alex's leg with donated bone. Alex then received six months of intense chemotherapy and made a full recovery.
Alex and his parents joined 49 other Champions--one from each U.S. state--in Washington, D.C. The children served as ambassadors for 14 million of their hospitalized peers. The children, their families and supporters attended a special reception at the White House.
"The incredible courage and determination of these kids inspires us all," said actor John Schneider, who co-founded Children's Miracle Network with entertainer Marie Osmond. "They really are champions, every one of them, and they deserved to be honored."
Following their stay in the nation's capital, the Champions traveled to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., where they participated in videotaping the 2005 CMN telethon, which will be broadcast nationwide on the weekend of June 4-5, 2005. They also participated in national media events, radio interviews and a satellite media tour. The Champions also attended a special awards ceremony and a private concert with Lonestar.
The Independent Order of Foresters (IOF), an international fraternal benefit society, sponsors the Champions Across America program. IOF has proudly supported Children's Miracle Network since 1990.
Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Children's Miracle Network is an international non-profit organization dedicated to generating funds and awareness programs to benefit children treated at 170 children's hospitals throughout the United States and Canada.
Children's Miracle Network's hallmark is that locally generated donations stay in the local area to benefit patients at the local children's hospital. To date, Children's Miracle Network has raised more than $2.6 billion for children's hospitals. Children's Miracle Network also includes 75 corporate sponsors, 200 television stations and more than 135 radio stations.
University of Iowa Children's Hospital at UI Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City is the state's longest-serving children's hospital. More than 130,000 children receive care at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital and its statewide network of outreach clinics each year.
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