Young Cancer Patients and Survivors Forget Illness to Go Fishin’!

2008 Driscoll Children’s Hospital Chemo Kids Fish-Off - Media/Photo Opportunities Monday, July 7, 2008 11 a.m. – Boats Return/Fish Judged 1 p.m. Awards Ceremony

(Corpus Christi, TX) Fish on! Former and present patients from Driscoll Children’s Hospital’s (DCH) Oncology and Hematology Clinic will gather their tackle and try to catch “the big one” during the 2008 Driscoll Children’s Hospital Chemo Kids Fish-Off. Specifically created for DCH’s young patients who are living with, or recovering from cancer or blood disorders such as leukemia, hemophilia or sickle cell anemia, this fun-filled day will take place on Monday, July 7, 2008 at Hampton’s Landing in Aransas Pass, Texas.

Fishing guides from the Coastal Bend Guides Association volunteer time, boats and, more importantly, their expertise for a day of S. Texas’ favorite outdoor pastime – fishing! Driscoll Children’s Hospital’s young fishermen will take part in a mini-tournament culminating with awards for the biggest, smallest, heaviest and most unusual fish caught. Patients from all over South Texas are scheduled to take part in the Chemo Kids Fish-Off.

“This special day is not only an escape from hospital life; for some kids, it’s the very first time they’ve had the opportunity to go fishing,” said Laura Esparza, Driscoll children’s hospital Hematology/Oncology Social Worker. “Our patients are very lucky to have this special one-on-one attention from fishing pros and we feel lucky to be able to help provide this experience.”

The 2008 Driscoll Children’s Hospital Chemo Kids Fish-Off is a success with the help of the Coastal Bend Community; including the Coastal Bend Guides Association, Hampton’s Landing, the Coastal Bend Chapter of Credit Unions, Trophyland, Corpus Christi Hooks and the Volunteer Auxiliary to Driscoll Children’s Hospital.

About Driscoll Children’s Hospital
“Improve the health of adults and you give them back their health …
Improve the health of children and you give them their life.”

Since opening its doors in 1953, Driscoll Children’s Hospital has been offering hope and healing to the children of South Texas for half a century. The facility is a 189-bed pediatric tertiary care center with pediatric board-certified specialists representing 19 medical and nine surgical specialties. Each year, more than 6,000 children are admitted for inpatient care, 5,000 for day surgery, and 50,000 for outpatient primary and specialty care, as well as 40,000 for emergency care, as the first South Texas hospital with emergency services exclusively for children. Additionally, Driscoll maintains a state-of-the-art ground/air transport team, 20-bed pediatric intensive care unit, 40-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and specialized medical outreach.

www.driscollchildrens.org

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