Wisconsin’s statewide smoking ban went into effect today. This law bans smoking in all restaurants and bars, retail businesses and public places. While this new law may be inconvenient to those who smoke, it serves to protect others from the dangers of secondhand smoke.
Did you know that every year secondhand smoke:
I can’t put into words the honor 
that we feel to be representing Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin at the National Association of Children’s Hospital’s Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C. For the last five years, insurance coverage and health care have played a critical role in our lives and far too many families face the same obstacles.
In 2005, we became proud parents of triplets. At 30 weeks gestation, I gave birth to two boys and one girl. Shortly after birth, our daughter Mira was diagnosed with renal acidosis. In simple terms, her kidneys weren’t doing their job. Mira was on dialysis nightly for two and half years before she received a kidney transplant from our neighbor, who was a match. …Continue reading →
After a lot of hard work, we finally made it! On Monday, July 5, 2010, we will be a smoke-free Wisconsin!
The long wait for Wisconsin to join the 27 other states that have gone smoke-free is just around the corner.
Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin has been supporting SmokeFree Wisconsin since the beginning. We know that making Wisconsin smoke free can make a positive difference for our kids.
When I decided to become a nurse, supporting political positions never crossed my mind. Of course I have opinions! But publicly advocating for them never was a priority.
Recently, I finally found my voice.
I had the opportunity to participate in the Wisconsin’s Hospital Association’s Advocacy Day at the state capitol in Madison. What an enlightening experience! Our day consisted of fabulous speakers who gave us interesting perspectives on the state of health care reform and its impact on Wisconsin.
Our state’s Legislature is considering legislation that can help save lives in our schools. Can you help us?
Assembly Bill 725 will require all schools in Wisconsin to offer enrolled high school students instruction in lifesaving skills.
In situations when an emergency happens, time is of the essence. Many lives can be saved because people at the scene of a cardiac emergency have the necessary tools to recognize and respond appropriately.
Cardiovascular diseases remain Wisconsin’s No. 1 killer, yet many lives can be saved if simple lifesaving procedures are initiated by lay rescuers. By providing simple instruction in the high school setting, our young adults will have an increased comfort level and the necessary tools to help save a life.
…Continue reading →
It’s a funny headline that invokes funny images – toddlers running down the halls of congress, infants putting on their best diapers to impress and teenagers texting about a critical vote.
It’s a funny image, because this could never happen. Children – from the youngest to the oldest – don’t get opportunities to speak up on issues that impact their lives. Think of the numerous laws that impact children – abuse, neglect, reimbursement or disability, to name just a few. Yet who do we rely on to make sure those affected are heard?
Advocacy efforts rely on the strength and action of volunteers who care about kids and want to make a difference. Children are not able to represent themselves on issues that directly impact their care. …Continue reading →
Every year since 1998, Carole and I have had the great opportunity to host the Miracle Marathon. Since then, we have raised more than $12 million for Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.
This year, we have the chance to jump-start our total gift by $50,000. Foresters™ and Children’s Miracle Network are searching for North America’s Most Caring Radio Station. To celebrate its ongoing commitment to Children’s Miracle Network, Foresters will donate $50,000 to the radio station with the most votes to put toward the total of their 2010 radiothon.
We need your help! If WKLH receives the most votes, the donation will directly benefit this year’s Miracle Marathon and support care for kids and families at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.
Vote online at radiocares.childrensmiraclenetwork.org through Friday, Feb. 5. From the list of radio stations, select “WKLH 96.5 Classic Rock, 96.5.” You can vote up to 10 times a day per e-mail address. Please share this message with your family and friends! Remember to cast your vote over the weekend!
Also, tune in to WKLH 96.5 for the 13th annual Dave & Carole Miracle Marathon Wednesday, May 26, through Friday, May 28.
-Dave Luczak, 96.5 WKLH
Learn more about Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin at chw.org.
Today, Governor Doyle signed into law historic drunk-driving legislation, Senate Bill 66. Before passing the bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Tony Staskunas (D-West Allis) and Sen. Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa), Wisconsin was one of only two states that did not issue felony charges until the fifth Operating While Intoxicated arrest or stop. This bill will make an OWI a felony after the fourth offense within five years.
Angela, Paul, Anna, Hope and Abigail Petr
With summer approaching, it is easy to be cheerful, but my family is feeling especially blessed and content. We are traveling to Washington, D.C., as family representatives of Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, and in doing so, have been reminded of our many reasons to be grateful.
It was a little more than four years ago that we delivered our beautiful twin girls, knowing the chain of events to follow would be trying. One of our twins was diagnosed with a complex heart defect in utero and all research led us to seek help from Children’s Hospital. Wonderful professionals held our hands and prepared us for the road to follow. The diagnosis was crushing, but it would have been unimaginable without the support and reassurance we received from the talented and compassionate team at Children’s Hospital. We felt it a near miracle to discover that of all the heart centers in the world, Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee presented the best outcomes for children with our daughter’s condition. We named our daughter “Hope” because we were given so much of that.
This is an update to a blog post dated May 8. Read about the statewide smoking ban.
Last night just after 10 p.m., the State Assembly voted 61-38 to concur with the 25-8 vote earlier in the day by the State Senate to pass a statewide smoking ban to go into effect July 5, 2010. More than 40 amendments were offered to attempt to water down the reach of the statewide ban. All of the amendments failed. It now goes to the Governor for his signature.
Congratulations and thank you to the many people at Children’s Hospital and Health System who worked in support of this legislation year after year, and so many of you who took the time this week to call your legislators. Your voices were heard!
–Michelle Mettner, vice president of Government Relations, Children’s Hospital and Health System