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Show Blast Off Pennies by the Inch Stand Tall for Someone Small at Primary Children's Medical Center Help needy children! Beginning Jan. 30 through Feb. 13, Pennies by the Inch volunteers will contact hundreds of thousands of homes in neighborhoods throughout the Intermountain West. One hundred percent of the donations collected during the annual drive will help pay for medical expenses of needy children chil-dren at Primary Children's Medical Center. Last year, Primary Children's helped more than 1 ,600 children in financial need. "Pennies" donations dona-tions totaled almost half the $2.8 million used. "Pennies by the Inch" helps Primary Children's Medical Center Cen-ter continue a tradition begun 66 years ago. Since it first opened its doors in 1922, the hospital has treated tre-ated children without regard to race, religion, or ability to pay. "This great tradition can continue only through the compassion of others," says campaign chairwoman chair-woman Myrl Hamilton. "We need to stand tall with our donations , ' omeone small is counting on us. We hope to achieve our goal this year of $1.3 million because the need for help has become even greater in recent months." Co-chairwoman Co-chairwoman is Kathryn Gilbert. Through the years, Primary Children's has grown from a long-term long-term convalescent center to a highly high-ly specialized regional referral center. cen-ter. In 1986, Primary Children's recorded re-corded nearly 51,000 inpatient days, with the number of children coming from Utah (4,754), Idaho (471), Wyoming (235), Montana f. :"gS J':---'.A(fS'--:M.i-':;:-V-;:": i s-'-:;v ' ' : . . I Little Crystal was born two months early and life hasn't been easy. Thanks to Primary Children's Medical Center efforts she is now doing well, with a lot of loving contributions appreciated! (108), Nevada (78), other western states and foreign countries. Primary Children's continues to expand its services to meet the needs of the region. Primary Chil dren's was one of the first to use a specialized technique to relieve spasticity in cerebral palsy patients. pa-tients. Jon Cox, from Kearns, has cere- bral palsy. Upon examination, physicians determined Jon could benefit from this procedure (dorsal rhizotomy). During the three-hour surgery, surgeons stimulate nerve rootlets in the spinal column and measure their responses. The surgeons cut those rootlets with abnormal responses which caused spacticity. Prior to surgery Jon could walk but with great difficulty difficul-ty falling every third or fourth step. Determination and hard work have helped Jon to walk without help. Generous contributions have made it possible for Jon to enjoy a more normal life and look forward to a better future. Merlin and Susan Olsen serve as Honorary Chairmen for "Pennies by the Inch" for the 11th year. Olsen says his involvement with "Pennies" goes back to the birthday birth-day Penny Parade days of my youth. I offer my encouragement for everyone to stand tall and contribute con-tribute a penny, dime or dollar for every inch of the family." . Thousands of volunteers help organize the appeal in their communities. com-munities. An executive committee of 58 members provides the structure struc-ture for the campaign. These volunteers stand tall and go to great lengths to help children. Children are our most precious gift. ..and the most vulnerable. Medical treatment can change a child's life or give life itself. Help make the difference in the future of someone small. "Stand tall for someone small" and give to "Pennies "Pen-nies by the Inch." |