The Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Wing at Oishei Children's Hospital now bears a new name thanks to a generous gift from New Era Cap CEO Chris Koch.
The program specializes in the care of pediatric patients who have been diagnosed with childhood cancers and blood disorders. At last year's Festival of Trees event, an annual fundraiser put on by The Children's Hospital of Buffalo Foundation, Koch donated $500,000 to benefit their efforts.
"The amazing thing for me is how the kids that come here that face these tough diagnoses and harsh treatments seemingly have no fear," Koch said at a press conference on Nov. 20 celebrating the donation and unveiling the wing's new name, the New Era Cap Foundation Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Wing. "I believe that is because of the compassion everyone shows in this hospital every single day."
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Dr. Kara Kelly, chief of the Roswell Park Oishei Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Program, said the funds will help them expand their capacity to provide much more "advanced, holistic, family-centered care." That includes an increased ability to provide advanced cellular therapies like bone marrow transplants, launching a pediatric palliative care program and expanding integrative medicine offerings for pain management such as acupuncture and massage.
"The care for children with cancer and blood disorders is probably among some of the more complex diseases that we take care of in children, and it requires a lot of specialty training, a lot of support for both not only the child but for their siblings, for their parents to deal with the emotional impact of a diagnosis and many of the side effects that come along with the treatment and the diseases themselves," she explained. "Unfortunately, insurance doesn’t really fully support the cost of delivering that care. So through large philanthropic gifts like this, it allows us to be able to provide really state-of-the-art, expert care to children here in our community."
Dr. Kelly said the hospital feels strongly that every service or treatment they offer should be available to every single patient regardless of their background, and New Era's donation makes an impact in their ability to deliver on that promise.
"Every child is entitled to the same degree of really high-quality care," she said. "I just want to say a huge thank you to New Era Cap for just a huge gift and a huge surprise. We’re really grateful for their collaboration with us and for supporting us to make a difference for our patients."
