“I feel that the greatest reward for doing is the opportunity to do more.” – Jonas Salk

I first heard about the Beads of Courage program a short while after I began as the interim patient care manager on the Hematology, Oncology and Transplant Unit (LINK). Not only did the staff express a strong interest in the program, but there was one particular father of a patient who advocated heavily for the inception of the program. He said to me, “I know that someday we may not continue to win the battle against cancer, but we always will have these beads to tell his story.” He continued to tell me how during the holidays, as various family members hosted holiday gatherings, they each displayed the beads in some way; on the Christmas tree, fireplace mantle or among the buffet.

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National Volunteer Week runs through Saturday, April 25. We thank our volunteers for their hard work and commitment throughout the year!

Across the country, nonprofits have seen the number of volunteer applications increase due to the current economy. With the unemployment rate in Wisconsin rising to 9.4 percent this month, many people are volunteering to share their skills and talents. A recent survey conducted by the Volunteer Center of Greater Milwaukee and the Nonprofit Center of Milwaukee found that 32 percent of area organizations are receiving more volunteers who are out of work.

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Anyone with celiac disease, a condition that prevents people from eating gluten – an ingredient found in wheat, barley and rye – knows that gluten-free products tend to cost more than non-gluten-free products. At Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, we care for many kids whose families need to maintain a gluten-free lifestyle for them – without breaking the bank. Here are some money-saving tips we share with families:

Remember, there are many regular foods that you CAN eat!
Not everything has to be the more expensive gluten-free specialty products. For example, in the regular cereal aisle, Rice Chex® now is a gluten-free product (check the labeling on the front of the box to be sure). Cornmeal, grits and Cream of Rice® are other gluten-free breakfast or snack options.
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