(You can read the English language translation of this blog below)

Ya se llego ese tiempo del año y para mi es uno de los mas felices porque me da la oportunidad de ayudar a alguien que realmente lo necesita, para nosotros aqui en Bustos Media es un orgullo poder contribuir con esta buena causa y espero que todos ustedes se sientan igual.Por favor acompañanos este Jueves 9, Viernes 10 y Sabado 11, agamos la diferencia por nuestros niños, ayudemos al Hospital de Niños (Children’s Hospital) porque este radioton es para ellos, para todos los chiquitines que necesitan esa ayuda especial, yo ya estoy listo para ayudar, y tu lo estas?

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Nurse Amy Schroeder, Executive Director Bill Owens and Nurse Julie Waldhart

Once a month, we hold a photo shoot at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin through the Flashes of Hope program. We turn one of the hospital classrooms into our own little studio – complete with a backdrop, special lighting and props (we have found that bubbles are a must). At each shoot there is a volunteer professional photographer, two volunteers and a make-up artist to help the girls and moms (occasionally a boy or dad) get ready for the camera. The mood is light and playful with lots of joking, smiling, laughter and perhaps a few tears here and there. We work hard to lift the patients out of their illnesses for at least a little while by giving them an opportunity to have fun in front of the camera and to just be kids. This all is free of charge for the families.

For some families, these pictures are the first opportunity for family portraits. For others, unfortunately, the photos may be their last. Flashes of Hope captures the beauty and innocence of each patient and family; creating memories they can hold onto forever. Flashes of Hope offers them a look back at the smiles and laughter their son or daughter still had while battling cancer, giving them hope for whatever tomorrow may bring.

Whether there is a teenager hugging you and thanking you for taking his picture with his sisters, or a father expressing his gratitude for the portraits that were taken of his son two weeks before he lost his courageous eight-year battle to cancer, we know that Flashes of Hope touches the hearts and lives of all who participate.

For more information on the Flashes of Hope national program please visit www.flashesofhope.org or flashesofhopemilwaukee.blogspot.com to see our beautiful Children’s Hospital patients. They inspire us each and every day.

— Julie Waldhart, RN, Hematology, Oncology and Transplant

Long summer nights, fireflies, s’mores and outdoor fire pits. Who doesn’t enjoy these memorable signs of summer? Unfortunately, these joys of summer bring many potential accidents.

Campfires are the leading cause of children’s camping injuries, with burns accounting for 74 percent of injuries. Half of the children admitted to hospitals with burns are younger than 4.

As more families are having ‘staycations’ – spending their time off at home instead of going away on vacation – I’ve seen a rise in the number of fire pit-related burns. Kids are showing up at the emergency room and burn clinic in alarming numbers after falling into fire pits, touching metal lids of fire pits, inhaling smoke and flames, and burning feet and toes stepping on embers.

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