Kaiser Permanente Southern California was the recipient of the J. Donald Thomas Award. Kaiser has been a strong supporter of Young & Healthy since 1996, providing over $300,000 in grants and donations. Kaiser Permanent Southern California physicians and employees have also donated their time and talents by participating in Young & Healthy’s outreach programs.

“We are extremely grateful for all who donated, either through attending the gala, serving on the committee, donating to the auction or assisting in other ways to make this night a success and to help us to continue to serve the children in our community,” stated Mary Donnelly-Crocker, executive director.

Event Co-chair Laura Unanue and the dedicated committee organized a superb evening that included live and silent auctions, dancing and a lovely dinner.

The 2013 gala committee included Carol An, Annie Brose, Michele Canon, Jan Cantwell, Allison Dietrick, Ann Gluck, Juliette Harrhy, Wende Headley, Caroline Howell, Nobu Junge, Melissa Lorenz, Angela Mavridis, Harper McDonald, Andrea Patzakis, Laura Unanue, and Michele Waller.

I am always amazed (and impressed) by the kids who, in spite of the odds against them, rise up and face each day with optimism.

You’ve all seen a little one with a patch on one eye. Patrick needed one when he was little, but he lacked access to health care and now he has very limited vision in one eye.

At 17, he (yes HE) developed a breast mass. Imagine having Young & Healthy send you to a BREAST CENTER for diagnostic work. With all the grace in the world, he showed up, had a mammogram and luckily found out he DID NOT have cancer.

Oh–did I mention, his mom has cancer and can rarely leave the house.

So, what does Patrick when he needs to pick up the medication to shrink the breast mass? He rides his skate board several miles to one of our volunteer pharmacies of course!

This young man has something we all want–persistent optimism! It is an honor to know him!

Such an easy fix–when you link exactly the right two people together. There are still lots of issues for this family to deal with but Albert’s toothache isn’t one of them anymore.

Their health never entered into the equation.

Not for Rosalee. Rosalee works full time and knows without a doubt that her son needs health insurance. He has epilepsy. When his monthly premiums grew to $1,000 a month, she began selling off possessions to pay the premiums. A toaster here, an old T.V. there, her clothes, old teddy bears, anything she could sell to raise the money.

Desperate, she went to a school nurse and said, “I have nothing left to sell.” Her son’s insurance had lapsed and he needed his seizure medication.

One call to Young & Healthy and one call to a volunteer neurologist–like magic her life changed. He was assessed and quickly taken care of. A volunteer pharmacist donated his medication. This young man will be a short-term client for us.

The second call was to an insurance specialist who explained that, because of a change in the law, pre-existing conditions for children were no longer “counted” when applying for insurance.

Rosalee has applied for new low-cost insurance that she can afford for her son, with no yard sales necessary.

We’ll take care of her son until the new insurance “kicks in”, and Rosalee will be BACK on her way to being the self-sufficient and resourceful mother that she’s always been.

Kaylie was born at home. She was taken to her pediatrician’s office to be examined. Everything seemed to be going well until her pediatrician noticed that Kaylie seemed to have hip dysplasia. The doctor told Kaylie’s parents that she was going to refer their baby to a pediatric orthopedist. Kaylie’s parents informed the pediatrician that their insurance only covered well baby visits.

Luckily, the pediatrician is a Young & Healthy volunteer and called us right away.

Our case managers were ablt to connect the family with Shriner’s Hospital for Children. Thankfully, Kaylie’s condition is one that is easily remedied. She will continue to receive follow up care and is well on her way to being a normal, happy and active infant!

She was cared for at our wonderful partner hospital, Huntington Memorial. Her injuries were temporary but understandably her heartache and her grief were enormous. Grandma, too, was traumatized. Knowing that Adela was uninsured, our colleague and social worker contacted Young & Healthy for follow-up care.

While there are few therapists who specialize in grief–let alone childhood grief–Young & Healthy is lucky to have such a volunteer. Connections were made and now Adela has the ongoing support of a therapist who will help guide her through the many transitions this accident created. Life is certainly not fair, and we are grateful to this volunteer who can help Adela regain her footing.

Twelve-year-old Isabella was very fragile. She had uncontrolled seizures, unexplained weight loss and found school really hard. Her mom was a little lost too, not really sure how she could help. Isabella and her brother were provided with a volunteer medical home where, for the first time, ONE doctor would provide comprehensive care. Finally someone who could really help! Many appointments and many medication adjustments later, Isabella is a bit more stable and her mom can even tackle her educational needs. Our Young & Healthy staff continues to provide translation services for all their medical appointments and has been instrumental in helping the family understand how to use the special education services available to Isabella.

Many hands make light work–many hearts give hope.

Friends of Young & Healthy gathered on Friday, June 15 for a night of Texas Hold Em Poker. After many rounds and fierce competition, Dr. Kenneth Yamanaka, also Young & Healthy’s first volunteer dentist, was crowned Poker Champion of the night! Thanks to everyone who participated!

On  Saturday March 3, community organizations (including Pasadena Community Urgent Care, Care 1^st, Pasadena Public Health Department, CalFresh, Planned Parenthood, Network for a Healthy California, Huntington Hospital, Bill Moore Clinic, and Azusa Pacific University) provided clinic attendees with the opportunity to receive free health and nutrition information, blood pressure and glucose tests, flu shots, and more.

Panda Cares generously donated 500 meals for Mobile Dental Clinic volunteers, staff, families and children for lunch that day.  Young & Healthy is so appreciative of all of the community and foundation sponsors (The Patron Saints Foundation, and the Pasadena Children’s Guild) who made possible the success of the Mobile Dental Clinic!