At U-M C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, the cancer fight is constant. Every day at Mott I see the fight in our patients and their families; I see the compassion in our nurses and child life specialists; and I see the hope in our physicians who move from their labs to our patients’ bedsides to give the best, most innovative treatments.

Despite cancer’s effects, we believe and remain steadfast in our mission to heal children—from infants to toddlers to teens—who come to Mott Children’s Hospital from hometowns in Michigan, from states across the nation and from countries around the world. These children come for our expertise and comprehensive treatment of all types of cancer including leukemia, neuroblastoma, lymphoma and brain tumors.

This issue of Michigan Cares features Mott heroes—people like Richard and Ashley Mukensturm, who have never been patients at our hospital, but have sensed the difference we make. They, in turn, have helped us to continue that difference. We highlight our nurses, child life specialists and volunteers who make Mott Children’s Hospital the place to go, not just when you need our specialized services, but when you want our dedicated, kindhearted care. Our heroes go beyond the call to heal—showing great respect and compassion to each of our patients and their families.

We highlight the heroes of pediatric hematology/oncology—those clinicians and researchers who work everyday to raise the standard of care for our Mott cancer patients. Whether it’s discovering new treatments or mentoring the next generation of skilled minds, our Mott patients directly benefit from faculty of the U-M Medical School.

And we highlight our patients—our heroes who have beaten the odds, even though they are fighting terminal illness.

Jenni Swink, mother of Rachel, a patient featured on page 8, talks about how grateful she was to be at a teaching hospital like Mott Children’s Hospital, a place that develops innovations and new treatment strategies. She says, “The new research was our only hope.”

At U-M, we are determined to make a difference. From researchers in the laboratory to faculty and staff on Mott’s hematology/oncology inpatient unit, we continue our resolve to heal children with cancer.

Continue to hope. And continue to believe in a future cure—I know I do.

Sincerely,

Patricia A. Warner
Associate Hospital Director, University of Michigan
Hospitals and Health Centers
Chief Administrative Officer, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital