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Message From Our Hearts to YoursThe Camden Scott Meyer Pediatric FundAn Impact Report and Fund Update
Special Greetings from Cami (and Dennis) MeyerI have a confession. I may be addicted to motivational quotes. They hang in my oce, ll up my Pinterest Boards, and bring me such happiness when I nd the perfect one to give as a gift. They make me smile, motivate me, and yes, sometimes make me cry.There are many things I have discovered about myself over the course of the last decade, besides the reality of being older, I do believe with time has come the wisdom to appreciate and reect on what’s important in life. Losing our son Camden has changed me, and internally, I have a new found condence to understand that it has made me a more giving and stronger person. I am no longer dened as a recent grieving mother who has lost a child. I am a seasoned survivor who with the help of family, friends, strangers, and colleagues, is simply trying to make a dierence in the lives of others. A legacy we’ve been able to honor with the now established Camden Scott Meyer Pediatric Lab.My current role as Director of Student Life and Recruitment at MUSC’s College of Health Professions has me wearing many hats. I am blessed to love what I do and embrace the numerous opportunities that help keep me on my creative toes. In one proposed attempt to lighten up some grey stairwell walls around campus, I began checking out various wall quotes to add a touch of color, motivation, and smiles to our faculty, sta, and students as they climb those stairs of success every day. The above quote was one of my favorite that I chose to add to one stairwell. The same stairs, I realized, that were also leading me to Camden’s Lab.The Best Things in Life Aren’t Things. Your philanthropic gift to support a vision we had a decade ago helped mold me into who I am today. The act of giving for most is not for self- gratication, it is simply a realization that we have the power to make a small dierence in this world. I promise you, today, we are all making a dierence in the lives of those who come through the doors of Camden’s Lab.Dennis and I continue to be humbled by the generosity of so many who have helped make this dream come true. With encouragement from dedicated sta and faculty, we realized that it was time to expand the fund’s purpose. Today, we are proud to have individuals like you supporting pediatric initiatives in research, education and clinical activities. We are honored to share this newsletter with you, as you discover more as to how your generous support is helping to make this world a better place. Thank you.Sincerely,Cami Meyer
Camden’s Sale – A Labor of LoveOne’s life can change in a minute. When our three day old grandson, Camden, died unexpectedly in 2002, our lives changed forever.Shortly after Camden died, our daughter and son-in-law established a fund at MUSC to honor his memory. The vision of what that would entail or how the monies would be raised were really quite unclear in the beginning, we simply knew it was a dream we prayed would come true. A dicult challenge we faced was the distance that separated us and grieving the loss of Camden. My daughter and son-in-law were in Charleston, SC and we live in Caro, MI. As we coped with our own grief and healing, we put into action how we could best contribute to the fund. On the anniversary of what would have been Camden’s rst birthday, we held our rst annual Camden’s Sale fundraiser. We solicited the help of family, friends, and neighbors to contribute any items they desired with the full understanding that all monies raised would be donated to Camden’s Fund. This annual event is now so well known within the community of Caro that we are often overwhelmed with donated items and inquires on when the next sale will be.Now that the Camden Scott Meyer Pediatric Lab has been dedicated, we are amazed to look back and see what an impact these sales have amassed to over time. A simple idea of hosting one yard sale years ago has had lasting eects beyond our dreams. Camden’s memory will continue to live on through everyone whose life may be impacted by the research and eorts of the Lab’s activities. We are grateful for the support of everyone who continues to contribute to these fundraisers. After eleven years of yard sales, we often say this one will be the “last”, yet as soon as someone tells us they have items for the next one, well, our minds just spin and we’re o planning for the next! Small steps continue to lead to BIG things.Sincerely,Pat and Bob ChisholmJackson Meyer, Cami and Dennis’ second son, was the rst paying customer for Camden’s Sale in 2012.Dad patiently, and proudly, helped him count out his money.
Camp Hand to Hands Imagine being a child again but with a condition comparable to an adult who is recovering from a stroke. MUSC’s College of Health Professions oers Camp Hand to Hands each year specically for such children. Constraint induced movement therapy (CIMT) provided at the camp gives children who have one-sided weakness or hemiparesis cerebral palsy, the opportunity to have a great time while receiving intensive therapy. “These children have the same problems as adults who are recovering from a stroke,” said Dr. Patty Coker-Bolt, camp coordinator. The camp encourages and helps build movement and skill in weaker arms and legs. This is an intensive therapy that must be provided for several hours over several days. Supervised by both an occupational therapy (OT) faculty leader and a physical therapy (PT) faculty leader, the week-long camp brings together more than 70 OT and PT students each year at the college’s Camden Scott Meyer Pediatric Lab and surrounding facilities. These students receive college credit for this elective course and spend ve weeks during the summer months training on the principles of providing constraint therapy and providing skilled therapy to children with developmental disabilities. The lessons and friendships from camp can last a lifetime. Seventeen young campers attended the 2013 camp, an increase of three children from the previous year, thanks to support from the Camden Scott Meyer Pediatric Fund. Each day at camp introduces a dierent theme: Carnival Day, Safari Hunt, Under the Sea, Around the World and more. This setup is critical because of how therapy is provided to children; rehabilitation comes in the context of play. Most families come from the Lowcountry area of South Carolina, although some travel from as far as Ohio and Pennsylvania. CIMT is the most widely studied therapy intervention for children with neuromuscular disorders such as cerebral palsy but, due to barriers such as funding and therapist training; many children do not have access to this evidenced-based treatment approach.CIMT programs across the country are expensive and dicult to nd. Insurance does not cover this type of therapy, and there are waiting lists for most programs. MUSC oers the only CIMT program in the state of South Carolina, and the program is provided at no cost to families. Other constraint induced therapy movement programs around the country charge between $15,000 and $40,000 per child.
Lab gets a child-friendly faceliftThe Camden Scott Meyer Pediatric Lab received a bright and cheery renovation recently, which included a new paint job, shelving and organizational materials for storage and new therapeutic oor mats -- all made possible through your support of the Camden Scott Meyer Pediatric Fund. Your gift has improved this special learning laboratory, which continues to make a dierence in the lives of children and our students. Please congratulate yourself on making a child smile. Camp Hand to Hands – parents’ comments:“This program does more than any parent could ask. This program is a place where children can play and have intensive therapy to help them become more successful.” “We have been thoroughly impressed with the camp. It is extremely well organized. The therapists are excited and creative and have informed us of the activities. The themed days are fun for us to talk about as a family.”“She has enjoyed camp so much! Not only has camp improved usage of her right hand, but we feel that her independence, condence and vocabulary have grown leaps and bounds.”We look forward to this year’s camp, August 4 - 8, 2014.
Congratulations to Camp Hand to Hands coordinator Patty Coker-Bolt, PhD, OTR/L, Assistant Professor, Division of Occupational Therapy, MUSC’s College of Health Professions. She recently coedited the “Handbook of Pediatric Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) - A Guide for Occupational Therapy and Health Care Clinicians, Researchers, and Educators.” Your contributions: Inspiring students and helping children with special needsEmily Cook, Chad Sanders and Megan Stokes, students from the Division of Occupational Therapy Program, along with Brittany Ambur and Michelle Morse, students from the Divison Physical Therapy Program, created a poster presentation on “Eects of Early Power Mobility on Overall Development of a Child Born with a Rare Genetic Neuromuscular Disorder.” This poster presentation was made possible, in part, with funding from the Camden Scott Meyer Pediatric Fund. Faculty leadership included Dr. Sara Kraft of the Division of Physical Therapy Program and Dr. Patty Coker-Bolt from the Division of Occupational Therapy Program at the College of Health Professions. The early research on the use of ride-on toys for children with mobility issues is exciting and innovative for several reasons. Early power mobility has the ability to improve a child’s freedom to move in the environment and can aect spatial awareness, eye-hand coordination, motivation and social skills interactions. Unlike expensive and cumbersome pediatric power chairs, these commercially available riding toys are easily adapted and modied and are relatively inexpensive. A pediatric power wheelchair ranges from $5,000 to $10,000, and a ride-on toy can be purchased and adapted for approximately $1,000. These ride-on toys are easily transported by families and therapists and are a natural t in a child’s environment. In fact, they look like a toy for a child instead of a rehabilitation device! The motorized, Mater ride-on toy used in this study was purchased through funds provided by the Camden Scott Meyer Pediatric Fund. “Having the generous and ongoing support of the Camden Scott Meyer Pediatric Fund provided our students with a profound research experience and helped us conrm that early power mobility training is possible and may yield positive, short-term cognitive, language and social skills among children under the age of 2 with special needs,” said Dr. Coker-Bolt. “We are most grateful to the Meyer Family and to all the donors who are making these meaningful learning opportunities and research possible!”
The impact of your givingYour support has helped to provide these therapeutic tools and items for children with special needs in our communities, and for pediatric initiatives in the College of Health Professions:-- Equipment and supplies for the 2012 and 2103 Camp Hand to Hands. -- Snappy Seat bike and Snappy Seat System, a tricycle for children with special needs.-- Multi Goal System, an adaptive basketball-type unit for children with special needs.-- Two Fisher Price Mater Cars and adaptive equipment.-- GoPro Camera and mounting system.-- Expansion of Camp Hand to Hands with professional therapists to accommodate four additional campers.-- Training and instruction for physical and occupational therapists at Camp Hand to Hands. -- Shelving, storage and materials for pediatric lab renovations.-- Colorful, therapeutic oor mats for the pediatric lab.Total Fund Contributions (May 2012 to January 2014): $12,404.73Fund Expenses (June 2012 to December 2013): $10,883.61Current Fund Balance: $62,500.60We thank you!
Your generous caring and support improves the health of children and enriches the educational experience of our aspiring health professions students. It is our pleasure to recognize the following donors who have supported the Camden Scott Meyer Pediatric Fund from its inception in November of 2002. We thank you! $20,000 - $30,000Mr. and Mrs. Robert V. Chisholm, Jr.$10,000 - $19,999Mr. and Mrs. Dennis S. Meyer$1,000 - $4,999Mr. and Mrs. Stephen J. HydeMr. and Mrs. Jon MahanMr. and Mrs. John F. MaiherMr. Steven M. RubinsteinMr. and Mrs. Dana VosburghWells Fargo Community Support CampaignWells Fargo Foundation Educational Matching Gift Program$500 - $999Mr. Robert V. Chisholm, IIIMs. Dorinda Q. HarmonMr. and Mrs. Patrick R. JoslynMs. Ann Sage-KentMr. and Mrs. Allan J. Sharp$100 - $499Air Force Oce of Special Investigations*Mr. and Mrs. Edward J. BilickiMr. and Mrs. David L. BradyDr. Barbara Burgess-Van AkenMr. and Mrs. Jeery T. CardinalMr. and Mrs. Brian CarriganMs. J. Anita ChesherMr. and Mrs. Bradd S. ChisholmMr. and Mrs. Bryan F. ChisholmMr. and Mrs. Rodny A. ChisholmMr. Steven E. ClemMs. Martha C. Craft-EssigMr. and Mrs. Thomas A. DaleMr. Lex ErwinMs. Joan M. GraeschMr. and Mrs. William A. Grover, IIIMr. and Mrs. Charles T. HarkinsMr. and Mrs. Leland T. HartyMs. Mariesa A. HebertMr. and Mrs. Gary L. HolikMr. and Mrs. Michael W. HouseMr. and Mrs. W. Wallace Kent, Jr.Ms. Laura C. Kent-JonesMr. and Mrs. Joe LopezMr. and Mrs. Robert R. MathewsMr. and Mrs. Shawn M. McGrawMr. George M. McNewMr. Gregory J. MeyerMr. Joseph I. MeyerMr. Larry MeyerMr. Michael M. MeyerMr. and Mrs. Thomas O. MeyerMrs. Chris MillerMr. and Mrs. Harrison J. Osterhoudt, IIMs. Linda M. OsterhoudtMr. and Mrs. James G. ParrishMr. and Mrs. Russ PriceMr. and Mrs. Frank J. Quattlebaum Mr. and Mrs. Gerald RobertsonMr. and Mrs. Shannon RotondoDr. Michael E. Saladin and Dr. Lisa K. SaladinMr. and Mrs. Michael T. SmithMs. Michelle SmithMs. Suzette StilleMr. and Mrs. Donald P. TaylorThe Muhler Company, Inc.Dr. George J. Tompkins, IIITRC Management Services, Inc.
Up to $99Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Alejandro LopezMs. Janet R. Allen*Mr. and Mrs. Glenn W. Anderson, IIMr. and Mrs. Dennis AndersonMrs. Stephanie W. AuwaerterMr. Hugh J. BarrettMr. Philip BeauregardMr. and Mrs. Richard BertrandMr. and Mrs. Matthew R. BrandingMr. and Mrs. Frank Brown, Jr.Ms. D. M. CahoonMs. Lynn CherryMr. and Mrs. Dmitar D. CiganovicMr. and Mrs. Robert J. ClarkMr. and Mrs. Jacob DickersonMr. and Mrs. Neil DietlinGraphic CommunicationsMr. and Mrs. William GreenleafMr. Daniel GreensteinMs. Theresa R. HampelMr. and Mrs. Alva HayesMr. and Mrs. Michael HildebrandtMr. William B. HoltMs. Sharon Y. HydeMr. and Mrs. Frank IskraMr. and Mrs. Dennis R. JapelMs. Mary Anne Javorek*Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. JollyMr. and Mrs. John H. Keller, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Gregory A. KingMr. and Mrs. Al KlavoraMr. and Mrs. James E. KlehnMr. and Mrs. James R. Koenig, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Joe Kowalczyk, Jr.Ms. Theresa KucharekMs. Marilyn J. KulwinMr. and Mrs. Douglas A. LaukonisMr. and Mrs. David A. LeskovecMr. and Mrs. William A. LindstromMr. and Mrs. David P. LoparoMr. and Mrs. David R. LuhtaMr. and Mrs. Mark J. MacioceMr. and Mrs. Richard B. MalachowskiMr. and Mrs. Ronny J. MarmolMr. and Mrs. C. Christopher MartinMr. and Mrs. Mark E. NewbyMs. Susan O. OakesMs. Jodi L. OsgoodMr. and Mrs. Brian D. ParsonsMr. and Mrs. George L. Puckhaber, Jr.Mr. and Mrs. Patrick M. RahnMr.* and Mrs. William RobertsMr. and Mrs. David M. RosenbergMs. Martha W. RowanMs. Jessica E. RuethMr.* and Mrs.* Julius P. SlogarMr. and Mrs. Ronald D. SmithMs. Teresa SmithMr. and Mrs. David N. SteinMr. James R. SullivanMr. and Mrs. Jerey S. SzuchMs. Susan G. TuckeyMr. and Mrs. Richard A. WalkerMr. and Mrs. Jim WillMrs. Nancy J. Wolf*DeceasedIf you prefer to have your name listed dierently or, if we have inadvertently listed your name incorrectly, please allows us the opportunity to make that correction by contacting Leslie Brady at bradyl@musc.edu or 843-792-8547. Thank you.
What legacy will you leave? It’s no secret that MUSC’s College of Health Professions relies on your good will to grow our pediatric initiatives and to support our students. Philanthropic gifts make the dierence between good and great. We hope that you will consider the Camden Scott Meyer Pediatric Fund as you plan your future and learn about the many ways you can create your legacy. If you have questions about including MUSC in your will or designating MUSC as the beneciary of your insurance policy or retirement plan, we would be privileged to have a condential conversation with you. In the meantime, please feel free to visit our online gift planning website at http://www.muscgiving.org We wish to thank:• Each of you for your support and caring.• The Meyer family for its incredible strength and courage. Their commitment through philanthropy to young pediatric patients and their families is extraordinary and transformational. • Our aspiring health professions students whose quest for learning continues to inspire us to reach new heights in education.• Our faculty leadership at the College of Health Professions, which strives for excellence. These contributions will aect both our students and young patients for years and years to come. Thank you all. For a private tour of the lab or for additional information about how you can support Camden Scott’s legacy and pediatric patients in need, please contact Director of Development Leslie Brady at 843-792-8547 or bradyl@musc.eduTo make a gift online, please visit: www.musc.edu/CHPGivingOr make a check made payable to MUSC Foundation and mail to: MUSC Foundation18 Bee St, MSC 450 Charleston, SC 29425 Ofce: (843) 792-2677 Fax: (843) 792-8531
College of Health ProfessionsOce of the Dean151-A Rutledge Avenue, MSC 960Charleston, SC 29425843-792-8547 www.musc.edu/chp