Giving today’s kids a tomorrow

Steve Amburn connects our patients with the generosity of his community

Every patient, family and staff member who walks through the doors of our medical centers has a Cook Children’s story. Some are stories of hope and healing, and others are stories of loss. Sometimes, those stories turn into moments of inspiration, hope and generosity.

Steve Amburn never expected to have a Cook Children’s story at all. But when he met his wife, Debbie, he also met the young woman who would give him a Cook Children’s story and change his life forever: Cara Young.

“Cara was my stepdaughter, but I called her my daughter,” Steve said. “I met her mom in 2001, and that’s when I met Cara. Debbie told me that Cara had an illness, but she wouldn’t tell anyone that because she didn’t consider herself sick.”

When she was 18 months old, doctors diagnosed Cara with cystic fibrosis, an inherited condition that causes damage to the lungs, digestive tract and other organs. She was treated at Cook Children’s and often visited two or three times a year for what she called a “tune-up.”

“I knew nothing about Cook Children’s until I met Debbie and Cara,” Steve said. “I became a huge fan because I saw the care she was given. The whole area knows how fortunate we are to have this facility for kids and families. It’s an amazing place.”

When Cara became an adult, she transferred her care to another hospital and got on a lung transplant waiting list. A pair of lungs eventually became available, but unfortunately, they weren’t a match for her. Her health continued to decline, and in 2008, Steve and Debbie said goodbye to their daughter.

“A year went by [after Cara’s passing], and I wanted to do something to give back to Cook Children’s,” Steve said. “I didn’t know what to do, but Debbie and I love to fish. We thought we’d do a fishing tournament, and the first one was a pretty big hit.”

Steve and Debbie began Cara Young Fish For Life Tournaments as an independent fundraiser for Cook Children’s, and over the past 11 years, it’s grown into so much more. A friend connected Steve with a representative from Cabela’s, and the store offered to bring toys, giant stuffed fish pillows and other gifts for patients to the medical center. In 2023, Bass Pro Shops teamed up with Cabela’s to send even more gifts to patients.

“Next, we wanted to do a toy drive for Christmas,” Steve said. “Cabela’s brought all kinds of stuffed animals, rods, reels and things for the kids. They even have these little truck and trailer sets, some with boats. Every child who came down to the atrium could get a toy, a rod, a reel and a T-shirt.”

In addition to in-kind gifts through partners like Cabela’s and Bass Pro Shops, Steve also fundraises for Cara Cards, which help families of patients with cystic fibrosis purchase meals while staying at our medical centers.

The tagline Steve chose for the Cara Young Fish for Life Tournament is “Giving today’s kids a tomorrow.” As the connection between Cook Children’s and Cabela’s, he keeps Cara’s memory alive by doing just that.

Host a fundraising event

Want to host your own fundraiser benefiting Cook Children’s, but not sure where to start? We’ll be with you every step of the way. Click below to email Wendy Eubank, our Community Partner Fundraising Coordinator, to learn how we can help make your event a success.

Email Wendy