Making Miracles Hits Close to Home

If you're a Costco member, you're probably well aware of their partnership with Children's Miracle Network Hospitals (CMNH). Each May, warehouses are transformed with CMNH banners and signs, and associates proudly create their own wearable signage to further promote the local CMN hospitals, like Cook Children's. For one Costco associate, raising money and awareness has become especially personal.

Costco has been a partner of Children's Miracle Network Hospitals since 1988. Its annual, month-long campaign each May raises funds for local CMN hospitals, like Cook Children's. During the campaign, Costco members are encouraged to make a donation at checkout and add their names to the iconic paper balloons that are displayed at the front of the warehouses.

Funds raised support Cook Children's greatest needs and help us achieve our Promise to improve the health of every child in our region. Locally, Costco stores in Fort Worth, Arlington, Southlake and Lewisville have helped to raise more than $225,000 last year and more than $1,500,000 since 2004.

It goes without saying: the Costco fundraising campaigns wouldn't be successful without the generosity of their members. But the success of each campaign is also driven by the encouragement and initiative of the Costco employees who help remind their members just how big an impact their giving makes on our community.

For instance, Jennifer Miller, Costco pharmacy manager, shared her Cook Children's story with us:

"I have been employed by one of the most generous and supportive employers anyone could hope for over the last 25 years, Costco Wholesale. Over those years, I have watched, as well as supported and encouraged, our Children's Miracle Network Hospitals campaign, an amazing program that gives so much to so many.

Little did I realize that many years later, I would become personally impacted and quite familiar with our local Children's Miracle Network Hospital, Cook Children's. Our natural identical boy triplets were born at 26 weeks, weighing about 1.5 pounds each and clinging to life. They were whisked off to Cook Children's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where the incredible staff of nurses and doctors worked around the clock to save our small boys. It has been a journey of ups and downs that I wouldn't wish upon any family, but I am so thankful for God's provision that allowed us to be transferred to this facility. We received the most advanced care from a loving and compassionate medical team. They not only cared for my boys, but recognized the great stress and impact that this situation has on parents and families, and they attended to us as well.

Not only did I feel that my boys were cared for, but I too felt cared for, and honestly, that was quite unexpected. The boys had a private room, specifically designed for triplets, where we were able to stay with them day or night and made our situation more bearable. Our two boys, Titus and Silas, stayed in the NICU for 98 days, and our third boy, Samuel, logged in at 118 days. Our miracle boys are home and thriving with no visible lasting effects of their early birth, thanks to God and the diligence of the Cook Children's NICU staff. We feel so blessed to be counted as part of the Cook Children's family!"

Many families never anticipate walking through the doors of our medical center. Their worlds have been turned upside down because of an unexpected event in their children's lives. While they never thought they would need us, we're glad to be here for them when they do.