A NOTE FROM PEL'S PALS
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As we approach our 4th year of the creation of Pel's Pals, it is a good time to reflect on the
Foundation's mission. The Pel's Pals Foundation was organized in 2007 by Tracy and John Pelphrey
in memory of their infant son, John Patrick Pelphrey, who died prematurely in 2003. The Foundation
was established to honor John Patrick's name by generating financial support to benefit children's
charities with a special emphasis on providing resources and education for neonatal efforts across the
United States. Just as the Pelphrey family suffered the devastating loss of their son, John Patrick,
more than 25,000 other U.S. families experience a similar loss each year.
Stillbirth affects families of all race, religion and socio-economic status. Stillbirth occurs in about one
in 200 pregnancies. While there can be many factors that result in stillbirth, the cause cannot yet be
determined in nearly one-third of the cases.
Losing a child after the exciting anticipation, planning and bonding that occurs during the stages of
pregnancy can be devastating to not only the mother but also to the entire family.
Many of the factors that can cause stillbirth put the pregnant mother in the category of "high-risk"
pregnancy. The Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
(UAMS) are committed to improving maternal and infant success through early prevention, diagnosis
and treatment for both mother and fetus. There are 24 sites across Arkansas, which use the
interactive video connection that the Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists provide from UAMS.
Pel's Pals understands and supports the efforts of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Program and the
specialists of high-risk pregnancies. Our efforts are committed to raising funds for the Maternal-Fetal
Medicine Program for further advancement in education, technology, prevention and support for all
women and infants in Arkansas. We hope to partner in the successful care of mothers in order to
ensure the safe and healthy arrival of their babies. We are raising and ear-marking funds for an
endowed chair for Dr. Paul Wendel to teach medical students in the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Program
at UAMS and to keep them in the state of Arkansas to practice.
The Arkansas Children's Hospital Centers for Children is located in Lowell, AR. This is a branch of
Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock. ACH is internationally renowned for medical breakthroughs
and intensive treatments, exceptional surgical procedures and cutting-edge medical research.
The Centers for Children brings convenient access to ACH pediatric experts closer for families of
Northwest Arkansas. At this time, doctors are being flown in weekly from Little Rock. From early
diagnosis through treatment, the team brings expertise in pediatric medicine to improve education,
training and quality of pediatric health care. All physicians at the Centers for Children are employed
by the UAMS Department of Pediatrics and practice at Arkansas Children's Hospital. Primary
pediatricians in NWA now refer their patients to the Centers for Children for specialty care. The
Centers for Children is also opening a primary care pediatric clinic to help care for the large number
of children in our area. The clinic will eventually see approximately 120 children per day. Pel's Pals
supports the Centers for Children and their efforts to treat children with specialty needs, such as
neurology, pulmonology and cardiology. The Centers for Children currently offers 15 pediatric
subspecialties. Pel's Pals is raising funds to help the Centers for Children grow and thrive in our area.
While a majority of the focus is on improved healthcare for mothers and children in Arkansas, Pel's
Pals is also dedicated to children suffering in any way. Pel's Pals supports the mission and care of
Children's House of Northwest Arkansas. Sadly, there are many children in our area suffering from
multiple forms of abuse and neglect, but miraculously Children's House provides a safe, secure place
for children of all social and economic backgrounds, to overcome the devastating effects of abuse
and neglect. They provide a comfortable, home-like environment, providing assessment, development services, education and therapy at no cost. Children's House also provides families and caregivers with skills to strengthen their ability to nurture, raise and educate
their children. This wonderful organization is a year-round therapeutic child development center,
which serves children 18 months to 5 years who are suffering from physical, emotional and sexual
abuse. Children's House also focuses on life threatening neglect. Pel's Pals supports the mission of
Children's House and their Campaign for Children to raise funds for the opening of a larger facility
in order to provide service for more Arkansas children in need.
Pel's Pals Foundation is an ambassador to these outstanding organizations. We fully support their
efforts and hope to fulfill our mission by supporting and raising funds to help them reach their goals.
Each of these organizations has such great success stories. With the help and support of Pel's Pals
and you, we hope that the number of success stories will increase dramatically.
We thank you for your dedication to helping mothers and children of our great state.
We are looking forward to our upcoming events. We will, once again, be teaming up with Dr. Wendel
and his colleagues of the Maternal-Fetal Medicine program at UAMS and Arkansas Children's Hospital
in Little Rock on May 5, 2011, where we will be honoring Dr. Whit Hall and
Sarah Bussey Adams.
During our Northwest Arkansas event on May 14, 2011, we will honor our 2011 Pel's Pal, Mrs. Pat
Walker. She has generously given back to Arkansas in a way that has touched countless lives.
Her focus has been on health and education in Arkansas and her personal impact literally cannot
be measured.
We sincerely thank you for joining us in our mission.
