Amber's Dream—the transformation of the
   Medcenter One Children's Hospital

Gift opportunities

Goal: $695,000

Reaching for the Stars

A Magical Adventure Playroom:		$80,000
Two Pirates Cove Nurses Stations:		$40,000 each
Endless Hallway of Hope:		$40,000

Starry Nights
6 gifts of $20,000 each:

• Never Say Never Map
• With Hope Anything Is Possible Family Respite
• Imagination Island Retreat
• Under the Sea Explorations Treatment Room
• Kids’ Creek pediatric intensive care unit
• Meddy Bear’s Night Sky Wall of Honor
• Thirteen patient bedrooms: $10,000 each

Meddy Bears

Life-sized Meddy Bear:		$7,500
Three Meddy Bears:		$7,500

Twinkling Lights

Six Journey to the Stars Same day surgery suites:		$5,000
Fourteen patient furnishings:		$5,000
Twenty-three character clocks:		$2,500

Believers

Fifty gifts:		$1,000 each
One hundred gifts:		$    500 each

Cherished Children Meddy Bear’s Night Sky

Engraved shooting stars—One hundred gifts		$250 each
Engraved stars—Two hundred gifts:		$100 each

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Contact information

For more information on how you can help make Amber’s Dream come true, contact the Medcenter One Foundation at 701.323.8450 or foundation@mohs.org.

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Amber’s letter

Click here to read a letter Amber wrote to ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” requesting they remodel the Medcenter One Children’s Hospital.

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Why should I give?

The Children’s Hospital doctors and staff, together with the Amber’s Dream chair couple and Meddy Bear, share their hopes for this much-needed renovation and expansion effort.

Dr. Todd Twogood

“When we can keep the minds of our children busy—when we can create a setting where their imagination is fueled,” said Dr. Todd Twogood, a Medcenter One pediatrician, “they can handle their medical procedures much better.”

 

“The power of distraction can reduce pain, eliminate fear and promote healing,” said Dr. Rafael Ocejo, a Medcenter One neonatologist and pediatrician. “It has been proven through research that children whose minds are occupied recover more quickly than those who are simply provided medical care in a sterile, unimaginative setting.”

Dr. Rafael Ocejo

Although the Children’s Hospital nurses have long used distraction to help children better cope with the usual needle sticks, they have been limited by their environment. Colorful clocks, lanterns carrying messages from Meddy Bear, twinkling lights on the window valances in each patient room as well as three-dimensional trees, a pirate ship nurses’ station and colorful storyboard murals in the hallways and play areas will do much to capture the imagination of hospitalized children.

A word from the Amber’s Dream campaign chair couple “It wasn’t until our little granddaughter, Emma, was born at 24 weeks that we came to understand what it is like for families and children struggling with illness and how medical facilities impact their lives. Our Emma spent 117 days at the Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis. During that time, we came to know children who were hospitalized for fairly routine procedures as well as some with grim diagnosis.

When we learned about Amber’s Dream for creating a magical place for kids and families at Medcenter One Children’s Hospital, we were excited and wanted to be a part of this wonderful project. We know firsthand what a difference a special place just for children can make to ease their fears and make a hospital stay more comforting.”

—Mark and Claudia Thompson, campaign chair couple

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Get involved

This project requires a lot of work. There are many ways to get involved and make Amber’s Dream come true. From hosting a fundraising event in your community to raise money for Amber’s Dream to donating a brand new children's book for the library, anything you do to help is much appreciated.

Tie blankets

Kristin Jacobchick, a Century High School student, is collecting fleece to make blankets for children staying at the Medcenter One Children's Hospital. She prefers 1.5 by 1.5 yards of fleece, but it must be at least one yard squared. Fleece for Jacobchick can be dropped off in the Medcenter One Foundation Office which is located in the Walk—in Clinic Downtown building on the corner of Seventh and Broadway in Bismarck. View a news story about this project.

Contact information

For ideas on how to help, call the Medcenter One Foundation at 701.323.8450. If you would like to volunteer at the Children’s Hospital upon completion of this project, contact Jane Morrow, volunteer services director, at 701.323.6011.

Many people from several different communities across central North Dakota have already used their time and talents to support Amber’s Dream—the transformation of the Medcenter One Children’s Hospital. These are little stories about these kind souls who have donated blankets, books, money and more.

Tabitha

11-year-old Tabitha Reichenberg, Center, is a former Medcenter One patient who has been a big cheerleader for Amber’s Dream. Tabitha, wanting to raise funds for Amber’s Dream, decided that her best option to get her school involved would be to run for student council so she could take her ideas to her fellow students. She lost the election by one point, however, the student council was so impressed with her ideas, they made an exception and asked her to join the student council anyway. She went to work immediately. First on her list, was to get the student council to give $1 of the admission fee to the Red Ribbon Week Halloween party which was held for all Center-Stanton fourth, fifth and sixth graders. Next, she encouraged the placement of large coin jars in each classroom so kids and teachers could fill them with their spare change. Many of those jars have now been emptied at least once and are being refilled a second or even third time. All change will be donated to Amber’s Dream. According to Tabitha, “It’s awesome to make Amber’s Dream come true.”

 

Landon

Landon Phillips is an asthma superhero. His family had T-shirts designed with superheroes and asthma in mind. The quote on the back of the shirt, “Standing in God’s Hope and Grace,” is what his family and friends strive for everyday. The shirts are being sold for $12 with all proceeds being donated to Ambers Dream. “With everything the Children’s Hospital has done for Landon, this is the least we can do—not only to honor Landon but Amber as well,” said Erin Kading, Landon’s mom.

 

Rebecca

For Rebecca Sue Schmidt’s birthday this year, she asked her friends if they would help her with her birthday book drive. In lieu of presents, she asked them to bring children’s books for Amber’s Dream. Her friends loved the project, donating five beautifully decorated bags full of books for the Children’s Hospital. A note, attached to the bags, read, “Hope you enjoy reading these books! We enjoyed picking them out. From the Kidder County Steele Sixth Grade Girls.”

Southport Loop and Bayview Court
The Southport Loop and Bayview Court neighborhoods in south Bismarck held a book drive and social on in December 2009 and gathered 70 fascinating books for Amber’s Dream. These books will add to the library planned for the Medcenter One Children’s Hospital.

Laurie Edinger

On a cold and rainy October evening, nearly 100 guests showed up to try on Lia Sophia necklaces, bracelets, rings and earrings. This party was coordinated by Lia Sophia Advisor Laurie Edinger; Pam Des Roches, Amber’s mom; and Lia Sophia Manager LuAnn McCrory. Once the ladies were inside, they were greeted by 15 hostesses, hors d'œuvres, wines, desserts, coffee and hot apple cider. The party, hosted at the Brady Martz Business Center, generated commission totals of $1,815 which Edinger generously donated to Amber’s Dream.

The Eye Center of the Dakotas

The Eye Center of the Dakotas with Drs. Tim Tello, Robert Nordstrom and Danelle Moch held a fundraising promotion pledging $50 for each frame purchased to Amber’s Dream. Patients and customers at the clinic were informed of the benefit. Sales led to the donation of $1,650 to the transformation of the Children’s Hospital. Dr. Danelle Moch and Dr. Tim Tello representing the Eye Center of the Dakotas presented a $1,650 check to Dr. Rafael Ocejo, Medcenter One pediatrician/neonatalogist; Randi Schaeffer, Medcenter One Children’s Hospital nurse manager; and Dr. Todd Twogood, Medcenter One pediatrician.

EMC Insurance
The Bismarck branch of EMC Insurance Company’s blanket brigade warmed up the Medcenter One Children’s Hospital with more than 60 fleece blankets. Employees took fabric home, cut and tied it to create the warm and cheerful throws for each of the patient’s rooms. The inspiration for the blanket brigade came because John Des Roches, Amber’s dad, is a co-worker at EMC Insurance. The Company Wellness Committee added DVDs, books, trucks and dolls to the blankets donated to the Amber’s Dream project.

Lori Quintus and Century High School family living classes
Lori Quintus and her family living classes, made up of Century High School juniors and seniors, wanted to be a part of the blanket brigade as well. They had so much fun making eight blankets for Amber’s Dream that, when given the choice to have the next day as a free day or use it as a day to make more blankets, they chose to make more blankets. She said that many of the students currently attending Century knew Amber and all of them are so generous and giving. Due to their diligence, 16 more blankets were created for Amber’s Dream.

Saxvik Elementary School
Another group that wanted to be a part of the blanket brigade was Saxvik Elementary School, who participated in making 28 blankets for local organizations, including the Medcenter One Children’s Hospital. Katie Krukenberg, Social Worker at Saxvik Elementary, wanted to get the entire elementary school to get involved in a lesson that could teach that giving is as much fun as receiving. Instead of exchanging gifts this year, they made the blankets, gifting them to area charities.

Horizon Middle School
Since Horizon Middle School was the school that Amber was attending before she passed away, Doug Vanderpan, assistant principal, and 125 students who are members of Team Integrity, Team Discovery, Team Odyssey and Team Dream decided to become a part of the blanket brigade also. The four teams collectively created 57 tied blankets for Amber’s Dream. The Horizon eighth grade Team Dream also raised enough funds to purchase a shooting star in Meddy Bear’s Night Sky.

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Project partners

Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative, Roughrider Electric Cooperative, KEM Electric Cooperative, Slope Electric Cooperative and Capital Electric Cooperative

“Basin Electric’s interest in supporting Amber’s Dream really came easily to us,” says Mike Eggl, Basin Electric senior vice president of external relations and communications. “Our annual St. Baldrick’s fund-raising event honors Amber each year, and when we heard about her vision for the hospital, we and surrounding electric cooperatives wanted to help make it happen. To see Amber’s vision take shape and touch the lives of our area children is really gratifying. After hearing her story and dream, I think everyone who has been involved with this process will carry a piece of her forever.”

When we first heard about Amber’s Dream, we were inspired. What a worthy community project it is to honor a compassionate and gentle soul like Amber DesRoches with a magical retreat for sick children. That’s why our community electric cooperatives joined together to make sure that Amber’s Dream was a success by providing the lead gift in the Magical Adventure Playroom.

Nothing compares to the sight of children playing, especially those taking a break from the unfortunate reality of medical treatments and operations. Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Mor-Gran-Sou Electric Cooperative, Roughrider Electric Cooperative, KEM Electric Cooperative and Slope Electric Cooperative are honored to support this commitment to community and the memory of Amber DesRoches.

—Emily McKay, Basin Electric Power Cooperative event planner/charitable giving coordinator

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