Meet Circle of Care Members

Donor Profile: Patty McGuigan and Richard Bush

Long-time Palo Alto residents Patty McGuigan and Richard Bush never used to pay much attention to the children's hospital in their hometown.With their own children grown, it seemed unlikely that they would ever need the services of Packard Hospital. All that changed suddenly in February 2004 when their granddaughter, Libby, was diagnosed with a heart murmur during her routine 18-month checkup. A referral to Packard pediatric cardiac surgeon Frank Hanley, M.D., revealed that Libby would need surgery within a week to correct an aneurysm in her heart. The news came as a terrible shock, especially since Libby had always been a perfectly healthy child. Fortunately, her surgery was successful and Libby has since made a full recovery. More

Donor Profile: Anita and Steve Westly

In February 2000, Anita and Steve Westly were eagerly anticipating the birth of their first child, a baby girl. What they expected to be an easy birth quickly turned frightening when the baby, Christie, was born with her umbilical cord wrapped twice around her small neck. The couple remembers seeing Hospital staff spring into action to clear the baby's airway. Fortunately, Christie was fine after just two days in Packard's neonatal intensive care unit. Moved by their personal experience, Anita and Steve now support the Hospital with the hope that such quality care will be available to more families in the area. More

Donor Profile: Melissa Berkowitz

My daughter, Emily, was diagnosed with cancer when she was 16 years old. Our family immediately set out to find the best place for her care. We found it close to home at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital. Now, five years later, Emily is enjoying good health and academic success at Brandeis University. Thanks to the extraordinary care and commitment of Packard's caregivers and to breakthroughs in cancer research, Emily's life was saved. To show our gratitude, our family dedicates its annual Children's Circle of Care gift to fund cancer and pain management at Packard. We are honored to have the opportunity to fund new projects to ensure that the Hospital has the resources it needs to help other families facing struggles similar to ours.

Donor Profile: Susan Ford Dorsey

I choose to make a Circle of Care gift to the Children's Fund each year because I believe the Hospital's leaders know where the needs are the greatest. By providing unrestricted gifts and trusting the decisionmakers, I feel I am helping to strengthen the organization. I also recognize the daily operational needs of the Children's Hospital. While my larger commitments have gone to fund new projects, I make annual gifts to the Children's Fund to help keep the Hospital going.