Kapi’olani Medical Center Radiothon For Kids Brings The Best Out Of Our Community

Photo by Miguel Gonzalez.

The Radiothon for Kids was broadcast for 28 hours, over two days, on KSSK 92.3FM/AM 590 and it gave listeners the chance to pledge that will remain in Hawaii to fund programs and therapy for keiki.

Over two days, the radiothon featured dozens of patients and caregivers who shared their Kapi’olani miracle story on-air. All of their stories were very touching and sometimes brought attendees, and even KSSK disc jockeys, to tears. “We are here celebrating the inner strength that our keiki and their families use in their fight to stay healthy and well,” said Stacey Acma, director of philanthropy annual giving for the Foundations of Hawaii Pacific Health and Kapi’olani Children’s Miracle Network. “This event would have not been possible without the generous help of KSSK, donors, listeners and volunteers. We are one big strong ohana that has come together to give those who needed it the most,” Acma further explained.

Everyday, more than 1,300 employees and 612 physicians provide specialty care at Kapi’olani Medical Center for women and children. Kapi’olani offers numerous community programs and services, such as the Kapi’olani Child Protection Center and Sex Abuse Treatment Center. Kapi’olani Medical Center for Women & Children is an affiliate of Hawai’i Pacific Health, the state’s largest health care provider.

In its seventh year as a dedicated partner, KSSK has raised more than $800,000 for island keiki treated at Kapi’olani, with 100 percent of every dollar staying in Hawai’i. “For me as a DJ, doing this radiothon represents an opportunity to open the ears and eyes of listeners and let them know about the real life situations that happen in this hospital. If you have a child, can you imagine not having Kapiolani here to help bring him back to good health when he’s sick? This event says a lot about the amazing people of Hawaii,” KSSK Disc Jockey Scotty B said.

Radiothon volunteer Donna Otto knows the pain and uncertainty of having a very ill child. She has lived through the experience three times, starting with her first born Devin who was born 15 weeks premature at only 1 lb 14.9 oz. Devin would need several surgeries and months in the NICU before he could be sent home in good health. Otto would relive the fear of loosing a child years later when she became pregnant with twins delivered 3 months prematurely. Today, all of her three boys are healthy and thriving. “So many things could have gone wrong with each of my children. Respiratory problems, intestinal problems, things that could have affected the rest of their lives and thanks to Kapi’olani we found a balance of medical care,” Otto explained.

Odds of surviving conditions like Otto’s children are less than 50 percent. She considers each of her children a true miracle courtesy of Kapi’olani Medical Center. “Nobody can tell me otherwise. That is why I will always volunteer and be there for this hospital, because they were here for me.”

Magdalin S. Lutero is another mother who has depended on the care and comfort that only Kapi’olani Medical Center can provide to our state and even other nations on the Pacific Rim. Lutero’s five-year-old son, Micah, was diagnosed with Partial Agenisis of Corpus Callosum, Colpocephaly, Genetic Anomaly and Acid Reflux. “Without Kapi’olani Medical Center I don’t what would have happened. Words can’t express how thankful I am for the impact they had on Micah’s quality of life, they do amazing things here,” Lutero said.