601 Children s Lane Norfolk, VA 23507 Dear friend, You may not know if your support helps, but I can tell you that it does. CHKD saved my babyʼs life. A routine ultrasound near the end of my pregnancy showed that my baby had a tumor in her abdomen that was almost certainly cancer. From that moment on, CHKD began planning and caring for our daughter, Audrey. My husband and I were terrified, but the team at CHKD was there to help us every step of the way. During Audreyʼs birth, and in the months that followed, her CHKD team was there for her. They provided life-saving surgery, a calm explanation of procedures and a reassuring shoulder for a tearful mother and father to lean on during the most difficult time in our family s life. After a year of worry and just days after her first birthday, we received the best news possible Audrey was free of cancer. Audrey turned 5 this summer, and I know that each day of her life as a healthy little girl is a gift that would not have been possible without CHKD and the community that supports it. I truly believe there is no organization that provides a greater service to our community s families. Audrey is surely living proof of that. Thank you for caring about CHKD and families like mine. Sincerely, Beth Dembitz
LEAVING A LEGACY Audrey, pictured here at age 2, was diagnosed with cancer before she was born. FALL 2016 Beating the Odds Audrey Dembitz Survived Childhood Cancer With the Help of CHKD W eeks before she was even born, doctors found a tumor in Audrey Dembitz s abdomen. One week later, she was delivered via cesarean section and taken directly to the neonatal intensive care unit at CHKD where a team of specialists was waiting to save her life. At 6 days old, Audrey underwent major surgery to remove the tumor. Tests confirmed that she had neuroblastoma a rare childhood cancer and the disease had spread. Thanks to CHKD, Audrey is cancer-free today. She is pictured above with her mom, Beth Dembitz. After weeks of recovery in the hospital, Audrey was finally well enough to go home. But for the next several months, Beth and Chris Dembitz would need to bring Audrey to the Children s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center at CHKD regularly for treatment. During that time, tests revealed that nodules were growing under Audrey s skin, and her cancer stage was modified from stage 2B to stage 4S. The S stands for special, because in infants, neuroblastoma cells can sometimes spontaneously regress or die. Continued on Page 2 To learn more about the various ways you can support CHKD with a planned gift so that children like Audrey can get the care and treatment they need in the future, please contact us at (757) 668-7070.
An ultrasound turned happiness to worry for the parents of Audrey Dembitz. Beating the Odds Continued from Page 1 The S turned out to be a blessing for the Dembitz family. It meant she could qualify for a treatment plan that wouldn t have even been an option just a few years earlier. CHKD participates in cancer research, clinical trials and the Children s Oncology Group a collaborative research group dedicated to curing childhood cancer. Based on the most up-to-date research for her specific type of cancer, Audrey s oncologist suggested monitoring her progress with monthly tests to see whether the cancer would essentially go away on its own rather than having to resort to rounds of chemotherapy that could result in many long-term side effects. After a year of being closely monitored by CHKD s cancer team, Audrey s scans finally came back with the news everyone hoped for there was no evidence of cancer. Audrey still sees her oncologist once a year for follow-up tests to make sure the cancer hasn t returned. Thanks to the progressive course of treatment, she has no negative effects from her time fighting the disease. Five years later, the Dembitz family feels a strong sense of gratitude and connection to the team that saved their baby s life. The doctors and nurses at CHKD know my daughter. They genuinely smile as they greet her by name, cheering for her when she spoke her first words, took her first steps and headed off to kindergarten, says Beth. They are part of our family, and we are so thankful for CHKD every day. Gus, born weighing 1 pound, 3 ounces Beth Duke Legacy Society T he Beth Duke Legacy Society is a very special group of contributors who have committed to continue their support of CHKD through their estate plans. These donors will perpetuate the mission of CHKD and inspire others to do the same, bringing hope and healing to thousands of children just as Beth Duke did throughout her 45-year career with the hospital and continues to do today through her example. Please consider a gift through your will, charitable gift annuity, retirement account, life insurance, charitable remainder trust or one of many other planned giving options. For more information on how to become a member of this special group, please call (757) 668-7070. Plan for Your Future If you ve put off writing your will or solidifying your plans for the future, you re not alone. Return the enclosed survey for your free guide 7 Months to a Well-Planned Estate and How Do You Want to Be Remembered? to help you get started.
Lillian, age 12, a CHKD Kid mark your calendar! Time Is Running Out! Support CHKD Before Dec. 31 T his is the time of the year that most people give and receive. We know that your decision to support Children s Hospital of The King s Daughters comes from the heart. An added bonus is that your gift may also help you qualify for a tax break this year when you itemize deductions on your federal income tax return. Take a look below and mark your calendar so you can plan the timing of your gift for maximum tax benefits. 2016 Gift Deadlines Accomplish the following to ensure that your gift is eligible for a charitable deduction this year. 1] Cash Mail your check by Dec. 31. 2] Securities Complete the entire transfer of securities to us electronically so we receive them by Dec. 31. By making a donation today, you can help improve the health of local children. And as you search for the perfect gift for a loved one, remember that a year-end charitable gift in honor or memory of a loved one is deeply appreciated by us. See Your Benefits Depending on the gift arrangements you choose, you may:» reduce your income taxes» increase your spendable income» reduce or eliminate capital gains tax 3] Real Estate Deliver the executed deed by Dec. 31, in most states. Requires pre-approval. Discover Your Giving Options Contact us to find out how you can complete one or more of the three year-end giving options listed.
TA K E T H E N E X T S T E P Notify Your Beneficiaries 3 Tips to Protect Your Charitable Plan N aming a loved one or favorite charity such as CHKD as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement plan assets is a heartfelt way to make a future gift with lasting impact. Be sure to go one step further and notify those beneficiaries of the choices you ve made. Many people and charities aren t aware that they have been named to receive a gift. Informing them helps preserve your intentions and ensures that your beneficiaries are able to follow your wishes. Protect the people and charities you love by following these simple steps in naming your beneficiaries: Review your beneficiary designations periodically, as circumstances may change throughout your lifetime. Alert your beneficiaries that you have a life insurance policy or have named them as a beneficiary of a retirement plan. Share the location and details of the policy or plan with your beneficiaries. Logan, age 7, emergency neurosurgery As you update your beneficiary designations, consider making a gift of a life insurance policy or retirement plan to CHKD so that we can continue our important work. Then notify us of your decision so that we can carry out your wishes as intended and thank you for your gift. We Want to Hear From You If you have already named CHKD as beneficiary of a life insurance policy or retirement plan assets, please contact us at (757) 668-7070 today. If you are still creating your estate plan, we would be happy to answer any questions you may have about making this type of gift. Susan C. Carriker, Director of Planned Giving 601 Children s Lane Norfolk, VA 23507 (757) 668-7070 legacy@chkd.org You have the right to elect not to receive fundraising communications. If you do not wish to receive fundraising communications, call the CHKD development office at (757) 668-7070 and state that you do not want to receive fundraising communications. The Stelter Company. The information in this publication is not intended as legal or tax advice. For such advice, please consult an attorney or tax advisor. Figures cited in examples are for hypothetical purposes only and are subject to change. References to estate and income taxes include federal taxes only. State income/estate taxes or state law may impact your results.