Riley donations help save children’s lives

The Wells Center for Pediatric Research at Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health saves the lives of Hoosier children every day. As a father of three and a grandfather of eight, I understand the extraordinary role that Riley plays in Indianapolis and throughout the state of Indiana. Riley offers world-class pediatric health care and hope to families facing one of the worst situations imaginable: a sick or injured child who desperately needs a miracle. No child is ever turned away because of a lack of financial resources.

Why does hope happen at Riley? Because a remarkable group of dedicated physicians, researchers and donors have decided that every Hoosier child will have a chance to live their lives to their greatest potential. As a member of the Riley Children’s Foundation Board of Governors, I appreciate that it requires large investments in research. Fortunately, Hoosiers are a generous people. The Wells Center at Riley is supported in many forms, from schoolchildren’s lemonade stands on the Monon Trail to multimillion-dollar bequests from Indiana benefactor families.

As a research institute in partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley has distinguished itself as a leader in supporting new treatments and breakthroughs. Since opening in 1991, the Wells Center has grown from seven researchers to 300, and is now fourth in the nation in the number of children enrolled in therapeutic clinical trials.

I am reminded daily of the impact that research has made on the hospital’s ability to treat patients when I am presented with patient outcomes that would have never been possible even a decade ago. One such example is Parker Adams, a 12-year-old boy from Indianapolis who was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma when he was 10 years old. Parker benefited from the latest in pediatric research at Riley as he prepared for a stem cell transplant. Riley has the only pediatric stem cell transplant program in the state. The treatment allowed Parker to complete the necessary chemotherapy to achieve long-term health. Today, Parker is cancer-free and doing well.

Every dollar invested in research at the Wells Center at Riley leads to about $12 in federal grant support. In addition, gifts are used to recruit the passionate physicians and researchers who investigate treatments for childhood cancer, diabetes, heart defects, asthma and many other illnesses.

Riley Children’s Foundation will continue to partner with the Wells Center to pursue an aggressive program of research and clinical trials. The results of those trials will be applied to new treatments that will save the lives of children in all 92 Indiana counties, and from around the world.

I can imagine a day when, because of the work of researchers at the Wells Center at Riley Hospital for Children, most deadly childhood diseases are eradicated, and children with chronic conditions are able to live productive lives.

After all, hope happens here.

Jim Morris

Member, Riley Children’s Foundation Board of Governors