Latest news with #AkronChildren'sHospital
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Local families head to DC to fight Medicaid cuts
CLEVELAND (WJW) — As the battle over the proposed budget bill continues in the nation's capital, local families are preparing to go to Washington to meet directly with lawmakers to advocate for the preservation of Medicaid. The U.S. House of Representatives has already passed the sweeping budget bill that reportedly cuts $600 billion from Medicaid and would eventually reduce enrollment by millions. Missing 7-year-old paddleboarder found, and he only had one question New Franklin mother Wendy Wilson is planning to go to Washington with her daughter Mia, 14, representing University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital. Since birth, Mia has had a critical heart defect called Ebstein's anomaly. Wendy said she wasn't able to be repaired, meaning her heart is not fixed. More than once she was at risk of dying. Although she does enjoy activities including boating, going to concerts and just having fun, Mia is on a daily routine that includes breathing treatments twice a day, feeding tubes and about 40 doses of medication every day. Her mother left her work when Mia was young so she could care for her. Her father has a good job with insurance, but Mia's condition keeps them from getting any other insurance. 'I haven't checked recently, but the last time I checked, it was around $5,000 a month for just her medicine,' said Wendy. That does not include all of the additional costs. They qualified for assistance through Medicaid through a state program that picks up a large portion of the cost. Without it, Wendy said they could be at risk of losing their home. Akron Children's Hospital will be represented in Akron by Stephanie Hill of Twinsburg and her 2-year-old daughter Amaiyah. At 17 months old, Amaiyah accidentally swallowed some baby oil while she was taking a bath. Although it did not immediately show signs of significantly impacting the toddler, within a short time, she started to experience breathing problems and was eventually admitted to Akron Children's Hospital where she spent 152 days. During that time, her condition became so serious that there was consideration of Amaiyah needing a double lung transplant. 'As we were waiting to hear back from her insurance, we got word that they denied it, but that very same day was the day she started getting better and better,' said Stephanie. In February, Amaiyah was released from the hospital. On Friday — having celebrated her second birthday just this week — she appeared to have suffered no ill effects from that episode. Without Medicaid, she may not have had access to the health care that helped her recover. Remains found in search for missing teen last seen at airport Chris Gessner, CEO of Akron Children's Hospital, said about 54% of the patients at his hospital are helped by Medicaid, which he believes is about the norm across the state. 'I think its been proven, evidence-based, that kids who have access to high quality health care services do much better long-term and and the Medicaid program is wonderful from a benefit perspective in terms of what it covers,' Gessner said. 'It would be a real problem for us. I mean, with over half of our business with Medicaid, we pay a lot of attention when they start talking about Medicaid cuts,' Gessner told FOX 8 News. 'From my perspective, we understand the need to balance the budget and be responsible with resources, but we really don't want to see that done by cutting into the future of our country — our kids' health,' he added. As the debate over Medicaid cuts continues in Washington, he hopes federal lawmakers understand how the program has a direct impact on the welfare of young lives. When discussing the budget bill, President Donald Trump has defended the need to make cuts to Medicaid. 'The only thing we are cutting is waste, fraud and abuse from Medicaid,' Trump said, discussing his 'big beautiful bill' on May 30. Among the lawmakers who the Hill family knows they will be speaking with directly is Ohio's Republican Sen. Jon Husted, who was appointed to fill the term of now Vice President J.D. Vance. FOX 8 News reached out to Husted's office on Wednesday and was sent a written statement which reads: 'We need to save Medicaid. And saving Medicaid means you have to make it financially sustainable. We want to make sure that children, people with disabilities and the people who are really in need have this program available to them. To do that, able-bodied, healthy Americans without dependents have to give back to their communities in return for the benefits they're getting. America has a $36 trillion national debt, so we have to be smart about finding savings in order to protect these programs.' Participating in a Democratic news conference about Medicaid on May 20, U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown of Cleveland said she will do everything within her power to preserve the program. 'In my state of Ohio, the state government has already said that if these cuts are enacted under state law, they would end the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion in our state, so what does that mean? It means 770,000 people will lose their health care. That's an entire congressional district in just one state. This is suffering on a massive scale and it's going to hurt people of all backgrounds,' said Brown. Sobriety checkpoints Friday: Here's where in Northeast Ohio Next week's trip to Washington, D.C., is sponsored by the Children's Hospital Association, an organization that represents 150 hospitals across the country. It is an annual trip the organization schedules each year, giving each member hospital the opportunity to nominate one family as their representative. Among the other things for which they are advocating is access to pediatric hospitals, which Gessner said is particularly concerning in many rural areas of the country. They will also be advocating for what they describe as the 'growing youth mental health crisis.' But for Medicaid, the Northeast Ohio families that are going hope they can show firsthand how important the program has been for them. 'We have good insurance and it's still just not enough. With the health care costs and the way the policies run, [Mia] can't get insurance anywhere else,' said Wilson. 'Mia's never gone without something that she needed, but I also realize that's not the case for everybody. 'Thank God we are in a position where we are surrounded by a community that literally has helped us pay for these things when we didn't have coverage — but not everybody is in that position.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Ohio officials address community shocked by teen's deadly parade accident
Summit County Sheriff Kandy Fatheree said May 27 that her office is investigating the death of a teen boy after he fell from a float in Green's Memorial Day Parade May 26. The sheriff said during a news conference at the Green Central Administration building that 13-year-old Matthew Schultz was one of seven youths riding on a trailer in the float. It was pulled by a Ford truck along Massillon Road South. In Matthew's fall, he was struck by tires and taken to Akron Children's Hospital, she said. "The truck and trailer were nearing the end of the parade," she said. The investigation is looking into Matthew's fall from the float. "Was there anything that may have occurred that caused him to fall?" she asked "Was there anyone around him?" Green Mayor Rocco Yeargin said the city is reviewing its policies on parades after the incident. "Yesterday," he said, "the unthinkable happened." Yeargin said he spoke briefly with Matthew's family after the incident. "I am grateful for the support our community has shown for the Schultz family," he said. Danielle Paciorek, a friend of the Schultz family, said they are asking for time to deal with the tragedy. "They are holding on tightly to memories, their faith and community...." she said. A GoFundMe page started to help Matthew's family can be reached at By early afternoon May 27, more than $12,600 had been raised. The GoFundMe can also be reached at the City of Green website. Fatheree and Yeargin also asked that the family be given privacy. "Please let them be at home alone," Fatheree said. "Give them the space that they need." Leave a message for Alan Ashworth at 330-996-3859 or email him at aashworth@ Follow him on Twitter at @newsalanbeaconj or Facebook at This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio parade accident that killed Matthew Schultz to be investigated
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
13-year-old Lake Township boy killed in Green Memorial Day parade identified
The Summit County Medical Examiner's office has identified the 13-year-old boy from Lake Township who was killed May 26 while participating in the Green Memorial Day parade as Matthew Schultz. Matthew was reportedly riding on a trailer that was being pulled by a pickup truck at about 11:23 a.m. when he fell off the front and was subsequently struck by its wheels. The Green Fire Department, who was already on the site for the parade, transported Matthew to the Akron Children's Hospital where he was pronounced dead at 12:04 p.m. He was a seventh grader in North Canton City Schools. The Summit County Sheriff's Office as well as the Summit Metro Crash team are investigating the incident. This story has been updated. Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@ or on Twitter @athompsonABJ This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Matthew Schultz killed in Green Memorial Day parade accident
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Tragic accident' as 13 year-old boy dies falling from Memorial Day float
A 13-year-old boy was killed after falling from a Memorial Day parade float in Ohio on Monday in a tragic accident, local authorities have said. The teen in question was one of several people riding on a trailer pulled by a Ford F-150 pickup truck as part of the parade to remember America's servicemen and women in the town of Green on Monday morning when he fell from the front of the platform and was crushed by its rear tires, according to the Summit County Sheriff's Office. He sustained severe injuries and was raced to Akron Children's Hospital by the Green Fire Department, who were already on the scene, only to be pronounced dead on arrival, the emergency services said in a statement of their own. The boy has not been named but is understood to be from North Canton. The sheriff's office said the incident remains under investigation and offered its 'sincere condolences and prayers' to the boy's family. 'We didn't really know what was going on and then word got to us through a friend of ours that there was an accident,' one attendee told a local ABC News affiliate. 'It was just instant sorrow, it just… really, kind of, deflated the joy of the situation, you know? It's just sad.' Rocco Yeargin, the town's mayor, said: 'Our hearts go out to the family at this time of terrible loss, we look to support them as a Green community any way that we can. 'Our school district has reached out to the school district of North Canton to offer counselors that will be in action to help their students walk through this issue.' The North Canton City Schools District said in its own statement: 'We are deeply saddened to have been informed of the passing of one of our North Canton City Schools students. 'There is no greater tragedy than the death of a young person, and we offer our sincere condolences and support to the family. 'Our crisis management team is taking action and will provide counselors and support to students and staff throughout the district grieving this tragic loss. 'To respect the privacy of the family and the ongoing Summit County Sheriff's Office investigation, that is all the information we have to share at this time.'
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
‘Tragic accident' as 13 year-old boy dies falling from Memorial Day float
A 13-year-old boy was killed after falling from a Memorial Day parade float in Ohio on Monday in a tragic accident, local authorities have said. The teen in question was one of several people riding on a trailer pulled by a Ford F-150 pickup truck as part of the parade to remember America's servicemen and women in the town of Green on Monday morning when he fell from the front of the platform and was crushed by its rear tires, according to the Summit County Sheriff's Office. He sustained severe injuries and was raced to Akron Children's Hospital by the Green Fire Department, who were already on the scene, only to be pronounced dead on arrival, the emergency services said in a statement of their own. The boy has not been named but is understood to be from North Canton. The sheriff's office said the incident remains under investigation and offered its 'sincere condolences and prayers' to the boy's family. 'We didn't really know what was going on and then word got to us through a friend of ours that there was an accident,' one attendee told a local ABC News affiliate. 'It was just instant sorrow, it just… really, kind of, deflated the joy of the situation, you know? It's just sad.' Rocco Yeargin, the town's mayor, said: 'Our hearts go out to the family at this time of terrible loss, we look to support them as a Green community any way that we can. 'Our school district has reached out to the school district of North Canton to offer counselors that will be in action to help their students walk through this issue.' The North Canton City Schools District said in its own statement: 'We are deeply saddened to have been informed of the passing of one of our North Canton City Schools students. 'There is no greater tragedy than the death of a young person, and we offer our sincere condolences and support to the family. 'Our crisis management team is taking action and will provide counselors and support to students and staff throughout the district grieving this tragic loss. 'To respect the privacy of the family and the ongoing Summit County Sheriff's Office investigation, that is all the information we have to share at this time.'
