Latest news with #Children'sHospitalColorado
CBS News
20-05-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Children's Hospital Colorado hosts prom for teens facing serious illnesses: "a normal experience they deserve"
Teens living with life-threatening or life-limiting illnesses were treated to a magical evening Friday at Coors Field as Children's Hospital Colorado hosted its annual prom event. It was complete with glam, gowns, glow sticks, and unforgettable memories. CBS For many of these teens, traditional high school milestones can feel out of reach due to medical conditions. But on this night, the only thing they had to worry about was dancing the night away. "This prom is an event to normalize children's experience for teens," said Courtney Miller, a child life specialist at Children's Hospital Colorado. "We know that some of these kids don't get to go to their school proms because they might have medical needs, so we get to host this event for them. It's a night for them to build connection and just have a normal experience they deserve." The event welcomed patients aged 13 to 19 who have been seen at Children's Hospital Colorado in Aurora within the past year, along with one guest of their choosing. More than 120 teens were expected to attend. The theme this year: Glow, encouraging kids to shine as brightly as they deserve. Jenna White, mother of 14-year-old Preston, said the night meant more than just a dance. "Preston was in an accident in 2016 that left him totally disabled. He's still fighting to be here and jump through every hurdle that comes his way," she said. "As a mom, I worried he wouldn't get to do the things we see our kids grow up to do, like go to prom." Preston communicates by blinking, and Jenna said she knew he was having fun "because he'll be smiling. He keeps blinking that he wants to go. He's excited and happy." He arrived in a sharp jacket that stole the spotlight. CBS "It's not just for the kids -- parents connect, too. Some of these caregivers meet others who truly understand what they're going through," said Miller. Hair and makeup were provided by Aveda stylists, who volunteered their time to help the teens feel beautiful. Eighteen-year-old Tatum Spiegelberg knows just how special this event is. Homeschooled due to her complex health conditions, this was her third and final hospital prom. "I've been sick since I was eight," she explained. "The main thing is, I had a bone marrow transplant for something called Trisomy 8 - it's really rare. I also had blood cancer before the transplant." Tatum described how her illnesses impact her daily life, like being able to go to school. CBS "It's really amazing because I see all the posts of other kids going to their proms or graduation parties. I've always wanted that life, and I don't get the normal life. So when I first got invited to hospital prom, I cried," she said. Dressed in a gown passed down from her sister, Tatum looked radiant. "It fit me perfectly," she said with a smile. "Honestly, I think this is better than a normal prom. 100%." For teens like Tatum and Preston, this night was a celebration not just of youth, but of resilience and joy.
CBS News
09-04-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Colorado health care providers fight to save community health workers program from budget axe
More than two dozen health care organizations are urging Colorado lawmakers debating the budget to spare a program that they say will save the state money. The Community Health Workers Program helps connect patients with non-profits that assist with food, housing, transportation and other non-clinical needs. The goal is to prevent patients from needing public assistance. The program, which was set to begin in July, costs nearly $3 million in state general fund dollars and $8 million in federal dollars. Children's Hospital Colorado is one of 25 organizations urging lawmakers to keep the program. "Not only is it the right thing to do for kids, and for other patients and families, it saves money in the current budget year. And so, if they're looking to make cuts in a difficult year, this is the one thing you don't want to cut," said Zach Zaslow with Children's Hospital Colorado. The Joint Budget Committee eliminated funding for the program due to a $1.2 billion budget shortfall. "If this is something that is that important to hospitals, why aren't they funding it? Why aren't they bringing in individuals to make sure that families and children are getting the resources that they need or directing them to the resources they need? We have case workers in social service programs, so it seemed duplication and it wan an additional $3 million that, quite frankly, we just don't have," said Senator Barb Kirkmeyer, who sits on the Budget Committee. While the senate restored money for the program, a house committee cut it again. The budget is now before the full house where lawmakers could amend it again to fund the program. They are expected to take an initial vote on the budget today.
Yahoo
21-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Children's Hospital plans to restart gender-affirming care as Colorado joins lawsuit against executive order
DENVER (KDVR) — Weeks after Denver Health announced it was pausing gender-affirming care to LGBTQIA people under 19 years old, citing the potential to lose its federal funding, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser announced the state is joining a lawsuit aimed at invalidating the executive order that threatened such funding. The executive order issued by President Donald Trump, signed Jan. 28, is part of a push to reverse Biden administration policies meant to protect transgender people and their care. It ordered agencies to take steps to make sure that hospitals receiving federal research and education grants 'end the chemical and surgical mutilation of children.' 'Should not be happening': IRS workers in Denver let go in Trump administration's mass layoffs Thursday The order was temporarily blocked on Feb. 14 by a federal judge, who said the executive order 'blatantly discriminated against trans youth.' 'The White House executive order is not only illegal, but also cruel,' Weiser said in a release on Wednesday. 'I've met with health care providers and parents, and they fear that if the executive order is allowed to stand, it will result in irreversible physical and mental health harms for transgender youth. 'Parents, in consultation with trusted medical providers, know what is best for their child and should have the option to seek the care their child needs to live their best lives,' Weiser continued. 'Gender-affirming care is legally protected health care in Colorado, and with this lawsuit Colorado hospitals will again be free to provide critical care.' Weiser said that it's not just Denver Health that paused gender-affirming care: The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus stopped providing puberty-delaying medications and hormone therapy to patients who had been evaluated but had not yet started those therapies. 'Denying access to medical care that is known to be safe and effective threatens the ability of transgender youth to thrive socially and academically,' Weiser argued in his office's release. 'Their marginalization will exacerbate dysphoria, mood symptoms, and ultimately may cause some previously stable transgender youth to attempt suicide, according to medical professionals.' On Thursday, Children's Hospital Colorado, which is housed on the CU Anschutz Medical Campus, said it was aware of the state joining the federal lawsuit filed by the state of Washington. 'Children's Hospital Colorado believes that families know what is best for their child,' the hospital told FOX31 on Thursday. 'Every family should have the right to access expert medical care to support their child's well-being, including gender-diverse youth. Because of the executive order issued on Jan. 28, we were forced to modify our model of gender-affirming medical care for patients under 19 years of age.' 'Real and immediate consequences for Colorado's economy': Legislators react to reports of US Forest Service mass layoff The hospital noted that the temporary restraining order was provided to the states that had been involved in the case at the time — Washington, Oregon and Minnesota. 'When the court extends the temporary restraining order to Colorado, Children's Hospital Colorado will plan to resume gender-affirming medical care, including puberty-blocking and hormone-based care on Feb. 24,' Children's Hospital Colorado told FOX31. 'We are in the process of notifying affected families who depend on us for care.' The hospital added that it continues to assess the rapidly changing legal and medical landscapes of the U.S., and will provide the highest-quality specialty pediatric care 'within the scope of the law.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
13-02-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Children's Hospital Colorado hosts annual Cares for Kids radiothon
Children's Hospital Colorado and Alice 105.9 are teaming up for the annual Cares for Kids Radiothon, a daylong event dedicated to sharing stories of hope and healing while raising funds for pediatric care. The radiothon kicked off at 6 a.m. and will run until 6 p.m. Thursday, with every donation supporting Children's Hospital Colorado's mission to provide the best possible care for young patients. "We are serving a seven-state region. We're seeing kids from truly all over the country We have experts in a lot of our specialties and we are fueled by philanthropy in that way and we can't do what we do here without the really generous giving that happens from our community," said Kacie Merrick, a spokesperson for the Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation. "We want to emphasize that we stay local here and that all of the dollars come straight here." Listeners tuning in to Alice 105.9 on Thursday will hear powerful stories -- from healing broken bones to treating pediatric cancer -- highlighting the hospital's impact. Each year, Children's Hospital Colorado cares for more than 284,000 children, more than any other hospital in the seven-state region. By donating, supporters help give families hope and help children live healthier lives. To contribute, call 720-777-1059 or click here.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Families of Colorado transgender children struggle with lost care in wake of Trump order
() Denver resident Leslie Williams' daughter, who is transgender, turned 18 in December, something she had been looking forward to given the lessened restrictions on access to gender-affirming care for adults. Williams and her family moved to Denver from Kentucky in 2023 so her daughter could access hormone replacement therapy, and they've gone to Children's Hospital Colorado since she was 16 years old. She takes estrogen tablets and gets regular lab testing to ensure proper levels. 'It took a while for us to get in, but since then everything's gone very smoothly,' Williams said. 'The physicians have been wonderful. Everybody was wonderful. We had a really good experience there every time we've been.' Williams said she received a message from the hospital this week notifying her they can no longer provide gender-affirming care to anyone under 19 years old. 'She's really been struggling a lot lately,' Williams said. 'The last two weeks have been really rough, and then getting the notification that her care is going to be possibly suspended or delayed has been a really big blow to her.' Colorado Newsline, confirming the message Williams received, obtained a memo that Children's Hospital Colorado sent to staffers telling them that the hospital had stopped offering all gender-affirming medical treatment to patients 18 years old and younger. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Jan. 28 that prohibits the federal government from funding gender-affirming care for anyone under 19 and threatens to pull other funding from any entity that offers such care. It also removes Medicare and Medicaid coverage for gender-affirming care, among other changes. Gender-affirming care, endorsed by both the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, can range from non-medical interventions like haircuts and name changes to services like hormone therapy and surgery to support the patient's gender identity. Access to gender-affirming care has made a 'big difference' for her daughter's self esteem and the way she perceives herself, Williams said. She said she's scrambling now to find another solution since other clinics are also shutting down access for anyone under 19, and anyone that does offer care has long wait times. 'It's just really sad to see,' Williams said. 'Trans kids already have to go through a lot and they already have higher than normal suicide rates, and so it's just a really scary time for trans people.' Children's Hospital Colorado said in a statement it will continue to provide 'behavioral health and supportive care services once approved prescriptions for current patients expire.' The hospital never offered gender-affirming surgical care to patients under 18. 'Like other hospitals across the country, we will continue to assess the rapidly evolving healthcare landscape,' the hospital statement said. 'We care deeply about our gender-diverse patients and their families, and we will carefully and responsibly support them as we evolve the model of care we offer.' Colorado organizations that support transgender people saw an increased need for service following the election. The Trevor Project, a crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ youth, saw a 700% volume increase on Nov. 6, the day after the election, than in the weeks prior. In 2023, the organization found that 90% of LGBTQ+ youth felt that the current political environment negatively affects their well-being. Trans kids already have to go through a lot and they already have higher than normal suicide rates, and so it's just a really scary time for trans people. – Denver resident Leslie Williams Broomfield resident Jessica Broadbent's 15-year-old son is transgender and has gone to Denver Health for gender-affirming care since he was 12. The first step in his transition was changing his name, a decision Broadbent said he came to all on his own. 'This has been all him making these decisions and me just kind of helping support him along the way and getting all the professional help that we can,' Broadbent said. 'It's been some time, and he's made these decisions slowly, surely and with informed and professional input. So it's really frustrating on all levels.' Her son started taking puberty blockers, and switched to weekly testosterone shots once he turned 14. He recently switched to a daily testosterone cream instead, because he has a fear of needles. TransLifeline provides a hotline run by peers for transgender people, at (877) 565-8860. Broadbent said she's scared for how her son will be affected should he lose access to his medications, as gender-affirming care has been 'life changing' for him. She has had 'some very disheartening conversations' with her son in recent weeks, and she's worried more about the mental and emotional consequences than the physical effects if he loses access to his medication. 'It's frustrating having my kid feeling like he has to suppress who he is, what he believes in, hide to be safe,' Broadbent said. Denver Health stopped providing some gender-affirming care this week, the Denver Post reported. The health system said in a Jan. 30 statement that the Trump order 'includes criminal and financial consequences for those who do not comply' and puts at risk its ability to participate in federal programs like Medicare and Medicaid, which represents 'a significant portion of Denver Health's funding.' 'Denver Health is committed to and deeply concerned for the health and safety of our gender diverse patients under the age of 19 in light of the executive order regarding youth gender-affirming care,' the statement says. 'We recognize this order will impact gender-diverse youth, including increased risk of depression, anxiety and suicidality.' Existing patients should continue with any scheduled appointments, and Denver Health will work privately with its patients to determine the best changes to their medical care, the statement said. Shelby Wieman, a spokesperson for Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, said the governor wants to ensure 'every Coloradan can access the healthcare they need, no matter who they are or how they identify.' 'We are continuing to evaluate Trump's executive order, which blatantly attacks members of the LGBTQ community, to understand its impact in Colorado and how people can continue to get access to needed care,' Wieman said in a statement. Williams said she's seen the governor talk about 'protecting trans kids and protecting trans folks in Colorado, and I don't know how much they can really do when it's federal funding that's being cut.' But she wants to see elected officials talk more about how they can actually make a difference. UCHealth spokesperson Kelli Christensen said the system has only offered gender-affirming care to patients 18 and older, but after the executive order, it will only offer services to patients 19 and older. That includes gender-affirming surgeries as well as medical therapies listed in the executive order. 'We know these changes may be challenging, especially for 18-year-old patients previously approved for gender affirming care, and behavioral health services will be available to help support our patients as they navigate these changes,' Christensen said in a statement. A spokesperson for AdventHealth said it does not offer gender-affirming care to anyone under 18. HCA HealthONE hospitals also do not offer gender-affirming care. Spokesperson Stephanie Sullivan said its physicians would consult with patients, but they don't offer any treatments. Broadbent said she plans to talk to her son's doctor about getting a three-month supply of his medication before the end of the month. She is also looking for other providers that might be able to prescribe his testosterone cream without putting access to federal funding at risk. 'It's kind of putting us all up against the wall,' Broadbent said. 'I didn't expect it so soon.' Being in Colorado where 'it's supposed to be safe,' Broadbent said she thought the state would be 'somewhat insulated,' though not immune to pressure from the federal government. She and her family moved to Colorado from Florida eight years ago. 'Part of the appeal of being here is the access to care. It's part of why we paid more to live here,' she said. Broadbent and her husband are ready to pack up everything they have and leave the country if that's ultimately what will be best for their children. But her son is a freshman in high school, and he wants to finish school, where he's already established roots. Colorado officials need to acknowledge what is happening and to work actively to protect their constituents, Broadbent said. She called the office of U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette's, a Denver Democrat, and the office shared information on efforts to fight the executive order, a conversation Broadbent said gave her 'a little bit of hope.' In a statement to Newsline, DeGette described the executive order as 'cruel' and said it 'ignores the fact that this kind of care is supported by every major medical association.' She said executive actions like the ones Trump has taken do not have the authority to override the U.S. Constitution, legal precedent, or federal statute. 'Trump's actions, which are not based on science or accepted medical practice, are demonizing an already vulnerable group of Americans and denying them the care they need to live as their true selves,' DeGette said. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, a Democrat who is running for governor in 2026, joined a group of other attorneys general in opposing the executive order Wednesday. An executive order from the president cannot make gender-affirming care illegal, because there is no federal law that does, Weiser said in a statement. The statement said a U.S. Justice Department order last week stated that federal agencies cannot pause financial awards or obligations on the basis of an executive order, meaning 'federal funding to institutions that provide gender-affirming care continues to be available, irrespective of the recent executive order.' 'As state attorneys general, we stand firmly in support of health care policies that respect the dignity and rights of all people,' the statement says. 'Health care decisions should be made by patients, families, and doctors, not by politicians trying to use their power to restrict freedoms. Gender-affirming care is essential, life-saving medical treatment that supports individuals in living as their authentic selves.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
