TTU Miracle Aiming to Make a Difference for Kids
Tennessee Tech students are aiming for a miracle to make a difference in the lives
of children at the Monroe Carell, Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Four years ago, the TTU Miracle organization committed to raising $100,000 for the
expansion of the pediatric and adolescent cancer floor, including a TTU Miracle Patient
Room. In April 2021, they completed that goal. Now the organization has committed
to raising another $100,000, this time for the first Pediatric Inpatient Rehabilitation
Facility in Tennessee.
“We are ecstatic to be one of the sponsors committed to the first Pediatric Inpatient
Rehabilitation Facility, it is a vital facility,” president of TTU Miracle Rachel
Kurtsinger said.
Currently, the closest program available for inpatient pediatric rehab is at Children’s
of Atlanta Healthcare. Rehabilitation can last weeks or months, putting strain on
families – emotionally, physically and financially. Ensuring patients are near their
established health care team and close to their support systems would help ease the
burden on families.
Throughout the year TTU Miracle hosts various events and fundraisers around campus
to raise awareness and funds to help change kids’ health. The organization’s main
event is the Miracle Network Dance Marathon, scheduled for April 2, 2022.
The Dance Marathon consists of hundreds of participants spending an entire day commemorating
the fight children go through during their time spent at Vanderbilt. During the 12-hour
event, participants dance, play games and try to push their fundraising efforts to
the max. At the end of the event TTU Miracle leaders reveal their total fundraising
efforts for the year.
“This is the one event of the year that’s completely centered around the celebration
of the hard work that goes into raising money for this cause and the amazing effort
our hospital staff puts into saving kids lives,” she said. “There is truly no other
day like Dance Marathon, and we are so thankful to our Tech community that makes it
so successful each year.”
Due to COVID-19, there have been construction delays at the hospital. Thus, projects
such as the TTU Miracle Patient Room have not been completed yet. Kurtsinger said
that the hospital is slowly resuming construction projects where it is safe to do
so, and updates will be provided as they’re available.
For more ways on how you can help local children at the Children’s Miracle Network
Hospital, visit the fundraising events page..