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As an avid soccer player, Sarah saw her fair share of doctors growing up. However, it wasn’t until she was diagnosed with celiac disease, an autoimmune disease affecting how the body ingests gluten, that she became passionate about healthcare. “I couldn’t figure out what was going on,” Sarah said. “I was getting sick, and my symptoms were getting worse.” Thankfully, after seeing a handful of doctors, she was on the path to recovery.  “I remember being so relieved, and still am! Now I can focus on getting better,” said Sarah. The most important change people make after being diagnosed with celiac disease is the shift to a gluten-free diet. For many, Sarah included, living gluten-free is a lifestyle change. Thankfully, Sarah sees significant improvements in her health after adjusting her diet. “No one should just accept their symptoms as part of life,” said Sarah. Her increased awareness of health and nutrition motivated Sarah to study biology at the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR). “I want to be a pediatrician so I can help patients, especially kids, figure out treatment plans.” said Sarah who credits her experience living with celiac disease as her inspiration. Dancing for Kids’ Health Currently a senior at UNR, Sarah is a member of Phi Delta Epsilon, a co-ed international medical fraternity. Together with her classmates, she is bringing new energy and ideas to philanthropy. Sarah and the members of Phi Delta Epsilon are doing things differently and in many ways redefining what it means to give. This year, they are on a mission to raise funds for kids’ health at Renown Children’s Hospital. And they are doing this by dancing. The UNR Dance Marathon is part of the Miracle Network Dance Marathon, a student-led, year-round philanthropic movement that unites students across the United States and Canada. Collectively, they raise critical funds for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. And Renown Children’s Hospital is our northern Nevada CMN partner hospital. Since 1991, over 400 college campuses and thousands of students have raised $300 million for kids. Sarah is the executive director of UNR’s chapter. “So far this year we’ve already raised $10,000 for Renown," said Sarah. Most of the fundraising happens on the day of the dance marathon. But throughout the school year, students hold mini fundraisers on campus and in the community. One hundred percent of the funds raised stay local, impacting Renown’s youngest patients. For every dollar donated, 18% helps provide charitable care, 15% goes to life-saving equipment, 12% supports medical research and 55% provides education, patient services and advancement services. “It's inspiring that we banded together to help kids in our community,” said Sarah. Last year they raised over $18,000. They are hoping to exceed that number at this year’s dance marathon in April.

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Renown Health Foundation and local community members raised over $1,000,000 at a charity concert with The Beach Boys and special guest NFL legend Steve Young, on Sunday, June 5, at Montreux Golf and Country Club. The event benefits the construction of Sophie’s Place, a new dedicated music therapy room coming to Renown Children’s Hospital. Over 500 donors attended the inaugural event hosted by radio personality Wink Martindale. The Beach Boys front man Mike Love, a Nevada resident, generously auctioned off two once-in-a-lifetime, private concerts bringing in $300,000. Steve Young auctioned off a Monday Night Football package and ZLINE Kitchen and Bath auctioned off a kitchen remodel. The proceeds raised will be transformative for Sophie’s Place and will impact children in our community for years to come. “I’m thankful to Renown and other children’s hospitals that are dedicating space, precious space, for Sophie’s Place,” says Steve Young, founder of Forever Young Foundation and co-founder of Sophie’s Place. View photos from the event here.   What is Sophie’s Place? Sophie’s Place is a dedicated music therapy room in children’s hospitals across the country. Founded by the Forever Young Foundation and former San Francisco 49'ers quarterback, Steve Young, they provide a comprehensive music and healing arts program. Established in loving memory of musician Sophie Barton, the first Sophie’s Place opened in 2013 at Primary Children’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. Additional locations include Sutter Children’s Center in Sacramento, CA., Cardon Children’s Medical Center in Mesa, AZ., Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital in Palo Alto, CA., and Brenner Children's Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC. Renown Children’s Hospital will be the next location to break ground and will provide our youngest patients with a state-of-the-art music room. It will be the first of its kind in our community. “Sophie’s Place is a wonderful addition to what a hospital has to offer,” says Dr. Max Coppes, Pediatrics Chair, UNRSOM. Where will Sophie’s Place be Located? Sophie’s Place at Renown Children’s Hospital will be located on the ground floor of the Sierra Tower, next to The John & Sue Dermody Children’s Healing Garden. The family-centered space is designed for children to enjoy the healing aspects of music and encourage creativity and expression during their stay. “We really wanted kids to feel like they’re not in the hospital. It’s a place where they can escape,” says Barb Young, Founder of Forever Young Foundation and Co-founder of Sophie’s Place. The room includes a performance space, recording studio, musical instruments, editing software and an art and play area. “When you walk into a Sophie’s Place, you really feel like you’ve left the hospital and walked into a cool coffee shop,” says Sterling Tanner, President, Executive Director, Forever Young Foundation. How You Can Help Make a Difference Renown Health is focused on being the destination for all your family’s health and healthcare needs. As a not-for-profit health system, Renown relies heavily on community funding. If you are interested in supporting Sophie’s Place at Renown Children’s Hospital, please consider giving to Renown Health Foundation. Make a gift at renown.org/give Call Renown Health Foundation at 775-982-5545 Mail a check to Renown Health Foundation, 1155 Mill St., 02, Reno, NV 89502

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Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression linked to seasonal changes. Learn to recognize the symptoms of SAD in your kids (or yourself) should they appear. We checked in with Dr. Vanessa Slots, the Division Chief of General Pediatrics at Renown to help us understand this condition. 1. Blame SAD on the sun—or the lack of it Seasonal Affective Disorder is a more severe form of the “winter blues. Over-sleeping, feeling irritable or unhappy, and withdrawing from people are classic symptoms of SAD. Approximately 90 percent of people with SAD experience depressive symptoms yearly in the fall and winter, while about 10 percent have depression in the spring and summer. The causes of SAD aren’t explicitly known. Still, researchers believe it’s related to a change in circadian rhythms, with differences in the amount of sunlight during different times of the year as one factor. 2. The further north you live, the more common SAD becomes While Seasonal Affective Disorder is predominantly an adult condition, estimates are that one million children in North America have it. Interestingly, SAD does not occur in the tropics. 3. SAD is more recognizable in adults than in children Common symptoms include feeling “empty,” pessimistic, hopeless, short-tempered, restless and not knowing what to do with oneself. Symptoms vary greatly from one individual to the next. SAD is more common in women than in men. When symptoms are severe, physical examinations are required to rule out other medical causes and determine whether antidepressant medication is needed. 4. In teenagers, symptoms tend to revolve around school-related issues Schoolwork suffers, students have difficulty getting up in the morning and arriving late for class, homework is incomplete, and grades may plummet. Afflicted students have difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions. They lose interest in activities that they previously enjoyed. Some teenagers tend to overeat, crave carbohydrates such as pasta and gain weight. Many teachers, school counselors and therapists should be more familiar with Seasonal Affective Disorder.

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