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 https://events.dancemarathon.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=4954.