By Ola Stepien
Marion Rice, Eleni Griesemer, Alicia Waters, Dr. Alan Nugent, Mimi Murley, Dr. Aimen Shaaban and Maureen Seaman (from left to right)
More than 350 guests gathered and raised more than half a million dollars during the Winter Wishes: Holiday Cocktail Celebration co-chaired by Alicia Waters, Mimi Murley, Marion Rice and Eleni Griesemer, hosted by the Founders’ Board of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital and presented by Sterling Bay and others.
Alicia Waters, one of the evening’s co-chairs
Clare Butterfield (left) and Carla Land (right) from the Christopher Family Foundation, one of the event’s leading sponsors
Dr. Anne Boat (left) and Annette Shaaban (right)
Dr. Juan Espinoza (left) and Dr. Tom Inge (right)
The money raised will go towards the Board’s two-year commitment of $4.5 million to support the Lurie Children’s Heart Center and Lurie’s dedicated nursing staff. Proceeds will also go to The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health. In addition, donors who attended the event contributed gifts from a Wish List during the event, including items and services to help launch a Fetal Cardiac Intervention program to provide life-saving treatment for babies diagnosed with complex congenital heart disease before birth.
Dr. Alan Nugent (left) and Dr. Aimen Shaaban (right)
Renowned physicians and medical leaders, Dr. Aimen Shaaban, the Director of The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health and an Attending Physician in Pediatric Surgery, and Dr. Alan Nugent, Section Head of Interventional Cardiac Catheterization, shared their visions for the future of fetal cardiac intervention during the event.
Dr. Aimen Shaaban
Dr. Shaaban highlighted the tremendous growth in consultations on complicated pregnancies, from 600 consultations six years ago to more than 3,000 this year, that The Chicago Institute of Fetal Health program and Lurie Children’s Hospital provide.
Dr. Alan Nugent
Sisters of Lurie’s patient Julian supporting their mother as she shared their family’s story
Afterward, Dr. Nugent introduced Rosa Baron, the mother of Julian, who received life-saving care and compassion at Lurie Children’s Hospital when he was born over a year ago.
Haritha Dukkipati (left) and Noreen Shaikh (right) with friend (center)
Mimi Murley (left), Dr. Tom Shanley (center) and Maureen Shanley (right)
Maureen Seaman, Founders’ Board President, then provided closing remarks.
Praveen (left) and Haritha Dukkipati (right)
Dr. Shanley (left) and Dr. Sheetal Patel (right)
Photo credit: Robin Subar Photography
