HEART OF A
champion
mahalo to all
for helping us grow!
14-YEAR-OLD JULIE KOBAYASHI WAKES UP GRATEFUL FOR EVERY NEW DAY.
JUST THREE YEARS AGO, JULIE WAS GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE
WHEN SHE WAS BROUGHT TO KAPI‘OLANI MEDICAL CENTER FOR WOMEN
& CHILDREN.
Now Julie has a fully functioning
new heart. She is focusing on enjoying
life as a teenager and getting back to
the things she loves, including playing
the clarinet, lion dancing, playing
Julie’s heart was pumping at less
drawing. But she is especially proud
She was transferred to Kapi‘olani’s
to be named the 2016 Children’s Miracle
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for
Network Hospitals Champion for
stabilization. After a series of trials
Hawai‘i.
and tests, the staff determined that
“I am honored to represent the
she was experiencing heart failure
Children’s Miracle Network and
and needed a heart transplant.
Kapi‘olani,” said Julie.“I hope to be
“When we were first told of Julie's
able to motivate other kids that they
heart failure in the emergency room
can overcome the challenges like
at Kapi‘olani, we were in disbelief,”
I faced and be given that second
said Lori Kobayashi, Julie’s mother.
chance in life. You can do anything
“It was a very difficult time for us
you set your mind to.”
but the pediatric intensive care unit
The national Champions program
doctors, nurses, physical therapists,
is supported by Delta Air Lines,
social worker and the critical care
Chico’s FAS, ACE Hardware and
her family thought was a stomach
transport team at Kapi‘olani helped
Marriott International.
flu. When her symptoms worsened,
us get through it one day at a time by
Julie’s parents took her to Kapi‘olani.
providing the specialized support we
Doctors listening to her heart noticed
needed.”
It all started with what Julie and
an anomaly. Kapi‘olani’s staff ran
10
video games, reading anime and
than 10 percent of the normal rate.
The nearest pediatric transplant
tests and quickly diagnosed her with
center is on the West Coast, so
dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition
Kapi‘olani’s Critical Care Transport
that occurs when the heart becomes
Team took Julie on an air ambulance
weakened and enlarged.
to the mainland, where she eventually
received a heart transplant.
T H E P E D I AT R I C
TRANSPORT TEAM FUND:
Donations to the Children’s Miracle
Network Hospitals in Hawai‘i help fund
Kapi‘olani’s Critical Care Transport
Team. The critical care transport team
provides transportation on airplanes
and ambulances statewide
365 days a year.