Generations Of Care

A warm, caring spirit is immediately apparent in Sandy Czosnek, as is the calm demeanor of someone who raised 13 children. Now, with all of her own kids grown, she enjoys her role as "Gamma" to 20 grandkids. And while Sandy's home is a bit less active, now occupied only by Sandy and her two Golden Retrievers, she remains every bit as committed to her family and engaged in her interests. Children’s Wisconsin is fortunate to be counted among her passions.

Sandy first became involved with Children’s Wisconsin in 1974. When her son Jim was only 12 days old, he was referred by his doctor to Children’s Wisconsin because of his blue coloring.

Sandy learned from Dr. Bill Gallen at Children's that Jim would need open-heart surgery. Jim had his first heart surgery at Children’s Wisconsin when he was only two weeks old. His surgery was a great success, but because Children's heart program was not as developed twenty-five years ago, and Jim's heart defects were so complex, Children's referred Jim to the Mayo Clinic for three additional surgeries. Jim became very close to his caregivers at Children’s Wisconsin as he continued here with his follow-up visits. In fact, Jim served as ring bearer at the wedding of Dr. Gallen's nurse.

While one child with a serious heart condition would be a lot for most people to manage, in the fall of 1975, Sandy discovered that her 4-year-old daughter, Jenni, also had a heart defect requiring open-heart surgery. Jenni's primary condition, Ostiun Primum Cushion defect, was corrected at Children's.

Sandy said neither Jim nor Jenni ever used their heart problems as a crutch. "It was scary, but we'd just try and let them be as normal as possible and do whatever they could," said Sandy. Both children remained strong and active as they grew. Then at age 20, Jim and his friends were playing baseball and Jim collided with another player while catching a fly ball. Jim was missing part of his sternum from an earlier operation and the impact of the collision stopped his heart. He was in a coma for eight days before he passed away.

Naturally, Jim's death was very difficult for the family, but Sandy knows her son was able to live a very active, happy life that would serve as a positive inspiration to kids with heart problems. "Jim wanted to talk to kids and show them that they could grow up and be okay," said Sandy.

In 1994, Sandy and Eugene Czosnek established a fund in Jim's memory at Children's and Sandy became a member of the Guardian Society. "Jim will always have a special place in my heart," said Sandy. "His share of my estate will go to the Jim Czosnek Heart Fund." Support from the fund puts an emphasis on patient comfort. Sandy said that Jim would want to give in a way that would make kids feel better and also help parents.

A generation later, in May of 2006 at 4 weeks old, Sandy's granddaughter (Jenni's daughter), Cassie, was diagnosed with the same congenital heart condition as her Uncle Jim. Jenni and her husband Eric would only consider Children’s Wisconsin for Cassie's care. Today Cassie is 3 years old and doing great!

Since 2006, both Cassie and her mom, Jenni have participated in Briggs & Al's Run & Walk for Children’s Wisconsin as Children's Champions. From the early 1980s, the family worked together to raise funds for the run, which has now become an important annual event to Sandy's family. They participate as a team with the name of "Jim's Angels." Sandy carries a sign with Jim's photo and wears his shoes over her shoulder to ‘bring him with them.' She knows he is always watching over them. In fact, Sandy's daughter, Ann (who is a nurse at Children’s Wisconsin in the Cardiac ICU), planned her 2009 wedding around the event and was sure to return from her honeymoon in time to participate!

In 2008, Sandy's daughter Jenni returned to Children’s Wisconsin for heart surgery as an adult because of Children's expertise with her heart condition. Sandy said that Children’s Wisconsin has become a part of their family—and we are absolutely fortunate to welcome this wonderful family into ours.