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Regular Session, 2010 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 102
BY SENATOR MOUNT
A RESOLUTION
To commend the Children's Miracle Network of Southwest Louisiana and to congratulate
Erica Weldon on her selection as the 2010 Miracle Kid for the network.
WHEREAS, this year's telecast, "A Celebration of Real Miracles", marks the
twenty-third annual telethon for the Children's Miracle Network of Southwest Louisiana, is
set to air on June 4-5, 2010; and
WHEREAS, its parent charity, Children's Miracle Network (CMN), has contributed
more than $3.4 billion to fund medical care, research, and health outreach initiatives that has
helped to improve the lives of thousands of pediatric patients since its founding in 1983; and
WHEREAS, CMN collaborates with individuals, organizations, and media partners
to fund medical technology upgrades and health education opportunities that benefit its
member hospitals and foundations; and
WHEREAS, Children's Miracle Network of Southwest Louisiana provided financial
support to its community partners, such as CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital of Lake Charles,
Louisiana, a premier pediatric health services provider; and
WHEREAS, CMN was instrumental in the implementation of an advanced ear, nose,
and throat navigational surgery system at St. Patrick Hospital used in the treatment of
pediatric sinus patients that improves surgical outcomes and reduces recovery time; and
WHEREAS, it is the mission of CMN that every child deserves the hope and healing
available from a hospital in his community, care that contributes to the child's overall health
and well being; and
WHEREAS, through CMN children of all ages, backgrounds and circumstances can
receive medical treatment for every imaginable disease and injury; and
WHEREAS, in 2007 Erica Weldon, who was nonverbal and unable to communicate
except for gestures and the words "yes" and "no" because of an abusive family situation,
began speech therapy at Total Therapy of CHRISTUS St. Patrick; and SR NO. 102 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, James and Shelia Weldon are Erica's loving new parents, and because
of their dedication to her and her successful therapy, she has recouped the first three
developmental years of her life and is communicating at her age level and continues to make
progress; and
WHEREAS, now six years old, Erica is a student at South Beauregard Elementary
School in Longville and according to her father, she is very artistic, an animal lover and
possesses a bubbly personality; and
WHEREAS, CMN also provides much needed grants to other worthwhile community
organizations, such as CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital Speech and Hearing Department, the
Automated External Defibrillators Program with the Calcasieu Parish School Board and the
Diocese of Lake Charles, St. Nicholas Center for Early Intervention, the Nurturing Parent
Program at Prevent Child Abuse Louisiana, and Kid Power of Southwest Louisiana; and
WHEREAS, Children's Miracle Network of Southwest Louisiana provides the much
needed infrastructure for grassroots community fund-raising efforts through its corporate
events, radio and television broadcasts and other local happenings that generate donations
to local providers of life-saving care and crucial services for children.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend the Children's Miracle Network of Southwest Louisiana on its
upcoming telethon and for its many contributions to local pediatric health services.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana does
hereby congratulate Erica Weldon on her selection as the 2010 Miracle Kid.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Erica
Weldon and to Anna Catherine Viator, Annual Events Manager of Children's Miracle
Network.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE