Lisa Brager (L) presents Nortrax' Log-A-Load donation to Rose Wich, as Patty Shafto-Carlson (center)
and Jim Bittner look on. Log-A-Load funds helped pay for the cheery decorations in the lobby.

Nortrax, Log-A-Load and Hospital Tour
Story and Photos by Dave Wester

Nortrax Equipment Company presented a check for $11,070 to the Log-A -Load for Kids program at St. Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield, Wisconsin, on October 8, 2002. Half of the money will go to St. Joseph's, a Children's Miracle Network hospital, and the other half will go to the four CMN hospitals in Michigan.

Nortrax raised the money by raffling a six-wheel drive "Gator" at the 2002 Logging Congress. John Deere Construction and Forestry Equipment Division donated the Gator. The raffle actually raised $9.070, but upon learning that he had won the Gator, Richard Kobylski, a logger from Mauston, Wisconsin promptly donated another $2,0000 to Log-A-Load.

"Things are not that great in the industry right now and to think that we raised over $11,000 for the kids is just a tremendous tribute to the great people of the Lake States forest products industry," said Tim Murphy in a news release. Murphy is vice president and general manager of Nortrax' operations in the Midwest.

Jim Bittner, Lisa Brager, and Sally Gourd of Nortrax presented the check to Rose Wich of TPA at St. Joseph's hospital. Wich will distribute the money to St. Joseph's and the Michigan CMN hospitals. As part of the check presentation event, Patti Shafto-Carlson, CMN manager at St. Joseph's, arranged a tour of the hospitals pediatric and neonatal intensive care units for the group.

Debby Blomberg, chairperson of the Log-A-Load National Advisory Committee from Ogema, WI, also attended. Log-A-Load often raises money through charitable timber harvest. Blomberg said that Wisconsin has done more timber harvests for Log-A-Load than any other state.

Log-A-Load has provided about five to ten percent of St. Joseph's annual CMN funds. Other major contributors are Copps Corporation, Wal-Mart stores, and Ronald McDonald House Charities.

One of the purposes of the tour was to provide first-hand knowledge of how CMN funds are used. CMN funds help children in so many ways that it is difficult to generalize. St. Joseph's uses the funds for programs, services and treatment for sick and injured children as well as support programs, that seek to prevent injuries and promote healthy lifestyles. The funds are not used for administrative purposes; 100% are used to help kids. Nor are the funds used to pay doctor bills, since one such bill could easily consume St. Joseph's approximate $600,000 CMN budget.

Specific examples of how the funds were used in 2002 include medical equipment not normally provided by the hospital, financing the salaries of child life specialists to tend to the children's emotional and developmental needs, and providing games, toys and activities to cheer, distract and educate hospitalized children.

Specialized equipment viewed during the tour included poles specifically designed to hold intravenous equipment for young patients and a $50,000 isolette in which needy babies can be transported form one hospital to another. St. Joseph's neonatal intensive care unit has saved premature babies weighing less than a pound. To put that in perspective, it's smaller than a pint of water. A human being of that size makes a lasting impression on the beholder. Since few hospitals in the state are able to care for such tiny infants, they are often transported to St. Joseph's.

During the tour of the pediatric unit, the Nortrax representatives distributed 1000 Timberjack beanie baby donkeys to the children. "Something as simple as a beanie toy can make a real difference to a child when they are in the hospital. These simple ‘friends' provide comfort and security during an often times scary time in their lives," said Shafto-Carlson.

In spite of the stress and sadness that is never far beneath the surface in a hospital, the many toys, games, and activities provided by CMN added a warm, cheerful and homey touch to the pediatric unit. Rose Wich described it best.

"My son Timmy was diagnosed in 2000 with a rare type of bone cancer. We spent about two years here for treatment. I was able to see first hand what the Children's Miracle Network did and some of the wonderful programs that they put on such as the pet therapy, which happened to be one of my son's favorites. They bring in a dog or a cat. It really helps get the kids out of their rooms and forget their problems, and it gives them an opportunity to meet with some of the other kids."

"They have all kinds of activities, games and movies. They really try to help. The child life specialists come in and talk to the kids and put on different types of activities. Every day at three o'clock they would have a craft program for the kids. It really helps them to be able to focus on something else," Wich said.

Shafto-Carlson expressed her appreciation for the generous donors that help make the various programs possible.

"It's because of sponsors such as Nortrax that these projects can become a reality for children in North Central Wisconsin. It's really a team effort through the support of sponsors, volunteers, medical staff and hundreds of others that make these miracles happen," she said.

Bittner extended his thanks to the other team members as well.

"On behalf of Tim Murphy and the Nortrax team, I want to thank Debby Blomber, Rose Wich and Patty Shafto-Carlson for all they've done for Log-A-Load for Kids and the Children's Miracle Network. We really appreciate what they've done and we're going to continue to support this group," Bittner said.

At the end of the tour, it was evident that everyone was awed, humbled, and deeply moved by the experience of meeting some of the programs' beneficiaries. ©