MCKENZIE ROSE GARRETSON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - Fund Emeritus

The Fund Administrator’s for the McKenzie Rose Garretson Memorial Scholarship have created an independent Nonprofit Foundation. More information can be found at: mckenzieslegacy.com

McKenzie Rose Garretson was an angel born on March 26, 2007. Her eleven short months on earth brought immense love and happiness to her parents Jennifer, Tim and their many family members and friends. Our little angel made her transition from earth to Heaven on March 5, 2008. She is survived by her mother Jennifer Rose and her father Timothy Garretson, her grandparents Karen and Bill Garretson, Debbie and Richard Rose, great-grandparents Betty and Herman Cook, Daisy Rose and Helen and Louis Sufak. She was very much loved and will be missed by her aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends. Special thanks to the doctors, nurses, clergy, and the entire staff at the PICU of Akron Children's Hospital.

 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A 5 MINUTE VIDEO OF MCKENZIE'S LIFE- Streaming Video Version (from YouTube)

On Monday, February 25, 2008 our precious little McKenzie was admitted to Akron Children's Hospital with a fever and flu like symptoms. Within hours McKenzie was diagnosed with a brain tumor and after surgery it was found to be cancerous. During the next nine days until her death, the nurses on the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) became our extended family. McKenzie's parents Jennifer and Tim plus their families and many friends witnessed the around-the-clock utmost professionalism, love and respect given to our precious McKenzie by these gifted PICU nurses. Words can not describe the important and dignified role that nurses play in caring for our most valued possession----our children. Nurses are in high demand and their special commitment towards caring for our children is heartwarming.

McKenzie was diagnosed with Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor (AT/RT) which is a rare and highly malignant childhood brain tumor with a high mortality rate. In the United States 3 children per 1,000,000 or around 30 new AT/RT cases are diagnosed each year. The survival rate for children diagnosed with AT/RT tumors is around 10%. Pediatric Brain cancer is the second leading cause of childhood death. Our little McKenzie was called to Heaven on March 5, 2008 in the arms of her loving mother Jennifer with all her loved ones including her nurses by her side.

Based upon our appreciation to the dedicated nurses at Akron Children's Hospital PICU, McKenzie's family has established the McKenzie Rose Garretson Scholarship to assist in the funding of continued education for nurses employed in the PICU at Akron Children's Hospital. This scholarship fund will assist PICU Akron Children's Hospital nurse professionals achieve additional education enabling them to further care for young children.

If you would like to correspond directly with Jennifer Rose (McKenzie's mother), she can be reached at jennkenzie@yahoo.com.

 

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A Mother’s Prayer  By Celine Dion  I pray you’ll be my eyes and watch her where she goes and help her to be wise help me to let go every mother’s prayer every child knows lead her to a place guide her with your grace to a place where she’ll be safe        I pray she finds your light and holds it in her heart as darkness falls each night remind her where you are every mother’s prayer every child knows need to find a place guide her with your grace give her faith so she’ll be safe lead her to a place guide her with your grace to a place where she’ll be safe

 

 

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Recipients:

• 2008: Amy McHenry, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Akron University

 

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Fund Administrators:

• Richard & Deborah Rose

 

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Fund Emeritus: The McKenzie Rose Garretson Memorial Scholarship fund was closed in December 2008.