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Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
About Us

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
TSRHC treats Texas children with orthopedic conditions, such as scoliosis, clubfoot, hand disorders, hip disorders and limb length differences, as well as certain related neurological disorders and learning disorders, such as dyslexia.
Submitted by Erik X Briseño on Tue, 2010-08-31 08:17
I am writing this note to request that you make a donation to the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRH). This is an organization I have personally been connected with since 1976.
Our daughter, Heather, was born on December 30, 1975. She was immediately diagnosed with a birth defect called spina bifida. The words “spina bifida” are Latin for “split spine”. It is a developmental birth defect caused by vertebrae not fusing properly, resulting in an opening in the spine. This allows a portion of the spinal cord to protrude through the opening in the bones. The most common form of this birth defect is called myelomeningocele.
In babies with myelomeningocele there is a fluid-filled sac protruding outside the spinal column containing nerve tissue that is damaged or not properly developed. As a result, there is usually some degree of paralysis and loss of sensation below the level of the spinal cord defect.
In 90% of the cases, children with myelomeningocele develop hydrocephalus (sometimes referred to incorrectly but descriptively as “water on the brain”). This requires the surgical installation of a permanent shunt to provide a drain from inside the skull to the abdominal cavity for fluid removal.
Heather was a classic spina bifida patient. Within 12 hours of her birth at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview, she had been transferred to Dallas. In less than 24 hours from birth, doctors had performed the surgery to put the spinal cord and nerve roots back inside the spine and close the opening on the back. Then when she was 8 days old a shunt was surgicaly installed.
Heather's birth marked the beginning of an 18-year personal relationship with the TSRH in Dallas. For the first three of the 18 years we made visits at least once per month followed by 15 years of scheduled visits once every 2-3 months. There were also the occasional “special” visits for things like shunt revision surgeries. Heather really hated those special visits because every time a surgical procedure was performed on the shunt they had to shave her head. That was not fun for a young girl!!!
During those 18 years she had surgeries for the spine closure, shunt installation, shunt revisions to allow for growth, bladder suspensions, and rerouting of leg muscles to lessen the effects of paralysis. During all those years the TSRH provided immeasurable amounts of medical care for Heather as well as psychological support and encouragement for our family.
In 18 years, we never paid a penny for the care TSRH provided. They would not even accept donations in the early years of Heather being a patient because they knew we would face enough financial challenges as it was. Their website states:
“TSRH provides exceptional care to thousands of Texas children every year without charge to patient families. TSRH is not a United Way agency and does not receive state or federal funding. The hospital relies solely on the generosity of individuals, organizations, foundations and corporations to continue its mission.”
OK, if you are still reading this e-mail then I thank you very much. I know it is lengthy. However, this background gives you some insight into why I am making this request. I am trying to help a good friend of mine raise money for the TSRH. My friend is sponsoring a special fund-raising event for TSRH in October. I would like to help him make this a successful fund-raiser. If you are interested in making a tax-deductible donation (TSRH is a Section 501(c)(3) corporation) then you can make your check payable to "Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children".
You can mail your check to either of the two addresses shown below:
David Counts Classic benefiting TSRH
PO Box 97
Snyder, TX 79550
OR
James Ray
1012 Chateau Court
Longview, TX 75604
Thank you very much and I appreciate your considering a donation to the TSRH.
PS - FYI, Heather is now a beautiful 35-year old Christian young lady. She has been a public school teacher for 13 years and is currently teaching special education in the Hallsville ISD. I cannot imagine how different her life would be today had it not been for TSRH 35 years ago.
James Ray
Submitted by Erik X Briseño on Thu, 2010-08-05 20:40
Save the date. Monday, October 4, 2010 Diamondback Golf Club Abilene, Tx.
Come play a beautiful course and visit with Past Grand Master David Counts as we raise money for the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Field is limited to the first 120 paid entries. For entry forms or information contact David Holt at 512-484-0044 or e-mail dfh468 [at] sbcglobal [dot] net.
We need donations, players and workers!
Date:
Monday, 4 October 2010 - 11:30 am - 6:00 pm
Submitted by Larry M. FitzPatrick on Mon, 2010-07-26 23:33

As we enter into our Sixth year with “Race for the Children”, we are proud to say that past year’s races were a tremendous success. We have increased race participants each and every year, and since its inception, the race has raised over $20,000 for these worthy causes.
The efforts of the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children to help children with orthopedic needs and dyslexia, at no charge to the families, are known worldwide and certainly worthy of our support.
For more information about the Hospital, you may visit their web site at www.tsrhc.org.
Date:
Saturday, 18 September 2010 - 6:30 am - 11:00 am
Submitted by Erik X Briseño on Tue, 2010-08-31 19:33

5th Annual Knox-Corinthian Golf Tournament will take place on Monday, 27 September at Frisco Lakes Golf Club in Frisco Texas.
Date:
Monday, 27 September 2010 - 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
Submitted by jrhutch on Tue, 2010-08-10 01:12
The Melvin Kinsey Memorial Blood Drive for The 67th Masonic District will be held at the Stephenville Masonic Lodge #267 on September 18, 2010 from 8am to 2pm. The Blood Drive benefits the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Breakfast will be served by The Order of the Eastern Star # 804 from 730am to about 10am to all donors.
Date:
Saturday, 18 September 2010 - 7:30 am - 2:00 pm
Submitted by bggillie on Sun, 2010-07-11 15:59
Paris Masonic Lodge #27 will host a blood drive to benefit the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children Saturday August 7, 10:00 to 2:00 at the Paris Lodge.
Date:
Saturday, 7 August 2010 - 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Submitted by phanks on Wed, 2010-06-02 12:07
Jimmy Tackett Memorial Sporting Clay Shoot
Benefiting the Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
Hosted by Alvarado Masonic Lodge #314
Alpine Shooting Range, Fort Worth
June 12, 8 am registration. Shoot starts at 9 am.
Bar-B-Que provided after the shoot.
Date:
Saturday, 12 June 2010 - 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Submitted by Erik X Briseño on Wed, 2010-04-14 20:11

The Excelsior Lodge 505 of Wolfe City in conjunction with Commerce Lodge 439 is hosting a golf tournament on Friday, April 23, 2010 at Webb Hill Country Club in Wolfe City, Texas. All profit from the green fees will be donated to the Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas, Tx.
Tournament Entry Form
Date:
Thursday, 23 April 2009 - 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Submitted by Roy Lynn White on Sun, 2010-02-28 11:07
Blood drive benefitting the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.
Date:
Saturday, 10 April 2010 - 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Submitted by jrhutch on Tue, 2010-02-02 00:07
The 67th Masonic District is proud to announce: The Melvin Kinsey Memorial Blood Drive will be held on April 3, 2010 at The Stephenville Masonic Lodge # 267 in Stephenville Texas. The Blood Drive will be held from 9 am to 3 pm inside the lodge hall. The Blood Drive benefits The Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. For more infromation call the lodge at 254-965-4175.
Date:
Saturday, 3 April 2010 - 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
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