PAY IT FORWARD
Grandparents Give Back Their grandson’s battle with Kawasaki disease prompted Dick and Lynn Gordon support research at Rady Children’s PHILANTHROPY
Amongst other things, the Gordons’ generosity has helped fund a promising diagnostic test, which will be tested in the emergency department at Rady Children’s. It’s an artificial intelligence-based physician support tool that can analyze lab data and determine the likelihood that the patient has Kawasaki disease versus another cause of fever in children.
Jared Wade saw multiple doctors and landed in the hospital several times before he was diagnosed with Kawasaki disease. The condition causes inflammation in blood vessels and if left untreated for too long, can
cause heart problems. Kawasaki disease is rare and most often strikes children younger than 5. Though Jared was more than double that age and had symptoms associated with many other conditions, his case was diagnosed early, and he made a full recovery under the care of Jane C. Burns, MD, director of the Kawasaki Disease Clinic at Rady Children’s, and its associate director, Adriana Tremoulet, MD. “Once we figured out I had Kawasaki disease, I remember Dr. Burns and Dr. Tremoulet always trying to make sure I was OK and so detailed with what I needed to do to get healthy,” says Jared. They were also constantly checking in on me. They were amazing. I feel like they actually truly cared.” Jared’s loving grandparents, Dick and Lynn Gordon, were by his side throughout his recovery. The experience prompted both the Gordons and Jared to give back, albeit in different ways. Over the past 12 years, the Gordons have made a series of impactful donations for Kawasaki disease research. “When Jared was still in the hospital, my husband and I said, we want to get involved,” says Lynn. “We want to learn more about it, and we want
“Early diagnosis and treatment are essential, and the funding that we’ve received from the Gordon family has helped our research team to get closer to helping physicians recognize these patients and get them referred to Rady Children’s,” says Dr. Burns. Jared got in on the research side of things, and spent a good chunk of his middle and high school years volunteering in the lab. He even traveled to China to speak at a seminar. “It felt meaningful since it’s something I had a close experience with,” he says. Jared has since turned his interest to another passion, jiujitsu, and has spent the last four years training and competing. “Jared’s very positive and focused,” says Lynn. “This carries through in whatever he does. His focus
EARLY DIAGNOSIS AND EARLY TREATMENT ARE ESSENTIAL, AND THE FUNDING THAT WE’VE RECEIVED FROM THE GORDON FAMILY HAS HELPED OUR RESEARCH TEAM TO GET CLOSER TO HELPING PHYSICIANS RECOGNIZE THESE PATIENTS.” JANE C. BURNS, MD, DIRECTOR OF THE KAWASAKI DISEASE CLINIC AT RADY CHILDREN’S
Now 24, Jared spends his free time on the jiujitsu mat
now is jujitsu and he’s so determined, but that’s who he’s always been. Even in his recovery from Kawasaki, he worked really hard.”
to support as much as we can so that they can find a cure, and can detect it earlier. Because so many kids, unfortunately, by the time they were diagnosed, it had already done damage.”
32 HEALTHY KIDS MAGAZINE SPRING 2024
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