Good News in Health

Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, Nebraska/Iowa Chapter

  • The Foundation has teamed with PathAI—a leader in AI technology for tissue sample analysis—to advance ulcerative colitis research. By analyzing gut samples in our IBD Plexus® database of patient information, using its AI-powered tools, PathAI hopes to uncover new disease markers through more accurate disease scoring and gain more insights into the gut tissue microenvironment. This could lead to improved diagnoses, a better understanding of treatment effectiveness in clinical trials, and improved disease management for patients.

  • Foundation-funded research at Massachusetts General Hospital has identified specific gut bacterial strains linked to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which could lead to improved and more personalized diagnostics and treatments. Published in Cell Host & Microbe, the study found hundreds of bacterial strains more prevalent in IBD patients…strains that thrive during flares and have genetic traits that help them survive during inflammation. These findings could open up new avenues for developing tailored treatments for people living with Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Nebraska Chapter

  • For the first time, the median predicted life expectancy for a child born with CF today has reached 61 years

  • 14 genetic therapies in the pipeline with significant hope for future medications!

Epilepsy Foundation Nebraska

  • We are starting our first local support group again for the first time in three years!

Heart Heroes, Inc.

  • Heart Heroes, Inc. moved into our first office space in 2024, allowing our programs for Congenital Heart Disease patients to grow and expand.

  • Heart Heroes hired a new Executive Director, growing our team to two full-time staff and one part-time with the goal to reach more CHD families throughout Nebraska.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Nebraska

  • 62 patients were awarded $33,000 in travel assistance.

  • We made great strides in blood cancer treatment over the past year leading to more research, better treatments and optimal outcomes, including expanded Access to Data for Pediatric AML Research.

March of Dimes, Nebraska & Western Iowa Market

  • 850 Meals That Matter were distributed to families and staff at CUMC Bergan Mercy and Nebraska throughout 2023.

  • The PREEMIE Act was first passed in 2006 through the March of Dimes’ advocacy efforts, and our coalition efforts have led to its reauthorization every five years.

    • The PREEMIE Act is the only federal law in the U.S. that focuses specifically on preterm birth and authorizes vital preterm birth research and surveillance, including the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). 

    • PREEMIE also commissions a study on the costs, impact of social factors, gaps in public health programs and recommendations to prevent preterm birth, and also will establish a group within HHS to coordinate all federal activities and programs related to preterm birth, infant mortality, and other adverse birth outcomes.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Mid-America Chapter

  • Over the summer, Randal Devlin of Scottsbluff, NE, participated in a program where he ran 165 miles in 6 days to bring awareness to MS. He raised just over $10,000 toward his campaign! His wife was diagnosed with MS and he shared that this program is how he can help bring awareness and raise funds. He’s met some tremendous folks along his journey and he plans to keep running in this program for as long as he can! (photo available)

  • On January 26, 2024, the Society hosted its first New to Pediatric MS program. This virtual experience brings together newly diagnosed preteens, teens and their parents or guardians to connect, share experiences and ask questions of a healthcare professional. A post-program survey shows attendees learned the importance of having a comprehensive MS care team and treatment plan.

  • Over 500 MS Activists attended the 2nd annual MS Activist Rally. In response to the Rally, 318 attendees took action through the MS Activist Network making over 1,100 connections on Capitol Hill. On April 10, 2024, MS Activist Jeanette Ashlock from Virginia testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee to share her personal experience using telehealth and advocating for the protection of access to telehealth services. After the hearing, Congress saw movement on telehealth legislation including passage out of committee.

  • On May 16, 2024, President Biden signed into law the Federal Aviation Administration Reauthorization bill, the “Securing Growth and Robust Leadership in American Aviation Act,” which contained several disability-related accessibility provisions the Society advocated for to improve safety and accessibility, including new training requirements for assisting passengers with limited mobility and properly stowing assistive devices to prevent damage.

Nebraska AIDS Project

  • NAP celebrated its 40th year serving the community in 2024.  We celebrating by supporting more people than ever before and expanding services. 

  • NAP has a new logo and website for better promoting and providing access to our services.  Check out nap.org to check it out!

Nebraska Chapter of the National Bleeding Disorders Foundation

  • We’ve had an influx of newly diagnosed families due to a growth in our partnership with our HTC. This means that we have been able to ensure that families have support, community and education from the moment of their diagnosis.

  • We’ve also were able to get more community members from central and western Nebraska to our programs and events through continued community outreach and support.

Nebraska Health Care Foundation

  • “People Worth Caring About,” a seven-part docuseries filmed in nursing homes and assisted living facilities in seven Nebraska towns was produced and released in 2024. The series is available to the public online and is being shared statewide to boost the workforce in these vital health care settings, which remains down from pre-pandemic staffing levels.

  • The Nebraska Health Careers Pipeline Initiative's healthcare-themed curriculum, “Health Care Heroes League,” has reached approximately 3,200 students in grades 3-12 through afterschool programs and summer camps across Nebraska. The program offers engaging and innovative ways to teach students about a variety of healthcare careers, helping to create a talent pipeline to address Nebraska's healthcare workforce shortage.

Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Association

  • We hosted a virtual ACP (advance care plan) Symposium with Creighton University to raise awareness and understanding of ACP roles and options among health and non-health professionals to bridge the gap between ACP education and its practice. Leaders encouraged collaboration between educators and professionals through opportunities to network and share successful ACP education practices and initiatives. We had 300 virtual participants.

  • Dr Tim Ihrig, MD, internationally recognized speaker and authority on hospice and palliative care, was the keynote speaker at our annual Living a Good Life conference in March 2024 and will be returning in March 2025. Dr. Ihrig is recognized for his advocacy for full transparency in patient care. His TED Talk, “What We Can Do to Die Well,” urges doctors to emphasize overall quality of life while helping seriously ill patients approach end-of-life with dignity and compassion.

Susan G. Komen®

  • The community came together for our 2024 Nebraska MORE THAN PINK Walk at Werner Park in October. There were nearly 3,000 in attendance raising dollars and awareness for breast cancer. We gathered to pay tribute to those that have lost their battle and celebrated Survivors and those living with Metastatic Breast Cancer.

  • Susan G Komen’s Financial Assistance Program provided Nebraska and Iowa residents over $121,000 in financial assistance for the expenses of daily living for people in breast cancer treatment or living with MBC.

Team Jack Foundation

  • A drug that the Team Jack Foundation invested in very early on was FDA approved in April 2024 making it the first drug ever approved for low-grade gliomas in children. This drug shows exciting promise as a new treatment for children affected by pediatric low-grade glioma, the most common type of childhood brain tumor.

  • In December 2024, the Team Jack Foundation awarded and approved three new research projects that will be conducted at eight separate institutions, worldwide, for childhood brain cancer, totaling $2,275,000, the largest research commitment the Foundation has made in one year since their inception.

United Cerebral Palsy of Nebraska

  • United Cerebral Palsy of Nebraska gave iPads to 15 individuals with cerebral palsy.  Follow up surveys indicated these iPads increased communication, access to resources and independence and made life easier.  One parent said, “This has allowed our child to share her life and thoughts with others using her iPad.”

  • United Cerebral Palsy of Nebraska expanded its Family Focus programming to Grand Island and hosted a bowling event for people with disabilities in the community and surrounding areas.