Dip it for Riley kids

DQ® fans spring into action by creating memorable moments and making a difference in how
Riley Children’s Health through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals cares for kids. DQ®
doesn’t just have sweet treats that put a smile on your face– DQ® creates meaningful moments
for kids and families in our community.

It’s time for Free Cone Day at DQ® and at participating locations, you can Dip it for Kids by
donating $1 on March 19, 2024. Donations benefit Riley Children’s providing needed funds
to help bring health and hope for kids treated in Indiana. Children are at the center of everything we do and building a strong foundation for their tomorrow needs to start today. Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals see what the future can be, and with support from you and DQ®, we can fund the most urgent needs at Riley.

Your donations help Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals support the health of kids like Harper Gray. During a routine ultrasound, Harper’s parents found out that her legs were conjoined from the pelvis to the ankles, a characteristic of sirenomelia or “mermaid syndrome.” Sirenomelia is a rare congenital disorder, occurring in approximately one in 100,000 births. Most babies born with the condition die shortly after birth due to abnormalities in major life-sustaining organs. Harper’s mom was referred to a team of specialists at Riley. Using advanced fetal imaging, Riley physicians shared that Harper had one small kidney, which hadn’t been detected in earlier exams. Harper immediately underwent a colostomy after she was born and spent the first 33 days of her life in the neonatal intensive care unit. While she did remarkably well, there were ups and downs during those first six months, including two tears in her esophagus—one that resulted in life-threatening complications. This meant that the anticipated surgery to separate her legs needed to be postponed. “Harper’s situation emphasizes just how important it is to have a place like Riley that offers all of the expertise and services that are critically important, not only in her survival but also in getting her through these complex reconstructive surgeries,” says Gregory Borschel, M.D., division chief of pediatric plastic surgery at Riley Children’s. The operation took seven hours and required about 1,000 stitches. Harper’s first five steps just under a year later marked a monumental occasion. While Harper faces future surgeries and receives ongoing dialysis, she remains high-spirited. Today, her favorite things include music, bubbles, books, dancing, visiting playgrounds, coloring, and swimming.