White House

I shook hands with the President of the United States today!!!!!!!!!! It was so cool. We got to wander around inside part of the White House. We had our picture taken with President Obama, and he issued an official order for the kids to play on the new playset outside!! Watch CNN tonight. They were there and you might see me. We have our farewell party tonight. I can't believe our week is almost over. Tomorrow morning we fly back home. This has been so amazing. I have had such a great time.

Wow, have we been busy since we reached DC. Our hotel is right in the middle of everything. We are right across the street from the Ronald Reagan Building and about 2 blocks from the White House. This morning we had a bus tour around the city and then we had free time. We went to the Holocaust Museum. Jayson and I have both studied the Holocaust in school and we really wanted to see it. It was really something. Later we went for a walk around. I had a wheelchair problem so we didn't get back to all the monuments we wanted to see. Maybe we will get out a little tomorrow, but our schedule looks pretty busy. At 9:15 Mom and I get picked up for a live radio interview with Mark Wills. It will be on a station back home. We think it is 99.5 the WOLF, but we haven't had it confirmed. At 12:20 we all get together and walk to the White House where we will be greeted by President Obama!!! At 5:45 it is time for our finally party at the ESPNzone restaurant. I can't believe our week is almost over. It has been so great. We have had such a good time. I hope we have represented Wisconsin well. We certainly have made many good friends from all over the country.

Today was Hollywood Studios day!! It was a blast. My favorite thing was the car stunt show. Jayson and I went on the Tower of Terror and Aerosmith's rockin roller coaster. The whole family loved the Toy Story ride!! Now it is time to get packed up and ready for our move to Washington DC tomorrow. President Obama, Here we come!!!!!

exhausted but very happy

We have been having such a great time. I have met so many fantastic champions and families. It is amazing how many firefighters I have met. We have had great breakfasts and dinners provided for us. At one breakfast the Disney characters were there. Jayson and I had our pictures taken with each of them. I have met Miss America, John Schneider, Mark Wills, Julianne Hough, Steve Young, and Mary Lou Retton (She is really tiny). I had my picture taken with many of them. Miss America knows me by name and says hi Zack everytime she sees me. This trip has been such an amazing experience for all of us. We have made friends we will have for a long time. A great big giant "Thank You" for everyone that made all of this possible. We are very greatfu and feel very blessed to have been chosen.

having so much fun

Sorry it took so long to update this page. I have been so busy and having so much fun. I have met so many really cool champions. I know we will be friends after we leave here. I will give you more information soon.

Yesterday was a lot of fun. I was a guest at the Children's Miracle Network Champions Appreciation Day for Walmart/ Sam's Club. It was at the Distribution Center in Beaver Dam. The drive there was a little tricky with the slippery roads and the fog. I met so many friendly people. It was nice to thank them in person for all of the fund-raising they do. I met Bill Jartz from WBAY. He was really nice too.

WOW!!! What a day!! Today was my launch as Wisconsin's representative. The Walmart store that hosted my event was so awesome. I felt like a real celebrity! I met State Senator Luther Olsen, Miss Wisconsin, and a representative from Governor Doyle's office. There were firefighters there that made me an honorary member of their department and I will spend a day being a real firefighter with them this spring. Thank you so much to everyone that made this a day I will never forget, and thank you to everyone that came today. I feel very special.

Zach's Story

Zach Reetz
Age 16
Children’s Hospital and Health System Foundation of Wisconsin
Meningitis, Organ Failure

Zach Reetz came to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in multi-system organ failure and septic shock, the result of an often-fatal blood infection. Few expected Zach to survive. Doctors had to prepare his family for the worst.

The next few days were a blur of complicated, unrelenting medical interventions. Finally, Zach began to respond. He regained consciousness, was taken off the ventilator, and was able to scale back the dialysis keeping him alive. Amazingly, Zach’s kidneys and liver regained full function, his lungs were not permanently damaged, and his heart was strong.

Still, the disease took its toll on Zach’s body. He braced himself for a series of surgeries. So much dead tissue had to be removed, Zach went to the operating room three days a week. Both his legs were amputated below the knees and his right hand at the wrist.

Zach stayed in the hospital for several months. Through intensive physical therapy he began regaining many of the skills he lost. Zach always been an unusually determined 16-year-old. There was never a question in Zach’s mind about whether he would be able to walk again—it’s only a matter of when.

About Walmart and Sam's Club

Wal-Mart has supported Children’s Miracle Network since 1987. Since then, Children’s Miracle Network and Wal-Mart have worked tirelessly together to help children by raising money for children’s hospitals. Walmart and Sam’s Club associates, customers and members have raised more than $460 million for children’s hospitals during the relationship. This is the first year Walmart and Sam’s Club have sponsored the Champions Across America program.

Champions Across America presented by Walmart and Sam's Club

Champions Across America presented by Walmart and Sam’s Club is a Children's Miracle Network program that brings attention to the important work being done at children’s hospitals by honoring remarkable children who have faced severe medical challenges.

The Champions Across America program designates a Champion child in every state who has bravely battled a serious injury or illness. The Champions represent the nearly 17 million children treated at Children’s Miracle Network hospitals every year. The 2009 Champions have dealt with a wide variety of injuries and illnesses including brittle bone disease, brain tumors and cerebral palsy, as well as surviving car accidents and plane crashes.

As part of Champions Across America, the Champions travel for a week – first to Florida to meet Children’s Miracle Network sponsors, hospital and media partners who all convene to celebrate a year of medical miracles during the Children’s Miracle Network Celebration event at Walt Disney World Resort. The group will then travel to Washington, D.C., where Champions traditionally meet with their state senators on Capitol Hill, and the President of the United States during a visit to The White House.