By Brenda Sexton

The Courier-Herald

When Codi Ackerson, 15, of Bonney Lake was diagnosed with cancer in May, her family had the choice of seeking treatment at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle or Mary Bridge Children's Hospital in Tacoma.

Codi's mom, Lisa Ackerson, said both hospitals were excellent choices, but Mary Bridge was the winner. And almost a year later, she said, the Ackerson family are the winners.

"I am so glad," Lisa said. "I love Mary Bridge. It's wonderful. It's the best hospital to take a kid. That place is incredible."

Having cancer has been the worst experience for a teenager, Lisa said, but Mary Bridge has put a positive spin on it.

Lisa said Codi comes from a large, supportive family, but when they arrived at Mary Bridge, "the first thing they told us was our family was going to grow."

Discovering she had cancer was devastating for Codi. At first doctors thought she had bronchitis. She ended up at Mary Bridge after doctors discovered a tumor creeping through her chest area. Throughout the past year, doctors at Mary Bridge have reduced the tumor to about orange size and removed the tumor, part of her lung and a couple of ribs. Monday and Tuesday, Codi was back at Mary Bridge for her final round of chemotherapy.

"They're almost sure they've got it all," Lisa said.

The hospital has provided more than medical care. During their year there, Lisa said, they've made friends with other patients and their families. They've also grieved with those families as they've lost loved ones. Lisa said during those tough times, the hospital staff has provided counseling.

"It's been an overwhelming support for us at that hospital. If I ever win the lottery that's where it's going."

The Ackersons are not the only local family that feels that way. When 9-year-old Tony Lucarelli of Enumclaw was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer in the spring of 1998, his parents Frank and Pam turned to Mary Bridge.

"I can't say enough about Mary Bridge," Pam Lucarelli said. "They've been as wonderful as can be."

Pam Lucarelli said the hospital staff has always been accommodating both to Tony and to the family. In addition to providing care, Lucarelli said, the hospital provides financial services, counseling and even sent a representative out to Tony's third-grade classroom and school to talk with classmates and staff.

"It gave them a better idea of what to expect when he returned to school," she said.

Tony, now a sophomore at Enumclaw High, is still a patient at Mary Bridge. He makes the trip to Tacoma on a regular basis for screening and follow up visits.

"Thank the lord we have them here," Pam Lucarelli said.

The Lucarelli and Ackersons are a couple of a number of families in the Enumclaw, Buckley and Bonney Lake area that use the hospital and just another reason the hospital is celebrating its golden anniversary and the opening of a new 60,000-square-foot outpatient expansion.

In a period between 1990 and 2001, pediatric outpatient visits increased 276 percent and most of the clinics were housed in the original hospital building.

According to a release and information from media relations manager Todd Kelly, the new health center will serve the growing outpatient needs of children from southwest Washington. Services in the facility will include specialists like endocrinology, neurology, oncology, gastroenterology, general surgery and orthopedics.

It will also aid staff with an electronic medical record system and the latest technology and facilities to promote collaboration.

"The design of the building met the health care needs of children in 1955 and we needed pediatric outpatient space to serve children in the 21st century," said Mady Murrey, Nurse Executive and administrator of Mary bridge. "The new health center combines the latest in technology available with a warm, bright, family and kid-friendly environment."

The public is invited to check out the facility and celebrate the 50th anniversary from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Money for the center came from a community-wide fund-raising campaign started in 2001. The $15 million campaign raised more than $7.5 million for the expansion and $7.5 million to start a charity care endowment.

A $5.1 million donation came from the Tacoma Orthopedic Association, and a portion of that came from Buckley's Ida Marge Guild.

The Tacoma Orthopedic Association began in 1921. It is a non-profit organization with 1,200 volunteers, 50 organizations in southwest Washington, that meets regularly to organize fund-raising efforts, participate in other guild events and support association projects.

"We're not quite as old as Mary Bridge," said Ida Marge President Lynne Honsowetz, but the group is close. The Ida Marge Guild joined the Tacoma Orthopedic Association in 1956 and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in February.

The Ida Marge Guild is named after Honsowetz' aunt, who was a Buckley High teacher and librarian.

Through its two annual fund-raisers, the Ida Marge Orthopedic Guild donates between $4,000 and $6,000 a year to Mary Bridge for its needs. Its Country Store event is as long-running as the guild. This year's event, which includes crafts, handmade sweaters and afghans, plants and a raffle, is slated for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 6 at Frontier Bank in Buckley.

A similar two-day event, the Christmas bizarre, takes place in November. Each member also pays $10 in annual dues which goes to the Tacoma Orthopedic Association. This year the group has also collected more than $220 in a penny drive, and is starting a new fund-raising project - selling handmade knit hats in the White River high school and middle school team's colors.

"At one time we were one of the highest givers," Honsowetz said.

The group, which today has 46 members, is still among the most involved. Members meet in the evening the first Monday of the month, October through June, at Frontier Bank.

"They are very active," Kelly said. "They are one of the more active guilds."

Ida Marge members are proud of their contributions to Mary Bridge. Ten members are planning to attend the hospital's preview tour of the new facility. New members, Honsowetz said, are always welcome.

"We will take anyone who wants to help the children," she said.

People interested in joining the organization or making a donation can contact Honsowetz at 360-897-8219.

Brenda Sexton can be reached at bsexton@courierherald.com.