Family foundation provides Nintendo Wii for sick kids at Winfield hospital

Tim Traver knows firsthand what cancer patients and their families go though.

Before his mother, Dorothy, succumbed to the disease in October 2003, Traver saw her cope with the uncertainty, numerous hospital visits and the hours of chemotherapy treatments.

"Seeing my mom go through chemo and cancer treatments, that was tough," said Traver, a 26-year-old Wheaton native. "I couldn't imagine a child having to go through that."

Determined to honor their mother's memory, Traver and his two older brothers - Dan and Dave - in 2007 started organizing fundraisers to provide assistance for local children and families affected by cancer. The events include a trivia league in Chicago and an annual run held in September at Benedictine University in Lisle.

To date, Dorothy's Family Fund has raised about $25,000 to help support pediatric projects at Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield.

Recently, some of that money was used to buy a specially designed "Fun Center" from the Starlight Children's Foundation.

The portable unit is equipped with a flat-screen television, a DVD player, a Nintendo Wii console and a selection of preloaded games, including "Super Mario Galaxy." Because everything is contained to single case on wheels, it can be moved easily between rooms.

CDH officials say the donation is significant because the Fun Centers "brighten moods, boost morale and reduce feelings of isolation among ailing children."

"In the case of pediatric oncology patients, these children typically spend long periods of time in the hospital while receiving their individual treatments," said Kurt Wolbrink, the hospital's manager of major and planned gifts. "Donations like this Nintendo Wii game system can make treatment and waiting time much less stressful for children."

Trina Krischon, CHD's child life specialist, said the Wii has been a hit among kids and their families.

"I don't think most of these kids dread coming to the hospital, even if they know they are going to be here for four hours, six hours," Krischon said. "They don't dread it. They know there's stuff that's going to be going on."

During a recent tour of CDH's pediatric oncology area, Traver got the opportunity to try out the Fun Center with Lucia Medina, a 5-year-old Aurora girl who was waiting for her younger brother to receive his treatment.

"I think Lucia's going to figure it out faster than I would," Traver joked after the duo had some difficulties controlling a "SpongeBob SquarePants" game.

Still, Lucia was all smiles and ready to keep on playing.

For Traver, it only affirmed that the more than $4,000 used to buy the unit was money well spent.

"It's awesome to see that the kids like it," he said. "It makes it all worthwhile."

Krischon says she's deeply impressed by what Tim has accomplished.

"How could a guy this young be doing what he's doing?" she said. "He has raised a lot of money. He's a huge donor for us."

In the meantime, Traver and his brothers are hoping to expand their charitable efforts to other states. For example, 32-year-old Dan Traver is planning to start a chapter where he lives in Orlando.

"There's been a lot of people who have helped out," Tim Traver said. "I think that's why it's been successful."

Traver says he hopes to continue Dorothy's Family Fund as long as he can.

"The most difficult thing about doing something like this is just getting the initial momentum behind it," he said. "I think we're still in that stage to some extent. But it gets easier and easier as you continue to it."

For more information about Dorothy's Family Fund, visit dorothysfamily.org.