Children's Miracle Network
News Release

	McGowen (second from left) and his parents (from left), Tom and Carol, join McGowen’s youth pastor, Randy Moore, and Gov. Rick Perry for the official “champion” award presentation.
	Governor Rick Perry made the announcement during a surprise pep rally at McNeil High School, McGowen’s school in Austin, Texas.
	After the surprise presentation, McGowen (center) answered questions from various Texas media, including representatives from Austin television stations KVUE-TV and KEYE-TV, as well as from the Austin American Statesman and the San Antonio Express News.
	Chase and Carol McGowen.
	Chase, Carol and sisters with Pluto.

A Champion Across America

At fourteen years old, Chase McGowen seems like the typical teenager. He hangs out with his friends at church and school, rides his bike and is active in extra-curricular clubs. Yet as the first person in Texas and one of fewer than 20 in the world to receive a double lung-liver transplant, McGowen is anything but typical.

Inspired by his strength and courage, Children’s Miracle Network has named McGowen one of the 50 Champions Across America. He is the first “champion” to be selected from Texas Children’s Hospital.

In November 2005, Governor Rick Perry surprised McGowen with the official announcement during a pep rally at McNeil High School, McGowen’s school in Austin, Texas.

Children’s Miracle Network Champions Across America, presented by CO-OP Network, recognizes 50 children from across the United States as ambassadors for the more than 17 million children treated each year at the 170 Children’s Miracle Network affiliated hospitals.

Born with various lung problems, McGowen was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at 2½ years old. His parents, Tom and Carol, brought him to Texas Children’s Hospital, home to a national “Center of Excellence” for cystic fibrosis care as accredited by the United States Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Affecting almost 30,000 people in the U.S., cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease that causes the lungs to clog with mucus, leading to life-threatening infections and damage to other organs.

According to George B. Mallory, Jr., M.D., director of the Texas Children’s lung transplant program, McGowen’s case was unusually severe, virtually destroying both of his lungs and his liver by age 13. He needed new organs to survive.

After 8½ agonizing months of waiting, a single donor was finally found.

McGowen’s successful double transplant made medical history, and the night following his surgery, nurses removed his breathing tube.

“Chase kept mouthing ‘I’m so happy. I’m so happy. I got new lungs,’” said Mallory.

For the first time in 20 months, McGowen could breathe on his own.

“This surgery required a concentration of resources, skills and commitment that is unusual to find in a single place,” Mallory said, describing the surgical team that included E. Dean McKenzie, M.D., associate surgeon of Congenital Heart Surgery and the lead lung transplant surgeon, and John Goss, M.D., lead liver transplant surgeon. Texas Children’s is home to the region’s largest multidisciplinary pediatric lung and liver programs.

In addition to physician teamwork, Mallory said their success also resulted from the strength and support of the McGowen family. “I believe in team care, and the family is part of the team,” he said. “They are advocates for their loved one.”

As one of the Champions Across America, McGowen will help show the tremendous impact the nation’s pediatric hospitals are making in the lives of millions of children like him. In March 2006, he will travel with the other champions to Washington, D.C., at the invitation of The White House, to share his inspiring story. He also will take part in the national television production of the Children’s Miracle Network Champions Across America Celebration at Walt Disney World, and locally, he will participate in numerous events with Children’s Miracle Network sponsors.

“It amazes all of us how Chase never lost hope, even when his illness was at its worst, he was constantly struggling to breathe, and he was waiting for months on the organ transplant list,” said McGowen’s mother, Carol. “Even I had times when I was angry and questioned why this would happen to a child, but Chase never complained and never looked for anyone to blame. He is a true champion to all of us.”