Dip it for Kids at a Participating Dairy Queen® in Toledo on March 19!

DQ® fans spring into action by creating memorable moments and making a difference in how Nationwide Children’s Hospital Toledo 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. Donations benefit Nationwide Children’s Hospital Toledo providing needed funds to help bring health and hope for kids treated in the greater Toledo area.

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 Nationwide Children’s Hospital Toledo.

Your donations help Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals support the health of kids like Sage.

Sage was diagnosed with Common Variable Immune Deficiency with Neutropenia at 18 months old. When Sage was 2 years old, her mom received the call that she was unresponsive. Her parents rushed her to their local hospital where she was then transferred to Nationwide Children’s Hospital – Toledo. They were told that Sage had sepsis with a blood infection. Sepsis is a serious condition in which the body responds improperly to an infection. The infection-fighting processes turn on the body, causing the organs to work poorly. This resulted in a ten day stay in the intensive care unit. Over the last 12 years, Sage has endured countless blood draws, multiple surgeries, and numerous hospital admissions. 

Due to her diagnosis, Sage is seen at Nationwide Children’s Hospital – Toledo every four weeks to receive Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy (IVIg) via her chest port. Through it all she has kept her sense of humor even nicknaming her chest port, “Buddy”. Due to the immune deficiency, Sage’s body is unable to fight off bacterial and viral infections leaving her at a high risk of infection. They questioned if she would ever be able to attend school in person. Her medical specialists and school staff worked together to come up with reasonable accommodations to allow her to return to school some sense of normalcy. Since kindergarten, she has been able to attend school in person during the months of August through December. She transitions to attending school virtually during the months of January through April and returns to in person schooling for the month of May.

“At Nationwide Children’s Hospital – Toledo, the physicians, nurses and staff have truly become a part of our family.” Each month when we walk on the unit to get her infusion, Sage is welcomed by the staff with big smiles, warm hugs, and even special little gifts at times. There are just no words to explain the compassion, empathy, care and love the physicians and nursing staff give not only to Sage, but our family as well,” says Sage’s mom.

Stop at a participating DQ® and give today so Nationwide Children’s Hospital Toledo can continue helping our children lead healthy, fulfilling lives, while also bringing joy and happiness tomorrow.

When we change kids’ health, we change the future – for all of us.