By Tammy Gay

"Four babies at 28-weeks of gestation was quite a challenge to the physicians and nurses in the ICU."

-- Nirmela S. Desai, M.D., neonatologist at the UK Children's Hospital and professor of pediatrics, UK College of Medicine

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May 24, 2002 (Lexington, Ky.) -- Quadruplets Chelsea, Makenzie, Bobby and Samuel, 4, children of Beth and Allen Tallent, of Winchester, will be featured as "champions" during the "2002 Children's Miracle Network Celebration" on May 31-June 1. The annual television fund-raiser benefits the University of Kentucky Children's Hospital.

"Champions" is an appropriate term for the quads, who survived life-threatening odds being born 12 weeks early and weighing between 2.15 and 2.9 pounds each. The quads had the usual preemie problems - their lungs were underdeveloped, they had jaundice and several cases of bradycardia, a condition where the heart beats at an unusually slow rate.

"Four babies at 28-weeks of gestation was quite a challenge to the physicians and nurses in the ICU," said Nirmela S. Desai, M.D., neonatologist at the UK Children's Hospital and professor of pediatrics, UK College of Medicine. But, after nearly two months of being in the NICU, the Tallents were able to bring all four of their babies home.

"They have done remarkably well," said Desai. "It shows the team effort of the physicians and nurses caring for the babies."

The quads and other children will be recognized as "champions" during the "Children's Miracle Network Celebration," which will be broadcast May 31-June 1 from Fayette Mall in Lexington on WKYT-TV, channel 27 (Lexington) and WYMT-TV, channel 57 (Hazard). Co-hosts are Barbara Bailey and Bill Bryant, WKYT-TV, and Tony Turner, WYMT-TV. During the broadcast, the program will feature and celebrate the triumphs of UK's young patients and the health issues they are facing. The annual program will not only recognize the children as champions, but also the many people who champion children, such as families, health professionals, individuals, volunteers and donors. The broadcast Celebration begins at 8 p.m. Friday, May 31, and will continue through 11 p.m. On Saturday, June 1, the Celebration continues at 10 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m.

During the broadcast, there will be a silent auction at Fayette Mall, which also benefits the UK Children's Hospital. The University of Kentucky Children's Hospital is the local beneficiary for the 15th year of the annual Children's Miracle Network campaign to raise money for 170 children's hospitals across North America.

All proceeds raised in Kentucky stay in Kentucky to benefit the UK Children's Hospital, the only participating hospital in the state. In the past 15 years, CMN has raised more than $7.5 million for the UK Children's Hospital. Last year through CMN, Kentuckians gave $1,052,000 to UK Children's Hospital, reaching the Hospital's $1 million fund-raising goal.

For more information about the Children's Miracle Network Celebration and the auction or how to donate to the UK Children's Hospital, call (859) 257-1121.