Our Lady of the Lake Children's Hospital Patient Picks New Float for Cortana Kiwanis Christmas Parade

Clarke Volland excitedly selected the new Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital float for the Cortana Kiwanis Christmas Parade and nicknamed it, “Dr. Jesus.”

Every year, Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital proudly supports the Cortana Kiwanis Christmas Parade, Baton Rouge, Louisiana’s largest holiday parade and celebration.  Cortana Kiwanis, one of the largest Kiwanis clubs in Baton Rouge hosts this parade and utilizes the fundraising proceeds of the parade to support many local charities, especially Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.

Recently, Cortana Kiwanis invited a patient from Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital to select a new float for the 2017 parade.  Clarke Volland, an Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital patient, joined members of the Our Lady of the Lake Foundation team and Heather Folks-Givens, the Kiwanis parade’s chair, to visit Comogo Parade Floats in Plaquemine, LA.  After walking through two warehouses of  parade floats, Clarke made her selection.  And everyone that day knew exactly which one she was going to pick.

Clarke exclaimed, “I want that one – Dr. Jesus!!”

Clarke is an outgoing, vivacious, five-year old with a personality as unique and unpredictable as her story. After recovering from open-heart surgery, at a year old, her family struggled to find answers to a range of problems including skin rashes, fever, fatigue, muscle/abdominal pain, and frequent respiratory  concerns.  Over the past three years, a team of specialists along with her pediatrician at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital have worked diligently to provide Clarke and her family with comfort and care as they strive to help her live a healthy and active life. Clarke is proud of her perfectly patched heart and considers herself to be a “professional kid doctor” as she receives weekly at-home infusions to help give her immune system a very beneficial boost!

Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital has dedicated pediatric cardiologists who are trained in treating a variety of pediatric heart conditions, including heart murmurs, abnormal heart rhythm, irregular heartbeat, chest pain, fainting spells, and congenital heart disease.  Learn more about all of the pediatric specialties at Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital.

20-30 patients from Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital will ride on this double-decker float with members of their families and the Our Lady of the Lake Child Life Department.  For these patients and families, who have overcome or are currently battling a variety of illnesses and injuries, it is one of the highlights of the holidays.  You can cheer for these young patients and Clarke on December 9, 2017 at 5:30 pm as the Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital “Dr. Jesus” float rolls through Downtown Baton Rouge.  The parade will also air on Cox 4 and WAFB-TV Channel 9.  Check your local listings for airing schedules.

Kiwanis is a global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.   Partnering well with the mission of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Kiwanis has raised more than $36 Million since 1983 for local children’s hospitals across the United States and Canada.

If you would like to learn more about the Cortana Kiwanis Christmas Parade, visit www.christmasinbr.com.

You can also make a donation to Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital in honor of kids like Clarke by visiting the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals Donations page here.  Donations will help build the new, freestanding Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Hospital (pictured above) located off I-10 in Baton Rouge, LA between Essen Lane and Bluebonnet Blvd.