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Akron Children's recognizes Valley attorney
POLAND
Retired Trust Atty. James H. Sisek was presented Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley’s Champions for our Valley’s Children award Tuesday by William Considine, Akron Children’s Hospital’s president and chief executive officer.
Considine, head of Akron Children’s for 38 years, praised Sisek, of Poland, for his generosity and advocacy for the hospital.
“The award is pretty awesome,” said Sisek, who founded Butler-Wick Trust Co. 20 years ago with zero assets. Sisek, who retired as the company’s president, CEO and chairman of the board, said the firm has grown to $1.3 billion in assets.
“My involvement with Akron Children’s is easy. I get to give away other people’s money through my clients’ philanthropy,” he said with a laugh.
But his passion for Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley is no joke.
“If my twin grandsons in Texas became seriously ill, I would put them on a jet and bring them to Akron Children’s,” he said.
The hospital has a world-class staff that is so compassionate and kind to the children and their parents, and Bill Considine and Sharon Hrina, vice president of ACHMV, set the tone, Sisek said.
Considine praised Sisek, a charter member of ACH’s Mahoning Valley Community Leadership Council and a member of the Akron Children’s Hospital Foundation Board of Directors, for being a “wonderful champion for children of our community who has been instrumental in helping in securing millions of dollars of support for our Mahoning Valley programs.”
Lori and Oscar Hoit of Austintown experienced first hand the expertise and caring of the ACHMV’s staff after their 4-year-old son, Connor, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia on March 29, 2016.
“Of all the significant days in our lives, March 29 is unlike any other. It was the day three words brought our family heartbreak, devastation and terror,” Mrs. Hoit told banquet attendees.
“It still astounds me that not even two weeks before this, our biggest decision was whether to send Connor to kindergarten that fall. And now, here we were making decisions to save his life. My heart shattered knowing our 4-year-old child was about to enter the fight of his life and he didn’t even know it,” she said.
“I couldn’t imagine I’d ever stop crying, let alone be strong enough to lead Connor in this fight. But I knew I didn’t have choice, and Conner didn’t have a choice,” Mrs. Hoit said.
“Akron Children’s in Akron and the Mahoning Valley have been with us every step of the way. We are extremely thankful for the care and support of its staff, from the intensive care unit to the fifth floor in Akron to Building A at ACHMC’s Beeghly Campus in Boardman,” she said.
Today, Connor is in remission and is in the maintenance phase of chemotherapy.
“Every time Connor is tired or pale or complains of pain, we fear and prepare for the worst, but we have our faith, our family and friends and the team at Akron Children’s to help us through,” she said.
“We are inspired everyday by his courage and incredibly proud of both Connor and Spencer [Connor’s brother]. Despite facing unexpected challenges in their journey, they still give us a million reasons to find the joy in ours,” Mrs. Hoit said.
“The family-centered care that we deliver is second-to-none and it is because of families like the Hoits that we exist,” said Considine.
Also recognized Tuesday were the individuals and organizations who received the 2017 Children’s Advocate Award.
They are: Inspiring Minds, Fostering Dreams, OH WOW! The Roger and Gloria Jones Children’s Center Board of Directors, Operation Search and Help, Resource Mothers and United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.