Childhood cancer survivor Devin Proctor, 10, poses with his good friend Champ in the family garden at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Photo by Donna Culver
Children’s Hospital focus of TV special
Tonight at 7 p.m., the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt will be featured in a one-hour televised special on WSMV-TV Channel 4, Nashville's local NBC affiliate.
The Feb. 3 program, entitled “Celebrations of Life,” is a compilation of patient/family stories shot and produced primarily by Culver Film & Video, with additional video donated by country group Rascal Flatts from a taping last year at the hospital. The special was previewed at Children's Hospital on Thursday at noon. Staff, faculty and families were invited.
The theme of the program is birthday celebrations. The hospital is celebrating its second year in its new building, and many of the long-term patients treated here celebrate each birthday with their extended family at Children's Hospital. Some patients, like 10-year-old Devin Proctor, are shown in various video segments spanning four years or more. Proctor, a cancer survivor, is first seen going through his cancer treatments, then during a relapse and more recently in complete remission.
“Every time I'm in Children's Hospital I check to see if my families and friends are there. When we've got a video camera with us, we get footage. I've kept in touch with families since 1999,” said Donna Culver, owner of Culver Film & Video.
“I've celebrated birthdays and attended funerals. The kids are just amazing. They remind us what's really important in life and are great teachers. They don't worry about tomorrow or next week, they just worry about what to play with now. The doctors, nurses and staff who care for these families on a daily basis are such a gift to our community. I'm very grateful to be a part of their lives.”