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ASU Plant Biologists Lend Services to Humanitarian Aid

Aug 02, 2010

By Amy Whistle and Evan Lacy Pannkuk


      Members of the Botany Lab at Arkansas State University will take
part in granting a child's wish for a Japanese garden outside her
bedroom window in Kennett, Mo. They will begin work this summer and
will continue through fall 2010. The purpose of the task is to provide
comfort to a teenage girl who has suffered severe health problems.
      The girl being assisted was born with serious heart defects which
led to congestive heart failure. Her name was placed on a list for a
new heart, which she received in November 2009, during a frightening
19-hour long open-heart transplant surgery. Today she is a vibrant
13-year old-girl with a new heart and high hopes of one day enjoying a
beautiful Japanese garden. The Chef David's Kids Wishgrant Foundation,
with help from the ASU Botany program, is determined to give her that
gift.
Chef David's Kids Wishgrant Foundation was founded by Chef David
Mitchell on March 5, 1989. Mitchell was diagnosed with five types of
cancer by the age of eight--brain, bone, soft tissue, skin, and facial.
His own illnesses stirred him to start this foundation to grant
terminally ill children ages 3-18 a wish of the child's choice.
Mitchell contacted Dr. Travis Marsico, assistant professor of
botany at Arkansas State University, and asked for help in constructing
the Japanese garden. Dr. Marsico agreed and contacted Dr. Kim Pittcock,
associate dean of agriculture at ASU, who designed the landscape.
Students in Dr. Marsico's lab agreed to help with the labor.
"It's really great to work with folks [students] who are willing
to give their time to provide hope and joy to a child recovering from
such an intense medical situation," said Dr. Marsico. "I am delighted to
be able to use my skills as a professional botanist to help make these
wishes a reality."
The garden's focal point will be a Sakura Cherry Blossom and a
foot bridge that will be built over the family's pond. A Zen garden,
consisting of rocks and sand raked to resemble water patterns, will also
be included.
"The hope is that the enjoyment she can get out of it for many
years to come will give her the motivation and the ambition to overcome
her obstacles," says Meghan Foard, a Ph.D. student participating in the
project. "I believe in positive thinking, and I believe if you think
something is worth fighting for, you will succeed. Our whole lab
believes this."
      If you would like to volunteer on the construction of the garden
or if you want to donate tools, please contact Dr. Travis Marsico at
(870) 972-3082 or tmarsico@astate.edu. Volunteers and/or donations are
also being accepted by the Wishgrant Foundation on any project. For
more information, contact the Chef David's Kids Wishgrant Foundation
through e-mail at chefdavidmitchell@gmail.com or the Arkansas State
University Department of Biological Sciences at biology@astate.edu.
      Amy Whistle is a sophomore wildlife and ecology major at Arkansas
State University and part of the National Science Foundation (NSF)
Research Internships in Science of the Environment (RISE) program at the
university. Evan Pannkuk is a Ph.D. student in the Environmental
Science Program at Arkansas State University.

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