Kieler Girl Uses Lemonade Stand to Raise Money for Children’s Hospital

In addition to the countless good the hospital does on a daily basis, the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital in Iowa City has been seeing a lot of great press as of late.

Just last month, the University of Iowa announced that the new song for the commemorative "Hawkeye Wave," which directly acknowledges the children's hospital, will be decided by the kids themselves.

Now, a young girl in Kieler, WI has just helped raised over $1,000 for the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, where she's presently receiving treatment.

With the help of her little brother, 8-year-old Reese Weber of Kieler successfully raised $1,226 via her lemonade stand. Reese's 6-year-old brother, Cashton, helped his sister by putting ice in the cups while she poured the lemonade. The money rolled in rapidly, in the form of both sales and donations.

Last year, Reese was diagnosed with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. The condition causes inflammation of the organs, specifically her heart, lungs, and kidneys.

The kind, caring staff at the Stead Family Children's Hospital provides her with IV steroid fusions in effort to space out more involving treatments. The goal is to get the condition managed to the point where Reese will just need to take medication at home. The hospital has made it so Reese can live her life mostly uninhibited by her condition.

Reese also spends extended time with child life specialists, who help kids understand their illness in "kid-friendly" terms while also playing games with young patients, offering grief support, and keeping their spirits high.

Friends from all over town stopped by Reese and Cashton's fundraising vessel in effort to support the hospital that continues to give this determined, entrepreneurial little girl the life-saving resources she needs.

You can make a donation to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital here.