A Special Gift That Supports Incredible Care

Ed and Anna Jost are making a difference with a gift that will enable sick children to receive the care they need.

On Feb. 8, 2008, Ed and Anna Jost's niece, Kim, went into labor. Kim's third child, Brandon, was born with Down's Syndrome and admitted into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children’s Wisconsin. Thanks to the expert care provided by our level IV NICU in Milwaukee and a multidisciplinary team of specialists, Kim and her husband, Greg, are now blessed to have a six-year-old boy who is growing stronger each day.

Because Kim lived with Ed and Anna prior to Brandon's birth, they experienced firsthand what it felt like to support a mother with a tiny child with special needs. As Anna recalled, "It was tough to see him, and even tougher to hold him. In the NICU, he had wires and tubes connected in order to keep him alive." Anna and Ed are grateful for the special care provided to Brandon, allowing him to live a full life.

Brandon's family lives in Chilton, Wis., near Children's second hospital in Neenah, which enables Brandon to continue receiving care and treatments closer to home.

Recently, Ed and Anna had the opportunity to tour Children’s Wisconsin in Milwaukee. They hadn't been back to the hospital since Brandon was born. Because of Ed's work as a machinist for over 40 years, he was fascinated by the intricacy of the machines that help staff provide the best care for kids. According to Anna, "We were amazed by the many machines that exist in the hospital. But we were even more impressed by all the guardian angels—the nurses and staff—that you employ in this miracle center of yours."

It is this gratitude and wonder that led to Ed and Anna's decision to include Children’s Wisconsin in their estate plans. Their reason for giving? It's rather simple. According to Ed, "People should help other people when they're sick." That is exactly what their gift will do. The Edward J. and Anna M. Jost Fund for Children will ensure that sick kids, regardless of their diagnosis, receive the best care possible.