Children's Hospital patients show off their artwork which was selected to be featured on the 1998 Children's Hospital Holiday Cards. Top left photo, nine-year-old Monica Kreber, a leukemia patient from Mt. Pleasant, shows off her Christmas card with honorary chairman, congressman Mark Sanford. In the top center photo, Hunter Ward, a 4-year-old orbital cellulitis patient from Goose Creek, poses with her artwork with help from her father, Stan Ward. And eight-year-old Jamie Noe, right, of Summerville, an intestinal virus patient, painted a snowman for this Christmas card.

Believe it or not, the holiday season is just around the corner. This year, spread holiday cheer and help MUSC's littlest patients by purchasing the 1998 Children's Hospital holiday cards.

Children's Hospital patients have been working hard all year long creating these wonderful works of art to add joy to your Christmas season.

Because the printing costs for each card are covered by generous local sponsors, all of the proceeds benefit the Children's Hospital. Money raised through the sale of holiday cards helps fund research for diseases that affect the young and improvements in Children's Hospital programs. It also helps buy paints, paper and other supplies that Children's Hospital patients use to create the Christmas cards each year.

A box of 20 cards and envelopes is $10. Here at MUSC, you can pick your cards up at the Carousel Gift Shop. They can also be purchased at First Union National Bank, NationsBank, Bank of South Carolina, First Federal of Charleston and South Carolina Federal Credit Union. Kiwanis Club of Charleston members will also be selling the cards.

For information, call the Children's Hospital Fund at 792-2624.

Children's Hospital patients whose artwork was selected as a 1998 Children's Hospital Holiday Card are: Hunter Ward, a 4-year-old orbital cellulitis patient from Goose Creek; Russell Saab, a 20-year-old sickle cell disease patient from Andrews; Jamie Noe, an 8-year-old intestinal virus patient from Summerville; Sullivan Leamond, a 4-year-old double liver transplant patient from Mt. Pleasant; Monica Kreber, a 9-year-old leukemia patient from Mt. Pleasant; Kimberly Burnett, an 8-year-old leukemia patient from Duncan; Courtney Church, a 6-year-old ear surgery patient from Andrews; Byron Jerideau, an 8-year-old dysrhythmia patient from Walterboro; Glory DeLee, an 18-year-old sickle cell disease patient from St. George; Kristin Patrick, a 3-year-old patient with an unknown virus on ECMO; Bryann Terry, a 10-year-old bone marrow transplant patient from North Charleston; Drew Lane, an 8-year-old leukemia patient from Beaufort; Daniel Stemke, an 8-year-old liver transplant patient from Isle of Palms; Joe Mantiply, a 6-year-old parietal contussion patient from Danville; Lateshia Crosson, an 11-year-old tumor patient from Myrtle Beach; Jerrell Anton Allen, a 10-year-old seizure patient from Florence; Taylor Kathleen Gall, a 10-year-old cerebral palsey patient from Myrtle Beach; Richie Ellis, a 7-year-old sickle cell patient from Florence; Brittany Hall, a 9-year-old leukemia patient from North Charleston; Joe Breaker, a 15-year-old sickle eell patient from Charleston.

Christmas card sponsors

• Alcoa/Mt. Holly
• Asten
• Beach Company
• CB Richard Ellis/Carmoody Company
• Cullum Mechanical Construction Company
• First Union National Bank
• Mr. and Mrs. David Gilston
• GTE Wireless
• Howe and Wyndham L.L.P.
• Johnson Controls
• JW Aluminum Company
• NationsBank
• Orion Specialty
• The Richards Group, Inc.
• Rogers and Brown Custom Brokers, Inc.
• Santee Cooper
• Seaboard Partners
• South Carolina Stingrays
• Staff Relief, Inc., SRI
• William M. Bird and Company, Inc.