The Next Generation

In 1971, Le Bonheur Club established Le Bonheur Club Teens as an extension of Le Bonheur Club’s fundraising and volunteering efforts at the hospital.

Now more than 50 years later, each August and September, high school girls apply to join Le Bonheur Club Teens. On average, 50 girls join Le Bonheur Club Teens and spend the school year helping Le Bonheur Club and Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital with a variety of activities.

These young women provide direct financial support by paying membership dues and assisting with fundraising activities like Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day, Pumpkin Run and other Le Bonheur Club fundraisers. Le Bonheur Club Teens creates future philanthropic leaders by exposing high school girls to fundraising, volunteering and leadership in philanthropy. Their participation helps ensure that Le Bonheur Club’s legacy lives on in the next generation.

A Medical Mystery

Hospital Stay Inspires Former Patient to Join Le Bonheur Club Teens

The summer prior to fifth grade, Holden Taylor became very ill. She had been stung on her abdomen and developed a rough, itchy rash. While the rash responded to hydrocortisone cream, Holden’s mom, Taylor, noticed her daughter had tender spots on her shoulders and neck.

Holden had a decreased appetite and experienced bouts of vomiting. A few weeks later the rash spread and Holden began having joint pain and stiffness, accompanied by heart palpitations and a fever. Taylor grew concerned and brought her daughter to Le Bonheur’s Emergency Department.

Doctors ran several rounds of tests and admitted Holden to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with a rare tick-borne illness and spent the next week under the care of infectious disease doctors.

While admitted to Le Bonheur, Holden was able to interact with certified child life specialists to help put her at ease and as she recovered, she played bingo and visited with a therapy dog.

“The doctors and my medical care team made me feel comfortable and well taken care of,” Holden
said. “Being in the hospital can be scary, but when I was at Le Bonheur, I knew I was receiving the care
I needed to make a full recovery.”

When the opportunity arose to give back to Le Bonheur by joining Le Bonheur Club Teens, Holden submitted her application and officially became a member in August 2022.

“As a former patient, I bring a unique perspective to Le Bonheur Club Teens,” Holden said. “It is so important to give back to the community and we are lucky to have Le Bonheur here in Memphis.” 

Holden has already participated in a toy drive for Le Bonheur patients and looks forward to engaging in more volunteer activities with Le Bonheur Club Teens.

Her Second Home

Lifelong Le Bonheur Patient Helps Other Kids in the Hospital

In August 2005, the Eggers family was enjoying a fun summer weekend at an Arkansas lake when their lives were changed forever. Ashley and Hamilton Eggers were grilling dinner when their 6-month-old daughter, Lilli, suddenly turned pale and lost consciousness. They rushed Lilli to a local emergency room. Doctors helped her regain consciousness and recommended the family follow up with Lilli’s pediatrician at Le Bonheur back in Memphis.

Lilli underwent multiple brain studies at Le Bonheur, yet the results came back normal. Finally, a sleep study at Le Bonheur provided answers: one of the tiny heart monitors placed on Lilli’s chest picked up an irregular heartbeat.

Lilli was referred to doctors at Le Bonheur’s Heart Institute where she was put on a 12-day halter monitor to see how often she was having episodes of dropped heartbeats. Results showed that Lilli had a second-degree heart block and her heart was skipping every other beat.

Le Bonheur has felt like a second home to me because I have spent my whole life there as a patient. I am so grateful for the care I have been provided and wanted to give back to others through Le Bonheur Club Teens. When you have been a patient yourself, you understand how patients in the hospital feel and I love being able to provide encouragement to them.

Lilli’s parents were devastated and scared for their only child, but they knew Lilli was in good hands.

Lilli was admitted and underwent a heart catheterization and had a pacemaker implanted the next day. Lilli’s procedures were a success and she returns annually for follow-up appointments.

“When I was 4 years old my doctor showed me his scar from cardiac surgery that was just like mine,” Lilli said. “It made a lasting impression on me and provided me with an instant feeling of comfort and relief that I was safe with my doctors.”

During her freshman year of high school, Lilli joined Le Bonheur Club Teens to give back to the hospital that has meant so much to her and her family.

“Le Bonheur has felt like a second home to me because I have spent my whole life there as a patient,” Lilli said. “I am so grateful for the care I have been provided and wanted to give back to others through Le Bonheur Club Teens. When you have been a patient yourself, you understand how patients in the hospital feel and I love being able to provide encouragement to them.”

Since her initial procedure, Lilli has undergone two additional surgeries and today, she is a thriving recent high school graduate who is looking forward to attending college in the fall. Le Bonheur has even inspired her future career path — Lilli plans to study to become a pediatric cardiology nurse so she can care for kids like her in the future.