The Marquette Tribune campus news since 1916
Volume 107, Number 17
Tuesday, February 13, 2024
www.marquettewire.org
'Big Steps for Little Hearts'
Photo courtesy of Callie Chiroff
Chiroff's Project Bubaloo generates funds to raise awareness for congenital heart disease by holding "Hops for Hearts," a 5k walk/run, in downtown Milwaukee April 19.
Project Bubaloo raises money for CHD research By Mia Thurow
mia.thurow@marquette.edu
T
ragedy struck for one Marquette professor less than a year after the birth of her son, but the way she channeled her grief to make a change in the medical research field has impacted the lives of millions. Callie Chiroff, clinical associate professor in the College of Nursing, gave birth to Theo James “Bubaloo”
Schlicht Sept. 27, 2017. Theo weighed just over three pounds and suffered from congenital heart disease, the most common birth defect that causes the heart to develop incorrectly. Theo died the following March after a lengthy battle with CHD, which Chiroff said shattered her world. Following the death of her son, she decided to work to spread awareness of CHD. That’s when she and her sister, Katherine Jansen, founded Project Bubaloo in 2018, a non-profit with a mission of spreading community awareness and advancing the quality of care for those affected by
congenital heart disease. Project Bubaloo’s main focus is generating funds for research projects that improve the care of CHD patients. “Helping my sister run Project Bubaloo is the most rewarding work I do. Raising money for the disease that took my nephew’s life is something I am so passionate about, so it doesn’t even feel like work. I want nothing more than to make him proud and continue to support my sister in her grief journey,” Jansen said in an email. The organization prides itself on “taking big strides for little hearts.”
To date, Project Bubaloo has raised over $600,000 for CHD research. The organization hosts events like 5K run/walk and their annual “Hops for Hearts” nights with beer and live music to generate donations for research. Tickets are currently available for the next Hops for Hearts event April 19 in Milwaukee, and regular donations can always be made on their website. In addition to raising money for CHD research, Project Bubaloo hosts nurse lectureships at Children’s Wisconsin, funds quality improvement kits and creates new education tools for hospital staff.
“What I am most proud of is how Callie was able to take the worst thing that could happen to anyone, and turn it into something for the greater good. Losing a baby is the worst thing imaginable, but … she lost her son and decided to make the world a better place. How amazing is that?” Jansen said in an email. Chiroff said she did not imagine the project having as much outreach as it does now across both the state and country, but she found a lot of support in the Milwaukee community from individuals who had also been personally affected See BIG on page 2
Fork Farms to bring fresh produce to MU campus on an accessible
other will be in the Alumni
since the water is nutrient
Marquette is hosting the
ent-based water solution— allows communities to be more integrated in farming and producing food. At Marquette, one machine will be housed in the STEM buildings while the
gain access to their basic food needs. Hostad said plants are infused with nutrient infused water, which pumps into the root chambers and sprinkles back down. He said
Lovell’s 2024 Presidential Address, the agricultural-based company builds advanced technological equipment that uses 98% less water and land than traditional agriculture.
this, that hits on the social innovation and hunger relief side, looking at how we might be able to hire students into our company to help us grow our
Index
Sports
Opinions
A&E
Sophomore guard back in lineup for the Golden Eagles.
Offering a community space will improve Milwaukee.
Skits inspired by Nick Cannon's 2005 comedy game show.
Food grown will and sustainable level. Based Memorial Union to be used infused, the plants have the first Fork Farms machine on in Ashwaubenon, Wiscon- by the backpack program. opportunity to grow, even a college campus. be donated to sin, this technology, the The food grown will be without soil. “This is the very first hydroponics— the ability given to the backpack proFirst introduced at Unipartnership we’ve had dibackpack program to grow food using nutri- gram and can help students versity President Michael rect with a university like By Trinity Zapotocky trinity.zapotocky@marquette.edu
Fork Farms, a hydroponics manufacturer, is partnering with Marquette to bring fresh and healthy food to
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SPORTS.......................................................5 OPINIONS..................................................9 CROSSWORD........................................10 COMICS.....................................................10 A&E................................................................11
Ross Returns PAGE 5
Skatepark investment PAGE 9
See FORK on page 2
Wild'N Out PAGE 12