Kimball Medical Center dedicates ED playroom in memory of area child For any family,an emergency room visit is a stressful experience,but thanks to a generous donation from local business partners,visitors to Kimball's Emergency Department will find a child-friendly environment designed in the spirit of a playful toddler who died just before her second birthday. Alex Sauickie of Liberty Tax Service and his wife, Jennifer, and children, Kaitlyn, 6, and Gracie, 1, and Joe Hicks, executive director of Kimball Medical Center, gather to dedicate the plaque naming the Chloe Alexis Sauickie Playroom near the hospital's Emergency Department. Chloe, who died in 2005 at age 21 months of Sudden Unexplained Death in Children, is pictured in the framed photo held by Alex. Since opening their first LibertyTax Service office in Hazlet in 2002,1989 Jackson Memorial High School graduatesAlex Sauickie and Michael Cybulski have committed to give back to the local community- pledging when opening a new office to provide their services for free during March of their first year in exchange for a donation to the local hospital. But with the successful opening of their third location in Lakewood in 2006, the drive to support Kimball Medical Center in Lakewood took on very special meaning for Sauickie. "My wife and I unexpectedly lost our 21-month-old daughter Chloe in July 2005 to what has been classified as Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood [SUDC],a type of SIDS [Sudden Infant Death Syndrome]," he said."We grew up Jackson, and Kimball has always been our community hospital,and the hospital's response to us following Chloe's death has just been overwhelming." In 2006,LibertyTax Service raised more than $2,600 for Kimball and donated it in memory of Chloe.During a recent luncheon reception in the newly appointed playroom that featured hot dogs and bags of cheese-flavored snacks - the toddler's favorite foods- hospital administrators and members of Chloe's family gathered to dedicate the Chloe Alexis Sauickie Playroom. "We know how stressful an Emergency Department visit can be for children and their parents,and at Kimball,we are committed to making each child's stay with us as comfortable as possible,"said Joe Hicks, executive director of Kimball."It has been well documented that play is vital to a child's well-being,as children are able to act out- through play- feelings they may not be able to put into words, including fear,anger and loss of control.Now, whether the child is the patient or a family member,Chloe's playroom will provide a safe place for playful distraction. "Thank you for sharing Chloe's memory with us- her spirit will watch over all who come to this playroom,"he added. ForAlex and Jennifer Sauickie,who attended the reception with their other children- Kaitlyn,6,and Gracie,1- as well as extended family and friends, the dedication provided an opportunity to remember the child they lost,as well as to raise awareness of the silent killer that claimed Chloe's life. "Not a day goes by that we don't think of Chloe,and by keeping her memory alive here in this playroom, it makes it a little easier,"Alex said. "Chloe's memory will always be alive here,"added Hicks,who noted that Kimball treats more than 13,000 children each year in the Emergency Department. Caryl Russo, vice president of development for Kimball who provided the closing remarks, noted that in addition to the visitors to the playroom, the plaque will also provide an opportunity for hospital staff to learn about the little girl whose name it bears. "Whenever we unveil a memorial plaque at Kimball, the staff wants to know about the person we are honoring," she said."The hospital staff will come to know the story of Chloe, and that means so much to all of us." Founded in 1997, LibertyTax Service is a United States-based company that specializes in the preparation of tax returns for individuals and small businesses and is the fastest-growing retail tax preparation company in the industry's history - with some 2,400 offices in the United States and Canada.To learn more, visit theirWeb site at Libertytax.com. Kimball's Emergency Department is staffed by a team of board-certified physicians who are certified in advanced cardiac life support, advanced trauma life support and pediatric advanced life support.This has earned the department designation by the American Heart Association as an advanced cardiac life support providing agency for children as well as adults. The physicians are supported by a team of specially trained nurses who are certified in pediatric advanced life support and highly skilled technicians. Kimball consistently ranks among theTop 10 hospitals in New Jersey - and among the top 10 percent of emergency departments in the nation - for patient satisfaction. To learn more about emergency services at Kimball, call 888-SBHS-123 (888- 724-7123).