The Free Care Fund at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh ensures that no child is denied medical care. Since 1954, KDKA-TV has supported the fund through its annual holiday telethon, raising money to help local children in need.
This year, as the 72nd telethon approaches, viewers are invited to meet some of the children whose lives have been saved by UPMC Children’s care. Among them is 6-year-old River Schafer of Kittanning, who is serving as one of the telethon’s junior co-hosts.
River’s story is one of courage and resilience. From the moment he was born, doctors knew something was wrong.
“He had a black eye. He had bruising all over his back, and they didn’t know what was happening,” said his mother, Lauren Young.
At just three weeks old, River was diagnosed with factor VII deficiency, a rare blood clotting disorder. But symptoms persisted, and by nine months, he was also diagnosed with Glanzmann thrombasthenia, making him the only known child in the world with both disorders.
“It was scary, knowing there was no established protocol for him,” said his father, Rick Schafer. “We faced a lot of trial and error, letdowns, and empty hopes.”
Even minor cuts or scratches caused severe bleeding. River’s parents had to pad their home extensively to keep him safe, and by age two, he had been hospitalized 26 times.
By age four, it became clear that conventional care was insufficient. Simple childhood activities—riding a bike, jumping on a trampoline, running—were too dangerous for River. Doctors at UPMC Children’s Hospital recommended a bone marrow transplant.
River spent three months in the hospital, but complications arose. He developed autoimmune hemolytic anemia, one of the worst cases the hospital had ever seen. After an additional month of intensive care, River returned home to a hero’s welcome. Less than a week later, his condition worsened dramatically, and he was rushed back to the ICU.
“Doctors tried drug after drug, including experimental treatments,” Lauren said. Many of these medications were not covered by insurance, but the Free Care Fund stepped in.
“River wouldn’t be here today without the Free Care Fund,” Lauren said. “We couldn’t have afforded the treatment without it.”
River’s recovery has been remarkable. Today, he is a first-grader enjoying a normal childhood: playing video games, racing four-wheelers, riding bikes, and playing sports.
His family, grateful for the support they received, has begun giving back. In October, River’s school organized a “penny a vote pumpkin war,” with half of the proceeds, matched by a scholarship fund in River’s name, donated to the Free Care Fund.
“We were on the receiving end for long enough; now it’s our turn to give back,” Rick said.
River’s story illustrates the life-saving impact of the Free Care Fund. Viewers are encouraged to support the 72nd annual telethon on Thursday, Dec. 18, from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Donations help thousands of local children and their families each year.
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