Senior Keri Jucha was 18 hours away from death back in 2007. She suffered from a brain abscess: puss in the brain that caused her to speak only gibberish and immobilized her right leg. Jucha spent five hours in surgery, and nine additional days in Rady Children’s hospital. She was given another chance at life and six years later, she has been given the Youth Philanthropist of the Year Award for National Philanthropy Day.

“I got recognition because over the last seven years I have raised over $22,000 for Rady Children’s Hospital, bringing them a portable movie system, laptops, iPads, Polaroid cameras, DVD players, beanie babies and other goodies [for the patients],” said Jucha.

In response to receiving the Youth Philanthropist of the Year award, Jucha said, “It’s always nice to see that the work I’ve done [receive] recognition because I never expect it to … I just do my projects for the hospital out of desire to give back, so it’s nice to see other people appreciate it.”

Jucha had been raising money for Rady Children’s hospital by selling jewelry she made online. With the money she earned, she’s been buying iPads for the patients at the hospital to entertain themselves during their stays.

Her motivation for doing these charitable activities stems from her days at the hospital. After her brain surgery, she spent her time stringing together necklaces and bracelets, and playing board games with her fellow patients. “But after countless hours of the same routine I longed for something normal fifth graders would do. I asked my doctors if I could go to the movies but, of course, they said no which made the light bulb go off in my head to bring the movies to the hospital and that started my first project,” said Jucha.

Jucha is also involved in other charities supporting Rady Children’s, such as the annual “Shamu and You” walks that help raise money for the hospital.

Throughout her endeavors, Jucha has been supported by her friends and family, especially her parents and sisters. Nevertheless, none of this would have been possible if not for the staff at Rady Children’s hospital. Jucha expressed her appreciation by saying, “They’re amazing. I was 18 hours away from death and because of their amazing doctors, they were able to look at me and do some tests and 5 hours later I was on the surgery table.”