While growth is exciting, Cook Children’s know it brings challenges that can impact team members, visitors, neighbors and our community. Cook Children’s want to share the ‘what and why’ about the work the health care system is doing to continue to serve children and families.

Growing with the Community

Fort Worth, the greater DFW metro area and the surrounding regions that rely on Cook Children’s for specialty pediatric care are growing. Cook Children’s is prepared to grow with them.

“North Texas is expanding rapidly, and we’re here to match that expansion,” said Spencer Seals, senior vice president of Real Estate, Construction, and Facilities Planning for Cook Children's Health Care System. “Through the West Tower and other construction projects, we are building future capacity.”

With population growth comes increased demand for Cook Children’s services. For example, as the largest Level IV NICU in North Texas, Cook Children's cares for critically ill babies from hospitals both nearby and hundreds of miles away.

Cook Children’s also has one of the busiest emergency rooms in the nation, treating broken bones, severely ill children and patients transported by plane, helicopter and ambulance in need of lifesaving care. It’s not uncommon to see 500 to 600 patients in a single day during the peak season, with many requiring admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

As a result, beds in the PICU and NICU are frequently full, and children and families must wait for beds. To make sure Cook Children’s can be here for every child, the health care system created a 10-year plan designed to expand the campus and meet the needs of patients and families for decades to come.

Progress and Milestones

So far this year, Cook Children’s has made progress or completed numerous projects.

Kids’ Place
To make room for the West Tower expansion, the Kids’ Place Child Development Center - a daycare center for Cook Children’s staff - relocated from Southland Avenue to a new facility on Cook Children's Fort Worth campus along 9th Avenue between Cooper and Pruitt streets.

West Tower Infrastructure Takes Shape
Several foundational phases of the West Tower project are now complete.

Phase 1 of excavation, including installation of two tower cranes and construction of the basement structure, has been completed. The former Alliance for Children building has been demolished, and construction of the West Tower Garage is underway.

Meanwhile, crews continue expanding the South Utility Plant, which provides electrical power across the campus. As part of that work, teams excavated a major utility tunnel beneath 7th Avenue.

Building the Foundation

Much of the construction visible today is creating the infrastructure necessary to support the future West Tower.

The 10-story, 760,000-square-foot tower will house a new PICU, an expanded Heart Center and a Transitional Care Unit. It will also create opportunities to expand the NICU and Emergency Department within the existing hospital.

Many of the lane closures along 8th Avenue, Rosedale Street and throughout the Medical District have been necessary to relocate and upgrade utilities that support the future building. This work includes:

• Sewer lines

• Storm drains

• Internet access

• Irrigation

• Water flow

• Fire water

Teams are also relocating gas lines and Oncor power lines.

Cook Children’s hopes to wrap up the 8th road work by November.

After that, all West Tower construction should be contained to the Cook Children’s Fort Worth campus. There will still be construction on Rosedale, but that work is being done by the city on behalf of the entire Medical District.

As construction continues, Cook Children’s construction website is the best place to find up-to-date information of lane, road and sidewalk closures.

Seals explained that his team and their partners have done everything they can to mitigate the impact the construction has on the community, staff, and patients. For example, Cook Children’s avoided road closures on 7^th Avenue, where utility work needed to be done, by having crews tunneling beneath the street.

Still, Seals knows the lane closures and traffic can be a challenge. However, if Cook Children’s is going to grow with the community, the utility work was always a necessary growing pain.

“In order to meet the needs of the Cook Children’s system, we had to do this infrastructure work with or without the West Tower,” Seals explained. “And in order to expand the NICU, PICU and the Heart Center, we needed to add the tower. There is literally not enough room to do that without the West Tower addition.”

What to Expect Next

Before utilities can be connected to the West Tower, crews must lower portions of Terrell Avenue and 7th Avenue. This work will create the proper grade needed to manage stormwater around the future building. Terrell Avenue is expected to reopen to both pedestrian and vehicle traffic by summer 2027.

Over the next six months, Cook Children's expects to reach several additional milestones, including:

• Completion of utility work along 8th Avenue

• Continued construction of new parking garages

• Installation of three additional tower cranes

• Completion of the first of five major phases of West Tower construction

• Advancement of the second phase of basement construction

Looking Ahead

By late 2030, Cook Children’s will have added more than 200 beds in the West Tower, renovated parts of the hospital and built in extra space to prepare for future growth.

The West Tower reflects Cook Children’s growth - from 56 private rooms in the PICU to a state-of-the-art Heart Center, with everything a patient needs from surgery to discharge in contiguous space to more beds and spaces for families to heal.

With the space vacated in the existing hospital, Cook Children’s is undertaking a 155,000 square-foot renovation, including more cancer services, highly specialized interventional radiology and the addition of 37 NICU beds to bring the total to nearly 150 beds.

For more than a century, Cook Children’s has risen to meet the needs of the moment - the health care system has expanded its campus, evolved its technology and added services to improve the health and well-being of all children in its care. This expansion is a continuation of the system’s Promise, “Everything for the child.”

Cook Children’s appreciates your patience. You can read more about the expansion in this story, which is updated with the latest construction impacts.

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A subtle strength takes root.

It’s found in every supportive smile

And every brave pursuit.

It’s the anchor guiding the way,

A heart so proud and true—

The hope at Cook Children’s

Starts with fathers like you.

This Father’s Day weekend, Cook Children’s celebrated the incredible dads, father figures, and caregivers who bring strength and hope to patients every single day. Festivities span the entire health care system, bringing families together for meaningful quality time at medical center campuses in Prosper and Fort Worth. 

At the medical center in Fort Worth, the system's tiniest treasures celebrated their very first Father’s Day with their families in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Across town at the Prosper campus, families gathered in the atrium to create handcrafted picture frames, unique artwork, and lasting memories.

The summer is gearing up, and camps have already begun! For some Cook Children’s patients, the joys and anticipation of camp are dancing through their minds. Camp is nothing short of magical. There is something so fulfilling about stepping out of your normal day-to-day life and stepping into a space filled with encouragement, joy and challenges that make you feel like you are literally on top of the world. New friendships are created, fears are overcome and new discoveries are made – about self, others, and the world.

For patients at Cook Children’s, a week at summer camp can feel impossible given physical, medical and emotional challenges. For the parents and caregivers of these patients, fear takes over at the thought of every possible bad scenario. This is where Camps for Kids at Cook Children’s takes the wheel. Camps for Kids exists to provide a camp experience for children that are not able to participate in a traditional camp due to physical and medical needs.

Cook Children’s has offered camps to patients since 1981 and partners with camps around Texas to host a week or weekend. Currently camps are held at Camp John Marc, Camp Carter, Camp for All, Camp Mak-A-Dream and Camp El Tesoro. Camp Sanguinity was the first camp offered in the summer of 1981 to children with cancer and their siblings. In 1995, more camps were added to the summer line up. Camps for Kids was established in 2001 as an official camp program to support more diagnoses and populations. 

Today, Cook Children’s Camps for Kids offers 14 week long summer camps and 15 weekend camps throughout the year. These camps serve many different populations of patients which requires a large number of medical staff and volunteers to ensure that each camper is safe and has the best experience possible. Teams from all over the medical center and across multiple departments come together to direct and staff camps. Many Cook Children's team members use their own time to volunteer at camps throughout the year. It is a beautiful collaboration of many different parts of the Cook Children’s community coming together to serve.

Summer Camps include:

• Camp Reynal – Kids with kidney disease
• Camp Mak-A-Dream – Young adults with cancer
• Camp Discovery (day camp) – Kids with ADHD
• Camp TLC – Kids with spina bifida
• Camp Oasis – Kids with Chron’s and colitis
• Camp MDA – Kids with muscular dystrophy
• Camp Moss – Kids with heart disease
• Camp Lancelot – Kids with Type 1 diabetes
• Camp Sanguinity – Kids with cancer and their siblings
• Camp Jubilee – Kids with sickle cell anemia
• Camp Spark (day camp) – Kids with epilepsy
• Camp Ailihpomeh – Kids with hemophilia
• Camp Hope – Kids with HIV
• Camp Fire Camp El Tesoro (Camp Fire Camp El Tesoro de la Vida) – Kids who have experienced the death of a loved one

Many of the weekend camps are family camps which provides another level of support to patients, siblings and family unit. Having the opportunity to process and learn together while also experiencing the magic of camp and activities alongside one another strengthens these patients and families.

Weekend Camps include:

• Camp ID – Families from Infections Disease clinic
• Camp O’Hana – Families of cancer survivors
• Camp Courage – Teen sibling camp
• Camp Strong – Families from Cook Children's rehabilitation unit
• Camp Believe – Teens with bladder exstrophy
• Camp Renal – Teens with kidney disease
• Camp Rheumies – Teens with a rheumatology diagnosis
• Camp RISE – Families who have experienced a trauma
• Camp Morning Star – Families who have lost a child
• Camp NOW – Families from neuro/oncology
• Camp Rise – Teens with Type 1 diabetes
• Camp E.E.G – Family with a child who has epilepsy
• Camp LIGHT – Teens with cancer
• Camp Star – Teens from rehabilitation unit
• Camp Tecumseh – Families of patients with HIV

What Makes Camp Special

 “Camp is important for kids for so many reasons," says Katie Campbell, CCLS, Camps for Kids Coordinator. "There are the universal reasons like the opportunity to be exposed to new things, learn new skills, develop their independence, and build new friendships. What makes Camps for Kids special is that it provides kids with an opportunity to attend camp that may not qualify for other camps because of their medical needs. Camps for Kids allows kids to attend camp and meet other kids who have similar diagnosis or shared experiences. The community that is created around those shared experiences provides perspective for campers and adults involved and decreases the amount of isolation kids feel based upon their diagnosis. Meeting someone else who also gets chemotherapy, had to have heart surgery, needs insulin, or has a brother or sister who has to go to the hospital for a long time is powerful. Camps for Kids has been able to grow the weekend family camp program over the last ten years and the opportunities to create community and provide support to one another has been healing for entire families as well.”

Jessica Russell, CCLS shares a few thoughts from campers: “One of our campers was excited that she met someone else who had similar medical experiences as her. She said, ‘She’s basically just like me!’ Another camper shared that she feels like camp is a second home.”

Kimberly Sheehan, RN is a former Emergency Department nurse and long-time camp volunteer. For 10 years she has been volunteering at Camp El Tesoro De La Vida for children who have experienced the death of a loved one. She is also a Warm Place volunteer and helps facilitate a sibling grief group every other week. She sees the differences between regular group therapy and a week at camp. She shares how quickly the children at camp connect on the first day. They are asked to stand up with their peers depending on the loved one that they have lost – father, mother, brother, sister, grandparent. This is how they start their week. Sheehan says that they initially look incredibly sad and then look around and realize that all the people standing with them know exactly how they feel. She said this is the moment when conversations begin between campers about their losses. “These kids have been given a safe place where they get to talk about all the feelings they have associated with losing a loved one. The uniqueness of camp is that they are living in a cabin with kids their age who l know exactly how it feels to lose someone and they are forced to live together all week and navigate their emotions together,” says Sheehan. She says a week at camp changes how they show up to group therapy. They are more willing to process and talk after a week at camp.

Sheehan goes on to explain one of the most profound aspects of camp. “This camp is so different because these kids are so open in therapy time during camp. They may be crying because they verbalized something out loud that they have never been given the opportunity to say before, but then an hour later, they are playing in the pool or doing archery. It gives them the opportunity to feel all the big emotions and sit with those emotions for a little bit of time while also realizing these feelings are not permanent and they can recover. I truly think that makes them realize they can feel big emotions and still go about their day/life.” The same is true for kids with a medical diagnosis. They realize that they can face the challenge of their diagnosis while still climbing the rock wall all the way to the top!

From soaring through the air on zip-line to swimming for the first time ever to catching their first fish, patients experience the thrill of being brave and capable outside of medical treatments or grief. They get to experience joy alongside their bravery. From stargazing under the Texas sky to creating a stunning piece of art, campers get a moment to process their challenges and fears. Sitting around a dining table with new friends who have shared the same hard as each other is empowering and comforting. The work of camp goes beyond a week or a weekend. It is a life-changing and life-giving experience.

A child life specialist with Camp Morning Star, a camp for families that have lost a child, shared a powerful story. She shared of a family that experienced huge challenges following the death of one of their children. One sibling was struggling with their own new medical diagnosis and had retreated into a very dark space. Their pain was apparent in all aspects of their life. At the end of a weekend together at Camp Morning Star, the sibling’s mom shared that the weekend together was the first time she had seen her child’s old self begin to resurface, and she was so grateful. During this same time of sharing, another mom shared that she also had lost a sibling at a young age and had a period of darkness in her life. She took the opportunity to encourage this mom to remain present for her child. This is the beauty of camp. Nothing compares to families coming together, getting to know one another over a weekend, and then encouraging and supporting one another through their challenges.

"Cook Children's at its best"

Camps for Kids continues to grow and offer more camps and opportunities to Cook Children’s patients and families. “I know that I am biased, but I believe that Camps for Kids is a shining example of Cook Children’s at its best. The amount of partnership it takes to provide a high-quality program takes commitment and engagement from the entire multidisciplinary team- doctors, nurses, advance practice providers, child life specialist, chaplains, respiratory therapist, physical therapist, clinical therapist, pharmacists, nurse educators, social workers, creative artists, facility dogs, and volunteers. Experiencing the teamwork is impressive and only strengthens the relationship the teams have with one another within the medical center,” says Campbell.

Camp is truly remarkable. It is a magical time when all things feel right in the world and weight is lifted off of hearts and souls. New friendships. New healing. New experiences. Camps for Kids allows children to be present in the reality of their life while realizing that their reality doesn’t have to limit their fun or their reality of also being a kid! Campbell states, “Camp makes a difference for everyone involved.”

Ricky Morris is dedicated to the Cook Children’s promise not just at work, but in every aspect of his life. In honor of Nurse's Week, we are sharing Ricky’s story and how he embodies our values inside and outside of Cook Children’s walls. 

Ricky has been a member of the Cook Children’s family for 15 years across a variety of units.  

He served as a patient care technician in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU), Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and the Behavioral Health unit until a recent move to the Nurse Residency Program.

Over the years, he and his wife have not only had four biological children, but they also added 12 foster children to their family. The couple adopted six children and fostered six more who, as Ricky puts it, “adopted us.” Three of the children have complex medical issues, and two are still patients at Cook Children’s.  

Ricky and his Cook Children's family

The Morris’ oldest adopted daughter is the reason they started fostering. The couple are active in their church’s youth ministry group and became close with a family who was fostering 11 girls. After a year of knowing one another, one of the girls “said very point blank she was looking for a family,” Ricky said. “And she just said, ‘y’all could adopt me.’ And that’s how it all started.” 

The Morris’ adopted the 11-year-old girl as well as her brother and half-sister in 2006 and 2007. In 2010, they started working with three medically complex children and adopted them, too. Over the next five years, they fostered six other children who aged out of foster care, but are considered part of the family all the same. Their family gatherings, Ricky said, “are what you would consider organization chaos.” 

Since Ricky joined the nurse residency program in October, he has been able to meet many of the people who have taken care of his kids. He remembers their dedication to his children and is able to see them provide that same continuity of care for every child they treat.

Two of his children are still patients at Cook Children’s, and when he brings them to appointments, he is still amazed “at the outstanding care they receive.” That consistent, attentive care is why Ricky loves Cook Children’s.  

“Cook Children’s looks at the individual child like a child; not a number, not a case study,” he said. “Each child is met where they are, and worked with individually and on an individual basis, on an individual care plan. Like the Promise says, each life is sacred.” 

The collaboration at Cook Children’s makes that individualized care possible, he said. Everyone does their part to do what is best for the patients and their families.  

Relating to his patients and families

Ricky’s colleagues are proud to have him on the Nurse Residency Program, said Lizzie Marshall, Manager of the Nurse Residency.  

“Ricky came into the Nurse Residency Program with an open mind and a genuine humility for the process of rotating through multiple units,” said Lizzie Marshall, Nurse Manager.  

Recently, Ricky moved to Hematology and Oncology as his home unit. While he fully embraced the experience of each rotation, Lizzie said, he is “truly thriving” with hematology and oncology patients. 

Ricky brings a unique perspective and empathy to patients on this unit, because he, too, is a cancer survivor. In 2021, Ricky said he sat with a patient on the oncology floor as a sitter. The first night, he told his wife that’s where he needed to be. That same year, he was diagnosed with cancer. 

“And I felt even more called to be in the oncology department,” he said. “To understand and relate with them on different procedures and options.” He is able to empathize with the struggles and fear that the diagnosis brings. Lizzie said Ricky is a natural leader and consistently goes above and beyond.  

“During this year’s ice storm, he even made arrangements to stay near the hospital to ensure he could work his shifts and continue caring for our patients,” she said. “He shows up early, stays late, and is a constant source of support for both his teammates and the patients he serves.” 

Tina Manshadi, M.D. from Cook Children’s Pediatrics (Plano) shared this mother’s experience from a recent newborn class session:

“I remember a mom who came to class looking really worried about whether her baby would be getting enough milk in those early days,” Dr. Manshadi explained. “She kept saying, ‘How will I know?’ So, we sat together and walked through all the little clues we look for, such as how a baby feeds, how they’re gaining weight, monitoring diapers, and the signs that her milk supply was coming in just fine. As we talked, you could see her shoulders relax. By the end, we had a plan that matched her goals, and she knew she wouldn’t be figuring it all out alone. We were a team, and that made all the difference.”

The ‘team’ approach is how the pediatricians at Cook Children’s view newborn care. Below, four of our pediatricians leading these classes answer some of the big questions and help prepare parents for the classes.

Beyond the basics, what is the primary benefit parents gain from attending this class?

“It is a great chance to understand what to expect from a pediatrician’s office and to get a sense of the doctor who might be seeing you a whole bunch those first several years,” says Alison Hsu, M.D., from Cook Children’s Pediatrics (Parkwood). “There are no dumb questions,” she emphasizes.

Amy Stockhausen, M.D. from Cook Children’s Pediatrics (Carrollton) says “expectant parents who attend this class have the chance to really communicate with and get to know the physician teaching the class.” “They have the opportunity to ask questions they are particularly worried about and get answers from a physician instead of online,” Dr. Stockhausen continues.

For a new parent arriving feeling unsure or worried, what does a typical newborn class look like? What can they do to prepare beforehand?

Dr. Hsu encourages that since “these tend to be smaller classes; it can be structured in the way that works best for the parents attending.” “We have a presentation we can go over if you’re not sure what to ask or expect, but we can also spend extra time on topics of interest, skip past things that aren’t of interest, and have free and open discussion. To prepare, parents can certainly come with specific questions or considerations for their situation.”

What is one essential topic you cover that surprises parents the most, and why is it so critical for those first few weeks?

“One thing that always surprises parents is just how normal so many newborn behaviors really are,” says Dr. Manshadi. “Frequent feeding, quirky sleep patterns, sneezing, hiccups, and plenty of crying are all part of healthy development. Once parents learn this, you can almost see the relief—they realize their baby isn’t ‘difficult,’ they’re simply being a newborn. That reassurance can make those first few weeks feel a whole lot lighter,” she encourages.

What do you hope is the single biggest takeaway every parent carries home with them after their class?

Dr. Stockhausen reminds parents “that they have good instincts, even if they have little experience in caring for babies.” “There is a lot of information from friends, neighbors, family and the internet; I hope families learn that they are the best source of knowledge about what is right for their baby and their family. We are here to support them with education and scientific advice whenever they need us!”

“I want every parent to walk away knowing they’re never on this journey alone,” encourages Dr. Manshadi. “Welcoming a new baby is exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming—and that’s exactly why we’re here. Whether it’s a big worry or a small question that pops up, I want parents to feel comfortable reaching out anytime.”

How do these classes provide support for the parents as they navigate life with a newborn?

Diana Nguyen, D.O. from Cook Children’s Pediatrics (Parkwood) says “attending a class will give parents an introduction to the clinic and a chance to meet with the pediatrician. You may also get to meet and chat with other parents who are experiencing the same things you are or have the same questions as you do.”

The "team" approach doesn't end when the class is over; it’s the beginning of a lifelong partnership in your child’s health. If you’re expecting or have recently welcomed a newborn, we invite you to join us at one of our participating locations.

Below is a list of all clinics offering these newborn classes and the links to sign up. We look forward to being a part of your journey!

• Cook Children’s Pediatrics (Aubrey)
• Cook Children's Pediatrics (Collin County)
• Cook Children’s Pediatrics (Keller Parkway)
• Cook Children’s Pediatrics (Lake Worth)
• Cook Children’s Pediatrics (Parkwood)
• Cook Children’s Pediatrics (Plano)
• Cook Children’s Pediatrics (Windhaven)

More Than Just A Day

"The Cook Children’s NICU annual reunion is so much more than a date on the calendar for our family, it's stepping back into the place that forever shaped our story.

As first-time parents, we expected a typical delivery and the joy of bringing home a healthy baby. After a normal pregnancy, we were stunned when our son was born with severe congenital complications and immediately rushed to Cook Children’s for specialized care. In a matter of moments, our world had shifted. What we thought would be a brief hospital stay became 110 days of uncertainty, growth, and learning how to parent in ways we never imagined.

During that time, the NICU became our second home. The nurses, physicians, and therapists were more than caregivers. They became our steady support in the darkest days. They taught us how to care for our fragile baby, encouraged us through setbacks, and rejoiced with us over every bit of progress. We never felt alone, they were there when we felt like we couldn’t do it on our own.

Because of that, coming back each year means everything. We reconnect with the staff who once worked patiently with him, and now they get to see him walking, running, and talking. Watching their reactions to the little boy he has become is something we treasure deeply. The place that once held so much fear now holds overwhelming gratitude.

We are grateful for the opportunity to return each year to not only celebrate how far our son, and so many other children and parents have come, but also to honor the incredible work the NICU staff does to help children like McLane. We cannot thank the NICU team enough." 

- The Randolph Family (Parker, Isabella and McLane)

NICU Reunion 2026

This year, the reunion will be on Sunday, May 3rd from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. at the outside lawn in front of Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth. If you have any questions about the reunion, please reach out to Lauren Austin at nicureunion@cookchildrens.org.

Each year more than 10,000 children are diagnosed with cancer and nearly one in three cases is a form of leukemia. There are two main types of acute leukemia, with Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) being the least common in children. In 2025, George Morford was diagnosed with AML at 8-years-old.

George’s diagnosis and hospitalization came one month before The Blast, a community walk along the Trinity River benefitting the Cook Children’s Hematology and Oncology Center.  His family and friends formed “George’s Purple Tomatoes,” on his behalf since he couldn’t go and they ended up becoming the organization’s largest team of 132 participants that year.

Now in remission, George will walk The Blast for the first time as the leader of his renamed team “George’s Funky Town Fight Club” at the 2026 event on Saturday, March 28 at Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth.

“Cook Children’s is meant for kids, and it has everything a kid could need and it makes me mostly only remember the good things,” said George.

It’s why The Blast is close to the Morford family’s hearts. Support George and all of his colleagues by clicking here to register for or donate today! 

The diagnosis

After weeks of feeling ill and various doctor appointments, Sarah Morford, George’s mom, noticed bruises on his body. Sarah knew something wasn’t right; a mother’s instinct is rarely wrong. The next morning, she woke him up and told him to gather his favorite stuffed animal and blanket. She looked up the nearest children’s hospital and drove immediately to Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth.

The staff listened as Sarah recounted their journey; George hadn’t been to school for three weeks because he was sick.

“The medical staff began palpating his stomach within five minutes and told us they wanted to rule out cancer,” said Sarah.

What came next happened so fast that Sarah barely had enough time to tell her husband, Zac Morford, that they were at the medical center. He rushed to his wife and son, arriving just in time to hear the ugly, six-letter, earth-shattering word.

Cancer.

Holly Pacenta, M.D., director of Cellular Immunotherapy at Cook Children’s Hematology and Oncology Center, diagnosed George on Feb. 26, 2025.

“This is serious. I wish you guys weren’t here,” Dr. Pacenta recalls telling the Morfords and reassuring them they were in the best hands. “We have a clinical trial through a collaboration with St. Jude and their doctors. We hope this treatment is the next best thing and while it’s scary, I do feel like the odds are in your favor.”

According to the American Cancer Society, AML starts in the bone marrow, the soft inner part of certain bones, where new blood cells are made, and most often, AML moves quickly from the bone marrow into the blood, and/or other parts of the body including the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, central nervous system (brain and spinal cord).

By 3 p.m., the medical center staff moved George to a room on the fifth floor, where he would live for the next five weeks. Sarah affectionately calls it the “fifth-floor AML hotel.”

George began chemotherapy the next day.

The hero she didn’t know she needed; Cook Children’s emphasis on family-centered care

Outside the medical center walls, friends and family showed up in little and big ways: text messages, letters, care baskets, spreading awareness for the stem cell ‘Fort Worth Swab Drive’ and creating a team for The Blast 2025. George’s friends never made him feel forgotten. They even filmed a weekly update every Friday from their classroom recapping everything from crushes between students and the latest school sports highlights from a student news anchor.

Inside the medical center walls, George’s care team took care of him and his family. On one particular day, one particular nurse made a world of difference for Sarah. George was admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) due to complications. His body was filling up with fluid due to a complication from his treatment, and it put pressure on his heart and lungs.

Laurel Summers, a PICU nurse, and Sarah teamed up on what Sarah recalls as one of the longest, darkest days the family endured. She says Laurel was delicate, listening to her concerns about George losing his dignity as an 8-year-old. For instance, instead of using the word ‘diaper,’ Summers coined the term ‘hospital pants.’

“I think knowing the small acts of kindness I showed Sarah that day made a lasting impression is super rewarding to know that it helps,” said Summers.

As a result of the complications George experienced, his medical team decided to modify his chemotherapy plan.

“I was completely spiraling. I mean, I truly had no idea, if he would live or die,” said Sarah.

Dr. Pacenta says it was a hard decision but necessary.

“You have to take a step back, if the side effects outweigh the benefits,” said Dr. Pacenta

Sarah recalls being terrified, but Summers focused on Sarah’s care too.

“She put her arms around me in the chair and sometimes you just need human touch, to just release something within you,” said Sarah. 

Sarah recalls Summers’ thoughtfulness. When she noticed Sarah hadn’t eaten all day, she brought her a drink and snacks from the nurses’ lounge.

“I'll just never forget her as somebody who I just felt went so above and beyond that day to show just a different level of empathy,” said Sarah. “She's so good at her job. I remember her face. I could pull it out of a lineup.”

George experienced complications from fluid but made a full recovery after the modified treatment plan.

The reunion

Months later Sarah took to social media to publicly thank Summers for her care and kindness. When Summers heard about the Facebook post, it lifted her spirits as she realized she gave the family exactly what they needed, when they needed it most.

 “That day I felt like there wasn’t anything I could do to make their situation any better,” said Summers. “It was such a sweet and unexpected message that we rarely get. We rarely hear that we made an impact on a family.”

The Morfords and Summers didn’t cross paths for the rest of George’s admission. On Feb. 26, 2026, one year to the date that George was admitted to Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth, that changed.

When the Morford family thought they were coming in to help with The Blast, a tap on the shoulder and a long hug from Summers changed the day. George and Sarah finally reunited with Summers for the first time.

“I’ve seen your face in my head so many times,” Sarah said to Summers right after the surprise. “Thank you for being there on that day, thank you for hugging me and for feeding me and just seeing me.”  

George has made a full recovery from his treatment complications and is in remission today and says he is grateful to everyone who supported him.

“My family was just the most supportive, and best thing that could ever happen to me,” said George.

Photo credit: Meredith Green Photography

Four-year-old Evalyn Scuderi is like any other toddler: she loves Moana, lights, music, swimming and being hugged. Vivacious Evalyn is one of many patients at Cook Children’s born with a rare disease.

She was diagnosed with Trisomy 18, which affects 3 out of every 10,000 live births in the US and is caused by changes to the number or structure of a person’s chromosomes, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. This causes low birth weight and a small head, mouth, and jaw. Their hands typically form clenched fists with fingers that overlap. They also might have birth defects involving the hips and feet, heart and kidney problems, and intellectual disability. Only about 10-25% of these children are expected to live longer than one year.

Evalyn is defying the odds and enjoying each day as it comes.

“She will wiggle her arms and legs in joy and make the happiest of sounds and just plant the biggest kiss on your face when you pick her up,” her mother, Amber Marie Scuderi said. “It’s humbling, because she is just happy you’re there to love her and for her to love on you!”

Amber Marie says they are living through a changing narrative as a new American Academy of Pediatrics clinical report was released last year for caring for children with Trisomy 18.

“I have learned so much from other parents who have gone before us and now we are blessed to walk with others who go after us to understand what these sweet kids are capable of and how they function,” Amber Marie said.

Amber Marie encourages others to remember that children with Trisomy 18 are more than their diagnosis and that it’s important to help them experience the world around them. Evalyn, described as “adrenaline junkie,” has gone sledding and down water slides, and does everything that her sister does in an adapted way.

“We never know what illness will be her last, BUT we know that when her race is done, we did everything in our power to make sure she went home to LIVE!” Amber Marie said. “So do something meaningful for them now, embrace them for who they are and adapt for them to experience the world around them too! You’re far more capable to do this than you think!"

Meet Máximo

Two-year-old Máximo Sagrero was born with Menkes disease, a rare disorder that often occurs in males. It is caused by a gene mutation that affects how the body transports and maintains copper levels and affects the body. It affects how a child grows and can cause damage to the brain and nervous system. In the US, the incidence of Menkes ranges between one in every 50,000 and one in every 250,000 live births, according to the National Institutes of Health.

“Máximo is not defined by his diagnosis. He’s defined by his resilience, by the love that surrounds him and by the faith that carries us through the hardest days and reminds us that God created him with purpose,” says Máximo’s mother, Katy Sagrero.

Máximo loves playing with his toys, listening to music, looking at colorful lights, playing with his cousins and participating in his therapies. Katy says Máximo has come so far and he has encouraged so many others.

“His first couple of years were scary and I was anxious about everything, unsure if the next illness would be his last!” Katy said. “But God has given us unimaginable peace and strength to persevere and Máximo has overcome more than I could have ever imagined. He’s our little resilient warrior dude, and we are proud of EVERYTHING he does.”

Menkes disease is characterized by coarse, kinky and silver-toned hair. Katy says that Máximo barely had any hair when he was born and she noticed it was brittle and white when it started growing in, which was surprising since she and her husband have dark hair.

“After starting the clinical trial and daily copper injections, his hair began changing from the inside out,” Katy said. “Now he has a full head of thick, dark, kinky hair and it’s the number one thing people comment on. The evolution of his hair from weak and brittle to strong and full really mirrors his journey so far.”

Katy says that early detection is critical and makes a big difference in a child’s trajectory. She says Máximo had experienced seizures before he was diagnosed.

Katy shared her advice for other parents who receive a Menkes diagnosis for their child:

“What honestly felt like a tragedy when my son was diagnosed, has actually been the biggest blessing of my life. My husband and I have grown stronger as a unit, our faith has become deeper and our biggest asset, assuring us that Máximo was given to us intentionally and purposefully. It’s shown us that people are so incredible and Menkes has united our family, friends, church and community in a way I couldn’t have dreamed. Just like us, you will  appreciate the smaller things most take for granted and hopefully realize that God doesn’t make mistakes. He knew exactly what he was doing when He gave us Máximo and He knows exactly what He is doing by giving you your precious Menkes warrior too.”

SOURCES:
Pyle, A. K., George, T. N., Cummings, J. J., & Laventhal, N. T. (2025). Guidance for caring for infants and children with trisomy 13 and trisomy 18: Clinical report. Pediatrics, 156(2). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2025-072719

Ramani PK, Parayil Sankaran B. Menkes Disease. [Updated 2023 Nov 14]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560917/

Surfer Bethany Hamilton knows the pain of losing a loved one to a bathtub drowning. Fifteen months ago, Bethany’s three-year-old nephew died after drowning in a bathtub. According to the family’s donation page, the toddler was sick and soaking in a bathtub with six inches of water just 15 feet away from the kitchen and living room. The page stated, “He was found unconscious--which is baffling as he's the strongest child of his 5 siblings at that age and an amazing swimmer, even in the open ocean.”

Sophia Price, trauma injury prevention specialist at Cook Children’s, offers tips to follow at bathtime:

1. Always ensure an adult stays at the side of the tub, in reach of the child, as this is too big of a responsibility for siblings.
2. Avoid multi-tasking such as talking on the phone, washing clothes, preparing dinner or anything that will cause a distraction from bathing the child.
3. Always be prepared by making sure to gather all bathtub essentials such as towels, soap, lotion and toys prior to bathing the child, so that the child is not left alone in the tub.
4. If you must leave the bathroom during bathtime, wrap the child in a towel and take them with you. If there are other children in the house, be sure to secure the door to the bathroom.
5. When bathtime is finished, be sure to drain the tub of all water, and remove all toys.
6. Use safe proof items to secure the bathroom door to prevent children from accessing the bathroom without an adult.

Drowning is preventable, and we want to help your children stay safe. Learn more about how to keep your family safe during bath time with our Lifeguard Your Child campaign.

Hunter Ezernack, an 11-year-old from Louisiana, comes to Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth for health care … and for haircuts. Hunter is nonverbal and diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder. At other hair salons, he tends to kick and scream. But Jasmine Villarreal, manager and stylist at Cook Children’s Mirror Mirror, knows how to put Hunter at ease. Jasmine has some tricks up her sleeve – shielding his wheelchair with a plastic drape, giving Hunter combs to play with, and soothing him with the hum of the hair dryer. Jasmine says appointments for kids like Hunter might take a little longer than normal. But it’s fulfilling when stylists can make children feel safe and a little pampered.

“I want them to be able to come here and feel special,” Jasmine said. “We see kids with all different situations. We’re not scared. We welcome them.” 

Groundbreaking Technique Offers Breathing Relief to Athletes

Despite being in great shape, a 13-year-old athlete experienced chest pain and trouble catching her breath during exercise. Pulmonologist John Robertson, M.D. and his colleagues at the Cook Children’s Exercise Respiratory Center in Prosper put Jessye Tout on a treadmill to find out whether it was her voice box or her windpipe causing the discomfort. With a camera through Jessye’s nose and her feet pounding the treadmill, the team was able to take an in-depth look at her breathing capabilities while the symptoms occurred.

That technique performed in Prosper is believed to be the world's first continuous bronchoscopy during exercise (CBE) on a pediatric patient. “The groundbreaking part of our CBE is that it was done in a pediatric patient. So far, all of the published medical literature on the subject has been done in adults,” Dr. Robertson said.

The findings? Jessye needed speech therapy to help prevent her voice box from closing while she exercised. Jessye could get back to playing the sports she loves.

The Cook Children’s Promise Begins Before Birth

The critical mission of the Cook Children’s Health Plan (CCPN) and its 400 dedicated employees drew statewide attention in the spring. CCPN serves 125,000 children in North Texas, along with pregnant women who are CCPN members. Under the health plan, each high-risk pregnancy is assigned a maternity case manager like Chrystal Bryant. Chrystal checks in regularly to make sure her clients have prenatal care, nutrition, transportation to appointments and other resources.

“Cook Children’s Health Plan is committed to ensuring that all children in our community are safe and healthy, and that begins at conception,” Chrystal said.

"She's concerned about the baby, but she's also concerned about me," said first-time mom Shaquerial Evans.

When the two women met in person for the first time, after speaking over the phone for months, they hugged and talked like old friends. For Shaquerial, Chrystal was a source of encouragement and a shoulder to lean on. 

Let the Sunshine In: Cook Children's Advances Legacy of Healing and Hope with New Patient Tower

Several patients and Peaks the Dragon helped shovel dirt in May when Cook Children’s broke ground on a 760,000-square-foot tower at Medical Center – Fort Worth. Construction is expected to take five years on what’s being called, for now, the West Tower. Planning the West Tower is a collaboration involving staff, patients and the design and construction teams. The addition will include two dedicated cardiovascular operating rooms, paving the way for heart transplants. The West Tower also will create more space for medical research and expansion of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

“This groundbreaking of the West Tower is not just the laying of concrete and steel. It is a powerful continuation of the pioneering spirit,” said Rick Merrill, president and CEO of Cook Children’s Health Care System. “It is a tangible manifestation of our enduring commitment to the future, a bold step driven by the same courage and vision that defined Fort Worth from its earliest days.”

Here’s to the generous investment and forward thinking that ensures Cook Children’s will continue to meet the needs of our growing population in the Metroplex.  

Nelson Ku High Risk Asthma Clinic Provides Hope and Help to Families

Before an asthma attack gets severe enough to require a trip to the hospital or Urgent Care, there’s a multidisciplinary team at Cook Children’s taking proactive steps to prevent asthma from flaring up. Cook Children’s opened the Nelson Ku High Risk Asthma Clinic in May to address needs in a clinical setting and through community education. Upon referral, patients come in for evaluation by respiratory therapists and pulmonology clinicians. Child Life specialists introduce patients to the doll Asthma Abby to demonstrate how the lungs work. The goal is to reduce hospitalizations by helping patients recognize their asthma triggers so that families can manage the symptoms before they escalate.

“Sometimes a patient is in the hospital a lot because they have bad asthma, but sometimes it's because they don’t have access to their medications for a variety of reasons, or they don’t understand why they need their medications or how to use them correctly,” said Kate DeVore, LCSW, Case Management Social Work Team Lead.

A New Beginning Takes Flight: Inside the Landmark Collaboration Bringing Las Vegas Trail a One-of-a-Kind Community Health Care Hub

A partnership like none other launched this summer, bringing a comprehensive infusion of safety, health and nutrition resources to the residents of Las Vegas Trail (LVT) in west Fort Worth. The neighborhood health center serving the LVT area officially opened its doors in August with a ribbon cutting that included high school band members and cheerleaders. The center is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between JPS Health Network, Cook Children’s Health Care System, the City of Fort Worth, LVTRise and WestAid. Cook Children’s provides well-child checks, sick care, childhood immunizations, pediatric behavioral health care, food and nutrition education, and assistance navigating the health care system and community resources. Visitors can also find workforce development, a food bank, demonstration kitchen and police storefront on site. 

“This project represents a major strategic investment in the Las Vegas Trail neighborhood, demonstrating our commitment to this vital part of our community,” said Mayor Mattie Parker. “We are establishing a best practice here, and Fort Worth’s innovative approach will be a model for other cities.”

More than just a clinic, this health care hub connects individuals and families to conveniently located services that support every facet of well-being, from safety and medical care to food security, financial stability and strong family foundations. 

Creative Community: Neighbors Pitch in to Paint Mural at Neighborhood Health Center in Las Vegas Trail

Giant butterflies, flowers and children’s handprints embellish the outdoor mural that greets visitors to the neighborhood health hub serving the Las Vegas Trail community. Kids and adults who live nearby were invited to help paint the mural, giving them a sense of ownership in the project and a way to make their mark on the 3.7-acre campus. In the planning stages, Cook Children’s asked local children for input on the mural design and the art inside the building. Those voices were heard. Las Vegas Trail families can proudly say they helped create a beautiful and vibrant work of art, fostering a sense of belonging and community engagement in the process.

“In everything we do, we put the patient first,” said Veronica Tolley, vice president of Cook Children’s Primary Care & Specialty Services. “This is another example of that, by kids bringing their imagination to a project that’s already been very innovative.”

The mural, which measures 50 feet long and 11 feet high, gives a friendly welcome to guests who pull into the parking lot. It stands as a giant symbol of hope and making connections to one another.

Community Health Team Connects Residents to Resources

Fifty-five families that once struggled with homelessness now live at a Fort Worth affordable housing complex where the Cook Children’s Center for Community Health sets them up to thrive. Casa de los Sueños offers residents much more than a roof over their heads. When they moved in, the center welcomed residents with cookware, air purifiers, pack ‘n plays and other items geared to prevent injury and promote health. To help meet ongoing needs in a pinch, families have access to a diaper closet and emergency food pantry. The center even provided toys that foster child development, sparking joy for the kids. 

“We continue to support these families on their climb out of the situation that they were previously in,” said Lenee Bassham, MSSW director of Child Safety in the Center for Community Health. “We want to surround them with the resources they need to succeed.”

Tackling big challenges like homelessness takes an ongoing commitment to build relationships and trust. Initiatives and generous donations at Casa de los Sueños hit the target for practical solutions and respect for the dignity of residents.

CCMC- Prosper opens NICU

Cook Children’s Medical Center – Prosper opened a state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in September, bringing specialized care to the smallest and most vulnerable babies. The Prosper NICU marks a milestone because it’s the first NICU contained in a children’s hospital in the rapidly growing region of North Texas around Prosper. Patients in the new NICU receive expert care from multidisciplinary pediatric experts, led by neurologists. Comfort, privacy and convenience of families were considered in every aspect of the design. For instance, the oversized NICU rooms are built thoughtfully with features like extra cabinetry for storage and sleep spaces for parents when they want to stay overnight. A bedside camera system allows parents to see their babies via an app when they’re away.

"Our new NICU is a promise to families that their children will receive expert, compassionate care without having to leave their community," said Kevin Greene, President of Cook Children's Medical Center - Prosper. "With each investment we make into our medical center and in our outpatient clinics, we are building a foundation for exceptional pediatric care close to home."

Home Health Goes the Extra Mile

Cook Children’s Home Health celebrated its 25^th anniversary in September, marking a quarter century of care for patients in their own homes.  What started as a single location in Fort Worth has grown to satellite sites in Austin, San Antonio, Houston and Dallas. Services include nursing, rehab, respiratory therapy, pharmacy infusion and injectable services, custom mobility, orthotics and prosthetics as well as durable medical equipment and supply services. Our Home Health team brings life-changing care directly to patients like Vivianna Madera, whose new robotic arm improves her mobility and independence.

“My favorite part of working at Home Health is getting to be creative within my position and seeing the results firsthand how our Custom Mobility department helps the families that we serve,” said Joel Murray, custom mobility technician. “The Assisted Technology Professionals and technicians on our team are incredible human beings who are here to help people have better lives.”  

Brother's Bone Marrow Cures Sister's Sickle Cell Disease

The Johnson family, who live in Killeen, found kindness and the skilled care Anyah needed at the Cook Children’s Sickle Cell Program. Now Anyah and her brother Cobus share a unique bond: identical blood and immune systems. That’s because doctors at Cook Children’s infused a small portion of Cobus’ bone marrow into Anyah so that she could make healthy red blood cells. That stem cell transplant cured her sickle cell disease. As the matched sibling donor, Cobus felt supported too.

Gretchen Eames, M.D., Medical Director of the Cook Children’s Stem Cell Transplant Program, said the team looks out for the entire family during the transplant process. “It’s a very big deal, very serious therapy, but the success rate is very high,” Dr. Eames said. “And if we can get a patient to be pain free, not needing transfusions, now they have a healthy outlook for the rest of their life.”

Cook Children's Medical Center Fort Worth Achieves Fifth Magnet Designation

Congratulations to the nurses at Cook Children’s Medical Center - Fort Worth, which celebrated its fifth consecutive Magnet® designation from the American Nursing Credentialing Center. Earning that designation for a fifth time puts our Fort Worth medical center in the elite company of fewer than 2% of hospitals in the nation. When the announcement was made in November, we learned that our medical center actually exceeded the benchmarks to achieve Magnet with Distinction^TM. The Magnet® Recognition Program is the gold standard in nursing excellence and validation of high-quality patient outcomes.

“Nurses are the number one care providers at the bedside in the nation and certainly at Cook Children’s,” said Kaylan Branson, Director of Nursing Quality & Magnet Designation. “It feels great to recognize the nurses who do this day in and day out. This recognition is a validation of their hard work.”

Bravo to the Magnet Champion Team who spent months preparing for a site visit so that appraisers could see examples of nursing excellence, innovation, leadership and compassion across all units and departments.

Since the first episode aired in February 2022, Raising Joy Podcast has provided an avenue for stories about mental health from parents and experts, and offered a source for community resources, pediatric research, and professional advice for the North Texas community and beyond. 

Over six seasons more than 100 guests have opened up their hearts and shared their lives and experiences to help other families learn and grow.

“Raising Joy started as a way to open the conversation around youth mental health issues,” said Wini King, Cook Children’s Senior Vice President and Chief of Marketing and Communications. “Over the years, we talked to so many people who not only helped reduce the stigma of those topics, but also inspired us and our listeners. It’s been a privilege to hear and share these stories of resilience, grief and, more than anything, of joy.”

Meeting the need

Raising Joy and its mission were born out of the mental health crisis of 2020. That year, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cook Children’s recorded seven patient suicide deaths. Leaders at Cook Children’s created a campaign to raise awareness about mental health and help people who were struggling to find trusted resources or support for the issues their families were facing.

The JOY campaign began in 2021 as six articles focused on mental health issues, published on Cook Children’s website, the Checkup Newsroom. The campaign, which stands for “Just breathe, Open up, You matter,” grew to more than 30 articles that year alone, but it was clear that more work in this area was needed.

“We had so many requests from the community because of our work,” said Kim Brown, former Cook Children’s public relations director who served as executive producer of the podcast for seasons 1-5. “People did not have enough resources.”

Finding the JOY

The communications team brainstormed how to further open up a conversation around depression, anxiety and other issues. The result was the Raising Joy podcast, hosted by King and Kristen Pyrc, M.D., Co-Director of Psychiatry.

For the first interview, the hosts sat down with M. Kathleen Powderly, M.D., a Cook Children’s pediatrician who, along with others, had sounded the alarm about the spike in youth suicide attempts in the Fort Worth area. Dr. Powderly talked about her experiences treating children and teens with mental health concerns and shared her own struggles with mental health issues. The earnest authenticity of that episode, along with Dr. Powderly’s vulnerability, set the tone for the episodes to come, Brown said.

For three years, King and Dr. Pyrc welcomed guests with empathy and without judgement. In one powerful episode, Brad Hunstable shared the story of his 12-year-old son, who died by suicide. He and other guests’ willingness to share their stories helped remove barriers for others to have important conversations about difficult topics.

Conversations with Hunstable, and other parents who had lost a child to suicide, were some of the most memorable guests for King. She says she aimed at creating a space where parents could talk about their child – not just what happened to them, but who they were.

“I want people to understand that there is joy in some of this,” she told the Fort Worth Report in a 2022 feature of the podcast. “They want to talk about those children, they want to talk about their child and still remember them and still remember their life and still feel the joy of having that child and having had that child and what joy was brought to them.”

For her part, Dr. Pyrc has always loved exploring kids’ stories and encouraging them to explore their own emotions. At home with her family and in the clinic with her patients, she provides a space where all feelings are welcomed and worth digging into. The podcast gave her another opportunity to demystify and destigmatize emotions.

The frank, and often emotional, episodes helped shed light on topics some people tend to shy away from.

“I’m overjoyed that this podcast – through the vulnerability and expertise of our guests – opened up conversations around mental health and other difficult issues,” Dr. Pyrc said. “For so long, we’ve been ashamed to talk about these things.”

Thank you!

While no new episodes are planned for the Raising Joy Podcast, Cook Children’s remains committed to the mental well-being of children and teens in our community, and those efforts will continue. Episodes will remain for any who need them. Find them on the Cook Children’s website.

"Today, seeing The Joy Campaign evolve into this multi-year, vital, large-scale initiative—with dozens of articles and 125 Raising Joy podcast episodes —is an honor for our team,” said Laura Van Hoosier, Vice President of Marketing. “It is our deepest hope that this wealth of resources will remain an enduring and valuable source for every parent, school counselor, and family in our community for years to come."

We want to thank our listeners and our contributors for their time and support during the show’s six seasons. 

We encourage our listeners to stay connected with us online and on social media @cookchildrens. For more stories that showcase the latest pediatric health information, please follow our Cook Children's Checkup Newsroom. 

Always remember: “Just breathe, Open up, You matter!”

It was a very Merry Cowboys Christmas this morning! The Dallas Cowboys stopped by for their annual visit with Cook Children's patients on Dec. 8, 2025. 

Football players and cheerleaders surprised patients in multiple departments at the Fort Worth Medical Center to spread some holiday cheer. Everyone was so excited to greet the team!

Each child receives a stocking loaded with goodies from the Dallas Cowboys and a special toy provided by the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation.

Under the guidance of Mrs. Gene Jones, the entire Cowboys team has conducted annual holiday visits to local children’s hospitals for the past 36 years – a very special tradition that we are all grateful to experience.

Media partners may use this content for news stories and broadcasts with credit to Cook Children's.

Cook Children's Pediatric Specialties Abilene

Cook Children's Pediatric Specialties in Abilene is staffed by three nurses who feel blessed and honored to be part of the Cook Children's family.

One such nurse, Sophia Garza, has been at the clinic for more than 17 years, witnessing its growth from a small location into a thriving, expanded facility that now supports multiple specialties. Her favorite part of the job is being able to see the children of former patients.

"I've been here long enough that I'm seeing the children of some of our previous patients," Garza said.

One special example is a father who was treated for Type 1 diabetes as a child, who now brings his son to this clinic for care.

This Abilene clinic has made a huge impact on the community by allowing patients to receive specialized care locally instead of making the three-hour drive to Fort Worth or Prosper. This is especially beneficial for oncology patients, who can now get treatment at the Abilene location rather than making the long round trip for each visit.

Garza said there is truly something special about this clinic.

"We are like family, and I cannot imagine working with a different group of people," she said. "We all come together with the same goal: to have fun and make sure families are getting the care they need."

Garza is proud of the clinic and looks forward to its continued growth, remaining eager to serve more families in the West Texas area. Here's to 40 more years for the Cook Children's Pediatric Specialties in Abilene!

Cook Children's Pediatric Specialties Midland

For many families in Midland, having a Cook Children's Pediatric Specialties clinic located in their city is a critical lifeline. It ensures that children in this West Texas region can access premier care and medical expertise without the burden of travel. With over four decades of service, this clinic’s impact is deeply rooted and has become a cornerstone in the Midland community.

Julie Jolly, a nurse at this clinic for nearly 27 years, says she has loved every minute of her career at Cook Children’s. She has many unique patient family stories, including one recent discovery: she was caring for a young patient with leukemia only to find out later that the patient’s father had also received treatment for his childhood cancer through the Cook Children’s network. This generational connection shows the enduring legacy of care the health care system provides.

Jolly’s years of service have illuminated a profound truth about her young patients. While she has learned much from them all, she is continuously inspired by their unyielding resilience.

She describes her patients as "grabbing life with everything they have," embodying strength that not only helps them heal but also gives immense meaning back to the caregivers.

The Midland clinic operates with powerful team unity, expressing deep pride in their role as a vital component of Cook Children’s Health Care System. This shared commitment and focused dedication are what truly set them apart, ensuring that compassionate, specialized care is fully delivered to every family they serve. Here's to 45 amazing years of the Cook Children's Pediatric Specialties in Midland!

Cook Children’s Pediatrics Granbury

Cook Children's Granbury is celebrating an amazing anniversary: 30 years of serving children in the area.

The clinic has been part of significant growth in both the surrounding community and its practice.

According to staff members and physicians, the clinic thrives because of the community's trust, which is evident in seeing multiple generations of these patient families.

“Because of this accomplishment, we are blessed to have patients return with their own children, gifting us with 'grand-patients,'" said Elisha Soto, a medical assistant at this primary care office. “Everyone at the clinic is ecstatic to serve the next generation—the best possible celebration for this milestone.”

As the clinic looks toward the future, staff are excited for continued growth. Here’s to the next 30 years of Cook Children’s Pediatrics Granbury!

Celebration and Gratitude

The exceptional care provided inside of each of these clinics is all because of the amazing staff, nurses and physicians who have dedicated their lives to this work. The milestones and celebrations would not have been possible without their hard work. We best serve our patients and their families because of each of them. We celebrate you and thank you for everything you have done this holiday season!

We're excited to share some of the fun and spooky happenings from this week. We had a spook-tacular time celebrating in many ways:

• Pumpkin Painting Patient Event: On Wednesday, our patients in Fort Worth were invited to use their imagination and decorate and paint a pumpkin.
• NICU's Cutest Costumes: Our tiniest patients in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit celebrated their first Halloween in style! Families dressed their babies in adorable costumes, including a fisherman, Winnie the Poo and his friends, a fitness gal, Stitch, and a festive little one!
• Patient Treat-or-Treating Event: Our patients and their families at Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth and Cook Children's - Prosper went trick-or-treating and our employees showed off their Halloween spirit by dressing up in creative costumes!

Have you ever spotted a furry friend in the halls of Cook Children’s? Chances are, it is one of Cook Children’s many animal-assisted therapy dogs.

Skylar (Sky) Runnels, patient care technician and medical assistant at Cook Children's, has seen the significance of these special dogs both as a caregiver and as a patient. In 2018, at just 17 years old, Sky was recovering from a surgery to remove a hemorrhagic cyst. She has a rare bleeding disorder, Von Willebrand's Disorder, so hospital stays are not outside of the norm. During her recovery, Cheryl Farrell and one of her previous therapy dogs, Pixie, visited Sky. 

 “I was very depressed at that moment," shares Sky. “I’m already in the hospital for so much, then I didn’t feel good, and I was lonely." On this day, Cheryl and Pixie were doing their usual rounds when they stopped by Sky's room. Pixie was holding a carrot on her nose and jumped right up on Sky's bed to greet her. “Seeing Cheryl come in the room and bring Pixie just lightened my day,” continues Sky. "Though I was really, really sick, it gave me some motivation to see the better side of things.”

Sometimes it isn’t just the patients who benefit from visits from a therapy dog. “There are times that you’re not just there for the patients, but for the families too," says Cheryl. “Just having a fur friend lie on you and do some tricks for you is very comforting," agrees Sky. "It can release a lot of anxiety.” 

A Full-Circle Connection

Oftentimes, this duo never gets to know how their interaction impacts people. “I could tell you stories that would make you cry and Skylar was just probably one of many," says Cheryl. “Sometimes you throw a rock into water and you have those immediate rippling effects, and sometimes you never get to see what the rippling effects are.”

Luckily, Cheryl and Sky have recently found each other again. Cheryl and her current corgi, Beau, were doing their weekly patient visits when Sky came up and introduced herself to them. She then told Cheryl about her interaction with her and Pixie as a patient years ago. Sky then shared that one of the reasons she chose a career in the medical field was because of her interactions with Pixie and the care she received as a patient. “Like I said with Sky, it was so cool just to see the circle being complete," beamed Cheryl. Sky still has photos of her visit from Cheryl and Pixie, which she was so excited to show.

Volunteer with a Heart of Gold

Cheryl has been volunteering at Cook Children’s since 2008 and has had multiple four-legged partners during her time here. Her partners have included Pogo, Manny, Pixie, Halo, and now her current partner, Beau. Beau is a young Corgi who has been with Cheryl for almost two and a half years. She got Beau when he was four months old, and she immediately put him into puppy classes to get him familiar with being around other people. Beau then completed multiple levels of training and eventually passed the test to become certified. “They don’t just test the dog, they test you together as a team,” explains Cheryl.

Beau and Cheryl have a unique bond. After raising and training four previous Corgis, Beau continues Cheryl's Corgi family tradition of visiting Cook Children’s patients and families. Cheryl describes this program as a “comfort program.” “The role of an animal-assisted therapy dog is to be a resource that patients, families, and even health care providers can lean on when they need a break from everyday stresses,” says Cheryl. 

Cheryl is a gift to the entire system. “While her dogs tend to steal the spotlight, Cheryl is the one with the heart of gold,” beams Marie Howell, manager of volunteer services at Cook Children's. “Her compassion and empathy for the patients are what keep her coming. Cheryl also does staff visits whenever she can – how lucky we are to have her!” 

In 2022, Cheryl Farrell was honored as Patient Care Volunteer of the year for her countless hours of remarkable service. She has served over 500 hours as an incredible, impactful volunteer.

About Animal Assisted Therapy Teams

Animal Assisted Therapy Teams consist of the volunteer and their pet dog. The dog has to be complex certified by Pet Partners and be evaluated by our Animal Assisted Therapy Team Lead. At that point, they can apply to volunteer. “Though it is a rigorous process, we want to be absolutely secure about the team before they onboard and interact with patients and families,” explains Marie. If you are interested in becoming a member of the Animal Assisted Therapy Team, please reach out to Marie at Marie.Howell@cookchildrens.org.

Our APPs collaborate with our physicians to provide care to our patients in a variety of clinical settings. From the medical centers, to our urgent cares, to the Dodson surgery center and specialty clinics, and many of our neighborhood and primary care clinics, APPs are able to provide a comprehensive range of health care services to our patients. With over 445 APP’s in our organization, each of them practice in almost every specialty and their group continues to grow in numbers.

To celebrate Advanced Practice Providers Week, we sat down with three of our APP's to learn a little more about this unique role. 

Katy Diggs, Physician Assistant

1. What is your role and what does it entail? 
   • “I am a certified physician assistant in the Orthopedic Surgery Department at Cook Children's Medical Center - Fort Worth. I work primarily in the outpatient clinic setting, seeing mostly fractures and acute injuries.  We do a lot of casting and X-rays. We are so busy this time of year… football season!” 
2. What does a “typical” day in the life of a physician's assistant look like?
   • “A typical day for me in the outpatient clinic setting is seeing about 20 to 25 patients, mostly with fractures and acute injuries. I'm on call shift every Monday. The call shift work is super busy but fun. There are many trips to the emergency room to evaluate fractures or trauma, and many trips to the operating room to treat those injuries. My team and I are the first call for the practice, answering all UCC, ER, pediatrician, specialty, nurse and patient calls.”
3. How long have you been with Cook Children’s?
   • "I have been at Cook Children's for 20 years and truly still enjoy the work!"
4. How have you seen your program grow over the years?
   • "The orthopedic surgery department has grown so much in the last several years. We have many new doctors and APPs. All have been a wonderful addition to the team!"
5. What is a memorable or inspiring patient story you carry with you?
   • "I have so many memorable and inspiring patient stories that I don’t know where to begin. Kids are great and so much fun to work with.  I sincerely appreciate and find myself inspired by every single patient and/or their family every day. Life is hard, work is hard, but kids make everything so much better. They are funny and happy. They want to heal quickly and get back to having fun. That is inspiring!"

Roland Thomason, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist

1. What is your role and what does it entail? 
   • "As a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) for Cook Children's, I work with the anesthesiologists, providing a safe anesthetic for each patient requiring surgery or radiology study."
2. What does a “typical” day in the life of a CRNA look like?
   • “My typical day begins at 6:30 a.m. I check on my assignment for the day to see which operating room (OR) I am assigned to. I then review the patient’s chart, and then I get each case ready by pulling the medicine and materials needed for each anesthetic. I then go and introduce myself to the patient and family. I have a conversation with the anesthesiologist regarding the anesthetic to be provided. First patient is brought to the OR, monitors are applied, anesthetic is administered either through mask inhalation or if the patient has an IV, then we administer medication through the IV. Conversations continue with the surgeon seeing what the patient needs. I monitor the patient throughout the entire procedure. Once the procedure is finished, the patient is taken to the Recovery Room.”
3. How long have you been with Cook Children’s?
   • “35 years.”
4. How have you seen your program grow over the years?
   • “I was here when Cook Children's first opened. We had approximately ten CRNAs. Today, there is in excess of 65 CRNAs.  More surgeons, MDAs and operating rooms have increased as well. Roles have expanded in general surgery, neurology, orthopedics and cardiology. We have enlarged our program for training SRNA’s in pediatric anesthesia.”
5. What is a memorable or inspiring patient story you carry with you?
   • “I’m touched and impacted nearly daily by the valor of a child or teen facing a life-threatening diagnosis and the treatments that follow. One patient of mine struggled with a life-threatening diagnosis. Though he had multiple procedures over many years, he always had a smile on his face.”

Ginny Ciriot, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

1. What is your role and what does it entail?
   • “I am a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in primary care. I see both ill patients and well visits, which I love.”
2. What does a “typical” day in the life of a nurse practitioner look like?
   • “My typical day is always busy with visits. I generally see between 25 and 32 patients. Then, between patients, I also have to check triage for calls and answer the triage nurse, result follow-up, and prescription requests.”
3. How long have you been with Cook Children’s?
   • “I have been with Cook Children's for 49 years and have spent the last 30 in primary care. My employee number is 2 digits! During my 19 years at the hospital, I was in the NICU for 6, then became the first NICU Educator for both Fort Worth Children’s and Harris’ NICUs as we had a consortium between the 2 hospitals. Then I became the first Director of Education for Cook Children's and centralized the educators. I also became a clinical resource nurse for the floors. All this was amazing, but it was taking me away from patient care. That is when I sought out the PNP program. And was the first PNP in primary care for CCPN.”
4. How have you seen your program grow over the years?
   • “My practice has changed from paper charts to electronic, and prescription pads to electronic. I am now seeing the children of my former patients!”

Cook Children's patients and families experienced holiday cheer this week with our annual “Christmas in July” festivities.

On Wednesday, Santa visited Cook Children's Medical Center – Prosper, where he delivered toys, shared smiles and surprised patients with news of being on the nice list!

On Friday, Santa and the Grinch stopped by Cook Children's Medical Center – Fort Worth. Patients picked out toys and created crafts, like Christmas cards and ornaments. 

At Cook Children's, we are grateful for the generosity of the community! Currently, we receive 70% of our annual in-kind donations in December. However, because of this, we have gaps in our needs that often need fulfilling throughout the year. Our gaps include needs for specific age groups or high-demand items that go quickly.

Our Child Life teams utilize in-kind donations every day, all day. From adding toys to playrooms, celebrating birthdays, offering comfort, providing distraction, and meeting basic needs, donations are the backbone of serving patients and families.

If you would like to assist, you can view the Christmas in July wish list here on Amazon.

In January 2025, a close friend of mine experienced the devastating loss of her 5-year-old son, Harvey, due to complications from a congenital heart defect. Watching her navigate the depth of that grief gave me a new understanding of how isolating and overwhelming child loss can be — and how essential the right kind of support truly is. 

In the aftermath of the recent, tragic Texas floods — where so many families, including young children, lost their lives — this same friend was moved to write a personal list on how others can support grieving parents. She created it from her own lived experience and as a way to offer something concrete and heartfelt to others now facing unimaginable sorrow. 

With her blessing, I’m sharing this list in hopes that it will guide friends, extended family members, and community supporters who want to help, but may not know how. Grief is overwhelming and isolating, but thoughtful support — even in the smallest ways — can be healing. 

Offer Emotional Support 

• Any message of love, encouragement, or remembrance — text or handwritten — can be impactful. 
• Reach out even if you haven’t been in touch recently or don’t feel “close enough.” Grieving families often find comfort in hearing from old friends.
• The message doesn’t need to be perfect — sentiment matters more than wording. 
• Bonus: Share a photo, memory, or specific trait you remember about their child. It offers a small but powerful piece of their memory back to the family.

Support Surviving Siblings 

• If your children are close in age, consider inviting their child over to play or planning a low-pressure outing.
• Grieving parents often feel guilt about not being emotionally or physically available to their surviving children. Helping with sibling play can be a double gift: a break for the parent and joy for the child. 
• If possible, organize a group or rotating schedule to plan recurring playdates, reducing the parent’s mental load. 
• Even for younger kids, entertainment — without the need for deep conversations — can be valuable. 

Give Practical Gifts 

• Food delivery is invaluable. It removes the burden of planning meals during an emotionally and mentally overwhelming time. 
• Coordinate with others to avoid gaps or over-saturation in meal deliveries. 
• Allow monetary donations in meal trains if possible — unexpected expenses related to grief (e.g., funeral expenses, therapy) can be significant. 
• Don’t underestimate the value of supporting healthy coping outlets like therapy, physical movement, and time outside. 

Avoid Common Missteps

• Avoid toxic optimism (e.g., “at least…” phrases like “at least you had five good years”). These phrases can feel dismissive and hurtful. 
• Don’t ask “how are you?” — it's hard to answer honestly. Try “I’ve been thinking of you” or “It’s good to see you” instead. These phrases feel more supportive and less demanding of a painful answer. 
• Don’t avoid using their child’s name. The parent chose that special name just for them; the loss of using it adds to the pain. It may feel tender, but hearing their name affirms their memory and legacy. 
• Refrain from saying, “Let me know how I can help.” Most grieving people won’t reach out, even if they need something. Offer specific help instead: “I can bring dinner Wednesday,” or “Can I take your kids to the park for an hour?” 

In times of collective grief — whether from personal loss or community tragedy — we often search for ways to feel less alone and more connected. At Cook Children’s, we recognize that many families are grieving together right now, and we want you to know that you are not alone. We are here to offer support, guidance, and compassionate care as you navigate the days ahead. Even in the darkest seasons, community and kindness can be a powerful source of light.

Related Stories:

Camp Mystic: Psychiatrist, Mother Shares Advice for Parents (CheckupNewsroom.com)

Central Texas Floods: Cook Children's Provides Mental Health Resources (CheckupNewsroom.com)

Cook Children's: Helping Parents Support Kids Through Tough (CheckupNewsroom.com) 

Cook Children’s Neuroscience Research Center, led by Christos Papadelis, PhD, is the recipient of a $50,000 research grant funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) through the National Pediatric Rehabilitation Resource Center, also known as CPROGRESS, for a study mapping the brain’s response to robotic-assisted rehabilitation in children with unilateral cerebral palsy.

“We are one of very few centers in the United States mapping changes in the brain as a result of robotic rehabilitation,” Dr. Papadelis said. “It’s not the rehabilitation by itself or the robotic system by itself, but it's the fact that we try to map the brain’s plasticity or what type of plasticity takes place in the brains of these kids in response to the rehabilitation.”    

Cerebral palsy is one of the most common childhood disorders in the United States. About one in every 345 children in the country have some form of the neurological disorder, which affects movement and muscle coordination. The condition can impact the lower or upper extremities, all four limbs or one side of the body. In any case, physical rehabilitation is crucial to maximizing movement and muscle control.

For children with unilateral cerebral palsy, meaning one side of the body is affected, conventional rehabilitation utilizes constraint-induced movement therapy in which the dominant, unaffected limb is immobilized in order to force the paralytic limb to do all of the work. While effective, children aren’t always cooperative with wearing constraint devices and performing this type of repetitive, or what they might call boring, therapy. 

But kids do like video games. As digital natives, they have never known a smart device they couldn’t navigate. For this reason, robotic therapy is emerging as an important rehabilitation tool for children. The digital nature of the bot captures their attention and speaks a language they understand. 

While researchers know robot-assisted rehabilitation has its benefits, there is a lot they still do not know about the application of this type of therapy in the pediatric population.

“There's not much research on how robotics help children with cerebral palsy,” Dr. Papadelis said. “We don’t yet have a gold standard on how much treatment, how many days and how intense it should be in order to have successful outcomes. We want the brain to reorganize based on the rehabilitation, but can this kind of mapping be maladaptive and go in a direction we don’t want it to go?”

Thanks to the NIH grant, Cook Children’s Neuroscience Research Center is studying the use of robot-assisted rehabilitation for children with unilateral cerebral palsy in order to address these uncertainties and establish best practices. 

The robot used is akin to a video gaming system. Using the fingers and hand of the impacted limb, patients manipulate a type of sensor-based robotic joystick while playing a video game generated by the robot’s computer system. The system measures functions such as range of motion, spasticity and strength in order to tailor the interactive video games to the patient and increase engagement. It also uses vibrations to stimulate the patient’s motor sensories.  

“There's a hypothesis that the more information we provide to the somatosensory system in the brain, the better the motor responses,” Dr. Papadelis explained.

While interacting with the robot, patients also undergo an electroencephalography (EEG) study where dozens of electrodes are placed on the scalp to measure the electrical activity of the brain. 

“Using this tool, we are able to map changes in the brain as a result of this rehabilitation. It tells us if the parameters of the treatment are sufficient, or if we need more intense treatment, less intense treatment and whether this type of treatment is beneficial for one child or for all kids,” Dr. Papadelis said. “Kids with cerebral palsy all have different underlying etiologies. For example, some kids have cerebral palsy as a result of stroke. Some as a result of infection or hemorrhage. Because cerebral palsy is an umbrella term, we're trying to understand if this treatment is beneficial and for which group of patients. And, if it's beneficial for this group of patients, how much we should provide them in terms of treatment length.”

Sadra Shahdadian, PhD, a postdoctoral research fellow under Dr. Papadelis’ supervision, serves as co-principal investigator for the study. Drs. Papadelis and Shahdadian hope that at the completion of this one-year grant cycle the research team will have collected enough preliminary data to support their hypothesis and better define the use of robot-assisted rehabilitation in children with cerebral palsy. They also hope their work leads to a larger NIH grant or philanthropic support for a more in-depth and long-term study of pediatric robotic therapy. 

Patients and families putted their way through four whimsical courses designed by teams from Volunteer Services, Child Life, the Linbeck Group and the PGA TOUR Superstore. 

Adding to the excitement were four professional golfers from the Charles Schwab Challenge, happening this week at The Colonial. PGA players Tom Hoge, Matt Wallace, Dylan Wu and Jackson Suber were on hand to meet patients and bring some cheering to the competition.

And keeping with the lighthearted theme, each hole has a bedpan at the end – that’s why it’s called the Bed Pan Open!

By: Rick W. Merrill, President & CEO, Cook Children’s Health Care System

Imagine being forced to forfeit a local, trusted resource that serves as your medically fragile child’s lifeline to out-of-state strangers for no good reason at all. That is exactly what Texas’ Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) will do by cutting off access for Texas families to long-established, community-based health services. 

Last year, HHSC, which oversees the contracts and funding for the state’s Medicaid STAR and CHIP programs, denied Cook Children’s Health Plan renewed contracts to serve its membership through these programs. They did the same to two other non-profit community health plans in South Texas and the Houston area. Instead, HHSC chose to give those contracts to numerous for-profit health care companies, most of whom are not based in Texas. The decision would force 1.8 million children and pregnant women who qualify for the Medicaid STAR and CHIP programs to switch from the health plans they rely upon to unfamiliar, corporate insurers beholden to shareholders.

We are doing everything we can to protect North Texas families from this harmful decision. But we can’t do it without the support of Texas Legislators. 

If lawmakers do not intervene, HHSC’s decision will upend the lives of Texas families, including 125,000 vulnerable North Texas children who rely on Cook Children’s Health Plan. They’ll have to start from scratch with a new health insurer and possibly new doctors after years of establishing a specialized medical team and complex care plans for their children. This could result in delayed or disrupted care, including for patients on a ventilator who are enrolled in Cook Children’s Health Plan. 

Very soon, Texas Legislators are expected to consider two proposed bills that protect the health care of vulnerable Texas children—House Bill 3538, introduced by Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, and Senate Bill 2388, filed by State Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa, D-McAllen. 

These bills would change the law on how HHSC awards contracts for the management of its STAR and CHIP programs. Simply put, they give Texas families a choice in health insurers and protect their right to have their Medicaid-dependent child’s health care managed locally. 

Needlessly foisting a change onto the most vulnerable in our community could be disastrous for Texas families. Change is hard even in the best of circumstances. When you have a medically fragile child, forced changes pile hardship onto an already heavy burden. Just ask Breanna Hernandez. 

Her son, MJ, was born prematurely at 27 weeks. Now 10, MJ requires complex care from multiple specialties like neurology, pulmonology and gastroenterology, to name a few. All of MJ’s current doctors, along with many of his therapies and services, are part of the Cook Children’s Health Plan network. His family relies on the STAR Kids program through the health plan to cover most of MJ’s health care costs, like the supplies that allow him to receive nutrition safely through a port in his stomach. 

“Losing the health plan would be like a tsunami or a tornado coming through our lives,” Hernandez said. “We never know what we’re going to get every morning when we wake up, but waking up with the knowledge that we have this established resource is a lifeline, a constant. It being taken away is something else that we would also have to worry about.” 

Hernandez is on a first-name basis with MJ’s case manager at Cook Children’s Health Plan. That type of connection, where everyone feels like family, is central to Cook Children’s culture. Knowing the people who manage your child’s care also live and raise their families in the same area is another key benefit of a community-based health plan. They have first-hand knowledge of the local resources and how to help members navigate them. They understand the unique needs of local children and care deeply about the health of the community because it’s their community, too. 

Private, out-of-state insurance companies can’t offer the same connection. The majority aren’t embedded in the communities they serve. 

Cook Children’s Health Plan has been providing health care coverage for families and children with limited resources for more than 20 years, and Cook Children’s itself has been serving this community for more than 107 years. As a nonprofit organization, we use our resources to support our Promise of improving the well-being of every child in our care and in our communities. 

This year, Cook Children’s will open two new neighborhood health centers, for a total of nine centers strategically located throughout Tarrant County in areas with little access to health services close to home. The majority of neighborhood health center patients are dependent on Medicaid. These centers offer basic, yet critical, health and wellness services, including behavioral health, for children who otherwise might go unserved. It’s your health care dollars in action, making a real difference in the lives of children in your community—a stark contrast from several out-of-state corporate insurers selected by HHSC whose profits flow to shareholders. 

HHSC’s decision is flawed and wrong for Texas families. It’s the result of a subjective and unsound contract-renewal process that is not consistent with the law. Instead of considering past performance and quality when awarding these contracts, which HHSC was legally required to do, it ignored decades-long telling track records, like Cook Children’s Health Plan’s high member ratings and demonstrated quality of care, and chose untested promises made by many for-profit insurance companies. 

The proposed bills would replace the current error-prone, subjective bidding process with a more modern and straightforward system. Most importantly, the bills would allow families enrolled in STAR, CHIP and other Medicaid programs to choose whether they want to remain on their current health plans or switch to the private insurers. 

“I would ask lawmakers to spend one day, or a week, in our lives,” Hernandez said. “There are a lot of things that us parents go through daily with these kiddos’ lives, and seeing it from somebody else’s perspective, really digging in there and living that day-to-day, would change your mind on a lot of the decisions you make. Please, save Cook Children’s Health Plan.” 

We urge the Legislature to join us in viewing the world through the eyes of the Hernandez family and the thousands of others like them. Support the proposed legislation, and give Texas families the power to choose. Focus on the well-being of the children in our communities, and not the countless out-of-state shareholders, by supporting nonprofit community-based health plans. Let’s protect our children and ensure they receive the quality health care they deserve. 

To learn more and support our efforts, please visit SaveCookChildrensHealthPlan.com. 

Colorful Easter eggs were hidden throughout the Medical Center Atrium at Prosper. In Fort Worth, children filled their Easter baskets with all kinds of goodies. Arts and crafts stations were set up, where children could create their own Easter-themed masterpieces. 

The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the visit from the Easter Bunny himself. He visited patient rooms at Prosper on Thursday and at Fort Worth on Friday. Happy Easter from all of us at Cook Children's! 

Media partners may use this content for news stories with credit to Cook Children's.

On Wednesday, April 16, several officers brought the celebration to Zoe! They stopped by Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth to present Zoe with a junior police badge and a collection of gifts and goodies. The officers spent time chatting with her and her family, offering words of encouragement and support.

“Zoe’s biggest thing that she’s always wanted to do is to be somebody who will makes a difference,” said Carmen Orozco, Zoe’s mother. “Ever since she was little, she has always wanted to help people. She’s always gone out of her way to be a peacemaker. She feels that she has an obligation to help her community.”

Zoe, you're an inspiration to all of us!

A health plan that serves 125,000 vulnerable children and families in the Tarrant County area is in danger of being destroyed.

Cook Children’s dedication to the North Texas community is far reaching and deeply rooted. In addition to operating two medical centers, neighborhood health centers, urgent cares, home health and more, we operate a health plan that currently serves 125,000 Tarrant County area residents, most of whom are children.

Cook Children’s Health Plan has provided health care coverage for families and children with limited resources for more than 20 years, and Cook Children’s itself has been serving this community for more than 107 years.

However, last year, the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) denied Cook Children’s Health Plan a renewed contract to serve its membership. This threatens the health care choices of thousands of vulnerable North Texas children.

HHSC’s decision would upend that choice of coverage for North Texas families in need. We are doing everything we can to protect those families from this harmful decision.  

Two proposed bills offer a ray of hope. House Bill 3538, introduced by Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, and Senate Bill 2331, filed by State Senator Tan Parker, R-Flower Mound, would give families the right to choose whether they want to remain on Cook Children’s Health Plan, and other care plans, or not.

Cook Children’s Health Plan provides care through two state programs: STAR (Medicaid) and CHIP. HHSC oversees the contracts – and therefore, the funding -- for those programs. In March 2024, HHSC announced it would not renew contracts for major community-based, not-for-profit health plans, including Cook Children’s Health Plan and two other health plans in South Texas and the Houston area.

Instead, HHSC chose to give those contracts to for-profit health care companies, all of which keep their central operations out-of-state and their proceeds benefit out-of-state shareholders. The decision would force 1.8 million children and pregnant women who qualify for the Medicaid STAR and CHIP programs to switch from the health plans they rely upon to unfamiliar, corporate insurers.

This move would needlessly yank away the familiar integrated care that families rely on and hand it to strangers. This could delay or disrupt care for vulnerable children, including patients on ventilators, who are enrolled in the Cook Children’s Health Plan.

Liz Piñon’s family is among those who rely on Cook Children’s Health Plan, which she described as a “godsend.” Piñon’s 12-year-old triplets and 19-year-old son have various complex medical needs and have relied on Cook Children’s Health Plan for six years. Through the plan, she has access to specialists, therapists and unique programs under the same roof, as opposed to having to navigate multiple practices for each medical need.

She also was paired with a service coordinator, who helps coordinate all the specialized care the family needs. In Piñon’s case, the coordinator not only connected the family with specialists and set up appointments, but she also ensured the triplets could attend daycare. 

“It was such a nightmare doing private insurance for our kids,” Piñon said. “We were living check-to-check. Even though my husband had a white-collar job, we were in the food lines the last week of the month to get vegetables to puree.”

Cook Children’s Health Plan is able to provide personalized care like the Piñons’ because its staff live and work alongside the families they serve. Staff work one-on-one with families and go the extra mile; they help with transportation to appointments, provide healthy groceries when resources are limited and offer emotional support.

But private, out-of-state insurance companies are not embedded in the communities they serve. And the profits those companies earn from covering Texas families flows to corporate offices and shareholders’ pockets out of the state.

We believe HHSC’s current contract-renewal process is unsound and has led to HHSC’s flawed decision to decline contracts to high performing health plans, like Cook Children’s Health Plan. The current process is subjective and ignores how health plans, like Cook Children’s, have been providing quality care for Texans for more than two decades.

That is why the proposed bills would change the law on how HHSC awards contracts. The bills would replace the current error-prone, subjective bidding process with a more modern and straightforward system. Most importantly, the bills would allow families enrolled in STAR, CHIP and other Medicaid programs to choose whether they want to remain on their current health plans or switch to the private insurers.

We believe HHSC’s decision-making process was not consistent with the law. HHSC was legally required to consider past performance and quality when awarding these contracts. However, HHSC’s decision did not take past performance of the plans into consideration. HHSC ignored telling track records, like Cook Children’s Health Plan’s high member ratings and demonstrated quality of care, and instead chose untested promises made by for-profit insurance companies.

This goes against even common-sense decision-making.

Imagine choosing between two doctors. One has a website where they promise they’ll take care of you. The other has decades of experience and thousands of patient reviews about incredible care. Which will you choose? The state chose the first. But we believe families should make their own choices.

We urge the Legislature to give families the power to choose. Proposed legislation would give families this right. Let’s protect our children and ensure they receive the quality health care they deserve.

To learn more and support our efforts, please visit SaveCookChildrensHealthPlan.com.

Rick W. Merrill is president and CEO of Cook Children’s Health Care System.

She discusses the critical balance between clinical expertise and emotional connection, how patient outcomes improve with strong therapeutic relationships, and why caring for caregivers is just as important as caring for patients. With powerful personal stories—including a touching moment with her own mother—Megan highlights the importance of protecting the well-being of health care workers so they can continue to give their best to the families they serve.

Join us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube as we uncover the humanity behind healthcare and learn why patient experience is more than a profession—it’s a calling. 

Cook Children’s has six negative-pressure rooms to care for children with the virus. Rooms have space for family members and specialized air ventilation systems that pull air inward, preventing recirculation.

Dr. Whitworth hopes the rooms will not be needed.

“If everyone gets vaccinated, we won’t have this crisis,” Dr. Whitworth said. “This is preventable.”

Read the full story here.

Watch Dr. Whitworth's interview here.

Discover how rare genetic epilepsies led him to international recognition, why Cook Children's stood out as his perfect home, and how his dedication to research is transforming the future of neurological care. Plus, we explore how art and neuroscience intersect in a way that heals, inspires, and brings the community together.

Join us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube for a powerful conversation about innovation, perseverance, and the human connection behind medicine.

They pull back the curtain on the realities of burnout in modern medicine, why corporate health care is driving unprecedented levels of stress, and how they’re working to reimagine the way doctors practice. From the evolution of work-life balance to deeply personal journeys that shaped their mission, this episode is an eye-opening look at the hidden struggles doctors face—and the hope for a healthier future.

If you've ever wondered what it takes to restore the passion for medicine, this is an episode you don't want to miss. Tune in now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube.

Alice Phillips, M.D., medical director for Abulatory Quality at Cook Children’s, said families can protect their babies by making sure everyone else is up to date on their immunizations.

“It’s very similar to advice we give them for other vaccine-preventable diseases. We want to cocoon that baby in protection,” Dr. Phillips said. “That’s what’s so critical for families and for the community to understand about vaccines: What we all do protects those infants who can’t get vaccinated yet.”

Read the full story here.

"There's really no reason why we should have to go through this again," said Dr. Morrow. “We're all really sad about it, we're really, really concerned because we've done this already."

She's been with the health care system for 38 years and was around in 1989 when a measles outbreak impacted the entire state.

"I ended up with about about 9 or 10 children with measles," recalled Dr. Morrow. "Every child that I diagnosed was admitted to the hospital."

The current outbreak and the news of a school-age child dying from measles in West Texas has many parents calling Dr. Morrow's clinic to check their kid's vaccination status, she said.

"Get vaccinated. The vaccine is extremely effective. It's one of the most effective vaccines that we have in our armamentarium of protected kids," said Dr. Morrow.

Read the full story here.

Measles is "probably the most infectious contagious disease on the planet," said Dr. Whitworth.

"We know that about 40% of kids under the age of five who get measles are gonna wind up in the hospital, and nobody wants that," Dr. Whitworth said.

Read the full story here.

This exciting event coincides with one of the biggest fundraisers supporting Cook Children’s NICU. Join us for Cook Children’s Day at The Rodeo on February 5, 2025. Half the cost of your ticket will benefit Cook Children's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The Rodeo has long been a treasured partner of Cook Children’s, benefitting the NICU for more than ten years.

Our Level IV NICU, with all-private patient rooms, provides the highest level of care for babies in our region. Grab your boots and come support our tiniest Texans!

Learn more about this exciting night here: https://www.cookchildrenspromise.org/events/rodeo/

Cook Children's and Texas Health Resources share a child care center known as Kids' Place.

Kids’ Place allows parents like Anne Kirk, M.D., a pediatric hospitalist and medical director for quality and safety provider education at Cook Children's, to work and know their children are safe and nearby. The center provides flexible hours, a crucial benefit for health care workers with unpredictable schedules.

"I think because they cater to nurses and physicians, they kind of understand our lifestyle a little bit better. They, I think in some ways, are just kind of more understanding of our intense schedules... (which) makes me feel more comfortable leaving my kiddo," Dr. Kirk said. "I think being a first-time mom, I was very anxious about being away from my baby, and having him just across the street has helped me mentally so much to not be nervous and worried about him. So it's really worked out amazingly for us."

View the full story here.

Dr. Phillips shares her inspiring journey from growing up in Texas to becoming a doctor and a leader in the health care field, all while balancing family and the challenges of being a woman in medicine. 

Annie discusses how her mother’s path influenced her own career choices and the bond they share working together in healthcare. Together, they reflect on the challenges of motherhood, the importance of resilience, and the power of family support. 

Tune in on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube to hear a mother and daughter who are not only committed to improving children’s health but also to growing and supporting each other along the way.

Press Ganey is a global leader in health care experience solutions and collaborates with more than 41,000 health care facilities to enhance overall safety, quality and experience of care.

This is the second year in a row that Press Ganey has awarded Cook Children’s with the Guardian of Excellence for Patient Experience award. Each of these awards reflect Cook Children’s dedication to experience for the entire Cook Children’s system.

“These awards really speak to our commitment to our people and to caring,” said Megan Chavez, Vice President of Cook Children's Experience. “It’s in the way we care. If you come here, health care doesn't feel so scary. You know that you're circled with people that want the best for your child and for you. If you’re a staff member or physician, you can focus on being your best, because you're surrounded by a team of people that want the best for you.”

The system analyzes feedback from patients, families and employees to determine areas that are impacting patients, families and employees the most. That analysis leads to highlighting areas that need focus and action.

For example, Chavez said as an organization, we doubled down on strengthening team dynamics this year. This was all about understanding what strong teamwork looks like for our patients and families, she said, and demonstrating to patients that staff are working together among themselves and alongside families to deliver care. For employees, internal teamwork has a huge impact on personal experience and creating a safe environment. For patients and families, seeing that teamwork amidst staff and being included in care collaboration makes a major difference in care experience.

“We know that we're exceptional at what we do from a clinical perspective,” Chavez said. “That is coupled with not only what we do, but how we do it; the way that we really honor the human experience in healthcare protects both the person giving the care as well as the person receiving the care.”

Patient Experience Champions, made up of a group of frontline staff, work to identify areas and behaviors to focus on for patients. For example, the Urgent Care Patient Experience Champions implemented the Ambulatory Experience Bundle, in which they pinpointed physician and staff behaviors that mean the most to families and patients in that setting.

Along with staff groups like the Patient Experience Champions, 17 Family Advisory Councils made up of parent volunteers help us understand parents’ perspectives. These volunteers also serve on committees to help bring that parent voice to what we do. Last year, a Hispanic Family Advisory Council and Task Force was established to understand what the Cook Children’s experience looks like when English isn't someone’s primary language. One of the tactics identified is that Spanish-speaking families interacted the most with Environmental Services staff and created a resource guide for those staff members to help support families in these conversations.

Employee Experience

The Employee Experience and Physician Employee Experience Awards exemplify Cook Children’s emphasis on supporting staff. As with patient experiences, “this comes from listening to our people,” Chavez said. We have experts from Team Experience, Human Resources, Employee Connections, Nursing Excellence, Physician Wellness, and others that collaborate together routinely to listen and make improvements on what matters most to our staff.

For example, in 2024, it was noted that negative situations between patients, family members and employees were a concern among staff. Because of this, work was done to analyze what causes a breakdown between providers and patients’ family members and implementing programs to ease those tensions. As a result, multi-disciplinary huddles were designed and implemented to intervene quickly and ensure not only patient family needs were addressed but that staff were being supported during these often stressful situations.

In addition, a refreshed perspective on compensation, enhanced benefits and leadership coaches that provided coaching to 44 leaders in 2024 were all in response to the feedback heard from staff. 

For physicians, Physician Wellness Advocates and our Information Services partners help identify what is or is not working well and integrate improvements, such as using AI to help document during a patient exam to allow the physician to do what they do best, which is be present with the patient instead of head down at a computer.

Overall, we are proud to have received these honors, which reflect our Promise to improve the well-being of every child in our care and our communities.

“This culture that we hear so much about, even in light of all the growth that we're experiencing, is what's going to really keep the flames of Cook Children’s lit and keep these blue peaks bright,” Chavez said. “And so we need to keep having our culture be our True North, and our values truly guide all of our decision making. And that only comes from listening to our people.”

“Instead of growing straight, it starts to grow in a more curved way, so that your leg becomes bowed out to the side,” said Dr. LaMont, one of the surgeons involved with Smith’s care.

Dr. LaMont said the best option for Smith was to have his left leg intentionally broken, with pins inserted into the bone to help straighten his leg over a matter of months.

Smith had the surgery immediately following his junior season at North Crowley High School in Fort Worth.

“It definitely taught me to just never take anything for granted,” Smith said. “And it really taught me that I can do anything I put my mind to.”

View the full story here.

Join us as we revisit the top 10 most viewed Checkup Newsroom stories of this year.

10. Record Broken: Cook Children’s NICU Reaches New Milestone with 101 Patients

On Jan. 25, Cook Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) hit its highest patient volume with 101 babies. Brittany McLaughlin, NICU director, said this milestone is evidence of the continued growth in our community and its impact on our hospital.

Cook Children’s NICU has 99 private rooms and is the only one in Tarrant County that offers single-patient rooms. With roughly 450 employees, the department is the size of a small hospital in itself.

The milestone coincided with one of the biggest fundraisers supporting Cook Children’s NICU. On Jan. 31, the legendary Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo donated half of all proceeds from tickets to Cook Children’s NICU.

9. Cook Children’s Marks One Year in Prosper with 1,800+ Bear Donation

Jan. 9, 2024 marked one year since Cook Children's Medical Center - Prosper opened its doors. To celebrate, a sea of teddy bears filled the medical center’s lobby. In December 2023, Sandra Peak, M.D., a pediatrician at Cook Children's Pediatrics Lewisville - Castle Hills, challenged her fellow pediatric offices in the Denton/Collin County area to collect Prayer Bears throughout the month.

Doctors at each participating primary care office posted a callout on their social media accounts and the community answered in a big way.

A total of 1,821 Prayer Bears were delivered to Cook Children’s Medical Center – Prosper during the hospital’s first birthday celebration. The bears were given to patients as a source of comfort and encouragement during their hospital stay.

8. Cook Children’s Named as One of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women by Newsweek

Newsweek named Cook Children’s one of America’s Greatest Workplaces for Women 2024. In this piece, we introduce some of the women who make Cook Children’s such an amazing place.

7. Celebrating National Doctor’s Day: Slime-A-Doc 2024

In March, we celebrated National Doctor’s Day with slime! Patient families and employees voted for the physicians, nurses, child life specialists, administrative staff members and advanced practice providers they wanted to see covered in slime. It was a special day spent celebrating the ones who take care of us when we’re feeling green.

6. Cook Children’s Named to No. 3 Spot on Forbes “America’s Best Large Employers” 2024 List

In February, with gratitude and a touch of pride, we announced Cook Children’s earned a top spot on Forbes America’s Best Large Employers 2024 list, debuting at No. 3 out of a lineup of 600. The rank acknowledged something we already knew — Cook Children’s is one of the best places to work among all large businesses across all industries nationwide. Cook Children’s was also named No. 1 in the health care and social industry category among large employers on the list.

5. Surgery of the Century: Celebrating One Year

Jan. 23, 2024 marked one year since cheers rang out and tears of joy streamed in a private family waiting area at Cook Children’s Medical Center - Fort Worth following a long-awaited and monumental announcement to the parents and family of conjoined twins JamieLynn and AmieLynn Finley.

“You have two babies on two separate beds.” 

The declaration that the sisters were successfully separated in an 11-hour surgery performed by a team of 25 medical professionals, including six surgeons, was more than a year in the making. Planning and preparation for the twins’ complex care and intricate surgery began months before the girls were born. Back then, all hoped and prayed for the best, but few could imagine that seven short months after their separation JamieLynn would take her first steps, followed by sister AmieLynn a month later. In this celebratory update, we shared that the twins were moving at a toddler’s pace, keeping mom and dad on their toes and on high alert.

4. Cook Children’s Sees Rise in Cases of Mycoplasma Pneumonia

In July, the Emergency Department at Cook Children's Medical Center - Fort Worth experienced a significant spike in cases of Mycoplasma pneumonia, which is a common bacterial infection that can cause “walking pneumonia” in children. Usually, this infection presents with cold-like symptoms, which are treated at home. Stephanie Felton, D.O., associate medical director of the Cook Children’s Emergency Department, and Nicholas Rister, M.D., infectious diseases physician, explained symptoms and prevention tips.

3. Cook Children’s Unveils Plan to Expand Critical Care to Meet Community Demand

In November, we announced a 10-year master plan to expand and enhance our Fort Worth medical center. The plan includes a new 700,000-square-foot medical tower, known for now as the West Tower, which will add another signature blue peak to Cook Children’s flagship campus and Fort Worth’s skyline. It will be a seamless extension of the existing medical center, connected both above and below ground, and make way for an expansion of the NICU with an additional 37 beds. It will also allow for an expansion and redesign of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), and increase capacity for Hematology/Oncology services and research, as well as additional operating rooms and imaging services.

 2. Cook Children’s NICU Welcomes First Quadruplets in Over a Decade

Catie Pulsifer, RN, and her husband Cameron already had two children—3-year-old Allie and 5-year-old Robin—when they decided they wanted a third. On July 4, 2023, the pair discovered they were finally expecting.

When Catie went to her first ultrasound, her scan showed not one, not two—but five gestational sacs!

At the beginning of 2024, Catie gave birth to the first set of quadruplets Cook Children’s has seen in over a decade. Catie is a Psychiatric Nurse in the Behavioral Health Unit at Cook Children’s, making this extraordinary event all the more special for everyone at the hospital.

1. Cook Children’s Looks to Expand Medical Campus to Keep Up with Unprecedented Growth in Fort Worth

Fort Worth is growing fast and so is the need for pediatric critical care. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Fort Worth’s population was 978,468 as of July 2023. With an estimated 59 people moving here every day, the city expects Fort Worth to hit the one million mark this year. In September, we shared why Cook Children’s was exploring options to expand our Fort Worth campus.

Spencer Seals, vice president of Construction and Real Estate at Cook Children’s said, “The goal is to make more room on our current campus for critical care services, which we direly need. We’re evaluating our options to see what best serves the community, just as we have for the past 106 years.

Diagnosed with the rare condition arthrogryposis multiplex congenita, Frances faced incredible challenges from birth, including being told she might never walk. Now, as a mother and advocate, she reflects on how Cook Children’s not only helped her overcome physical obstacles but also inspired her life’s work. 

Tune in on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube to hear Frances share her powerful story of resilience, determination, and her unwavering commitment to giving back to the community that once cared for her.

The Grinch stopped by on Wednesday with lots of laughs to share and stories to tell. Our hearts grew three sizes! 

At our annual Christmas party on Thursday morning, patients and their families were invited to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus, participate in arts and crafts and pick out a stuffed stocking with special gifts! 

Santa also made time to visit the Prosper Medical Center! Patients enjoyed decorating trees, painting snowflakes, and picking out toys on Thursday morning. 

Everyone enjoyed celebrating at the Christmas parties!

When the Padilla family of Fort Worth adopted their son, Eduardo, from a town north of Mexico City when he was just 3 months old, they dreamed of giving him a future full of opportunities he likely wouldn’t have in Mexico. He was a tiny baby. So tiny, in fact, that even preemie clothes were too big for his little frame.

“Since he was given to us, the whole idea was to change his life with a better future and nicer opportunities,” said Eduardo’s father, who shares his son’s first name. “But the reality, at least in my case, has been the opposite. He’s been changing my life with a lot more motivation. Eduardo has always been a good son, a good brother, and I believe he’s a good citizen. He’s a good guy, a cool guy.”

But those opportunities didn’t come easy. Early in his childhood, Eduardo began to show signs of a learning disability, and the dreams his parents Eduardo Padilla and Karla Tamez once had for their middle son were dimmed at the reality of growing up in a world that often disqualifies those who are differently abled. Eduardo attended several schools, none of them a good fit, and his dad worried that he’d never learn to read or write.

For many parents, learning that their child has a developmental disability is one of the most difficult days of their lives. With the news comes a realization that special milestones parents often look forward to for their children — prom, a first date, college, holding a job, marriage and having children — may never become reality. 

“Their grief with the loss of these dreams comes in waves that hit at every missed milestone and with every announcement received from loved ones or seen on social media,” said Kimberly James-Kelly, assistant principal of the Jane Justin School at Cook Children’s Child Study Center, where Eduardo became a student.

The Jane Justin school is a state-of-the-art, individualized, evidence-based private school for children kindergarten through twelfth grade with developmental, intellectual and learning disabilities. With an annual enrollment of 90 students, it has both a Lower School for elementary through junior high education and an Upper School for high school and career readiness training. Through individualized learning plans, it is the vision of the Jane Justin School to develop capable scholars, responsible citizens, and loyal friends prepared to succeed in every step of their educational journey.

A Photographer is Born

Eduardo excelled at the Jane Justin School and his parents' doubts and fear quickly began to melt away. Not only did he learn to read and write, he achieved a number of educational milestones, including graduating from the Upper School in May 2024. Thanks to supportive parents who encouraged their son to find and pursue his talents, Eduardo also discovered a passion and gift for photography and video editing. Eduardo is now taking part in the Upper School’s Post-graduate Program where job coaches equip students with job skills and pair them with community organizations, including Cook Children’s Medical Center, for volunteer opportunities or internships that provide students on-the-job training.

The program helped Eduardo turn his photography talent into a marketable skill, and he landed an internship with Cook Children’s Public Relations and Communications Department, where he has worked for the past 18 months. He is the first Jane Justin School intern to become a hired employee at Cook Children’s.

“One of my favorite memories has to be going to the groundbreaking for the Las Vegas Trail Neighborhood Health Center because I got to see the Mayor of Fort Worth and that’s pretty cool,” Eduardo said. “I got to see the whole team for the first time, and that was my first off-site from school. It was really cool.”

Cook Children’s became a partner in the intern program in 2022. Since then, the partnership has grown to now include three to five student interns per semester who work in various departments throughout the hospital. Other community partners hosting Jane Justin School students and volunteers include Tarrant Area Food Bank, Fort Worth Botanic Gardens, Ronald McDonald House and Welman Project.

“The Jane Justin School has done such an incredible job of preparing these students and they were looking for other partners to hire them,” said Wini King, senior vice president and Cook Children’s chief Communication & Employee Connections Officer. “These are our children. They are a part of the Cook Children’s family so it just made sense for the medical center to be one of those partners. So far, we’ve been able to place interns in Volunteer Services, Radiology, Zooty Fruity Yogurt Shop, Build-A-Bear and some of our retail spaces, and I’m extremely proud that they are also working in my own department.”

Eduardo has more than proven himself to be a valuable member of the communications team. He’s often called upon to photograph patients and families for stories that appear in the health system’s online newsroom, CheckupNewsroom.com, and to take photos at various medical center events. He even took many of the photos accompanying this article.

“At the beginning of Eduardo’s internship, he came in very shy, but as he became more comfortable with us and just photography in general, he’s become very proactive in his projects in that he’ll think of ideas of things to do or things to shoot,” said Sydney Hanes, Cook Children’s manager of Public Relations. “He’s very open and much more comfortable talking to everyone. We all love having him on the team.”

During his internship, Eduardo says he’s learned about various camera settings, video editing software, how to shoot different angles and how to get the perfect shot. The job, his dad says, changed Eduardo’s outlook.

“When he noticed that this was something with a future when they offered the opportunity to be an intern here helping with pictures and videos last year, that’s the first time that I really saw on his face a passion for something,” Eduardo’s father said.

From Classmates to Colleagues

Eduardo joins four other interns currently working at Cook Children’s.

Luke Harris and Zachary Pollack are the dynamic duo who travel throughout the medical center with the comfort cart, which is stocked with items such as toiletries and snacks to make a hospital stay a little more comfortable for children and families. The two are often a welcome sight, not only for their cart full of goodies but also for their enthusiasm and smiles.

Harris says he wanted to be an intern so he can “be a helpful person.” He doesn’t just enjoy his job, but loves it.

“I really like to take care of the patients, because I feel like I’m a superhero,” Harris said.

Pollack hails all the way from Edmond, Okla., where his family resides. He spends weekdays in Fort Worth with his grandparents in order to attend the Jane Justin School and travels home to Oklahoma every weekend to spend time with his parents. He recently passed his driver’s exam and is now a licensed driver.

Hannah Washington works at the medical center’s Build-A-Bear Workshop, a favored stop for patients and visitors alike. She helps keep the bears’ clothes and accessories stocked and organized, and does it all with a thankful heart.

“It makes me more grateful than ever,” Washington said of her internship.

Her favorite bear is the Fairy Bear because, like most things at Cook Children’s, it’s magical and enchanted, she says. Hannah has also worked in Radiology and at the Under the Peaks retail space. When she isn’t at school or work, you’ll find her singing. Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston are two of her favorite artists.  

Brooklyn Dilworth is an administrative ace. She works for a number of departments throughout the hospital making binders and folders that contain educational materials for patients. She also attends Tarrant County College where she is studying money management, math skills and taking cooking classes. Fried chicken is her favorite dish to cook. This holiday season, she’ll be rocking around the Christmas tree with fellow singers in the Jane Justin School choir as they present “Rock and Roll New Year’s Eve.”

As manager of Cook Children’s Volunteer Program, Marie Howell interacts with many of the Jane Justin School students and interns and says the departments and people who host them often learn as much from the interns as the interns learn from them.

“Our interns show us how to be understanding and empathetic, and how to tailor opportunities to the abilities that the person has,” Howell said. “We have a lot of people with different kinds of challenges, but there is a place for everybody. There's a task for everybody. It's just a matter of finding the right fit.”

Coaches of Confidence

All of the student interns are led by Jane Justin School job coaches. Together they help shepherd the students in their various roles and act as liaisons between the interns and their department managers.

“We go to the job with them, so we're just there basically as a support and to train them on those basic job duties,” said Courtney Galindo, Jane Justin School job coach. “Our main goal is that we can kind of transition out and that they're able to be independent in their job. We want to get them to that point. Eduardo is now an actual hired employee, which is amazing. He's the first one that we've had get to that point.”

The job coaches are key to the students’ success. Without them, says James-Kelly, students like Eduardo, Harris, Pollack, Washington and Dilworth wouldn’t have the opportunities that are presented to them.

“The contributions of our job coaches in the lives of these students are invaluable,” she said. “We have three incredible professional women who work alongside every single student that we serve in our school and help them achieve their goals with respect to their career and post-secondary education. That is a lot for three people but they do it with such grace and professionalism. They create a bond with our students that really helps to garner trust, not only within our community of families we serve, but within every organization that we enter.”

This job, Eduardo says, is an opportunity he never thought possible. He hopes his success will inspire others and pave the way for his classmates to use their skills and talents to achieve personal success while contributing to their communities and workplaces.

James-Kelly couldn’t agree more.

“The restoration of hope and the understanding that it is okay to want and expect more for your child is the best gift we can offer the families we serve,” James-Kelly said. “Eduardo’s story is a great example of this and I hope it inspires more like it in the future.”

A Pillar of Pediatric Care

James “Jim” Cunningham, M.D. a beloved figure at Cook Children’s, is retiring after a distinguished career dedicated to the health and well-being of countless children. Dr. Cunningham’s journey at Cook Children’s took him from Medical Director of Pulmonology to Chief Medical Officer to Executive Vice President/CMO. All along the way, his path has been marked by compassion, innovation and a steadfast commitment to excellence. He has left an enduring impact on the institution and the community it serves.

Born and raised in Texas, Dr. Cunningham’s roots run deep in the Lone Star State. His early years sparked a curiosity about the scientific world, leading him to pursue a degree in Zoology at Texas A&M University. This academic foundation laid the groundwork for his future in medicine.

A Passion for Pediatrics

After completing his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston and his residency at the University of Oklahoma, Dr. Cunningham specialized in pediatric pulmonology at the University of Arizona. His passion for caring for young patients, particularly those with complex respiratory conditions, ignited a desire to make a difference in their lives.

"I was drawn to pulmonary medicine because it offered a unique blend of acute and chronic care. It's incredibly rewarding to treat children with acute conditions like pneumonia, watching them recover and go home,” Dr. Cunningham said. “At the same time, managing chronic diseases such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma allows you to build strong bonds with patients and their families. It's deeply meaningful to participate in their lives, watch them grow, and help them navigate their health care challenges. The combination of acute care and long-term relationships with patients and families was what ultimately attracted me to pulmonary medicine."

Decades of Dedication to Cook Children’s

Dr. Cunningham joined Cook Children’s in 1987, drawn to the organization’s commitment to providing exceptional care to children. Over the past three decades, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the institution into a world-class pediatric health care provider.

As a physician and administrator, Dr. Cunningham has made significant contributions to the field of pediatric pulmonology. His expertise in managing complex respiratory conditions, such as cystic fibrosis, has improved the lives of countless children. His dedication to advancing medical knowledge through research has led to groundbreaking discoveries and innovative treatments.

Beyond his clinical and research endeavors, Dr. Cunningham has been a visionary leader, guiding Cook Children’s through period of substantial expansion and modernization. His strategic insights and unwavering commitment to quality have helped position Cook Children’s as a leader in pediatric health care.

"This place has been a significant part of my life for a long time. Many of my adult friendships are centered around it, and it's been rewarding to watch its growth. However, I'm confident that the pulmonary program is in excellent hands with (Karen Schultz, M.D.), (Sami Hadeed, M.D.), (John Pfaff, M.D.), and the other talented pulmonologists. I believe the program will continue to thrive and achieve great things."

A Well-Deserved Retirement

As Dr. Cunningham embarks on his retirement, he leaves behind a legacy of compassion, innovation and leadership. His departure marks the end of an era, but his impact on Cook Children’s and the children it serves will continue to be felt for generations to come.

“Over 17 years ago, one of my first decisions as President and CEO of Cook Children’s was to hire Dr. Jim Cunningham as Chief Medical Officer. I had met Jim during my interview process and was immediately impressed by his kind and compassionate nature. His servant’s heart was evident, making him the ideal choice to lead our organization into the future,” said Rick W. Merrill, President and CEO of Cook Children’s Health Care System.

Looking ahead, Jonathan Nedrelow, M.D., will assume the role of Chief Medical Officer at Cook Children’s. Most recently, Dr. Nedrelow served as Senior Vice President and Associate Chief Medical Officer at Cook Children’s. A renowned expert in neonatal-perinatal medicine, Dr. Nedrelow bring a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to pediatric health care to this pivotal role.

"I was fortunate to have the opportunity to start succession planning early on,” Dr. Cunningham said. “This led me to think about the future of the program and how to ensure a smooth transition. I immediately thought of Dr. Nedrelow, and we had several conversations about the process. He's been leading the program for about a year and a half now, and he's exceptionally qualified. He's highly intelligent, well-respected, and I'm confident that the program is in great hands with him."

Dr. Cunningham’s colleagues and friends at Cook Children’s extend their heartfelt gratitude for his many years of dedicated service.

Rick W. Merrill, President and CEO of Cook Children’s Health Care System

“For nearly four decades, Dr. Cunningham has been an invaluable asset to Cook Children’s. As our Chief Medical Officer for the past 17 years, he has steadfastly upheld our Promise to our patients, families, physicians, and staff. As he embarks on a well-deserved retirement, he will be deeply missed. We are grateful for his invaluable contributions and look forward to the leadership of Dr. Jonathan Nedrelow. However, Dr. Cunningham’s enduring impact on Cook Children’s will forever be remembered."

Jonathan Nedrelow, M.D. current Chief Medical Officer

“Dr. Cunningham’s patients had the rare privilege of being taken care of by one of the most kind, thoughtful, unassuming, and intelligent doctors I have ever known. His legacy can be found in all the children that had a chance to grow up healthier because of him. Personally, words cannot describe the gratitude I have for the mentorship and friendship he extended to me. I wish him all the best enjoying his family and friends in retirement.”

Bobby Feather, Senior Vice President, Public Policy

“Over the last 30 years, it has been my privilege to labor beside a number of extraordinary people in the Cook Children’s administration.  Jim Cunningham is an incredible individual.  I have known him to be a highly dedicated leader and principled professional colleague.  When it comes to integrity, compassion, loyalty, flexibility and wisdom, Dr. Cunningham is fourteen carat.  As a friend, he is a rare find.”

Karen Schultz, M.D., Medical Director, Pulmonary Services

“There is no way to state how much Dr. Cunningham has meant to Cook Children’s or to me personally. He has been a rock from the day that I started fresh out of fellowship—initially with clinical questions but morphing into advice on how to lead the pulmonary department (and who to ask when I need something). His compassionate care for patients is an example for all physicians to emulate. I can only hope to have a fraction of the impact that he has had caring for pulmonary and all patients and families and Cook Children’s."

Nancy Dambro, M.D., retired, former Medical Director of Pulmonology and President of the Medical Staff

Jim Cunningham and I did our fellowships together at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Subsequently, we and our families moved to Fort Worth and Cook Children’s Medical Center together in 1987. Until I retired in 2020, Jim and I worked together for a total of 36 years! A long time for two physicians.

Through those years, I have seen Jim as one of the most insightful, thorough, and hard-working physicians I have ever worked with. He led the building of a very well-thought-of Pulmonary Department from the ground up, including a nationally recognized Cystic Fibrosis Center. In doing so, he built a cohesive clinical team that continues to be strong.

Later, he became the CMO of Cook Children’s Healthcare System, and lent his collegial leadership style to the entire organization. Jim‘s impact on the growth of Cook Children’s is probably unequaled.

Through this pretty challenging career, I never saw Jim lose sight of the importance of his own family; he is a great husband and father.

And he is a good friend.

Britt Nelson, M.D., retired, CCPN's president from 2009 to 2021, long-time friend of Dr. Cunningham

“Jim Cunningham always brings understanding into a room. He can communicate across many levels of listeners complex concepts in whatever language is needed. He is a honyawker to honyawkers, a kid to kids, an executive to executives and a leader to leaders. He is the brightest guy in the room – always.

His fingerprints are all over Cook Children’s and the success it has enjoyed. Best? He loves children and served them with his every word and action.”

Follow up to Dr. Nelson: What is a honyawker?

“I don’t really know, nor do I know how to spell it. Dr. Cunningham uses that word frequently to describe ‘a good ole boy’ with a slightly goofy slant. He’s used it in the highest level of our organization, and it elicits smiles as he describes folks (usually males) who are freewheeling and a bit (off-the-wall). It’s a term of endearment … sort of. He’ll smile when he sees this and correct me! What I could never discern was whether I wanted to be considered a honyawker. Pronounced –ho’n-yaw-ker.”

There were no major concerns until after birth when Mason’s pediatrician noticed his limb length was still a little shorter than normal. When Mason was one day old, the Hendersons were advised to do genetic testing.

They made an appointment with Candace Gamble, M.D. at Cook Children’s Genetics.

“Dr. Gamble was an answered prayer,” Whitney said. “She has been so patient with us and gone above and beyond to share information, answer questions and do virtual appointments since we are two hours away.”

Diagnosed with Diastrophic Dysplasia

“One of the difficult things about a rare disorder is the uncharted territory it creates, not only for the patient and family, but also for the medical team,” Dr. Gamble said. “At Cook Children’s Genetics our physician lead team has expertise and training in recognition of rare disorders that shortens the diagnostic odyssey for our patients.”

Mason was diagnosed with diastrophic dysplasia (DTD), a type of skeletal dysplasia and a rare genetic disorder that affects cartilage and bone development in the hands, face, ears, feet, hips, legs and spine. Skeletal dysplasia can also cause dwarfism, where people are shorter in height, 4 ft. 10 in. or less on average.

“Initially, when Mason presented his condition, it was not thought to be a skeletal disorder, but he had one distinctive clinical feature that I recognized which made the diagnosis clear to me,” Dr. Gamble said. “Also, after testing is complete, our team’s experience in gene variant interpretation and resolution allows us to confirm a diagnosis faster, which is exactly what happened in Mason’s case.”

Finding Your Tribe

Fast forward to today. Mason is 3 years old and despite the challenges, has shown incredible resilience. Whitney has connected with other families online in the skeletal dysplasia community, and with variants of DTD and recessive multiple epiphyseal dysplasia (rMED).

While they haven’t found anyone with Mason’s exact gene combination or “mild” gene expression, Whitney and her husband have found solace and encouragement in the shared experiences.

“Although it can be a bit isolating because Mason doesn’t fit the standard DTD mold, seeing others be so successful in life has been encouraging us as parents to know we aren’t alone,” Whitney said.

A Team Effort for Advocacy and Awareness

Living with a rare disorder can be challenging for anyone. Like neurological disorders including autism and epilepsy, skeletal dysplasia can also be seen on a “spectrum” where some people need more medical intervention than others.

Learning about different types of skeletal dysplasia while encouraging her son to be independent has been helpful for Whitney’s family. She also recommends standing up for your child.

“I never anticipated questions and comments from strangers on Mason’s size so it pushed us to learn saying things like: ‘Kids come in all sorts of shapes and sizes!’ and ‘You are so mature.’ instead of ‘You are so big,’” Whitney said. “Changing how we speak to him and others to make it about maturity rather than size really helps. I also encourage other parents to always advocate for your kids. Only you know your kids!”

Whitney’s Passion Project: A Storybook Inspiration

Inspired by Mason’s strength and a little stuffed lion, Whitney wrote a children’s book, Little Lion, so brave and strong, to celebrate the unique qualities of children with disabilities and encourages a message of belonging.

“When Mason was a baby, his great-grandma got him a stuffed lion. He loved that lion and clung to it,” Whitney said. “Each night before bed I started telling him ‘You are strong. You are brave. Like a lion!’ and we still say it together every night.”

As time went by, Whitney wondered if her routine with Mason could be something helpful for other parents and children.

“I’m not a writer, my day job is in cybersecurity so this was out of my comfort zone, but God kept nudging me to pursue it,” she said. “I told my husband and he supported the idea. Over the course of a year, we came up with ideas, researched publishing, found an illustrator and eventually self-published online.”

Whitney didn’t care if the book ever became popular, but her hope was for Mason to know that he always belongs and to pass the message to other kids.

“My favorite line from the book is ‘Little lion, so brave and strong, always know that you belong,’” Whitney said. 

Dr. Gamble was also happy Whitney published a book to tell Mason’s story.

“I’m thrilled that Mrs. Henderson is a champion for Mason in writing this book and telling his story,” Dr. Gamble said. “It has been a joy to help Mason and his parents navigate this rare condition. I hope to be an advocate for them along Mason’s journey now and into the future. Our goal is to ensure that he thrives in spite of his challenges.”

Football players and cheerleaders surprised patients in multiple departments at the Fort Worth Medical Center to spread some holiday cheer. Everyone was so excited to greet the team, especially after their Thanksgiving Day win against the New York Giants!

Each child receives a stocking loaded with goodies from the Dallas Cowboys and a special toy provided by the UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation.

Under the guidance of Mrs. Gene Jones, the entire Cowboys team has conducted annual holiday visits to local children’s hospitals for the past 35 years – a very special tradition that we are all grateful to experience.

Media partners may use this content for news stories and broadcasts with credit to Cook Children's.

Jordan Walker Ross’ childhood was filled with regular visits to Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth.

If that name sounds familiar, there's a good reason. You’ve likely watched him make theatrical magic as he morphs himself into characters spanning multiple genres, from the disciple known as Little James in the faith-based drama “The Chosen,” to Mikel, the resilient cowboy in the TV Western “1883.”

Jordan comes by his acting chops naturally. He is the grandson of Emmy-award-winning actor Barry Corbin, best known for his role as rough-around-the-edges town developer Maurice Minnifield in “Northern Exposure.” You’ve also seen Corbin in “Urban Cowboy,” “War Games,” “Yellowstone” and “Lonesome Dove,” to name a few of his many stage, television and film hits.

“He’s following along in my footsteps. Lord, help him,” Corbin said. “I always tell people if you find something else that you’d be happy at, go do that, because it’s a lot easier. But he chose to go the hard way and I’m proud of him.”

Jordan’s journey from his home in Texas to Hollywood success hasn’t been easy. He had big hurdles to climb long before his first acting audition.

Born seven weeks early on February 8,1990, Jordan estimates he spent at least four weeks out of every year as an inpatient at Cook Children’s for treatment of severe asthma, likely the result of his underdeveloped lungs from prematurity. Jordan also has cerebral palsy and severe scoliosis.

His first admission to Cook Children’s came when he was 3 for a serious bout of meningitis, which his younger sister also contracted.

“They were just babies and in two separate hospital rooms,” said Shannon Ross, Jordan’s mother. “So I would put on all of the gear and go into Jordan’s room and check on him and play with him for a little while. Then, I would go into another room where I would get sanitized and put on a new gown and go see my daughter.”

The Ross siblings recovered from their shared illness, but that hospital stay marked the beginning of a relationship that would carry Jordan into adulthood.

“It was just part of the routine,” Jordan said. “I would have an asthma attack and my nebulizer or inhalers wouldn’t help so it was like, okay, cool, we’re going to Cook Children’s. It was like a second home to me.”

Magical Connection

It was at Cook Children’s that Jordan says he first experienced a similar magic to what he now creates on screen. The type of magic where everyone understands the special role they play in a common goal.

What is that common goal? Connection.

In Hollywood, it’s about connecting with the audience through storytelling. At Cook Children’s, it’s about connecting with children and their families through kindness, generosity, respect, collaboration, safety and imagination.

“The environment at Cook Children’s is just magical,” Jordan said. “That’s a perfect word for it because even from the outside with the blue peaks and the bushes trimmed in different animal shapes, they’ve done such a good job making it feel like such a fun, happy and magical place, even though you are there for sometimes scary things.”

For Shannon, the most memorable magic happened when Jordan was able to venture outside of his hospital room and explore spaces throughout the medical center while riding in a little red wagon. 

“The kids loved riding around in the wagons,” she said. “You put their IV on the IV pole on the back and you could just go all over the place. You go down to the lobby and they’d have people coming in to sing or do magic tricks. And then there’s the store. It was like going to Toys R Us. It was just the neatest thing in the world.”

Everything for the Child

Jordan’s visits to Cook Children’s were often a family affair that included his mother and grandfather.

Like many of the characters he’s played, Corbin was a stalwart presence at his grandson’s side. He’d often sit outside Jordan’s hospital room and read the newspaper. Far enough to stay out of the way but close enough to keep watch over Jordan and his mom. Their constant presence, Jordan says, was a source of comfort and security.

So when Jordan had a severe asthma attack and found himself inside the emergency room of a Los Angeles hospital two days after his 18th birthday while working in California, Corbin and Shannon rushed from their homes in Texas to his side. Despite Jordan having asked the staff to call his mom and breathlessly repeating her number to them just before being intubated due to an extremely low blood oxygenation level, the staff initially declined to give Shannon information about her son’s condition, citing his status as a legal adult. After working through the red tape, Shannon and Corbin were eventually reunited with Jordan. They found him lying on a stretcher in the hallway of the emergency department days after his admission. He was alone and connected to a ventilator.

It was a stark contrast from the safe, family centered, everything-for-the-child approach to care that Jordan and his family say they were accustomed to at Cook Children’s, and it took them all by surprise.

“Cook Children’s is an anomaly,” Shannon said. “It’s not like other hospitals because it was able to make a really negative and scary experience a positive one. You almost forget you’re in the hospital and that is huge for a parent, kid or grandparent. I never realized that until years later when Jordan aged out of Cook Children’s and went to an adult hospital and that changed everything.”

Shannon had Jordan transferred to another LA-area hospital as soon as possible. She also reached out to his long-time Cook Children’s pulmonologist who cleared the way for Jordan to be flown back to Texas and admitted to Cook Children’s when he was stable enough to make the trip.

“Coming back from LA, when I saw the blue peaks at Cook Children’s, it was just the biggest relief,” Jordan said.

Dynamic Duo

Now, for the first time, Jordan and Corbin are sharing the screen as co-stars, recounting their Cook Children’s story. Although far from the lights of Hollywood, it was a job they were both more than willing to do having experienced Cook Children’s care and kindness first-hand.

“The doctors and nurses at Cook Children’s have a personal relationship with each patient. It’s their mission to treat your child like it is their child,” Corbin said. “Jordan is a naturally empathetic person. You don’t learn that. It’s something you have or you don’t have. He had it to start with, but I think his experiences at Cook Children’s enhanced that and made it stronger. A lot of that empathy has to do with his treatment at Cook Children’s.”

That connection Jordan felt as a child under Cook Children’s signature blue peaks continues now that he has three children of his own. When they are sick, he and his wife turn to Cook Children’s for their kids’ health care needs. Jordan says their periodic visits are a full circle moment for him. The nostalgia he feels reminds him that, just like he was all those years ago, his children are in good hands.

“I remember our first trip there with my kids was like going back to my childhood home,” Jordan said. “A huge chunk of my formative years was spent there. Getting to go back and see it all again from the perspective of a father was really special, and it was nice to see it hadn’t changed. The care and environment are still the same.”

Devastating Diagnosis 

Dr. Gelvez knew something more was going on due to the cloudiness of the spinal tap, so he prescribed multiple antibiotics for Adalyn. An MRI revealed she had experienced multiple seizures and a series of mini strokes. She was diagnosed with a rare strain of bacterial meningitis and transferred to the PICU. Most antibiotics were resistant to the strain Adalyn had so doctors put her on a wide variety. 

“She went down very fast,” Alexa said. “We are so thankful Dr. Gelvez ordered the spinal tap so we could get a quick diagnosis. Initially we were in shock and trying to comprehend it all. It felt like whammy after whammy with no good news. I was begging for her to live hour by hour and that turned into day by day.” 

Alexa said the doctors knew just how to talk with parents of a sick baby. Blake Nichols, M.D., pediatric specialist in the PICU, took the time to explain every detail of Adalyn’s treatment plan. 

“I remember they really wanted us to understand exactly what was going on with her and it felt like she was in the very best hands,” Alexa said. 

Audiology Emergency 

After a couple of days, they noticed that Adalyn was not responding to voices anymore. 

Bacterial meningitis comes with a high risk of varying degrees of hearing loss. Twelve days after being admitted, Adalyn underwent hearing tests. 

“Anytime we have a child with bacterial meningitis, we consider it an Audiology emergency and the child’s hearing is tested quickly,” said Lisa Vaughan, Audiology program manager at Cook Children’s. 

Patricia Purcell, M.D., MPH, pediatric otolaryngologist at Cook Children’s, said catching it in time is vital – a month after the diagnosis the cochlea hardens, and implants are not possible. 

Adalyn underwent her first hearing test and results were consistent with severe to profound hearing loss – the infant’s only option to be able to hear would be cochlear implants. 

Finding Funding for Cochlear Implants
Pediatric Otolaryngologists Dr. Purcell and Allison Chisholm, M.D., specialize in cochlear implants at Cook Children’s. In 2023, they performed 27 implants and since the program started 17 years ago, more than 600 implants have been inserted. 

The FDA has not approved cochlear implants for infants under 9 months old, so private insurance does not cover the procedure or devices. Vaughan quickly sprang into action, and within 72 hours, funding was secured. The cochlear implants, procedures and all related costs would be covered by generous donors through the Cook Children’s Health Foundation and the Cook Children’s Health Plan. Alexa’s three children have always used the Cook Children’s Health Plan, and Alexa said it has streamlined everything in the Cook Children’s network. They have also learned about resources to help Adalyn such as a deaf and hard of hearing teacher who now comes to their house. 

“Having it all under one umbrella has made a night and day difference,” Alexa said. “It has not only taken away the financial stress but has helped us with booking appointments through our healthcare manager. We are so thankful to have that stress taken off us.”
 
Dr. Purcell came up with a plan before Adalyn was discharged. She had another MRI to be sure she was a candidate for implants, and after a month in the hospital, Adalyn was on the way home.

“We really appreciated that they were on the ball and proactive in giving us information so we could prepare,” Alexa said. “We had come so far from where we started not knowing if she was going to make it. We were ready for the next challenge, and I was already looking up how to learn sign language.” 

Adalyn’s Chance to Hear Again 

A couple of weeks later, at 6 months old, Adalyn was wheeled to the operating room for her first implant. She would need two procedures – one for each ear – due to inflammation from an ear infection in her left ear. 

During the procedure, Dr. Purcell had to be careful not to damage adjacent structures to Adalyn’s brain, facial nerve and carotid artery. Dr. Purcell said technology like CT scans allowed for preoperative planning and a safe procedure. After three hours, the implant was complete. 

“Adalyn was a trooper the whole time,” Alexa said. “She wasn’t sick at all and healed quickly.” 

“We absolutely love Dr. Purcell. She went above and beyond and always returned our calls herself. She took time to clearly explain everything.” 

Home for Christmas

One week later, Dr. Purcell performed the procedure on Adalyn’s left ear, and she made it home just in time for her first Christmas. Alexa said she will never forget the holidays that year.
 
“We didn’t have much time to think about Christmas with Adalyn being in the hospital,” Alexa said. “Cook Children’s had gifts waiting for all of us, including our boys Brandon and Levi, and we were so grateful.” 

Alexa said that when they took Adalyn home, it was like having a newborn all over again. 

“Before Adalyn got sick, she could fully roll over and hold her head up,” Alexa said. “We were starting at ground zero again.” 

‘We had our Smiling Baby Back’ 

On January 12, less than a month after Adalyn’s procedures, Kristi Reed, Audiology program clinical coordinator at Cook Children’s, turned on the processor for the first time and initially activated the implants. She spent time with Alexa going over all the equipment.

Within a few hours of adjusting to hearing again, they had their babbling and smiling baby back. 
“It was like a switch went on, and we saw her personality again,” Alexa said. “We felt relieved and joyful to have overcome that first big hurdle.”
 
Adalyn was back to giggling and playing peek-a-boo – her favorite. 

During the first six months after surgery, Adalyn visited Audiology frequently as they increased the range of the implants. Adalyn mapped soft and loud noises and quickly made progress. She also saw an Audiology verbal therapist who specializes in working with children who have experienced hearing loss. Alexa learned how to facilitate language and listening at home.
 
“I’m amazed at how far she has come,” Alexa said. “Before the implants, a jet plane could take off and she wouldn’t hear it. Now, she even hears the shaking of a bell and can tell where it’s coming from.” 

A Thriving Toddler

Seven months ago, Adalyn graduated from feeding therapy and started baby food. Now 17 months old, Adalyn continues weekly auditory and verbal therapy and physical and occupational therapy as well as in-home physical therapy and sign language lessons.
 
“From the beginning I said she was our little warrior, and she is showing us every day how strong she is and continues to work toward and achieve her milestones,” said John, Adalyn’s dad. 

Alexa said they look forward to their visits with Physical Therapy at Cook Children’s in Mansfield where they come up with new ideas to try at home. Adalyn has made significant progress the last couple of months and now rolls all over the place and is working toward crawling. Her joyful personality continues to inspire those around her. Alexa said she babbles all the time and as soon as they put on her “ears” in the morning she lights up and smiles.
 
“It’s a miracle to sit back and see it all unfold,” Vaughan said. “This changes the trajectory of these kids’ lives forever.” 
 

A nurse at Cook Children’s Medical Center - Prosper has become the facility’s first recipient of the DAISY Award, which is bestowed by a worldwide organization for extraordinary care in nursing.

On Nov. 14, a team of nurses at Prosper gathered around as Sheralyn Hartline, AVP of Nursing and Patient Care, presented the award.

Hartline read aloud the nomination, which was sent in by a patient’s parent.

“Care was exceptional. Not only did this nurse do an amazing job the last visit, but she continued to be amazing during our recent stay. She connected with my daughter on a personal level and made her feel comfortable and safe from the very start of our experience,” Hartline read.

Hartline announced that the award winner was Haley Nelson, RN, a Med/Surg nurse. The nomination letter said Nelson got to know the patient’s personality as well as her illness, included her in the care plan and kept the parent informed and answered all her questions.

“This nurse took amazing care of my daughter,” Hartline said.

Nelson wiped her eyes as she accepted the certificate. Recipients of the Daisy Award receive a copy of their nomination, an Honoree pin, an Award certificate, a Healer’s Touch sculpture, a banner to hang in their unit and cinnamon rolls. The nominations are sent to an internal committee who do not know the names or detailed information about the nominees.

“It's just a great program and we’re excited to have it here in Prosper,” Hartline said.

The DAISY foundation began in 1999 in honor of Patrick Barnes, who was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. While he and his family spent eight weeks in the hospital, “the nurses helped the family through the darkest hours of their lives.” The award has grown into a nationwide honor.

The award is a way to show nurses that the work they do matters and that they are supported and appreciated, Hartline said.

At first, Nelson said she was nervous about the team gathering because she did not know what it was about. About halfway through reading the nomination, she was shocked to realize that the award was for her.

“I’ve been a nurse for a very long time and this is the first time I’ve gotten an amazing recognition,” Nelson said.

Nelson’s experience raising four children as a single parent helps her relate to parents who are going through a challenging time. While some nurses might feel burnt out as they get older, Nelson said she feels herself growing more passionate as time goes on. Growing up, she always wanted to be a nurse and always took care of those around her. Her experiences -- and receiving the DAISY award -- reaffirm that she is exactly where she is supposed to be. 

“We send (patients and patients’ families) home with paperwork and bags and follow-up appointments and prescriptions and all of the things and to think that (the patient’s mother) went home and thought to write and say that I was doing a good job -- that says a lot,” Nelson said. “It’s really special.”

Hartline said that Nelson is a wonderful nurse; she is always helpful, kind and puts patients and families first. As the DAISY Award nominations continue, she is excited to continue to recognize the compassion and dedication that Prosper’s nurses bring to patients and their families every day.

“We are fortunate to have our talented nurses here in Prosper,” said Kelley Ruther, senior secretary for nursing administration. “They are caring and collaborative in their approach. We have so many to recognize and we can’t wait to see who receives it next.”

There is a new line of defense against the leading cause of pediatric hospitalizations, and doctors are hopeful it will decrease the spread and severity of a virus that affects nearly two-thirds of all infants during their first year of life.

In 2023, the U.S. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine for pregnant women, known as Abrysvo. The vaccine transfers immunity to newborns, similar to how the pertussis vaccine for moms protects infants from whooping cough.

Respiratory syncytial virus is an infection that can lead to severe respiratory illness in infants and children, especially those under 2. In mild cases, children may experience a runny nose, cough, fever and wheezing. Serious cases can lead to inflammation of the airways and pneumonia, which could require hospitalization for difficulty breathing.

“Respiratory syncytial virus has been a major scourge for babies and pediatricians for a long time,” said Kaitlin Williamson, M.D., an infectious disease specialist at Cook Children’s Medical Center. “It's not a new thing. We're just hearing about it more because now there's something we can do about it. Truly up to 3% of all children are hospitalized in the first year of their life with RSV. That means 1 in 33 babies could be hospitalized their first year for the virus. That's an astronomical number.”

Two Doctors, One Decision

Anne Kirk, M.D, a pediatric hospitalist at Cook Children’s Medical Center, often treats children hospitalized due to RSV and is enthusiastic about this preventative breakthrough. This past year, her excitement became personal while pregnant with her now 8-month-old son. She chose to receive the maternal vaccine Abrysvo.

Abrysvo works by stimulating the mother’s immune system to create RSV-fighting antibodies that are then passed on to the baby in utero. Clinical trials demonstrate an 81% reduction in severe RSV-related illnesses requiring hospitalization in infants within the first 90 days after birth, and a 69% reduction up to six months of age, compared to a placebo.

Still, Dr. Kirk was not automatically offered the vaccine by her obstetrician.

“During one of my winter visits with my OB, I asked if their clinic would have the maternal RSV vaccine or if I’d need to get it at a local pharmacy,” Dr. Kirk said. “I was surprised my OB hadn’t brought it up and a little surprised the clinic wouldn’t be carrying the vaccine as well. This was last year so it was the first season where the maternal RSV vaccine was offered, so the newness of it likely contributed to this, but I think it’s important for all OBs to encourage their pregnant patients to get this important vaccine.”

Dr. Kirk has seen enough to know the potential impact the vaccine could have on children and the medical community. She takes care of hundreds of sick patients hospitalized for RSV every winter. While every season is different, she says, doctors have seen a trend towards much sicker babies as a result of RSV over the last several years.

For her, getting the vaccine gave her a sense of empowerment as a mom.

“Being a new mother, you quickly realize that a lot of things are out of your control,” Dr. Kirk said. “As my OB said early on in my pregnancy, ‘As long as you remember that the baby is in charge, you’re good.’ This applies to labor and delivery and especially once the baby has arrived. By getting the vaccine while I was pregnant, I felt that I was doing as much as I could to keep my baby healthy by giving him RSV immunity from me. I think doing as much as I could to protect my baby made me feel better as a new mom."

Dr. Williamson also chose to get the maternal vaccine while recently pregnant.

“It was just so incredibly exciting to me that there was something I could do to offer my daughter some protection against it,” Dr. Williamson said. “I was so excited to be one of the first women to be able to get it.”

Dr. Williamson did not experience any side effects from the vaccine, but notes that, although a small effect, safety trials suggest a possible risk of preterm birth, particularly among women who received the vaccine before 32 weeks gestation.

One Virus, Two Protective Options

For women not eligible for the maternal vaccine or who are concerned about this risk, there is another option. Last summer, the FDA also approved Beyfortus, a monoclonal antibody therapy designed to prevent severe RSV infections in infants and young children.

Unlike a vaccine that teaches the immune system to fight a disease by generating its own antibodies, Beyfortus is an injection given to babies that directly delivers preventative antibodies they lack due to their immature immune systems. It can boost a baby’s immune system against severe RSV for up to five months.

“It’s really empowering for women to have that choice for their baby,” Dr. Williamson said. “Some women don’t want their newborn to get a shot for any reason and would rather take it for them. Whatever makes you feel like you’re offering the protection that makes the most sense for you and your baby is what you should do. I encourage and celebrate women picking whatever option works best for them since they’re both really safe and really effective.”

Who is Eligible?

Pregnant women in their 32nd through 36th week of pregnancy are eligible for Abrysvo. It is offered seasonally from September through January. For maximum protection for the baby, the vaccine should be given at least two weeks prior to birth.

It should be noted that Abrysvo is also used to protect older adults from RSV. While it is the same vaccine, it has different eligibility criteria. For older adults, it is given to those aged 60 and older with a higher risk for RSV complications, such as those with chronic lung disease, heart disease, weakened immune systems or other comorbidities.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends Beyfortus for infants under 8 months of age born during or entering their first RSV season, as well as children younger than 20 months of age who remain at high risk of severe RSV disease during their second RSV season.

For more information about either of these protections against severe RSV, it’s important to visit with your obstetrician and/or pediatrician.

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With nearly 30 years of experience, Dr. Fuqua has devoted herself to improving children’s oral health, spearheading community programs like Save a Smile, and bridging the gap between dental care and overall wellness. Join us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube as we delve into Dr. Fuqua’s story—an inspiring journey of compassion, dedication, and her belief in the power of a smile.

Federal safety officials have recalled the Fisher-Price Snuga Swings and revised their standard for nursing pillows, two moves intended to guard infants against unsafe sleep spaces.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Fisher-Price announced the Snuga Swings recall in October 2024. The swings aren’t designed for sleep. According to the CPSC, the deaths of five babies were reported from 2012-2022 when the swings were being used for sleep. Bedding such as blankets had been added to the swing in most of those fatalities.   

In September 2024, the CPSC issued a new safety standard for nursing pillows to prevent sleeping infants from suffocation, entrapment and falls. The commission knows of 154 infant deaths and 64 injuries from 2010-2022 associated with nursing pillows.

“Your child should be sleeping on a flat, non-inclined mattress,” said Sharon Evans, Cook Children’s Trauma Injury Prevention Coordinator. “Any more than a 10% incline poses a suffocation risk to your baby.  They can get in the chin-to-chest position and have a difficult time breathing. Swings, bouncers, or propping them up in a pillow is unsafe for sleep.”

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported about 3,700 infants younger than one died due to sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) in 2022. The report indicates that 28 percent of those deaths were due to accidental suffocation and strangulation in bed. 

Through early November, nine sleep-related deaths were recorded at Cook Children’s in 2024. In the past three years, Cook Children’s has seen several infant fatalities due to sleeping on a nursing pillow.

The safest way for babies to sleep is on their back, on a firm surface with a tight-fitted sheet, in a crib or bassinet, or pack ‘n play with no pillows, blankets, bumper pads, or toys. No other children or adults should share the sleep space.

Evans said caregivers should lay their babies down in a safe sleep environment – not the couch, swing, car seat, or an adult bed – when it’s time for sleep.

“There’s just as much risk to your baby when they are taking a nap as when they sleep overnight,” Evans said. “Every sleep time needs to follow safe sleep practices.”

The new CPSC safety standard for nursing pillows relates to labeling, firmness, seam strength, and restraints. It applies to pillows designed to position and support an infant while feeding. The rule is scheduled to take effect in April 2025.

“Nursing pillows are intended to be used for feeding when both the infant and the caregiver are awake, and the caregiver can ensure that the infant’s airways are not covered by the pillow,” according to the CPSC. Injuries occur when a sleeping infant rolls face down on the pillow or their neck falls forward or back, preventing their ability to breathe.

The new standard adds this statement to the label: “Move baby to an infant sleep product, like a crib or bassinet, if baby falls asleep or if you feel drowsy.” 

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