This year’s theme was inspired by the popular children’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Team members signed up to make or bring in costumes, transforming the NICU’s patients into some of the foods featured in the story.

“I’m really proud to be part of such an amazing team that does so much for our littlest patients and their families,” says Ashley Brunic, manager of clinical operations for the NICU. “No one ever plans for their baby to be in the NICU, but we hope we can help families still find moments of joy in the unexpected.”

This year’s costumes included a pickle, a plum, ice cream and more, bringing a little Halloween fun to patients and families during their NICU stay.

The low rates of immunization in Indiana may be cause for concern. About 95% of individuals need to be vaccinated against measles to help prevent outbreaks through herd immunity. But according to the Indiana Department of Health, almost 10% of Indiana kindergarteners are not up to date on their MMR vaccines, which protect against measles, mumps and rubella. In specific counties, this rate is even lower.

Learn more about measles and what you need to know to stay safe:

What is measles?

Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads through the air when someone with an infection breathes, coughs or sneezes. You can catch measles from someone simply by being in the room with them, even up to two hours after they leave. Measles causes a red, blotchy rash on the skin that typically begins in the face and spreads downward on the body.

Someone who contracts measles will probably be contagious for several days before they know they are sick. Symptoms of measles show up seven to 10 days after contact with the virus, and may include:

• A high fever, which can rise past 104° F
• Coughing
• Runny nose
• Loss of appetite
• Red, watery eyes or pink eye infection (conjunctivitis)
• Tiny white spots may appear in the mouth
• A rash that begins as flat spots near the hairline and spreads to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. The rash typically appears two to four days after other symptoms begin

Measles is a virus, so there’s no treatment available. The only option is to alleviate the symptoms.

There’s a possibility that contracting measles can make you more vulnerable to other infections. Scientists are learning more about how measles causes the immune system to “forget” how to fight off other infections in what’s called immune amnesia. This can last for years after having measles.

Who’s at risk for measles?

Anyone who hasn’t had measles or two doses of the MMR vaccine is at risk for this virus. While some people get sick from measles and then pass the virus in a couple weeks, this disease can also cause complications. Complications include ear infections and diarrhea. About one in 20 people suffer severe complications like pneumonia and about one in 1,000 experience brain swelling. In the United States, about one in five people who are not vaccinated and get the measles will be hospitalized, and about one to three of every 1,000 children who get the virus will die from severe complications.

Measles is particularly dangerous for:

• Children younger than five years of age
• Adults older than 20 years of age
• Pregnant women
• People who have weakened immune systems, such as people with leukemia or an HIV infection

How to prevent measles

The best way to avoid contracting measles is by getting vaccinated. The MMR vaccine is delivered in two shots and proves 97% effective against measles. More than 50 years of research on tens of millions of infants and children has produced data showing that the MMR vaccine is safe and effective. The MMR vaccine does not cause autism, and serious side effects from the vaccine are rare. Though vaccine skepticism has led to drops in immunization rates, local health officials say the MMR vaccine continues to save lives.

There are two types of vaccines for measles: MMR and MMRV, which also vaccinates against varicella, or chickenpox. For adults, these two doses are delivered at least 28 days apart.

Children typically receive the first dose of MMR between 12 to 18 months of age and the second one between four and six years. During an outbreak, infants can get a dose of the MMR vaccine as early as six months of age. This is not considered part of the routine vaccine series, and your child will still need to receive two doses of MMR after they turn 12 months of age. When a child has already received a dose of MMR after turning 12 months of age, they can receive the second dose as early as 28 days later. They will then be considered fully vaccinated.

If you’re unsure about the vaccination status for you or your family, the Centers for Disease Control offers a guide to track down vaccination records.

If I’ve been vaccinated against measles, do I need a booster?

If you’ve had the two-dose MMR vaccine, you do not need another immunization. If you’ve contracted the measles virus in the past, you’ve also developed life-long immunity and do not need a booster. However, if you had a measles vaccine before 1968, you may need a booster because that vaccine was not as effective as current options.

Talk to your doctor if you want to schedule a vaccination are uncertain about your vaccination status. If you think you have measles, be sure to stay home and take steps to prevent the spread the virus.

Remember:

• Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that can cause severe complications.
• Young children and people who are pregnant or immunocompromised are most at risk for severe illness from measles.
• There’s no treatment for measles, only symptom management.
• The two-dose MMR vaccine is highly effective at preventing the measles virus.
• People who have had the two-dose MMR vaccine or experienced the virus have lifelong immunity.
• Ask your doctor if you are not sure of your vaccination status.
• If you are concerned that you or your child may have measles, call the doctor’s office first before seeking care. This helps them better care for you and provide additional instructions to keep everyone safe.

Amelia Herbert did her capstone project in nursing school on 5 West at Riley Hospital for Children and knew she didn’t want to work anywhere else.

Lucky for her and her oncology patients, she joined the nursing team on that same unit after graduation five years ago and never looked back.

“I loved it from the time I started,” she said. “Even though it can be challenging at times, I like the relationships you get to form with the kids. You get to really connect.”

One of those kids she connected with is Bentley “Benny” Parker, 6, whose grandmother and guardian nominated Herbert for nursing’s DAISY Award.

Herbert has been nominated several times before, but this is the first time she has won the award, which recognizes expert clinical skills and compassionate care.

Christie “Sunshine” Parker said Herbert “embodies what it truly means to be an extraordinary pediatric nurse.”

In her nomination letter, which she agreed to share for this story, Parker said her grandson struggled with fear and anxiety (understandably) when it came to needles and medical procedures, sometimes reacting with tears and kicks.

But Herbert didn’t see a difficult patient in those moments, Parker said. She saw a frightened little boy.

“She was patient with him when he was scared. She took the time to talk to him, reassure him, make him laugh and earn his trust. She never made him feel like his fear was an inconvenience. Instead, she met him exactly where he was emotionally and gave him the time and compassion he needed.”

It didn’t stop there, though, Parker added.

“Whenever she has even a few extra moments, she spends them playing with him. She makes time to be silly with him, talk to him, and let him simply be a little boy. In a hospital where so much of his life revolves around cancer, chemotherapy, needles, procedures, medications and uncertainty, she gives him something incredibly valuable – normal childhood moments.”

Of course, Herbert cares deeply about all of her patients, but Benny is a “special kiddo,” she said, recalling how she took care of him when he was first diagnosed.

“It was hard in the hospital, and it was an adjustment for him,” the young nurse said. “I was able to understand that he responded to things differently, and I got to see the growth he had from that first week until now.”

The two have a close relationship built on trust – and a little playfulness.

“We play games, and he likes to prank me,” she said. “He’s a great kid. Everyone on the unit loves him.”

Parker said Herbert understands that pediatric nursing isn’t only about administering medications, checking vital signs or completing procedures.

“It is about caring for the whole child – their body, their mind, their emotions and their heart.”

Hearing those words means the world to Herbert.

“Our jobs are really hard, so when you get notes like that, it reminds you that it’s all worth it. We can get so busy on the unit that you don’t notice how much the little moments you have with the kids impact them, so when someone brings that to light, it’s really nice that they see how much I care.”

Herbert, who was born in England and holds dual U.S./UK citizenship, just traveled back there to visit family. Other than traveling and recently moving to a new townhouse, she keeps busy outside of Riley studying to become a nurse practitioner.

“It’s consuming my life,” she joked.

Nominate a nurse who exemplifies excellent clinical skills and compassionate care here. https://www.rileychildrens.org/form/riley-daisy-award

Photos submitted and by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org

More than two decades ago, Krista Hauswald shifted her college course path from teaching to the study of child life at Purdue University.

The patients and families at Riley Hospital for Children came out on top when she made that decision. Next week, Hauswald will celebrate 20 years as a certified child life specialist at Riley.

A native of tiny Rising Sun, Indiana, she felt fortunate to join the team at Riley, where she had volunteered while in college.

“The patients and families are the whole reason I’m here,” she said. “This is my passion, my calling, my mission in life – to help people when they are going through some of the most challenging times of their lives.”

Hauswald works primarily in the Riley Outpatient Center infusion clinic, where she keeps her pockets full of squishies, buzzies, light spinners and stress balls to help kids be brave during needle pokes and procedures.

“I always knew I wanted to work with kids, and I liked the hospital setting, but I didn’t want to be the one poking anybody,” she said.

Now, she’s the one who helps calm kids before, during or after those pokes, including kids like 2-year-old Scarlett Amstutz, who was checking out the playroom during an appointment this week.

“The biggest thing I do is get down on their level and try to get to know them,” she said. “Building that rapport helps me figure out the best approach.”

Then when she sees a child who has come in super anxious but leaves feeling proud of themselves as their fears wash away, she feels a sense of calm and relief herself. That’s her reward.

Working with the oncology population or other patients who come in frequently for any type of infusion allows her the opportunity to build relationships, which are key in her professional and personal life.

Married to Paul and mother to Cooper and Piper, Hauswald is a runner, collecting medals in multiple half-marathons. She also loves to bake, travel, watch her kids play sports, volunteer and participate in anything Purdue-related.

As a mom of two Riley kids herself, she has seen the magic of child life specialists from the parent perspective and has felt cared for in those moments.

“We were here when Santa came to visit,” she said. “I’ve been on the other side of those visits with patients, so it was nice to be on the receiving end.”

The integration of child life within the care teams is key to maintaining a patient-first culture at Riley.

“Physicians trust our expertise,” she said. “We all want the best for our patients.”

Jenna Yarnell, Riley Child Life manager, said Hauswald’s passion for serving the hematology/oncology population is evident in every interaction and intervention she provides.

“She is always ready to advocate for what is in the best interest of the patient, and she also does an amazing job of helping patients and caregivers learn to advocate for themselves in the hospital setting,” Yarnell said.

“She is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to supporting patients and families, and I am so grateful to have her on my team.”

One more thing about Hauswald, Yarnell said, is how she is adept at matching patients’ interests with activities and special events put on by the Child Life Zone.

“She knows her patients and families so well.”

Photos submitted and by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org

When I first walked into Riley Hospital for Children as an IU Health team member eight years ago, I didn’t know how it would change me or how the patients, their families and the Riley team would steamroll their way into my heart.

People I’ve interviewed over the years have talked about the “magic” of Riley, the special feeling they get when they step inside the state’s largest and oldest children’s hospital.

I know that feeling. I love that feeling.

Whether it’s the people who greet you when you enter the flagship Downtown Indianapolis hospital, the clinical team who lead with care and compassion all over the state, the child life specialists who pour their hearts into every patient and parent they encounter, the volunteers who give their time and talent every day, Riley has been a special place since it opened in 1924.

One of the first stories I wrote as a member of the social media team for IU Health/Riley back in 2018 was about a teenager who was dying from cancer, yet she was living every day to the best of her ability. One of the last things she did, with the help of Riley’s palliative care team and others, was to throw what she called a FUNeral, “a party to die for,” she said. It was a celebration of her life before she passed away. It was painful, but it was beautiful.

She was among the first in a long line of patients who inspired me during my years at Riley. Around that same time, a little boy was born with a complex congenital heart condition that would require three delicate operations. I met that child and his parents when he was a few months old and continued to follow his progress, sitting with them while they waited for an update from his surgeon years ago after another open-heart procedure. More recently, I was able to share joyful photos from his first time seeing his musical idol Taylor Swift in concert during her Eras Tour stop in Indianapolis in 2024.

I’ve written more than 1,500 stories in my time with IU Health, many on the adult side that had me in awe of the strength patients displayed in overcoming serious injury or illness. But most often, my days took me to Riley, where I watched as care teams celebrated every milestone of their young patients – from the most fragile preemies learning to breathe on their own, to the preschoolers learning to walk again after critical infections left them near death, to the teenagers fighting back after devastating injuries suffered in car crashes or fires or gun violence, as well as those recovering from sudden cardiac arrest, cancer or COVID.

I was proud of the leadership role IU Health took during the pandemic, despite the tremendous toll it took on our clinical staff and our patients. I was there with our photographer to cover the moment when the first batches of the vaccine were given to front-line workers at Riley. It’s surreal now to think back to that time, to understand that history was unfolding around us.

There has been so much joy in this job, but there has been sadness as well – the pain of learning that a patient I’ve written about has died despite the valiant efforts of Riley clinicians to save him or her. I have grieved with parents at funerals and, with their permission, shared a tribute to their child as a final gift. Entering that sacred space is an honor I don’t take lightly.

I would be remiss not to mention again the incredible Riley team of physicians, surgeons, advanced practice providers, nurses, therapists, social workers, case managers, child life, medical assistants, unit secretaries and all the support staff. You have helped me understand the “magic” of Riley.

As I move into the next chapter of my own story, I want to say thank you to everyone who helped me tell Riley’s story these past eight years. It has been a privilege.

P.S. I’m dropping a few links below to some of my favorite Riley stories, though to be fair, they’ve all been my favorites.

Miriam Sawka FUNeral November 2018 | Riley Children's Health

Josiah Medler 2019-2020 and beyond | Riley Children's Health

She almost lost her boy, but the stars… | Riley Children's Health

“Grace will lead me home” | Riley Children's Health

Junior brought joy to everyone he met | Riley Children's Health

“I’m standing here today … because of Riley… | Riley Children's Health

From a 25-weeker to a bright, happy toddler | Riley Children's Health

Brilea goes home after 513 days at Riley | Riley Children's Health

Harvey is the light and life of the party | Riley Children's Health

Preemie is punching above his weight | Riley Children's Health

Developed by the IU Health International Team, the IU Health International Pediatric Complex Care Conference in Bermuda marked the first international conference hosted by IU Health. Twelve Riley Children's Health faculty members representing nine specialties delivered 21 presentations for local and international healthcare professionals, creating a multidisciplinary event focused on contemporary approaches to caring for children with complex disease.

The intentionally focused gathering brought together more than 70 participants from Bermuda, the United Kingdom and the United States. Attendees included pediatricians, primary care physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses and other healthcare professionals involved in caring for children.

"Bermuda was the right place at the right time," said Mark W. Turrentine, MD, conference director and chief of congenital heart surgery at Riley Children's. "We wanted to take education beyond the confines of our own institution and provide meaningful support to clinicians in other communities."

Multidisciplinary expertise for complex pediatric care

The program brought expertise that is not routinely available together in an island setting, including fetal diagnostics, congenital heart surgery, cardiac genetics, neonatal stabilization, pediatric trauma and complex airway management.

Each presentation invited dialogue about how the evidence, approaches and clinical guidance could be applied within participants' own care settings. Clinicians could ask questions about difficult cases and learn from nationally ranked specialists who routinely care for high-acuity and uncommon conditions.

"This gives us an opportunity to learn from people at larger institutions who see greater volumes and different pathologies," said Sylvanus Nawab, MD, a pediatrician with Bermuda Pediatric Center and a member of the conference program committee. "We may not see those cases as often, but we can learn what to do when we do."

An opening global health roundtable explored the challenges of providing care in geographically isolated or resource-limited settings, clinical support models, local program development and skills transfer. The discussion gave Riley physicians a better understanding of how care is delivered in Bermuda and other island communities, while clinicians shared approaches shaped by their own patients, resources and healthcare environments.

"At IU Health, we have tremendous pediatric expertise within Riley Children's Health, and I believe part of our responsibility is finding meaningful ways to share that expertise beyond our own walls," said Elaine G. Cox, MD, executive sponsor of the conference. "But what makes this especially valuable is that the learning goes both ways. We're building relationships with clinicians who bring their own experiences and perspectives, creating connections that can continue long after the conference ends."

Hands-on ultrasound training builds practical skills

The conference concluded with a point-of-care ultrasound, or POCUS, workshop led by Drs. Michael Lintner-Rivera and Riad Lutfi, with the Riley Children's Health Simulation Program. In small groups, participants used live models and interactive simulation manikins to learn to accurately use point-of-care ultrasound, a technology newly available in their community, and practiced cardiac, vascular, lung, abdominal and trauma-focused applications.

For Lunette Castillo, a family nurse practitioner who has worked in primary care for 15 years, the workshop provided her first opportunity to learn point-of-care ultrasound.

"In Bermuda, where access to imaging such as MRI or CT can sometimes be more difficult, learning basic ultrasound skills can help us make more immediate care decisions," Castillo said.

For Dr. Nawab, access to knowledge and technology is ultimately about being better prepared for the child who needs it. "We may not use a technology every day, but if having it improves the care we can provide for even one child, it makes a big difference," he said.

Relationships that continue after the conference

The conference also created time for clinicians to build professional relationships across institutions and communities. Those connections can support future consultations, continued sharing of knowledge and a deeper understanding of the resources available when a child needs more specialized care.

"First and foremost, I hope participants leave with relationships," Dr. Turrentine said. "If they encounter a question or a challenging case, they now have colleagues they can reach out to and consult."

The conference also reflects the mission of IU Health International Patient Care Services: fostering global clinical collaborations through consulting, training and knowledge exchange. By supporting local care whenever possible and developing trusted referral pathways when specialized services are needed, the team helps strengthen healthcare capabilities around the world while connecting patients of all ages to expertise across IU Health and Riley Children's Health.

Like most moms, Paige Smith bonded with her son, Zachariah, before he was even born. Now 16 months old, the toddler has her wrapped around his little finger, while she has him wrapped around her arm – tattoo style.

Smith recently got the ink on her arm to celebrate her son and Spina Bifida Awareness Month (October).

Zach was diagnosed with spina bifida (a neural tube defect where the spinal canal and backbone do not close properly and the spinal cord forms outside the body) in utero during his mom’s 20-week anatomy scan. He (and his mom) underwent surgery a few weeks later with maternal fetal medicine surgeon Dr. Hiba Mustafa and pediatric neurosurgeon Dr. Jason Chu.

Riley is one of only a handful of hospitals in the country that began offering the less-invasive, cutting-edge procedure last year that corrects the defect before birth, increasing the chances that the child will live a normal life, including the ability to walk.

“Our center at Riley Hospital for Children is the only one in Indiana offering fetal surgery for myelomeningocele (spina bifida) and the only program in the Midwest performing the most minimally invasive fetoscopic repair,” Dr. Mustafa said in an earlier interview.

While Zach has had respiratory problems and a couple of setbacks since his premature birth last year, a shunt helps drain excess fluid from his brain, and a G-tube supports his nutritional needs. Paige and her husband, Cameron Smith, are excited to see his growth and development, and they give much credit to the Riley team.

They see many specialists as part of Riley’s spina bifida clinic, including pediatric neurosurgery, urology, orthopedics, gastroenterology, developmental pediatrics, physical medicine/rehabilitation and social services.

“Dr. Chu is amazing,” Paige said. “I’ve been following with him since I was pregnant with Zach, and I recommend him to anyone if they need a neurosurgeon. He listens very carefully to questions and concerns. He’s just always been there for Zach.”

It’s hard to take your eyes off the little guy with the gorgeous head of blond curls as he grins and babbles while sitting against his mom on the floor.

He tracks every moment his big sis Rosie makes in the room as she bounces from the couch to the floor and back again. She helps him grab hold of toys and is attentive to his needs.

“He’s a happy baby,” Paige said. “He has progressed a lot in the past year.”

Dr. Chu agrees, saying Zach has come “a remarkably long way.”

“We are so proud of Zach, Paige and Cameron’s incredible fetal myelomeningocele journey,” the surgeon added. “From infancy to adulthood, our multidisciplinary spina bifida clinic is honored to provide the personalized and specialized care for Zach to continue to thrive.”

Zach gets therapy at home through Riley’s First Steps program. In the beginning, therapists focused on head control, a skill he has mastered, his mom said proudly.

“It’s like he woke up one day and decided, ‘I’m gonna hold my head up.’ So now, we’re working on core muscles so he can sit up on his own,” she said.

He doesn’t crawl yet, but his parents hope that’s just a matter of time. Just as they hope he will be able to walk someday.

“He is developmentally behind, but he’s making so much progress. Doctors think he has a shot at walking,” Paige said.

That last bit of information was welcome news to both parents. They know things can change, but they are giving him the best shot they can with therapy, love and regular visits to Riley.

Recently, Zach was cleared to be on room air during the day, so his parents check his oxygen levels regularly. He still gets oxygen support at night, but they hope to wean that back in time.

Meanwhile, he is building his vocabulary, Cameron said.

“He knows his name, and he says hi, dada, mama. It’s like he learns a new word every week.”

Zach, who weighed just 2 pounds, 12 ounces at birth, now is a chunky 19 pounds.

“He takes after me,” his dad said with a laugh.

If they had to pick one word to describe their little boy, it’s easy, they said.

“He’s amazing.”

Photos submitted and by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org

"Especially where I work at right now, it's high-risk pregnancies, maternal fetal medicine, and these women, they can come in one way, all excited, full of glee and come out the exact opposite," Jones said. "You have to have a servant's heart for that; you have to empathy on another level and compassion on another level."

Jones enjoys the practical parts of the job: escorting patients to rooms, preparing them for the appointment, and for whatever orders the providers have requested. But there is an aspect of her medical assistant role that Jones said connects to her faith.

"I can actually express my faith and there's a lot of patients that do come in here with the same kind of faith, some no, but I am able to incorporate what I know about the Lord in order to gravitate towards these patients and to help them through their toughest times of grief," Jones said. "The Holy Spirit does activate and I'm able to give the words that they need to hear."

Jones reflected on the complex situations many patients who enter the clinic find themselves in. She said that is why the staff at all levels work hard to make the environment peaceful and uplifting.

"Some patients come in, they're already really anxious because they done lost five kids, miscarriage, stillborn, or they're in a domestic abuse relationship, they could be homeless, I've seen that," Jones explained. "That's why it's important that we can be the space that they can come into where they can be supported. They don't need to come into a space where they're judged. They get enough of that outside in the world."

Jones explained she has a knack for "reading the room" and knowing how to support each patient no matter how they feel during the appointment.

"You don't want to talk, you don't want to be bothered, that has nothing to do with me treating you with love, decency and respect," Jones said. "I'm still going to do that regardless."

Imagine holding the tiny blood vessels of your preemie baby’s heart in the palm of your hand.

That’s what Caitlin Crawford was able to do, or close to it, thanks to 3D technology that is revolutionizing the way physicians and surgeons talk to patients/parents and plan for procedures.

As her infant son, Danny, faced multiple open-heart surgeries due to congenital heart defects, including heterotaxy and hypoplastic right heart syndrome, Crawford got a closer look at the vessels of her son’s heart, courtesy of a tiny model developed to replicate the size, shape and intricate structure of the organ.

The IU Health 3D Print Studio, housed at 16 Tech Innovation District, across the street from Riley Hospital for Children near Downtown Indianapolis, launched earlier this year in partnership with Myrava as one of the first hospital-based, FDA-cleared 3D printing programs in the nation.

Pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Jeremy Herrmann has been leading the charge for this program in the congenital cardiac space at Riley, but he says there are many people who have embraced the idea and have been actively involved in its success.

“We’re fortunate here that we have exceptional radiologists and cardiologists who can do imaging for us, but with that alone I could only show families information on a computer screen,” he said. “Now, if we can convert that into something they can hold, it really bridges that gap with what we’re seeing and trying to explain and what they understand.”

3D printing isn’t new to Riley or IU Health, but advancements in the technology mean patient-specific anatomical models can be generated in as little as a week using imaging provided by radiologists and other specialists in a secure setting.

“The lab has expertise in congenital cardiac surgery, and they have the ability with their FDA-approved process to access imaging directly from our system,” Dr. Herrmann said.

Since the lab opened, the surgeon said the process for getting imaging and ordering a 3D model “couldn’t be easier.”

“I can go to them and say we have this patient, this scan, and they can start building what we need.”

The benefits are two-fold, he said. The models can help in surgical planning and help support family education.

“That’s been a powerful tool for us,” Dr. Herrmann said. “Not only can we show the anatomy, but we can show it at scale. Some of our models are very small because they are for babies, and they are the actual size.”

The cardiology program for 3D models benefits from funding through the Riley Children’s Foundation, which pays the cost of individual pieces that range from $700 to about $1,800.

Eventually, the goal is to create a library of 18 to 20 models to have on hand, but for now, the team is focused on creating them as requested to support patients’ particular complex heart conditions. The expectation is that they will create eight to 10 a year for specific patients, in addition to the library models.

“I’ve been very optimistic about how much the cardiologists have thought about this, especially as a teaching tool for families,” Dr. Herrmann said. “It’s very hard to render a three-dimensional object on paper or a whiteboard. To be able to hold it and manipulate it is just better.”

In Danny Crawford’s case, handing his mom a tiny model with actual-size blood vessels, including the aorta and pulmonary artery that Dr. Herrmann operated on, helped her comprehend the complexity of the surgery, especially in a pre-term infant who weighed just over 3 pounds at birth.

“I fit the parts of his heart in the palm of my hand,” Caitlin Crawford said, still marveling at the experience. “I thought it was really cool to know that’s how small it was and that Dr. Herrmann was able to work on it.”

That’s the kind of response that makes Dr. Herrmann and acting pediatric cardiology division chief Dr. Michael Johansen hopeful for the program’s potential at Riley.

Parents often can’t conceive of the “tremendous complexity” involved in a surgery, Dr. Johansen said. But with a model, the heart team can help them grasp the challenges and associated risks.

“I’m not sure there is a more closely tied co-dependent working relationship than there is between pediatric cardiologists and congenital surgeons,” Dr. Johansen said.

“We pride ourselves as the cardiologists on giving the best and most thorough information they need to skillfully carry out the very difficult task we’re giving them,” he added. “We have a tremendous amount of respect for what the congenital heart surgeons do. Even things they think are simple we would look at as nearly impossible. It’s really impressive stuff.”

Throw in a really complicated case, and it’s that much harder to provide a useful roadmap for correcting a problem. That’s where 3D printing comes into play, Dr. Johansen said.

“Right now, we’re only using it for those really complex conditions where it is most helpful to have a three-dimensional view. But what’s really neat is that it’s not just a model that closely resembles what a surgeon is going to see. It’s an actual representation of the patient’s heart in anatomy and size.”

Dr. Johansen gives all the credit to Dr. Herrmann for championing the 3D heart model program and for establishing relationships with the designers in the studio, making the process of requesting a high-quality model easy. The result is improved surgical planning, along with the education component that benefits families and IU School of Medicine learners.

The education component is key, Dr. Herrmann said, and it starts with the initial conversations about what the problem is and what needs to be done.

“If patients or families don’t quite grasp things at that early stage, it makes the rest of the process really challenging,” he said. “If we can improve the patient education and their understanding, my feeling is that it helps alleviate their anxiety about how things might go and some of the risks involved. When I think about all the families we care for her, I feel like that’s where we can have the most immediate impact.”

Danny Crawford’s mom couldn’t agree more.

“Seeing the model was really valuable to me,” she said. “It really put into perspective how hard the doctors and surgeons work for these kids’ very small hearts.”

Danny, who recently marked his first birthday, faces another open-heart surgery in the next year or so, but he is doing well at home today, despite suffering a setback after his first surgery.

“He is defying all the odds,” his mom said. “He came home without needing to be on oxygen; he has a G-tube, but he eats purees; he has started cooing; and he kicks his legs like he has places to go. He has been thriving since he came home.”

Kolton Ragonesi was born on December 8, 2024, weighing merely 1 pound and 4.3 ounces. His parents, Victoria Zainey and Christian Ragonesi, will never forget the pure joy his smile brought not only their family but everyone who shared a room with Kolton.

"Even when he had bad days, he would always smile and laugh," Ragonesi said. "Me and Tori, we always used to do this thing where we kissed him on his cheeks at the same time. He would always let out a big smile where you could see his teethers and everything, then he'd lift his legs up and grab them and hold them. Right before he took his last breath we did it and he let out on last big smile. He passed away right after that last big smile."

His mom remembers that day, June 13, 2026, and how uncomfortable he was leading up to that final grin.

"You could just see how uncomfortable he was all day long and then after the kiss, he like let go," Zainey said.

Second only to the pain of losing Kolton was the unexpected grief the parents described related to no longer needing to spend time at Riley Hospital. For 540 days, the family spent as much time as possible with their young son. To help ease the pain, Zainey said they started Kolton's Klubhouse, a foundation to help other families of medically complex children afford gifts at Christmas time.

"It mends a void," Zainey explained. "It keeps me busy to where I'm doing something that has to do with Kolton still; This is just a different version of Kolton."

Kolton's Klubhouse hosted its first ever golf outing on Saturday, October 10, to raise money for the holidays, alongside donations collected through the foundation's website.

"Then that way we can buy presents meant for that child specifically with any kind of medical condition, whether it's a trach, whether it's a vent, whether they have cancer, it doesn't matter what it is, not only do we want to support the child that's in the hospital, but the family as well," Zainey explained. "Do you have the right bed; do you have the right accessories at home that could be gifted as Christmas presents? When Kolton came home this last time, he was way too big for a crib."

This first Christmas, Kolton's mom and dad are focused on supporting one Riley family, but they have goals of helping many more.

"We know that he would be proud of us, and we know that Kolton would want us to help other kids," Ragonesi said.

Most days, Brenda Phillips is the first one in and the last one out of the pediatric surgery clinic in the Riley Outpatient Center.

“I start by turning on the lights and getting all the stickers off the walls, the floors and the tables that the kids have left behind,” the registered nurse said with a smile.

It’s no hardship for her. She’s a morning person, and she loves her job.

“I really enjoy what I do. I don’t mind being here early or late,” she said. “I want to feel like I made a difference in someone’s life.”

Phillips came to nursing rather late in the game. She worked as a medical assistant at IU Health Methodist Hospital for 14 years before deciding she wanted to go back to school.

“When my children got older, I said, ‘OK, now I can go back to school and I’m going to be a pediatric nurse.’ I was terrified, but I told myself I could do this.”

Once she graduated, she joined the outpatient surgery team at Riley in 2010 and has never looked back.

“I have a great boss (Kathy Hesler). She makes sure we have everything we need to do our job. I work with a great staff (including medical assistants Shonnah Roller and Melva Dixon, pictured). And we have amazing doctors who are very compassionate and caring,” she said.

Working in the outpatient center, with its Monday-Friday hours, has been a good fit for her.

“I didn’t think this body would hold up to 12-hour shifts on a unit,” she joked.

But she’s a workhorse all the same, serving as charge nurse frequently, seeing pre- and post-operative patients and taking the lead in other ways that are not always visible.

For Phillips, nursing is much more than a medical passion. She sees it as a way to touch people’s lives for the better.

“If someone comes through the door with a bad attitude, I don’t take it personally,” she said. “It’s not aimed at me. It’s just life going on.”

In those moments of stress, she takes a step back to see where the need is and how she can help. It’s about building trust.

“If I can smile and hold your baby while you go to the restroom and collect yourself, I’ll do that,” she said. “Are you hungry? Let me get a voucher and we’ll get something for you or your child to eat. Let’s get the kids settled and get you settled. Then I can talk to you about what you’re here for, but I can’t do that and get your attention if your mind is all over the place.”

She doesn’t do it all alone, of course. There are many people she reaches out to for help, whether it’s social work, the Riley Cheer Guild, the gift shop or her team in the ROC. Some days she’s arranging transportation for a family to get home from an appointment, or she is getting a onesie for a baby who keeps pulling out his G-tube or finding socks for a child on a cold day.

Fellow nurse Jayella Jackson said Phillips’ 30 years of dedication to patients and families deserves to be recognized (especially during Pediatric Nurses Week) because “it represents the very best of IU Health and Riley Children’s Health.”

“Brenda is truly a light in what can sometimes feel like a dark and frightening tunnel for children and their families,” Jackson said. “Her warm energy, beautiful smile, generosity and compassion brighten the clinic and bring comfort to everyone around her. She consistently goes above and beyond – not only in providing excellent nursing care, but in recognizing the emotional needs of her young patients.”

Phillips has been a mother herself since the age of 16. She has three children but says she would have liked to have had 23. She also has five grandchildren, one of whom lives in Indianapolis.

“I love children. My sole purpose in life is to be around children and make children happy.”

Her passion for kids extends well beyond work and home. She is beloved in her Southeast Indy neighborhood for the movie nights she and her husband host for their grandson and his friends. She also plans campouts in her backyard – she has 10 tents in her garage – and she keeps kids active with nighttime bike rides. She has a Little Free Library in front of her house, and on Christmas Eve, she bakes and boxes up treats for the neighborhood kids.

She sounds a bit like a fairy godmother, but she says it’s just her way of fulfilling her purpose.

“You can’t be in a rush with people,” she said, whether at the hospital or at home. “That’s how things get missed. God brought this person in front of you today for a reason and is giving you an opportunity to help. If you are too busy, you may never get another chance with that person.”

"We are seeing gunshot patients there, so why not build it [at Riley]," Mae Sandberg, who leads Riley's office of community & child health (OCCH), said after announcing Riley's new hospital-linked violence intervention program (HVIP).

Riley Children's Health welcomes Indiana's first HVIP which, with the help of city and community partners, will aim to reduce further shootings, promote healing for all involved, and connect young victims to long-term support.

"No family expects violence to become part of their story, but we see every day how deeply these injuries affect children, families and communities," said David Biggerstaff, president of Riley Children's Health. "As Indiana's leading pediatric health system, we have an opportunity and responsibility to support healing beyond the hospital walls. This program is designed to meet young people and their families where they are, provide hope and connection, and help break cycles of violence."

Riley is only the 11^th children's hospital in the country to offer a HVIP focused on helping young victims of violence and their families heal. As the only Level I pediatric hospital in Indiana, children injured by guns are typically brought to Riley.

"All children come into the emergency department with a gunshot wound, and we are expanding to all penetrating wounds, so this could also include stabbings, which is why we've invested in hiring two staff members at Riley who are dedicated for hospital violence intervention plan," Sandberg said. "We are having our licensed clinical social worker and a violence outreach specialist. Indy Peace specializes in gun violence, but that is not the only violence that a child experiences. So, we want to be prepared at Riley as well to fill in any gaps and that is why we are also working with our community-based organizations."

Riley is partnering with Indy Peace, which is part of the city's anti-violence strategy. Indy Peace team members will respond to and intervene at the hospital.

"Our goal is to simply meet the victims at the hospital and start the process right then and there and begin to try to mediate the situation, and if possible present some conflict mediations, conflict resolutions, help to provide resources to the families," Michael Murphy, senior program manager with Indy Peace, said. "We're there within an hour. Within that hour, several people that love that victim, their families, their loved ones, they're all trying to get to them to make sure they're okay, right? That's what we're trying to do. Make sure that we get to them [and] make sure they're okay. Make sure that mentally they're okay cause the process to recovery is a lengthy one depending on the shot."

Along with immediate support, Indy Peace will also help connect victims' families to additional resources and ongoing follow-up care.

"Indy Peace is part of our city's violence interruption strategy," Sandberg explained. "We are partnering with them as our primary referral agency. But we also acknowledge that we have community-based organizations that are specialized in working with youth. Some of those are Struggle University, VOICES Corp. and the Boys & Girls Club of Indianapolis."

The Riley program builds upon the violence intervention work already happening within IU Health and across Indianapolis. At IU Health Methodist Hospital, Indy Peace life coaches connect with eligible patients while they're in the hospital, providing immediate support and referrals to long-term services. Those resources include the Indy Peace Fellowship, which offers intensive case management and support for up to 18 months. Riley's pediatric program adapts this evidence-informed model to meet the unique needs of children, adolescents, and families.

"A safer city is built long before a crisis. It takes people who can respond in the moment—and people who stay with families through what comes next. That’s why we’re grateful for partners like Riley Hospital for Children and the community organizations working alongside us, said Dane Nutty, president and CEO of the Indy Public Safety Foundation. “When healthcare, public safety, and community support work together, we can help families affected by violence find a path toward healing and build a safer future for Indy.”

OCCH was established to improve child health outcomes through community-led partnerships and innovative programming. Support from Riley Children's Foundation helped make the HVIP possible by providing resources to advance collaborative solutions that address children's health and well-being beyond the hospital setting. By aligning healthcare, philanthropy, public health, and community expertise, Riley aims to create a coordinated approach to violence intervention for children and adolescents throughout Central Indiana.

"Riley Children's Foundation is proud to support innovative programs that improve the health and well-being of children across Indiana," said Courtney Roberts, president and CEO of Riley Children's Foundation. "The Hospital-Linked Violence Intervention Program reflects the power of investing beyond traditional healthcare to address the challenges families face in their communities. We are grateful to partner with Riley Children's Health, Indy Peace and other community organizations to help create pathways toward healing, hope and brighter futures for children impacted by violence."

Ahead of the upcoming IU Health International Pediatric Complex Care Conference, Dr. Moallem shares insights on emerging priorities in neonatal medicine, improving clinical decision-making and the importance of early recognition in achieving better outcomes for newborns.

What are some of the most important topics you'll be discussing?

The first 48 hours can be a pivotal period for newborns with complex medical needs. My presentations focus on recognizing and managing high-risk neonatal conditions during this critical window, when timely clinical decisions can substantially affect outcomes. Key elements include structured clinical assessment, identifying early warning signs, selecting appropriate diagnostic tools, initiating evidence-based treatment promptly and reassessing infants frequently as their condition evolves.

What is one advancement or trend pediatric providers should be watching closely?

One important focus is the development and implementation of clear clinical guidelines for recognizing, evaluating, and treating conditions such as neonatal sepsis, respiratory distress syndrome and pulmonary hypertension. Standardized guidelines support timely escalation of care, reduce unnecessary variation in practice, improve communication among care teams and can ultimately lead to better neonatal outcomes.

What challenge in neonatal medicine are you most passionate about addressing?

I am particularly passionate about improving the early recognition of critical conditions that may initially present with similar signs and symptoms. Quickly distinguishing one condition from another allows clinicians to initiate the most appropriate treatment without delay, which may improve outcomes for newborns with complex medical needs

How does your work at Riley Children's Health shape your approach?

My work at Riley, including service on the Neonatology Clinical Guidelines Committee and collaboration with experts across neonatal medicine, directly informs these topics. These experiences strengthen my understanding of evidence-based approaches to complex neonatal conditions and help me translate current best practices into practical, clinically relevant guidance for providers.

Learn More at the International Pediatric Complex Care Conference

As a featured speaker at the IU Health International Pediatric Complex Care Conference, Dr. Moallem will join fellow Riley Children’s specialists in sharing the expertise, clinical pathways and evidence-based practices that help improve outcomes for children with complex medical needs. His sessions will explore key topics for clinicians: neonatal decision-making, early recognition of critical illness and best practices for managing some of the most challenging conditions encountered in the NICU.

Learn more and register: IU Health International Pediatric Complex Care Conference

Ahead of the upcoming IU Health International Pediatric Complex Care Conference, Dr. Vanderpool shares insights on common pediatric GI conditions, emerging trends in the field, and his approach to caring for children with complex medical needs.

What are some of the most important topics you'll be discussing?

Diarrhea, constipation and reflux remain among the most common gastrointestinal issues seen by pediatricians and primary care providers, and they occur even more frequently in children with complex medical conditions.

At the conference, we'll discuss the epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment of these conditions, including evidence-based guidelines and clinical algorithms that can help providers manage common GI concerns. We'll also review when referral to a pediatric gastroenterologist may be appropriate for additional evaluation or treatment.

What advancements or evolving practices in pediatric gastroenterology should providers be aware of?

One important area is the evolving approach to infant reflux. Current societal guidelines recommend against the routine use of acid suppression therapies for many infants, prompting a greater focus on alternative management strategies.

We're also seeing advances in diagnosing infectious gastroenteritis, particularly through newer non-culture testing methods that can help identify causes more efficiently. Understanding when these tests are appropriate is increasingly important for providers caring for children with gastrointestinal symptoms.

What aspect of caring for children with complex conditions are you most passionate about?

I am passionate about partnering with parents in the healthcare of their children. Healthcare providers should help families define and set goals rather than assign them. When providers and families work together as partners, we are more likely to achieve the best possible outcomes and improve children's overall health and quality of life.

How does your work at Riley Children's Health shape your perspective on these topics?

As Medical Director of Nutrition Support and Intestinal Rehabilitation, I work closely with children who have complex gastrointestinal and nutritional needs. The conditions discussed during these presentations are issues I encounter regularly in clinical practice.

My goal is to share both evidence-based guidelines and practical lessons learned through caring for these patients, helping providers apply the latest recommendations in real-world settings.

Learn More at the International Pediatric Complex Care Conference

Dr. Vanderpool will be among the Riley Children’s experts presenting at the IU Health International Pediatric Complex Care Conference, where clinicians from across disciplines will share practical strategies and emerging advances for caring for children with complex medical needs.

Learn more and register: IU Health International Pediatric Complex Care Conference

In this corner is Favour Pheal, 14-month-old son of Keilah Pheal and grandson of Darlene Pheal.

He was a lightweight at birth – just 1 pound and change – but now he’s punching above his weight at 21 pounds, no longer on the ropes after a long hospitalization.

Favour, who was born at 25 weeks and 6 days’ gestation in northern Indiana, was surrounded by his favorite people Friday at Riley Hospital for Children – his mom, grandma, nurses and respiratory therapists – as they assisted in getting him into his fighting stance for photos.

Wearing a gold, satin robe with his name stitched across the front and tiny boxing gloves attached to the sleeves, Favour was loving all the attention he was getting from his hype crew in the PICU.

“He’s such a sweet little guy,” one nurse said. “Such a beautiful smile.”

PICU nurse Sara Munsie, who has been one of Favour’s primary caregivers for the past several months, said that even with a trach, “he loves to talk to us every day. He’s found his voice.”

As if on cue, he gives a short cry when he is being carefully moved back to his bed, where he can continue to spar with his nurses.

Munsie and her colleagues, including occupational therapist Elizabeth Nguyen, nurses Anne Marie Tuft and Haley Slosman, and respiratory therapist Ellie Shank, won’t have a ringside seat to his daily shenanigans any longer because Favour was finally discharged home Monday for the first time in his life.

“I’m happy for him but sad to see him go,” Munsie said. “He’s the smiliest little guy.”

But don’t let the smile fool you. He’s tough, says his mom.

“My son is a strong baby. To me, he’s a fighter. He has had to fight to be alive.”

Favour was in a hurry to join this world, Keilah said, noting that she went into labor three times, starting when she was just 20 weeks’ pregnant with him, but doctors were able to maintain her pregnancy until she was 25 weeks along when his heartrate dropped. An emergency C-section followed, and her little miracle boy was born.

He remained in a hospital in Valparaiso for a short time, before being transferred to Riley’s NICU, then the PICU. He has bronchial pulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a serious respiratory condition that frequently affects preemies. He is on a ventilator and has a G-tube, but his mom prays that one day he will be free of the vent, and he is already comfortable taking a bottle and is learning to drink from a sippy cup.

A deeply spiritual woman, Keilah said prayer has gotten her through these long months in the hospital. Her own mother has also been her lifeline.

“We named him Favour because God gave me the grace to have him. And his middle name is Jadon (a biblical figure in the Old Testament), which means God has heard,” she said.

“With every prayer, God has heard,” Darlene Pheal agreed. “And he has answered. Favour has overcome every obstacle.”

The two women, who have spent nearly every day at the hospital, took their prize fighter home Monday with some trepidation but also faith that all would be well.

“I’m scared. I don’t want to fail my son,” Keilah said. “But I’m happy because he gets to see a different world out there.”

And she knows her mom is by her side.

“My mom is my biggest support. Without her, I don’t know if I would have made it this far.”

Favour hasn’t seen the last of Riley, of course. He will return for follow-up visits with specialists in the Riley Outpatient Center, including Riley’s BPD clinic, but by any measure, he’s already a champ.

Photos submitted and by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org

Summer's end brought a very busy few weeks for the heart surgeons, cardiovascular intensive care unit teams and transplant teams at Riley Children's Health. The surgeons transplanted three donor hearts into patients within about two weeks; the average number of heart transplants the team performs annually is roughly six to 10.

"The work was overwhelming but the excitement around the unit and the emotions of the people involved, it was really heartwarming to see how everybody kind of pulled together and was excited for the patients and their families," Kelly Orr, a pediatric clinical heart transplant coordinator, described.

Dinah Teer's 13-year-old daughter, Makenzie, was one of the patients who received this lifesaving donation. Makenzie was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and underwent her first of three surgeries at merely seven days old.

"Her little heart was the size of an acorn," Dinah said.

The call came in late on August 21 and Makenzie and her family arrived at Riley on August 23 for the transplant surgery.

"Every time your phone rings, your heart sinks to the ground," Dinah said. "you just think, 'Oh God, this is it!'"

Jennifer Chaney received the long-awaited call early on August 29, just a few days after Dinah. At that time, Greyson, her son, had been waiting at Riley for 459 days. He was also born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

"Makenzie was at home," Orr explained. "She was the first one to come in and everyone said, 'oh, she's lucky she's at home and she's getting to come in but here we still have Greyson waiting,' and then just days later, he got his call."

Maegan Boehm, a pediatric clinical heart transplant coordinator who works alongside Orr, described a very busy period as the team worked to care for three transplant patients yet also a time of hope and gratitude. Dr Riad Lutfi, a pediatric intensive care physician, agrees.

"Seeing three recent transplants [go] really well and all those patients [are] quite complex and had multiple surgeries in the past, and the process will continue, and they will be closely monitored by the transplant team, that's the rewarding result is just testify of the great work that's going on here at Riley, and how we best serve our cardiac patients in the state of Indiana," Dr. Lutfi said.

For Chaney, looking at her son's monitors post-surgery was positively overwhelming.

"Sometimes it still doesn't feel real," Chaney said. "I'll look at his monitor that shows his stats and just seeing a healthy heart rate now is just an amazing feeling. I can't even describe it."

Today, both Makenzie and Greyson are discharged, allowing them to begin new chapters with a healthy, beating heart.

"[Makenzie]'s going to have so many more opportunities now," Dinah said. "She's just going to feel good. I really feel that she is going to be running circles around her peers instead of them running circles around her."

Bringing a baby home after a long stay in the neonatal intensive care unit is usually a joyful time, but it can also be a terrifying time.

Going from 24/7 care in the hospital to 24/7 care at home on your own is daunting for anyone tasked with keeping a tiny human alive.

Chase and Cortni Nourie remember their relief at being able to bring their son, Chandler, home after 88 days in the NICU, yet they can’t forget the fears they had from Day 1, namely could they get their baby to eat?

“I was terrified to start solid foods with Chandler,” Cortni Nourie said. “I didn’t want him to choke.”

Fortunately, the Whiteland couple have had the support of the Riley Children’s Health Early Intervention program through Indiana First Steps since Chandler was discharged last year.

First Steps is a program for children from birth to age 3 who need help to meet developmental milestones. Most babies who’ve spent time in the NICU require some level of support, particularly in the areas of feeding, speech and physical/occupational therapy.

While discharge marks the end of a hospital stay, it also begins a critical period of growth and development.

Chandler, 16 months old, was born at 28 weeks’ gestation, along with his twin, Carson, who lived for 13 days before passing away from necrotizing enterocolitis.

Last year, the family met Grace Anderson, a certified neonatal therapist with Riley’s First Steps program, and not only has Chandler bonded with the therapist, his parents are big fans of her as well. They are beyond grateful for the expertise and the compassion she has shown in the many months that she has been visiting the family’s home for Chandler’s therapy.

“Grace has been phenomenal,” Nourie said. “She’s a wealth of knowledge. We can see how invested she is and how much she truly cares about Chandler and our family and his growth.”

Certified neonatal therapists (CNT) receive advanced training in the developmental, medical and sensory needs of premature and medically complex infants. This specialized knowledge allows them to recognize subtle developmental concerns, implement evidence-based interventions, and support healthy development during the earliest stages of life, explained Heather Birk, manager of Riley’s Early Intervention/First Steps Program.

Babies like Chandler are why Anderson got into the speech pathology field and decided to become certified as a neonatal therapist.

“The NICU is the only ICU where you leave and go straight home, rather than to a step-down unit,” she said. (Riley recently opened a progressive NICU on its eighth floor to ease the transition to home.)

Providing continuity of care once a baby goes home is critical for the child and the family’s well-being, Anderson explained.

Therapists who understand an infant’s NICU journey can build on that care and create an easier transition to home. Parents get consistent guidance on feeding, positioning, play and developmental milestones.

“There are surgeries and things that have happened during their NICU course that will affect their first few years of life, so it’s important for us to get in there as early as possible so we are working together toward the family’s goals,” Anderson said.

When it came time for Chandler to begin eating solid foods, Anderson worked with his parents on what foods to buy, how to cut them and how to offer them to him.

“He has flourished with his eating,” Nourie said, adding that he even prefers to use a fork and spoon.

While Chandler did not require a feeding tube when he came home, he and other babies often develop a natural aversion to eating by mouth due to the lifesaving measures they underwent while hospitalized.

“They don’t see something touching their mouth as good,” Anderson said. “A lot of the therapy is to help the family understand how to safely and appropriately introduce feeding back to the child so they are coming to the table and wanting to participate in eating, rather than it just being something done to them.”

Along with eating challenges come speech and language difficulties down the road. When she is confident that feedings are going well, Anderson focuses on ensuring they are meeting speech milestones.

Chandler is a little behind in his speech, his mom said, though he babbles a lot and can say mama, dada and nana. Anderson has recommended books to read to him that encourage repetitive sounds and motions, as well as toys to help with those skills.

“I told Grace that I don’t know how people do this without her,” Nourie said. “I wouldn’t know to buy any of these books or how to talk to him using the correct terms, like saying bottle, not baba. I feel like a lot of his growth is because of her and all the things she does for him and how she cares for him.”

That is the goal, Birk said, noting that Anderson’s neonatal certification represents a commitment to excellence and to giving the smallest patients the strongest possible start through the Riley program.

“By combining advanced clinical knowledge with compassionate, family-centered care, Grace helps ensure children receive the support they need during one of the most important stages of life.”

Photos by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org

Connie Neuzerling is one of the lucky ones. She’s had a job she’s loved for four decades, and in that time, she has made a profound impact on patients, families and fellow nurses at Riley Hospital for Children.

Neuzerling is not retiring just yet, but she is looking back on the 40-plus years she’s spent at Riley with fondness and gratitude. (And yes, retirement likely will come sometime in the next year.)

“It was not work most of the time,” she said. “It was a passion. I love the heart babies. Not everybody finds that in their job, so I feel blessed that my job was my passion.”

Neuzerling has always been interested in the “why” behind what she is doing. That trait has served her well as a nurse, VAD (ventricular assist device) coordinator and educator on the CVICU at Riley.

She is the “backbone” of the unit, said Melissa Keesling, manager for clinical operations on the CVICU. “She has taught every nurse on the third floor. She is so smart and so compassionate.”

The compassion is innate, but the intelligence has been honed by years of asking questions.

“I always wanted to have the understanding behind something, not just memorize facts for a test, but to understand the physiology,” Neuzerling said.

That’s what she has tried to pass on in training new nurses – to know the “why” behind a treatment because it improves the care, the two-time Margaret Martin Award winner said.

“It deepens the care you provide because you’re asking the right questions, not just following orders but understanding why this order is in place and how is it benefiting my patient.”

That sense of curiosity has served her well over the years and allowed her to challenge new nurses to always bring their questions forward. Doing so will help improve safety and give them insight as they advocate on behalf of their patients.

Understanding how things fit together in the body bleeds into her personal pastime as well – that of a puzzler.

“I guess that’s how my brain works,” said the wife, mother and grandmother. “I like to know how things fit.”

She inherited the puzzler hobby from her mother and is passing it on to her 2-year-old grandson, who joins her at the puzzle table at least twice a week when she and her husband, Gary, babysit. While she prefers landscapes, whimsical scenes and holiday themes, her grandson is decidedly more into fire trucks and such.

As she winds down her career at Riley, Neuzerling is preparing to pass the torch, but it’s not a simple hand-off. It’s years of knowledge and experience to be handed down.

“I have done the majority of the continuing education and the orientation education for many years, so that’s a process that takes time.”

Neuzerling has dedicated her life to the Riley Heart Center, Keesling said, and the unit has been richer for it.

Neuzerling says she has been blessed just as much.

“It’s been a privilege.”

Photos by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org

Eighth grade students Isabell Gonzales and Kenya Rosales want to make their school, H.L. Harshman Middle, a safer place for students who find themselves in the middle of a conflict. They are returning peer mediators this year for their school's peer mediation program.

"I've noticed how I've become more confident," Gonzales said of her experience in the program. "[I've] learned more skills to help others as well."

The peer mediation program equips students to navigate interpersonal conflicts with fellow classmates. During mediation, students must acknowledge the harm they caused and talk to the person they wronged. Then, they must come up with an action plan to repair the relationship instead of being suspended.

Peace Learning Center, an Indianapolis nonprofit, is working with schools like Harshman Middle School to equip educators and students with necessary conflict resolution skills with the goal of repairing harm and preventing suspensions. And data shows the effort is working.

"We've been involved at Harshman now for six years helping the program, and it really started with help from IU Health," Tim Nation, Peace Learning Center's Executive Director & Co-Founder, said. "IU Health gave us a grant to start doing this transformative work in schools. When we started, there were 571 suspensions the first year we were here, and then last year they got that down to 60."

IU Health's awarded nearly $1.2 million over five years to Peace Learning Center through the Community Impact Investment (CII) Fund. This allows the nonprofit to work with schools across Marion County.

"With that money, we've been able to impact 16 different schools with this kind of full school program where we have staff that visit the schools on a regular basis," Nation explained. "They do training for all the teachers and staff and students, but then also are able to coach teachers and coach administrators. One of the things that we've found overall with the schools that we're in, we see a reduction in out of school suspensions by at least 40 percent across all schools."

Behavioral specialist and peer mediation program leader Grover Edwards is astonished by the changes he has witnessed at Harshman over the last six years.

"I've never seen a building where kids come in and say, I need a mediation," Edwards said. "They come and tell us, 'hey I've got a situation, I need help.' They know we have a program."

Edwards said the process to become a peer mediator requires an application and interview. He is pleasantly surprised by the number of sixth graders who applied this year.

"This year we have an influx of sixth graders," Edwards said. "We have 50 applying; we kept 17 of them. Never had that many. We've got kids coming every day saying, 'can I be a mediator?'"

Edwards recalls multiple fights every day at Harshman prior to the mediation program. Now, students are learning how to resolve their conflicts peacefully, which in turn keeps them in their classrooms instead of suspending or expelling them.

"Now [the students] have an outlet," Edward said. They can say, 'look here, if I fight, I'm going to get suspended. If I don't fight, I've got a mediation, I can save myself and still be in school and have friends.'"
IU Health, is on a mission to improve the health of Hoosiers, and that focus extends far beyond hospital walls and into schools, neighborhoods and community spaces across Indiana. The hope is that through this funding, local organizations like Peace Learning Center are able to expand work that is already making a difference.

"Punishment doesn't work, and it creates kids that are going to be pushed out of society and pushed out of the economy and then we have to pick them up in other ways," Nation said. "So, what can we do while kids are young and they can learn from their conflicts and learn from their problems rather than being punished and kicked out? Ultimately, this is an antiviolence program."

Our certified nurse midwives are experts in women's health and are advanced practice registered nurses who have completed an accredited graduate education program in midwifery and passed a national certification exam.

"We do full scope pregnancy care, so that means antepartum when patients are still pregnant, labor and delivery support, postpartum support, we also to gynecology care and birth control, pap smears and annual exams as well," Cheyenne Starner, certified nurse midwife, explained.

Rebecca Evans, a certified nurse midwife & women's health nurse practitioner, explained nurse midwives specialize in low risk and physiologic birth.

"We spend a lot of time with patients in the prenatal setting but also in labor as well," Evans said. "So our goal is really to be with our patients at the bedside as much as possible. We also work with our physician partners to take care of higher risk women, women with complicated co-morbidities or complications in their pregnancy."

Starner said just because a patient chooses to work with a midwife does not mean medication is not an option.

"We can prescribe medicine," Starner said. "We are definitely practicing up to date evidence as well."
Tatiana Van Braeckel recently delivered a baby with the help of Starner.

"My labor and delivery was everything and more that I wanted," Van Braeckel said.

She said working with a nurse midwife to make decisions surrounding her labor and delivery felt empowering. Evans said one of her team's main goals is to help patients feel like their desires are heard.

"We really want people to feel empowered to have the birth that they want and so that includes pain medications, nitrous, hydrotherapy, epidurals," Evans said. "Knowing that that plan can change. We also support families who choose formula and don't want to breastfeed. We're supportive of that as well. There is really that misconception that we are always trying to push unmedicated births or breastfeeding on everyone, and I just want to make sure people know that is not the case."

According to the Centers for Disease Control, Indiana's maternal mortality rate is 30.9 deaths per 100,000 live births. It's a grim statistic that nurse midwives, like Starner and Evans, are working to improve.

"Indiana has really atrocious maternal mortality rates and so, midwives are actually evidence based and proven to have better birth outcomes for people, along with doulas, and we do have a great doula team that we work with as well at Riley," Starner said. "Specifically Black women; Black women die at three times greater the rate than white women in labor and childbirth and beyond, so I think it's really important that we have midwives of color on our team as well. It's really important for us to be here and we're really happy to have this space and a growing practice."

IU Health's team of midwives work in collaboration with obstetricians, gynecologists, perinatologists, anesthesiologists and neonatologists to ensure both mother and baby remain as healthy as possible.

"I do think what's great about the midwifery care at IU is that because we work with our maternal fetal medicine specialists and because we have the whole Riley support system, that we can take care of more medically complex patients for patients who do desire midwifery but would otherwise risk out of a home birth or a birth center setting," Evans said.

For more information about midwifery at IU Health, visit IUHealth.org.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more than you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss

Rhonda Kelly still remembers curling up with her mom and a good book when she was a child.

Her mom, a librarian, instilled in her the value of reading at an early age. Her favorites back then were all of the Little Golden Book stories.

Now, she has her own daughter, JoElla Mae, in her arms as she reads “I Prayed for You” in the Progressive NICU at Riley Hospital for Children.

And pray she did.

Rhonda and her husband, Jim, traveled a difficult road to get here, including suffering a miscarriage last year. But now, at age 42, Rhonda is beyond grateful for the precious bundle she holds.

Delivered three months prematurely on July 10, JoElla weighed just 1 pound, 11 ounces, but two months later, she is up over 4 pounds.

“She came out crying and breathing on her own,” the new mom said. “She is a miracle really. So strong for being so small.”

Almost from the beginning, Jim and Rhonda have read to their child, knowing how important early literacy is and enjoying the special bond it creates with their daughter.

Perfect timing then for Riley’s Read-a-Thon, hosted by the NICU Nest, which launched last week and runs through Sept. 24. During the Read-a-Thon, NICU families receive a bundle of three books (languages include Haitian, Creole, Spanish and English) and other resources that encourage them to read to their baby during their NICU stay and to continue that practice at home.

Families can log their reading hours and receive prizes, including more books.

“We love seeing parents and caregivers read, talk and bond with their baby while building both a love of books and their baby’s first library,” said Lindsey Bartley, project coordinator for NICU Nest.

Anji Hines, a family support coordinator, first met the Kelly family when baby JoElla was in the Riley Maternity Tower NICU before “graduating” to the progressive NICU in Simon Family Tower.

She knew the Kellys were already reading to their child and was excited to introduce the program to them earlier in the week when she delivered the Read-a-Thon packet.

In fact, JoElla’s hospital room door is decorated with drawings created by her mom from books she has read over the past several weeks. The drawings are a way for the couple to mark the weeks their daughter has spent in the NICU and will be added to her own baby book at home.

Babies find comfort in a parent’s voice, Hines said, so reading to them not only promotes bonding, it is the first step in promoting language and literacy.

Jim Kelly loves to read to his daughter as well, though he acknowledges he sometimes reads a little above her level, including “Dungeon Crawler Carl.”

“It’s not exactly a children’s book,” he joked, “but I skip the bad parts, the bad words.”

While the Read-a-Thon lasts just 10 days, NICU families can get a free book from the NICU Nest book cart each week in Riley NICUs.

During the Read-A-Thon, Hines estimates more than 900 books will be given out to families to take home.

Rhonda Kelly is thrilled to be adding more books to her daughter’s library, including the several dozen she and her husband have already bought. Her librarian mom is also contributing to the cause.

“My mom will stuff her bookshelves full.”

Photos by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org

For half of his young life, 4-year-old Leeland Graham has been dealing with the effects of – and treatment for – type 1 diabetes. Diagnosed at Riley Hospital for Children when he was 2, Leeland and his parents, Aaron and Isabel Graham, have had to make major changes to everyday life.

“It turned our world upside down in a matter of seconds,” acknowledged Isabel Graham. “T1D requires constant monitoring, careful calibrations and precise planning in everything we do to make sure that Leeland can live a healthy fulfilled life.”

Symptoms of the life-threatening disease include increased thirst, urination, weight loss, hunger, fatigue and blurred vision. Standard treatment includes insulin therapy and education in managing the condition, which can damage organs if left untreated.

The Grahams, who live in Westport, Indiana, knew nothing about type 1 diabetes before their son was diagnosed, but since that day, they have worked to share their knowledge and experiences with other families who might be facing the same condition.

They are sharing more than that as well, raising money to buy toys, books, stickers and other items for the Riley Children’s Health diabetes clinic, where Leeland sees nurse practitioner Amy Hatton and the endocrinology team every three months.

It started small, with the family buying a handful of T1D Barbie dolls and books to give to the clinic last year. The Barbie Fashionistas Doll is the first Barbie featuring an insulin pump, a continuous glucose monitor and accessories to reflect real-life diabetes management.

This year, the Grahams went bigger, inviting friends and family to donate items from an Amazon wish list in June to celebrate Leeland’s birthday month, as well as the birthday month of his diabetic alert dog, Goose. It is also the anniversary of his diagnosis two years ago.

With their support, the family was able to donate diabetes-themed children’s books, more T1D Barbie dolls, stickers, T1D bracelets and medical alert tags, low blood sugar snacks, and devices resembling a bee that combine cold therapy and high-frequency vibration to reduce pain and fear during injections and other needle procedures.

They also created diagnosis goodie bags with a special note from Leeland for newly diagnosed kids.

“Leeland and his family brought in boxes of items to give to other families,” Hatton said. “They are super grateful and want to advocate on behalf of others.”

Next year, they hope to make the fundraiser even bigger.

“We want to grow it to where we can make an impact on every child with type 1 diabetes at Riley,” Leeland’s mom said.

Sharing not just gifts but their story is important, she said, because her family understands how life can take a turn overnight.

“We really want parents and kids in this situation to feel that they’re not alone and that there are lots of resources out there,” she said.

“Diabetes takes no days off,” Graham added. “We are constantly watching blood sugar numbers (day and night), doing math calculations surrounding food intake and insulin needs, analyzing graphs as insulin needs change, and playing detective when numbers go wonky.”

Things they never realized had an impact now are things they have to think about constantly, she said.

“Parents of type 1 diabetic kids carry all of this, proudly, so their children can just be kids as much as possible,” she said.

Still, kids like Leeland still have to feel the pain of the injections, wake up from sleep to eat when their sugar is low, wear medical devices, and see other kids look at them differently sometimes.

“Type 1 diabetes is an invisible disease in so many ways, and without the T1D community, it can feel so isolating and overwhelming,” Graham said. “Nothing can truly prepare you for watching your child almost die, spending three days in the ICU, and then being sent home with the job of keeping them alive.”

T1D patients are “absolute warriors,” she said.

Riley offers comprehensive care for children with type 1 diabetes, from initial diagnosis to ongoing outpatient management. It is also a leading site for type 1 diabetes research and new treatments.

Noah Meth’s little face was everywhere in the CVICU family lounge – on stickers, on posterboard, on little gift boxes.

The darling boy with the big eyes and sweet smile is frozen in time. On Thursday, his mom, dad, big brother and grandparents came to Riley Hospital for Children to celebrate Noah’s first birthday in the place he knew best.

Noah died at Riley in July while waiting for a heart transplant. He had spent all but two days of his short life in the hospital after being born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a serious congenital heart defect where the left side of the heart is underdeveloped. It is sometimes referred to as “half a heart.”

But Noah really had the biggest heart, say his parents, Ryan Meth and Haley Engwer of Evansville. He was beloved on the CVICU at Riley, nurses doting on him day and night.

Many of those nurses, as well as physicians, chaplains, clerical staff and EVS team members, joined the family Thursday for pizza and cupcakes as they remembered Noah, sharing stories, tears and laughs.

“He was the sweetest boy,” one said, as another added, “We were his girlfriends.”

“I was his senior most girlfriend,” joked nurse practitioner Angela Finley.

“Even if we weren’t taking care of him, we always stopped in the hallway to wave,” said nurse Hannah Nicoson.

It’s bittersweet for Engwer and her husband to sing “Happy Birthday” to their beloved son, but Noah’s big brother, Levi, 3, kept the mood light, announcing “Who wants some cupcakes?”

“I feel like Noah would love this,” his mom said. “He loved crowded rooms, especially if he was in the center.”

To know Noah was to love him, she told the assembled group as she fought to contain her emotions. “Thank you, guys, for not only caring for his heart and his body but also his soul and helping me form him into the spunky boy we all knew.”

Chaplain Hannah Ervin, who got to know Noah and his family during his time at Riley, said celebrating his birthday with the people who knew him best is therapeutic not just for the family but the Riley team as well.

Noah united the CVICU team, she said, so his loss was profound on many levels. Grieving and remembering together is part of healing.

“While he is physically not present, I think it is important to celebrate his first birthday and recognize what could have been and what isn’t, while also celebrating his life and the impact he had,” Ervin said.

Reflecting on the party later, Engwer said seeing so many people gather to remember her son meant the world.

“It healed a few pieces of my heart. It helps to know that he’s remembered. Riley was his home,” she said.

“He would have loved all of his favorite people in one room, singing to him. Noah showed us how he wanted to live – full of joy, love and laughter, no matter how hard the days were. It’s up to us to continue his journey.”

Photos submitted and by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org

Keyla Patton might not be able to walk on land, but in the water she is unstoppable.

Her grandparents call her their “little mermaid.”

The 16-year-old Indianapolis resident has cerebral palsy due to exposure to a virus in the womb. As a result, she is nonverbal and uses a wheelchair.

None of that matters in the pool. Keyla, working with Riley Children’s Health physical therapist Trevor Taylor, squeals with delight as she is lowered into the pool at Healthplex on the city’s west side. The water temperature is a soothing 88 degrees, and she is ready to show off.

Nearby is her friend Jacob Johnson, also 16 and a Riley patient working with therapist Madeline Craw. The two like to compete in pool basketball and other games.

Taylor has worked with Keyla in the water for about three months. It’s sometimes hard to tell who is more excited about the therapy – Taylor or Keyla – because he radiates positivity, a trait that endears him to his patients.

Riley outpatient PT manager Sarah Johnson describes him as “magic in the water.”

For Taylor, the trick is in the water itself. He and Craw love helping patients boost their endurance, strength and confidence during intense 45-minute therapy sessions that look very much like fun.

“Right now, outside the water, Keyla is restricted in her chair, and we want to open up the world to let her do more and more,” he said. “The water is a great place for her to get those legs stronger, to get her confidence back up.”

Aquatics therapy for Riley patients has returned in the past year, thanks to an agreement with Healthplex to rent time in the pool each week. Years ago, hospital therapists worked with patients in pools around the city before the program was discontinued. Its roots, however, go back some 90 years.

On Sept. 5, 1936, President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited Riley to see its new hydrotherapy pool, designed to support patients with polio. It was built in part to replicate the center FDR founded in Warm Springs, Ga., which helped him in his own battle with the disease that left him paralyzed. The polio vaccine, introduced in 1955, transformed a terrifying epidemic into a preventable disease.

Water therapy has a number of benefits, Johnson explained. The pressure and warmth help patients experiencing pain to move and strengthen weak muscles. The buoyancy helps kids with neuromuscular conditions stand and walk without the risk of muscle breakdown or the fear of falling.

Taylor remembers the first time he and rehab tech Abbie Hawkins slowly transferred Keyla from her motorized wheelchair into a hydraulic lift, buckled her in and eased her into the water before letting her stand on her own.

“As soon as her feet hit the water, she was giggling,” he said. “She knew she was in for fun. There was no coaxing … she was ready to go around the whole pool.”

Grandparents George and Melissa Patton say Keyla has always been a water baby. Despite struggles, she began walking at the age of 7, but multiple surgeries on her hips and knees, then COVID lockdowns, interrupted her progress.

Over the years, Keyla has also had occupational therapy, physical therapy, feeding therapy and robotic therapy, Melissa Patton said, “but her favorite is aquatics, no question.”

“I see her walking again, and I really attribute that to aquatics because she’s walking in the water like she was on land,” Patton said. “The memory, the desire is still there.”

Taylor would love to see it, but for now, he said, the goals are to get her legs stronger and make transfers in and out of her wheelchair easier.

“Let’s see what we can do next,” he said. “Now, I can be two or three steps away from her and trusting that she can keep her own balance. It’s slowly giving her more independence.”

Water is the great equalizer, he believes. “We’re all floating together; we’re on the same level for a bit. She feels like she’s part of the community, and that’s what I want to see.”

Witnessing how much Keyla has achieved in the past three months is its own reward, Taylor said.

“It’s been super exciting to see how much she’s really grown and expanded her own environment. It’s a joy to see.”

Photos by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org

Scarlett Luanne Hoover was born on December 28, 2023, with an extremely rare genetic condition called KID syndrome. KID stands for keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness syndrome.

"Her variant of this condition is A88V," Matt Hoover, Scarlett's dad, explained. "From what we understand, this is what's considered the most severe variant."

Geneticist Dr. Erin Conboy explained that this genetic condition is caused by pathogenic or disease-causing variance in a gene that's in charge of making cells stick together well, and when that particular gene has a disease-causing variance in it, it doesn't allow that protein to be made well.

"That means that the skin itself does not fit together as well as it should, which is what causes kind of the worst part of the symptomatology, which is having thickened but breaking apart skin unfortunately," Dr. Conboy said.

While the smiley little girl suffers from wounds and bleeding across her whole body, her mom, Mariah Williamson, said Scarlett does not indicate she is in a great deal of pain.

"I think she's just mainly uncomfortable," Williamson said. "Just because of her skin, with her scratching, she itches all the time. Unfortunately, she can make herself bleed. Her nails they're not normal. They can be really thick. Sometimes they can be claw-like. So, they're hard to stay trimmed. It's really the skin on the palms of her hands that make her bleed because it's so thick."

Williamson works diligently to keep up on her daughter's skin care to avoid further discomfort.

"I lather her in Aquaphor," Williamson explained. "Her bandages that are covered up, we have a gentamicin ointment which is a broad-spectrum antibiotic. And then she has special wound dressings; It has silver in it to help with her wounds."

Dr. Conboy explained that KID syndrome is an autosomal recessive condition.

"That means that we all have two copies of this particular gene: GJB2," Dr. Conboy said. "People who have one copy that has a misspelling in it are fine and they're carriers of this condition. But if a mom and a dad have a child and they happen to pass on both of their misspelled copies of this gene, then the child has the condition. This is recessive, meaning the child needed to inherit both copies."

Dr. Conboy said KID syndrome would rarely, if ever, show up on an ultrasound. But certain genetic testing could detect it, though genetic testing following Scarlett's birth found neither one of her parents is a carrier of the misspelled copy of the gene - making Scarlett's case extra rare.

"There's pre-conception genetic testing." Dr. Conboy said. "There's also genetic testing that can be done in utero. From that perspective, we would recommend carrier screening for parents. Then that carrier screening can determine whether there's a risk for the child. So, if parents happen to be carriers for the same condition, then we talk about the risk to future pregnancies."

There are only 100 published cases of KID syndrome ever, so this condition is extremely rare. Scarlett's parents said that early on, doctors gave her a prognosis of one year or less.

"It's very surprising that she is still here," Williamson said. "They don't live past a year old with her variant with her syndrome, and she'll be three in December."

Dr. Conboy explained why she is always hesitant to provide families with a life expectancy number, especially when little is known about a certain condition.

"We rely on the literature and our personal experience about how kids will do over time," Dr. Conboy said. "And what I've learned, and my colleagues have learned, is that just because the literature says that life expectancy is a certain time frame, that doesn't mean that the child in front of you is going to have that same course. So, what I like to tell families is that life expectancy and how kids will do over time is really unpredictable, because they're just too many variables. They're genetic variables, environmental variables, and things that even we don't have an idea about right now. And so, I would never, in my experience, say never put a timeframe on morbidity, mortality, life expectancy; things are just too unpredictable for that future."

For now, Scarlett's parents try to live every day to the fullest. Scarlett provides them plenty of joy between her contagious laugh, funny facial expressions and her love of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

"She's a very funny, outgoing little girl," Williamson said. She is still very much so just Mommy and Daddy's girl, though."

Talk about heart. A young patient at Riley Hospital for Children needs a new one, and a college coach just showed how big his own heart is.

It started as a comment from one Purdue University basketball fan to another. It grew to include Boilermaker coach Matt Painter and a sick 12-year-old waiting for a heart transplant.

Riley cardiologist Dr. John J. Parent, himself a Purdue grad, has known Bryce Lakin since his patient was just a few days old. Bryce was born with complicated heart conditions, including single ventricle anatomy, and has already had three open heart surgeries – the first one at 6 days old – all performed by cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Mark Turrentine.

Recently, Bryce’s heart began failing, and he was listed for transplant last month. He was admitted to Riley on July 31 and will remain there until a donor heart is found, a wait that can take months or longer.

“We knew transplant was going to be in his future,” Dr. Parent said, adding that Bryce himself recently told the cardiologist he thought it was time.

What Dr. Parent also knew was that Bryce and his dad – his entire family really – were huge Purdue fans. Jeff Lakin earned a degree in crop and soil management from Purdue and has held season tickets to Purdue basketball games for the past 20 years. Bryce and his sister have gone to games with their dad for years.

The family lives in Rensselaer, Indiana, about 40 minutes from West Lafayette.

Dr. Parent knew Bryce was disappointed at having to spend so much time in the hospital. He was missing out on seeing his friends at school and showing his pigs at the fair. And he had to celebrate his 12^th birthday at Riley.

The physician had an idea and got the ball rolling. After clearing it with Bryce’s parents, he reached out to a Purdue basketball representative and asked if there was anything the team could do to lift the boy’s spirits.

How about a lengthy FaceTime call with Coach Painter himself?

That’s what happened two weeks ago, and Bryce is still riding that high.

“We talked for 25 minutes straight basketball,” Bryce said from his hospital bed, surrounded by Purdue blankets, pillows and wall decorations. “He was nice.”

Jeff Lakin was with Bryce during that call. He and his wife, Laura, split time with Bryce through the week so they can continue working and caring for Bryce’s two sisters.

Lakin will never get over the joy Painter brought to his son.

“It was awesome just listening to them talk,” Lakin said. “Just seeing Bryce’s face, that was probably the happiest he’d been for a while.”

The two discussed what Painter looks for in players and in individuals, game strategy, new recruits, what Purdue means to him and who Bryce’s favorite player is/was. (That would be Braden Smith, for the record, who graduated this year and was drafted by the Indiana Pacers.)

“It was a cool experience,” Lakin said. “He really talked basketball with Bryce. It was like listening to him in a press conference.”

Kelly Orr, clinical transplant coordinator, said the coach was “amazing” with Bryce. “It was such blessing to see the joy that those few minutes brought to Bryce and his father.”

Painter said he was glad to do it.

“Purdue people look out for each other,” the coach said this week. “As a program, our respect level for the team at Riley Hospital could not be any higher. We have partnered with them the last few years to auction off shoes for Coaches vs. Cancer, reaching out to patients and helping raise awareness,” he said.

“When Dr. Parent reached out about Bryce and explained how much he loves our team, it was important for me to let him know how many people he has rooting for him,” Painter said.

Talk about heart.

“It’s truly awesome that Coach Painter did that,” Lakin said. “It shows how much he cares.”

Bryce, who has multiple types of therapy every day to maintain his strength, hopes to learn the drums in music therapy while he’s inpatient, though he would like nothing more than to be back on the farm at home, riding in the tractor with his dad.

While he waits, he has his own cheer squad at Riley in the form of his nurses.

“We love Bryce,” said Maddie Baxter and Alex Miller, describing him as fun and funny, with the heart of a champion.

“He has a very old soul,” Miller said. “He’s witty and tries to be as independent as he can be. He’s a strong farm boy.”

Photos submitted and by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org

Sarah Scheidt would like to hire a few more unicorns for the new pediatric medical-behavioral health unit opening at Riley Hospital for Children this fall.

Specifically, she wants nurses and techs who possess a rare combination of traits – clinical skills and a passion for behavioral health care.

Scheidt is the clinical operations manager for the 11-bed unit, an expansion of Riley’s footprint in the pediatric psychiatric space and one more advancement in addressing the “crisis of our era,” according to Riley leaders.

The specialized unit, which will allow children to receive in-patient treatment for mental health crises and acute medical needs at the same time, is the first of its kind in Indiana and among just a few nationwide.

“It is going to be a great opportunity for nurses, especially new grad nurses,” Scheidt said. “You have to have that passion for behavioral health in this unit regardless of where you are in your nursing career.”

Riley already has a pediatric inpatient psychiatric unit, the Simon Skjodt Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit, which opened a decade ago. But the additional unit is unique in that it will be staffed by physicians who are board-certified in pediatrics and psychiatry, so they can treat children with medical as well as behavioral health needs.

“This is such a monumental moment for Riley,” said President David Biggerstaff during a tour of the new space in Riley’s Downtown Indianapolis hospital. “Currently, kids with mental health and medical needs are spread across the hospital and across the state. This gives us a dedicated unit for caring for these kids.”

The unit, funded through donations to Riley Children’s Foundation, features individual patient rooms with safe showers, lighting and fixtures designed to eliminate risks of self-harm. In addition, there is a main gathering space for conversation and recreation, as well as therapy rooms and a classroom.

Having an area where kids can relax and play games is important for their healing, said Rachael Fisher, administrative director for Behavioral Health and Integrated Care Management.

The project arrives at a crucial moment for pediatric health in Indiana. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), approximately 74,000 Indiana adolescents experience serious thoughts of suicide each year, while 114,000 suffer major depressive episodes. Historically, youth experiencing both medical and mental health crises have faced significant gaps in care — often staying in emergency departments or requiring out-of-state placement.

Courtney Roberts, president of RCF, said the new unit shows the impact a committed community can have.

“Our donors recognized the urgent and growing need for expanded pediatric behavioral health services,” she said. “Their support helped create a welcoming, innovative space where children and families can receive the specialized care they deserve during some of their most challenging moments.”

From a recruiting standpoint, the new unit “offers a unique training opportunity for people who are interested in this bridge between psychiatric and medical care,” said Riley’s new physician-in-chief, Dr. Douglas Graham.

“This unit is the perfect place where they can put those skills to work and care for the whole child across the psychiatric and medical spectrum,” said Dr. Leslie Hulvershorn, chair of the Department of Psychiatry in the IU School of Medicine and a child and adolescent psychiatrist with Riley Children’s Health.

The new unit is one more piece in Riley’s multi-pronged approach to addressing the mental and behavioral health of children.

“This is part of Riley’s plan to expand care in the medical/behavioral health space,” she said, adding that Riley already provides integrated care in the pediatric primary care setting for thousands of kids across the state, as well as a newly renovated behavioral health access center in the emergency department, the Simon Skjodt psychiatric unit and the Charis Center for Eating Disorders.

“This new unit will allow us to care for kids who have different complexities of illness,” Dr. Hulvershorn said. “It’s a special group of folks who want to care for these patients. The nurses have medical expertise but also behavioral-health knowledge and interest.”

As Scheidt fills out her nursing and tech staff, particularly on the night shift, she said she is looking for several qualities in team members: clinical skills, a good attitude, excellent communication skills, reliability and an interest in behavioral health.

“It is a bonus if they’ve had some training in behavioral health,” she said. But what is most important is that “they have that passion and are willing to be adaptive in the environment.”

Nationally, mental health conditions remain among the most common health challenges facing children and adolescents, yet barriers to timely treatment and access to specialized services persist.

A growing number of youth admitted to pediatric hospitals who require simultaneous treatment for medical and behavioral health conditions cannot be effectively or safely treated in a traditional medical unit or a psychiatric facility alone.

Riley’s new medical-behavioral health unit, which addresses this gap in care, will provide a safe, therapeutic environment in which to deliver integrated care from a specialized team of pediatricians, psychiatrists, nurses, therapists, social workers and behavioral health specialists, leaders say.

“It’s about how we continue to improve the care we provide all kids,” Biggerstaff said. “Every child deserves access to the specialized, compassionate care they need to heal and thrive. This innovative space expands access to comprehensive behavioral health services for youth across Indiana, ensuring more young people with complex medical and mental health needs can receive coordinated, expert care close to home.”

The unit is expected to serve an estimated 325 patients annually who could receive treatment for eating disorders, catatonia, anxiety, depression and other psychiatric conditions that occur alongside significant medical issues.

Photos by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org

Dr. Graham brings extensive experience from leading one of the nation's largest pediatric hematology/oncology programs at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine, where he oversaw clinical expansion, faculty recruitment, and research advancement. His national leadership experience includes serving as president of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, holding leadership positions within the Children's Oncology Group, and being elected to both the American Society for Clinical Investigation and the Association of American Physicians.

Dr. Graham joins Riley Children's during a period of significant clinical and research momentum. The Department of Pediatrics ranked sixth nationally for NIH funding in federal fiscal year 2025, securing more than $41.6 million to support pediatric research. Its research enterprise spans discovery science, translational investigations, and clinical studies and is supported by the Child Health Research Institute infrastructure. Riley Children’s is also nationally ranked in all specialties, with seven programs in the top 25.

"Riley Children’s Health has tremendous strengths that deserve greater national visibility," Dr. Graham said. "The quality of clinical care, the ability to care for highly complex pediatric cases, and the organization’s reach across Indiana create meaningful opportunities to improve outcomes for children throughout the region. Combined with the depth of the research enterprise and the people who make it all possible, Riley Children’s has extraordinary potential."

As a physician-scientist, Dr. Graham has built his career around translating laboratory discoveries into therapies for children. He leads an NIH-funded laboratory focused on developing novel treatments for pediatric cancers, with discoveries advancing into early-phase clinical trials. That experience closely aligns with his vision for Riley's future. A key priority under his leadership will be expanding investigator-initiated clinical research to accelerate the path from discovery to treatment.

"This is a place with exceptional people, a strong culture of collaboration and a clear commitment to innovation," Dr. Graham said. "By strengthening the integration of research and clinical medicine across specialties, Riley is uniquely positioned to further distinguish itself as a sought-after national destination for pediatric care.”

Together, Riley Children's Health and Indiana University School of Medicine will continue advancing nationally recognized clinical programs, groundbreaking research and innovative care that improves outcomes for children everywhere. Learn more about Riley Children’s Health programs, research, and clinical breakthroughs in the annual report.

From the smallest to the tallest: Meet two patients who couldn’t be more different, yet they had the same surgery for the same condition on the same day with the aid of the same surgical robot and the same human surgeon.

Five-month-old Jagger Horne nearly kicked 16-year-old Mark Shostak in his incision site last week when the two met for the first time, the day after their twin surgeries to repair a blockage near their ureters that was interfering with kidney function.

Jagger can’t stand up yet, but if he could, he would rise to just over 2 feet tall – 25.4 inches to be exact. Mark, on the other hand, towers over nearly everyone. He is 7 feet tall – with shoes on – he says with a smile.

As Avery Horne holds Jagger out to Mark, inviting him to hold the child, the teen grasps him under the arms awkwardly but with good humor, before handing him back to the boy’s mom.

Dr. Ben Whittam, urology surgeon, explained that both Mark and Jagger had surgery Aug. 19 with the aid of the da Vinci surgical robot, a gift from the Riley Children’s Foundation.

The advanced robotic system allows doctors to perform complex minimally invasive surgeries through tiny incisions, allowing for smaller scars, less blood loss and a faster recovery time.

Avery and Addison Horne acknowledge being nervous about the surgery because Jagger is so young, but they were reassured by their son’s care team.

“They walked us through the operation and eased our nerves,” Addison said.

He and his wife found out before Jagger was born that the boy’s left kidney was measuring larger than the right, indicating hydronephrosis, a swelling of the kidney due to a buildup of urine.

At Jagger’s two-month checkup, the swelling was worse, so the southern Indiana couple were put in touch with the Riley urology team, including nurse practitioner Taylor Wang. Once a diagnosis was confirmed, the surgery was scheduled.

In Mark’s case, he began suffering pain on his right side, and scans revealed his right kidney was enlarged due to the same condition as little Jagger. Their surgeries were scheduled back-to-back with Dr. Whittam and the operating room team.

“What’s so cool is we have two patients having the same operation, and despite the size discrepancy, we use the same size scopes, the same size instruments,” Dr. Whittam said. “Everything was the same, except maybe a slightly smaller suture for the baby. Everything else was identical, even the incision.”

The surgery is “incredibly effective,” the surgeon said. “Ninety-nine percent of the time, we fix the problem with a single operation.”

Mark, a junior at Carmel High School, is optimistic he will be back on the basketball court soon. He is ranked No. 14 in the state (Class of 2028) by the Indiana High School Athletic Association, according to his dad, Igor Shostak.

Dr. Whittam said with a little rest, Mark should be ready to get back on the court soon, indicating he could go “full speed” within a few weeks.

Because both patients recovered quickly, they were discharged from Riley within a day or two of surgery.

Photos by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org

When Margaret Prokopy was a kid, she loved stripes. She would often pair vertical stripes on pants with a horizontally striped shirt.

In high school, she went through a pink phase – wearing all pink outfits just because she loved the bright color.

She says she was a shy kid, an introvert, but she enjoyed expressing herself through fashion.

Prokopy, who graduated from Purdue University in May with a degree in biomedical engineering, was accustomed to people looking at her differently. Born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate, she was adopted at 18 months, undergoing multiple surgeries through her childhood.

“From a young age, I knew when I met new people, they always noticed scars on my face,” she said. “At a certain point, you realize it doesn’t really matter what people think about how you look, and I think that impacted my fashion choices. I always go with what I want to wear and how I want to present myself rather than what’s fashionable.”

A longtime patient in the Cleft & Craniofacial Anomalies Program at Riley Children’s Health, Prokopy had her last major surgery as a senior in high school.

The Cleft & Craniofacial Anomalies Program at Riley features the state’s largest cleft and craniofacial care team in Indiana. Established in 1933, the program was among the first of its kind in the U.S.

But it was outside the hospital where she experienced her greatest healing.

Prokopy participated for many years in Camp About Face, Riley’s annual summer camp at Bradford Woods for kids with cleft and craniofacial differences, eventually taking on a leadership role.

“I enjoyed it for all the regular camp activities, and it was nice to meet other kids with the same craniofacial conditions,” she said. “In that setting, you get to know people and ask about their experiences.”

At the end of her final year in the Camp About Face Leadership Academy in 2022, she received the Hugh C. Kirtland-Broad Ripple Sertoma Scholarship, providing a $1,000 annual scholarship during her college years, said Caitlin Church, Cleft & Craniofacial Program coordinator at Riley. Church has known Prokopy for 11 years.

“We don’t often get to hear from our older patients after they’ve completed their treatment, but I’ve had the unique opportunity to touch base with Margaret once a year for the past four years to facilitate her scholarship renewal,” Church said.

“It’s been a joy to get updates throughout her college years and hear about her life beyond treatment. She’s an amazing example to others in our facial difference community, showing what it means to embrace your differences as part of your journey and not set limits on your goals and achievements. I’m looking forward to seeing what she does next!”

Next up for Prokopy is a gap year, during which she plans to travel. Currently, she is in the United Kingdom, where she has family. She’ll also have more time for her interests, which include tennis, chess, drawing, volunteering and playing violin.

When the year is up, she has her sights set on graduate school. Eventually, she would like to work in a career that allows her to help people in a lasting way by designing medical devices that support better treatments and quality of life.

Build a strong foundation before the season starts

Dr. Gunnar Tysklind, pediatric orthopedic surgeon, explains why conditioning, recovery and addressing pain early can help reduce injury risk before the season begins.

“Listening to your body is crucial for a healthy season. Playing through pain can often lead to longer periods of time out of the sport. Ensuring that the coaches and strength and conditioning specialists are fully aware of proper training intensity and frequency can help the overall team stay healthy.”

A strong season starts with a healthy heart

Dr. Felipe Murguia, pediatric cardiologist, explains that while most young athletes can participate in sports safely, it’s important to be mindful of heart health as they head into a new season.

“Staying well hydrated is one of the simplest things athletes can do to help their bodies perform at their best, and symptoms like chest pain, dizziness or fainting, or a racing or irregular heartbeat during exercise should never be ignored. A pre-participation physical is also an important opportunity to tell your pediatrician about any personal or family history of heart problems, particularly unexplained or cardiac-related deaths at a young age. Recognizing these warning signs and sharing that history allows us to identify the small number of athletes who may need additional evaluation before returning to play.”

Protect the brain, neck and spine during sports

Dr. Laurie Ackerman, pediatric neurosurgeon, discusses how athletes, parents and coaches can help prevent brain and spine injuries.

"Preventing brain and spine injuries starts with proper safety equipment, including well-fitting helmets and sports-specific safety measures like breakaway bases to prevent sliding injuries. Athletes should learn techniques that help protect the head and neck during play, including safe tackling and blocking. Parents and coaches should be alert for signs of a concussion or more serious head or spinal cord injury. Any athlete who experiences unequal pupil sizes, persistent headaches, dizziness, repeated vomiting, confusion, unusual behavior changes, weakness, numbness or tingling, severe neck or back pain, slurred speech, seizures, or loss of consciousness should be removed from play immediately and evaluated by a qualified healthcare provider.”

Train the mind for competition

Dr. Elaine Gilbert, pediatric sports psychologist, shares why the ability to adapt, recover and bounce back from challenges is just as important to an athlete's success as physical training.

“Focus on what you can control, and let go of what you cannot. Remember, stress is not always bad—it can actually give you energy and motivation to get moving toward your goals! But when it gets to be too much, pause. Take a slow, deep breath, ground with your senses, and use simple, kind words to encourage yourself. This is hard and you can do hard things. Resting and taking a break is part of staying strong, too. Reset your mind, keep going, and don't forget to celebrate your wins!”

Setting the stage for a strong sports season requires more than training. It means building a strong physical and mental foundation, helping young athletes recognize concerns early and ensuring they have access to the pediatric experts they need when it matters most. Riley Children's Health offers comprehensive care for young athletes and families, with pediatric experts across more than 40 pediatric specialties dedicated to helping children stay healthy, active and performing their best.

If your child or teen experiences a sports-related injury, Riley Children's Health offers same-day access to pediatric orthopedic specialists through orthopedic walk-in care locations in Carmel and Fishers. For emergency care, families can access Riley Children’s 24/7 emergency medicine services at locations in Carmel, Fishers and downtown Indianapolis.

Families can also access specialized pediatric care in areas including cardiology, neurosurgery and behavioral health. Explore our complete list of departments and programs.

A new Pediatric Medical-Behavioral Health Unit is just weeks away from opening at Riley Hospital for Children. The specialized unit is the first of its kind in Indiana and among the first in the nation.

"This is such a monumental moment for Riley," David Biggerstaff, President & CEO of Riley Children's Health, said. "The mental health crisis with our kids today, with adolescents today, has been called the crisis of our era. It's an important part of what we do here at Riley is caring for kids on an outpatient basis, an inpatient basis, and importantly for kids who have these medical needs, and the mental health needs. This is an essential unit for those kids."

The 11-bed Pediatric Medical-Behavioral Health Unit is expected to serve around 325 patients annually who meet certain medical and psychiatric needs. It is designed for children whose complex conditions need additional management beyond a traditional medical or psychiatric inpatient unit. The unit will provide integrated care through a specialized interdisciplinary team that includes specialized dually boarded pediatrician/child and adolescent psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, therapists, social workers, and other behavioral health specialists. The unit’s design and staffing model have been developed to enhance patient and staff safety while supporting earlier stabilization, better discharge planning, and reduced repeat hospitalizations.

“Our goal is to provide comprehensive care for the whole child,” said Dr. Mara Nitu, chief medical officer of Riley Children’s Health. “Children with co-occurring medical and behavioral health conditions often face delays in treatment because there are few places equipped to manage both needs simultaneously. This unit helps address that challenge by creating a therapeutic environment where medical and behavioral health teams work side by side to deliver coordinated, evidence-based care.”

Patients receiving care on the unit may need treatment for eating disorders, catatonia, encephalitis, anxiety, depression, and other psychiatric conditions that occur alongside significant medical needs.

"You have to have both emergencies occurring together," Dr. Leslie Hulvershorn, head of child psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Riley Children’s Health, explained. "The need for acute hospitalization in both medical and psychiatric. It's very hard to care for patients medically who have a psychiatric emergency, but you're in a medical space because of the way those spaces are built. So, this gives the staff a lot more freedom to be able to say, 'You can take a shower and we don't have to be right there with you because we're confident that the space will allow you to be safe.' Whereas otherwise you'd have to have a staff member sort of watching constantly."

The unit is designed with patient staff and safety at the forefront.

"For example, here we have a shower that's called an anti-ligature shower meaning you can't hang anything on this," Dr. Hulvershorn said as she pointed to the showerhead. "There's really no way to hurt yourself on this shower, and every square inch from the light bulbs to the doorknobs in this new medical-behavioral space is designed so that psychiatric emergencies can occur in this space, yet people can stay safe."

Dr. Hulvershorn emphasized the dual purpose of the space, making it safe for patients with both complex medical and psychiatric needs.

"You might need oxygen tanks and suction and things like that to care for patients with medical emergencies or acute medical needs and those exist in this space but they're kept secure behind [a glass door], so they can be both psychiatric safe and useable," Dr. Hulvershorn said.

The staff believes this will decrease the need for 1:1 staffing because of the safety measures put in place. This means pediatric patients will be able to utilize common areas, which is not typical when they are admitted to a traditional medical floor.

"This is where the kids will spend their free time, the tables; it's where they'll eat their breakfast, lunch and dinner, if they're able to," Rachael Fisher, Administrative Director-Behavioral Health and Integrated Care Management, said. "We have the chairs; they'll play games out here. We have the TV again that's safe. We have a couple of phones built into our unit, so the kids are able to get in touch with parents, guardians, other support such as DCS. It allows our unit to be safe. Having this area where the kids can relax, do group programming, and play games, is just important for their healing."

The new unit builds on Riley’s pediatric behavioral health network, which includes outpatient psychiatric clinics, integrated behavioral health services in primary and specialty care practices, the Be Happy Child Psychiatry Access Program, the Behavioral Health Access Center in the Riley Emergency Department, the Charis Center for Eating Disorders, the Simon Skjodt Child and Adolescent Behavioral Health Unit, and other specialized services throughout the state.

"Importantly, this is an expansion," Biggerstaff said. "So we are not eliminating beds anywhere else, we're just fortunate to be able to add these beds."

The unit was made possible by generous donor support to Riley Children’s Foundation as part of the Every Child Deserves Riley campaign, which identified pediatric behavioral health as a key priority for Indiana’s children.

“This unit is a powerful example of what is possible when a community comes together to invest in children’s health,” said Courtney Roberts, president of Riley Children’s Foundation. “Our donors recognized the urgent and growing need for expanded pediatric behavioral health services. Their support helped create a welcoming, innovative space where children and families can receive the specialized care they deserve during some of their most challenging moments.”

Studies show nearly 300,000 Indiana youth experience a mental health condition each year, while suicide remains the second-leading cause of death among Indiana adolescents and young adults. Riley’s leaders hope the unit will reduce emergency department use, support families, and create better long-term outcomes for children facing complex medical and behavioral health challenges.

The team dressed babies in handmade barista, or “babyista,” aprons and paired them with miniature coffee cup props, all created by NICU nurses.

“Having a baby is one of life’s greatest moments, and no one ever expects their journey to include a NICU stay,” said Ashley Brunic, manager of clinical operations for the NICU at IU Health North. “When families are here, we want them to feel connected, supported and able to find joy in the unexpected. Our team cares for some very sick babies, and these special moments are meaningful for them, too. They provide an opportunity to bring a little extra happiness to families while also lifting the spirits of our team.”

To help parents and loved ones join in the seasonal fun, the NICU team also set up a coffee bar where families could enjoy fall-themed refreshments while spending time with their little ones.

What does the story of a wild horse chase have to do with Riley Children’s Health?

If you love horses or if you love Riley, this story might speak to you. If you love both, you’re in for a double treat.

The central character in this tale is a mustang named Annie who bumped a gate and bolted from the pen of a Hendricks County horse owner last month, leading to a frantic six-day search over many miles and involving many good people.

The Riley connection revealed itself over those six days, beginning with mustang owner Dawn Butrum, an associate administrator of nursing at Riley who has a soft spot for wild horses and reached out to share this story, which she believes embodies the IU Health/Riley values of purpose, compassion, excellence and team.

It might not be medically related, she said, “but the things we do outside of Riley matter and are relatable to our pillars.”

Maybe that’s why she was not surprised but delighted to learn that the young woman who eventually helped rescue the horse Butrum had just purchased at an auction through the Bureau of Land Management is also a Riley team member.

Hayley Grubbs has worked for IU Health for five years, the past three at Riley in radiology. On the weekends, though, you’re likely to find her on the rodeo circuit with her dad, Shawn Spaulding.

She grew up with horses, so when word raced around via Facebook, animal rescue, police and the community at large that a skittish and scared wild horse was on the loose, Grubbs and her dad used their training to track Annie, rope her and load her into a trailer to be reunited with Butrum.

That was Day 6 of Annie’s great adventure through farm fields and pastures over several miles in Hendricks County. She was exhausted, as was Butrum, her husband and everyone who had pitched in to bring Annie home.

“We had people on horseback, in cars, people with drones, people we didn’t know looking for her,” Butrum said.

Come to find out, the searchers also included two former Riley NICU nurses.

“It seriously took a village to accomplish what some said would not be the end result,” Butrum said. “We believe in the power of prayer and never gave up, knowing God is in control and brings a village together to do what seems to be impossible. Hayley and her dad demonstrated compassion, teamwork, purpose and excellence … and brought a scared horse home to start her journey with her new family.”

Grubbs, who reconnected with Butrum this week at Riley to see more pictures of Annie, said reuniting the mustang with her owner was second nature.

“I was raised that way,” she said. “We help people out.”

Or, to put it another way, wild horses couldn’t keep her away.

Now, as the two former strangers swap horse stories, they look forward to maintaining a connection going forward. Turns out they live within a couple miles of each other, and Butrum has invited her to visit Annie anytime and said she’d like to learn some tricks from the younger woman to help the newest addition to her equine family adjust to the other horses.

“I’m excited that she has all this knowledge and I can pick her brain.”

As Butrum showed Grubbs a photo of Annie on her phone, she said, “I take selfies with her all the time. It’s the least she can do after all she put me through.”

Among her five brothers and sisters, Cecilia Crockett was the second youngest in her family. Her mom, Allison, said she was everyone's sweetheart.

"She was daddy's little girl on the farm," Allison said. "Loved to be outside. Probably her best friends in the world, just right here in our home, are her siblings."

Like every family facing medical issues, Allison and Benjamin Crockett never imagined the trajectory their lives would take after Cecilia, then four years old, began vomiting and complaining of headaches on their way home from a 2022 spring break trip.

"It was probably only a matter of a couple of weeks and then one of her eyes quit tracking," Allison said.

At that point, Allison made a call to their family doctor who ordered testing.

"I think the comment was after just a couple of simple tests, the comment was, "'I want a CT scan yesterday,'" Allison and Ben said in unison.

Allison said the doctor called soon after the scan and told her to drop everything and head to Riley's emergency room with Cecilia. She will never forget the doctor's news.

"She's got a golf ball-sized mass in the geographic center of her brain," Allison recalled of the message.

Benjamin explained that doctors realized quickly that the mass was blocking the flow of cerebral spinal fluid and causing hydrocephalus.

"So, they went in and did an emergency surgery to relieve the pressure, put in a shunt," Benjamin explained. "And it was during that time that we were with one of our early doctors, Doctor Balsara, that he sat with Allison in a consulting room and said words to us that that are so true; He just said something to the effect of, 'your lives are never going to be the same. This will change everything.'"

After Cecilia's diagnosis, Allison scoured the internet for every bit of information she could find on the type of tumor in her daughter's brain.

"The probability of success was very, very low, and the amount of research that existed there was just very little," Benjamin explained. "We made a decision to start down the path of chemotherapy first."

Merely two weeks passed before their young daughter took a turn for the worse. Even her oncologist, Dr. Alex Lion, commented on how dire Cecilia's situation was at that point.

"So, the tumor hemorrhaged and she had hydrocephalus again, but really, really, really bad," Benjamin explained. "They pretty much said you've probably got about 24 hours."

Allison said together they made the decision to bring Cecilia home on hospice care; then a miracle happened.

"She recovered," Allison said.

Benjamin explained they decided to make a phone call to the team at Riley.

"We're like, 'this is miraculous,'" Benjamin explained. "Do you think that we should try chemo again?"

The Crocketts brought Cecilia back to Riley for an MRI and discovered the tumor actually shrank, though she still had lesions down her spine. Cecilia started her second round of chemo in August and then a third round of chemo on December 1, 2022.

"That round was awful," Allison recalled.

The Crocketts made the decision to do a resection on January 11, 2023. The surgery took hours, and Benjamin and Allison remembered the powerful moment of prayer over Cecilia that morning.

"Dr. Lion came and Dr. [Jignesh] Tailor came, and some of the leaders of the hospital system that we knew came, and then the nurses started just all gathering," The Crocketts remembered. We gathered and said a prayer and just prayed that things would go well. We didn't know if she would survive the surgery."

Following the resection, the Crocketts were forced to make the most difficult decision to date: whether Cecilia would continue her fight with radiation or return home to her beloved farm with her siblings. Allison explained that doctors told her that, aside from not curing Cecilia of her cancer, it would require the family to split up as Allison would head to Cincinnati with Cecilia for treatment while Benjamin and other family members would care for the other Crockett children. Also, Allsion said doctors explained that radiation would likely alter her personality, and her IQ would drop.

"We, for our family, decided that we would not go to radiation, that we wanted to preserve Cecilia and her brain for who she was right then and not put her through that, especially because they told us, as we were getting ready to make the decision, that it would not be curative," Allison said.

As Cecilia's health continued to decline, Allison continued to search for information on end-of-life care for patients with brain tumors. She stumbled upon several from Great Britain that offered her and Benjamin a choice that could keep Cecilia's fight going.

"At least one of them said at the end, if you know that you're going to lose this battle and you feel like maybe there's some time, then maybe consider donating your child's brain for research," Allison said.

Benjamin said it took him some time to come to terms with making a decision about his little girl's brain tissue, after all, at that point, Cecilia's health had once again improved and she was having a wonderful time on the farm.

"No longer has a pain pump," Benjamin said. "She's just having a wonderful summer back home. To have this thought of, I'm going to make a commitment to potentially donate tissue, brain tissue, for research was painful at first, but over just a couple of days, we had a lot of dialogue together. If we did lose the battle, this is something we could do."

Cecilia passed away July 19, 2023, at merely five and a half years old. Benjamin tearfully remembers feeling Cecilia's heart beat for the last time following a nap with her mom. Shortly after, the family officially donated their daughter's brain for research.

Dr. Tailor is a pediatric neurosurgeon and an assistant professor of neurological surgery at the Indiana University School of Medicine. It is him and his team of researchers who are helping to advance pediatric tumor research using Cecilia's brain tissue.

"It's a big deal," Dr. Tailor said of Cecilia's donation. "A lot of times we lose the battle of fighting brain cancer because we don't have the right treatments to offer. The biggest problem is that we often don't know why. We don't know why that tumor progressed because we are not able to study that end game. We're not able to study what happened to the cells. Having the opportunity to do a deep dive into that tumor and ask the question, 'why did we fail,' is not always possible unless you have access to that tissue, and that's what the Crockett family provided. They provided the opportunity for us to at least ask the question."

The Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Research Fund at Riley Children's Hospital

Along with donating Cecilia's brain, Benjamin and Allison decided to devote even more of their lives to pediatric cancer research. Through a contract with the Riley Children's Foundation, they pulled together funds from Cecilia's life insurance and their savings to create The Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Research Fund at Riley Children's Hospital.

Through sowing the first $25,000 in 2024, the Crocketts were able to name the fund and direct the fund. Now, that fund holds around $850,000.

"We wanted it to have a generic name," Allison explained. "We want to support the research that's going on in this lab and at Riley Children's Hospital, and we don't want it specifically to feel like, oh, other people wouldn't want to donate if their child died of a brain tumor because that's her thing. It has a just the generic the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Research Fund at Riley Children's Hospital because it belongs to everyone."

"I have important stuff to do."

One memory permanently marked in Benjamin's mind is an early morning at Riley in 2022, shortly after Cecilia underwent a shunt surgery. She unexpectedly popped up in bed and asked her dad if they could wake up. Benjamin said he asked his daughter, "How are you so brave?"

How Cecilia responded would become the family's motto.

"With perfect clarity [Cecilia] said, "I have important stuff to do," and that has been kind of a theme that we've had," Benjamin said.

As donations continue pouring in for the Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Research Fund at Riley Children's Health, the Crocketts feel its success is divine.

"It's really organically has its own momentum that cannot be explained, except that there's important stuff that needs to be done, and the children should not be dying from something that we can cure, if there's enough research to do it," Allison said. "So, let's get in the lab and let's solve this like we've solved other problems, because I think the knowledge and the science and the technology is all there."

Dr. Lion thoughtfully expressed how brain donation and growing this fund can give families some peace who are left to grieve their children.

"Some of the things I think about are our families asking the question, "'why,'" Dr. Lion said. "It seems meaningless that a child would be diagnosed with disseminated brain cancer without a standard of care. This family, as well as the second family who participated in the brain donation program, they both talked about how they believed the body was not the full existence, that this donation should help others, because we believe there is a future time when there will be a restoration of all things. For us to be able to do this, it's an inbreaking of meaning now. For her to have this amazing gift given actually means the fight is still going on even though she has died."

Though their hearts are broken, the Crocketts find new purpose in helping future children and families who will stare down this brutal diagnosis.

"I truly believe that that's why we're here," Benjamin said. "God's giving us an experience to grow and learn, and that comes with pain and suffering and death. But out of it can come lots of good and growth and help helping others."

Benjamin and Allison also acknowledged that this battle forces the whole family to fight, and that can be immensely difficult when there are other growing children.

"What I really want them to know is that we are still their parents and we are still a family, even though she's not here, and even though now we have ones that are kind of leaving the nest, like the core home group, like we're still here for you," Allison said. "We love you just as much as any of the rest of them. They are wonderful children, each of them and all of them together."

Dawn Rodriguez likes numbers and is good at math, so it made sense to her as a young person to get a degree in accounting, then move into the field as a professional.

And that’s exactly what she did for 15 years. On the side, she indulged her creative interests by operating an in-home bakery. When circumstances changed and she was faced with a career crossroads, her husband suggested maybe she should embrace her first love – nursing.

“So, here I was in my 30s going to nursing school,” she said.

The mother of three worked and went to school for several years before landing her dream job – PICU nurse at Riley Hospital for Children. In that time, she has continued baking for weddings, birthdays and other celebrations, for the sheer joy of it.

For 10 years, she has worked the night shift in the PICU, only recently transitioning to a Monday-Friday dayshift job as a nurse navigator in neurosurgery. She continues to work PRN on weekends in the PICU because she couldn’t give it up entirely.

Over the years, she has received multiple nominations for the DAISY award for her compassionate care and clinical skills, but she was surprised with her first DAISY win during her last week in the PICU.

“For the award to come on the last week in the PICU is almost like God was reaching out and saying, ‘You have been in the right place for so long and I need to let you know it’s OK to leave it now.’ It was so great; I was ecstatic,” she said.

The move to the neurosurgery team as a nurse navigator aligns nicely with her interests and offers a better work-life balance, she said.

“Neuro patients are some of my favorites, and in this role I can still make a difference for these families and follow patients through treatment when they leave the PICU. I still get to be a part of their care.”

The family who recommended her for the DAISY said she provided “extraordinary care” during a frightening stay in the PICU.

“Dawn demonstrated exceptional skill, compassion and unwavering professionalism. Over the course of an incredibly overwhelming situation, her calm demeanor and reassuring presence helped carry me through some of the hardest moments I have ever faced as a parent.”

It should come as no surprise then to hear Rodriguez say that this family has been on her mind and heart since the day she took care of them.

“In the ICU, we are there on some of the worst days of a parent’s life, and seeing this family rally around this patient was amazing,” Rodriguez said. “I was so honored to take care of her and loved knowing I was making a difference for them.”

Rodriguez, now a grandmother in addition to wife and mom of three, laughs when she acknowledges how she came to nursing later in life.

“People think I’m a lifer (as a nurse), then I tell them I had another whole career before this, but this is my dream career.”

Nominate a nurse who exemplifies excellent clinical skills and compassionate care here.

Photos submitted and by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org

The new space provides walk-in care from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, for patients up to age 18. No appointment or call ahead is required. Services available during walk-in hours include:

• Same-day evaluation of orthopedic injuries that have occurred within the previous seven to 10 days, including:
  • Fractures and suspected fractures
  • Sprains
  • Strains
  • Sports-related injuries
  • Other acute injuries
• Onsite treatment options, including braces, splints and casts

In addition to walk-in hours, the new suite also expands access to specialty orthopedic services. Six providers will now see patients at the location, which offers pediatric nonsurgical and surgical orthopedic consultations as well as specialized nonsurgical care for skeletal malformations and congenital conditions, spine conditions as well as sports medicine and injury care. Lab, radiology and pharmacy services are also available onsite.

“We recognize that orthopedic injuries often happen unexpectedly, especially among children and teens,” said Dr. Christine Caltoum, division chief of Orthopedics and Sports Medicine at Riley Children’s Health and a provider at the new location. “When a child is injured, timely access to expert care can make all the difference. With walk-in availability, expanded services and additional providers in this new space, families in Fishers and the surrounding communities can receive specialized Riley Children’s orthopedic care close to home without unnecessary delays.”

With the opening of the new space in Fishers and existing orthopedic walk-in care at IU Health North, Riley Children's now offers two locations in Hamilton County for same-day pediatric orthopedic care. Riley Children’s Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine – Fishers is located in Suite 1300 of the IU Health Fishers Medical Office Building and is now welcoming patients. 

Riley Children’s has continued to grow access to pediatric care in Hamilton County through expanded Emergency Medicine, Orthopedic and Sports Medicine, Primary Care and other specialty care services. In addition to the launch of Riley Children’s Emergency Medicine at IU Health Fishers last fall, families can access 24/7 pediatric emergency care, as well as a variety of pediatric specialty care and inpatient services, at IU Health North Hospital. Riley Children’s also offers primary care services in Fishers. This new location builds on that commitment, providing families with another convenient option to access expert pediatric care close to home.

Initially, July 11 was like many other days in Axton Pugh's life; he was watching his dad burn some brush after his dad returned home from working at his tree service business. But July 11 would end differently than any other day prior.

It had just been the Fourth of July," Blakely Pugh, Axton's mom, explained. "So, when [his dad] was cleaning the brush, we don't know if maybe mortar from somebody's yard or something got mixed in with the brush, and while the brush was burning, something in the fire blew up."

Seven-year-old Axton described the traumatic moments that followed.

"All's I remember is a big bang and then Dad grabbing me out of the fire, and then all my skin was just falling off," Axton said.

His mom called 9-1-1 as her husband stood at the front door, holding her severely burned son.

"So, we got to the car and we were driving as I'm calling the ambulance, I'm like, you guys need to meet me, I'm driving towards you, we need to meet halfway, because he was in so much pain, I just wanted them to get to him as fast as they could to get him his pain under control," Blakely said. "When we got to the hospital, they ended up intubating."

Blakely said EMTs originally transported Axton to the local hospital before he was life flighted to Riley Hospital.

"The first prognosis when we got here and talked to the burn surgeon was 40 to 45% burns," Blakely said. "Three days later, he's still ventilated but they came and they did a surgery to do the debridement of the burns, and he just started healing on his own."

Blakely explained that initially surgeons told her Axton would need multiple surgeries and multiple skin grafts. But, as Axton began healing on his own, doctors estimated he was about 25 percent burned across his body. So, instead of numerous skin grafts, they decided to use a special technology that turns a small square skin graft into a cell spray, using Axton's own cells.

"We take a small piece of skin graft," Dr. Fatih Zor, Axton's doctor, explained. "Instead of using that skin graft as a sheet, we take the skin cells from that graft and make it a cell spray from those cells and spray the wounds with those cells is and cover those with the patient's own cells."

Dr. Zor said this special tool certainly lessens a patient's pain.

"If we take a 10 square centimeter of skin graft, now we have a total area of over 20 square centimeters and the body will heal both wounds, the actual one and the donor site," Dr. Zor explained. "By this way, we do not increase the total wounded area, and it also reduces the total amount of blood loss during the surgery. The pain will be much less compared to conventional skin grafting; The less donor we use, the less pain we cause."

The cell spray technology also avoids what Dr. Zor describes the "meshed appearance of the skin graft."

"So, after the surgery, the wounds heal without significant scarring," Dr. Zor said.

For Blakely, she credits her faith and the devotion of Axton's care team for helping her son survive this horrible accident. She said she is forever grateful to the staff at Riley Hospital.

"It's been amazing," Blakely said. "Everybody has been extremely, extremely kind and caring and compassionate and taking care of him, they've done amazing."

Anyone would be surprised to learn all Navy Northam - whose middle name is aptly Joy - has endured in her short two years of life. The smiley little girl was born on August 22, 2024, with a rare heart condition called Shone's complex. Maliyah Northam, Navy's mother, learned about her condition when she was about 30 weeks pregnant.

"I was actually seeing a provider outside of Riley to begin with but on one magical Monday, Dr. [Timothy] Cordes came and he was the one to finally figure out her diagnosis, which is Shones complex," Maliyah Northam recalled.

Dr. Cordes explained that Shone's complex is the name of the congenital heart disease that causes multiple obstructive lesions impacting the left side of the patient's heart.

"So, there's often a mitral valve component, either below or at or above the aortic valve, and around the arch where there's a coarctation of the aorta," Dr. Cordes explained. "So, you have to have those three components that can all have different degrees of involvement. Navy's, when we first saw her, was primarily in the aortic arch. The coarctation, but her aortic valve subsequently, needed surgery about a year later. Her mitral valve has been the mildest and probably will not need intervention."

Navy underwent her first surgery when she was just five days old. After that, she had routine echoes every two to three months. At her December appointment, Navy's medical team gave her the go-ahead to begin scheduling echoes every four months. But by April 2025, her mother knew something was wrong.

"We had started to notice she wasn't gaining any weight at all," Maliyah Northam explained. "By this time, she was eight [or] nine months old and she was not crying, she was not sitting up well."

After that April appointment, Maliyah Northam remembers quickly preparing for surgery which ultimately took place in July 2025.

"She had her open-heart surgery in July to repair her aortic valve," Maliyah explained. "As I said, she was not crawling, she wasn't even sitting up straight but when she had the surgery, I remember in her crib at the hospital, she was standing! I think it was within the first week, she started crawling. She was so happy."

Maliyah said she feels Riley Children's Health prepared her and her husband, Daniel, for Navy's birth and diagnosis. She spoke about the care conference before Navy was born which allowed her to meet with all of the providers who would care for her newborn daughter and visit each of the floors in the hospital where her baby would stay.

"Nothing was left unanswered," Maliyah said. "We love our cardiologist. I chose him. That day that he found her diagnosis, I was asked when she was born, who do you want your cardiologist to be, and I picked him. I was adamant on picking him. I love his voice of reason, and he was the one to make me feel like my instincts mattered and that has continued on."

Maliyah also shared appreciation for Navy's surgeon, Dr. Mark Rodefeld.

"He always came and checked up on our room," Maliyah said. "Two times a day, at least, with both surgeries. I would be in there, and he would see me holding her, and he would ask how I was doing."

For Dr. Cordes, this feedback and these relationships make the job worthwhile.

"It is always my opinion that it's a privilege to be entering somebody's life with this very, very difficult problem and a long journey," Dr. Cordes said. "Navy's going to need a cardiologist for the rest of her life. It's always rewarding to have this interaction with families and their kids and see someone do as well as they're doing."

As Navy continues growing, her parents look back fondly on their time at Riley. They both cited the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Indiana as a blessing during their stay.

"My family and I we're really close," Maliyah said. "My husband works from home, we're all in our house every single day together. I feel like Riley's really, really family-oriented in a sense that we were all able to stick together. I feel like that kept me from worrying about everybody else. I could focus on Navy."

To Sonia Amador, little Rose Byers is “Rosita,” one of her many young friends in the CVICU at Riley Hospital for Children.

Every time she gets to see the baby, Amador coos “que linda” – how cute.

“We love her,” Madison and Spencer Byers say in unison about Amador, an environmental services team member who cleans Rose’s hospital room daily. “She talks to Rose and tells her how cute she is.”

Amador is Spanish-speaking, but she communicates her love for all patients and families at Riley, no matter their native language, with her eyes, her smile and her heart. Bilingual co-workers and a translator app on her phone help, too.

She goes by another name on the unit as well – Grandma or “abuelo/abuelita.”

“Sonia falls in love with our patients,” unit secretary Alma Estrada said, as Amador and a team of EVS workers did a thorough clean of a room in preparation for an incoming surgery patient. “She connects with all cultures in the unit. People just know her and enjoy that connection.”

Known for her hard work and attention to detail, Amador has been assigned to the CVICU throughout her four years at Riley.

“She is an incredibly hard worker with a wonderful spirit,” said Laura Alter, director of clinical operations. “She brings joy to the whole unit, and we’re so lucky to have her.”

Tom Harlow, CV service line administrative director, said the work she does makes a difference, not just in the cleanliness of the unit but in the hearts of the team and the families.

“We’re grateful for the care she provides to our patients and families and for her dedication to the Heart Center,” he said. “The work she does here is so impactful.”

Amador is embarrassed by all the attention, saying she just loves the babies and enjoys talking to them. She has a grandchild herself, but the little girl lives in Nicaragua, so she has never met her in person. Just ask, though, and she will proudly show a photo of the 3-year-old on her phone.

“I would love to hold her,” she said of her grandchild, as Estrada translated for her, “and these little ones that are not mine I wish I could hold them.”

She has formed close bonds with many families on the unit and grieves deeply when a patient passes away, remembering a little boy who used to wave to her from his hospital bed.

“It is very hard on all of us,” Estrada said.

Noah Meth was one of those young patients whom Amador grew to love over his many months in the Heart Center. He passed away last month, but his mom, Haley, still appreciates the care Amador showed her son.

"Anytime Sonia would come in, she would first go to Noah and say 'Hola' to him and do anything to get him to smile. At first, he was skeptical, but the more Sonia was around, the more comfortable he became. He loved her. He would smile and giggle. Before she left, she would always say 'Adios' to Noah, and I'd have him wave goodbye."

Amador was back in Rose’s room Wednesday morning, so Madison Byers took the opportunity to get a photo of her with her daughter.

“We’ve learned a few things in Spanish from her,” Byers said. “The language barrier is definitely there, but her genuine joy and excitement make up for it. Every time Rose has an outfit on or her hair done, she will point to it and get so excited.”

The family has known Amador since Rose was 3 months old. The little girl, who turned 1 in June, was inpatient for 165 days last year, before being discharged home in November. She returned for follow-up care at the Riley Outpatient Center before being readmitted in late January.

She will undergo an additional complex heart surgery to repair her aortic valve in a few weeks, her mom said.

Until then, she is comforted knowing that Amador will continue bringing her light and gentle spirit into her daughter’s room.

“We love Sonia. She has truly been a highlight of Rose’s hospital stay.”

As Collin Tiek looked out over the breathtaking scene from the top of the Grand Teton in Wyoming, his mind was properly blown.

“God blessed me with the strength and opportunity to be up there, and to look out on all he created for us was just amazing.”

Thirty-nine years ago, he was a critically ill newborn whose future seemed anything but bright. But last month, he climbed the tallest peak in the mountain range (13,775 feet) with a guide and his uncle by his side and his heart full of gratitude for Riley Hospital for Children.

Born in 1987 with serious heart defects, including transposition of the great vessels, a large ventricular septal defect and pulmonary stenosis, he might not have survived except for the care of an “A team” of surgeons, physicians, nurses and therapists at Riley.

But God had a hand in their son’s healing as well, say Dale and Jane Tiek, who remember the dark days of Collin’s journey with congenital heart defects.

“I was an OB nurse at our local hospital and had an uneventful pregnancy, so we were shocked when he had problems after he was born,” said Jane Tiek.

Today’s modern scans can pick up heart defects early in pregnancy, giving parents and doctors time to create a care plan around the baby’s birth and subsequent treatment.

In 1987, the technology for diagnosing, much less treating, serious heart defects in babies was in its infancy. But Riley was at the forefront of that care.

The day after he was born, the Oaktown, Indiana, couple’s son was taken to a hospital in Vincennes, then to another in Evansville, before being transported to Riley the following day.

There they met cardiologist Dr. Randall Caldwell, who would go on to become their lifeline.

“We were immediately impressed with his intelligence and his compassion,” Jane said, adding how she also appreciated his honesty.

“I remember him telling me one time, ‘I’ll answer all your questions as best I can, but before you ask the question, make sure you want to know the answer.’ He did a great job of keeping us informed and calm but also letting us know how serious it was.”

Though the doctors didn’t sugarcoat their son’s condition, they and the rest of the team offered hope, she said, and that was worth holding onto, even when it was the tiniest sliver of hope.

“It’s easy to lose that hope when your child has a serious health problem. They encouraged us, and that’s so important for parents. That’s a gift. That’s what sets Riley apart.”

Collin would go on to have multiple medical procedures, including two surgeries by Dr. John Brown, with an assist from Dr. Mark Turrentine.

“We are forever grateful for these three men and all the healthcare workers at Riley,” Jane said. “Because of their incredible work, our son stood on the summit of the Grand Tetons (last month) after ascending almost 14,000 feet. For parents going through something like this, I hope it gives them some hope and encouragement to see a 39-year-old congenital heart kid standing on top of a mountain.”

Growing up, Collin was always active despite his heart conditions. He played sports, swam and skied.

“With my mom being a nurse, she understood more than some parents the importance of staying active,” he said.

He graduated from Purdue University, and he and his wife, Amy, have two children. Collin operates a small farm, while Amy is a veterinarian. He continues to get annual cardiology checkups at Riley, a practice not unusual with congenital heart patients.

He acknowledges that it used to feel strange coming to a children’s hospital as an adult, but he feels a sense of loyalty to the hospital that he credits for saving his life.

“I can never say enough good things about Riley.”

His mom has quite a lot to say as well.

“Riley just holds a very special place in all of our hearts. I knew it was a great place, but until you experience it as a mom you don’t realize how blessed the state of Indiana is to have a facility like that, and not just the expertise but the way they cater to families, the way they do everything in their power to make it as good as it can be,” she said.

Obviously, the day her son was summitting the mountain was scary for her. In fact, she didn’t learn of his plans until shortly before the climb was to begin. And she was home in Indiana at the time.

“To this day I say to my husband I think we downplayed his condition a little too much because Collin has never recognized any limitations,” she said with a laugh. “When I heard he was climbing the Grand, I said to Dale we really didn’t stress enough about his heart.”

Just as she prayed for her son’s life to be saved as a baby, she prayed the morning he was on that mountain.

“I felt like God was saying to me, today you’re praying for your baby boy to get to the top of the Grand, but I remember the days when you were just praying to let him live.”

Hope, fear and gratitude live in those prayers, then and now.

Marie and Justin Rowland found out their son, Liam, would be born with a bilateral cleft lip and palate during their 20-week ultrasound appointment. Through the parents' hospital research, they discovered Riley Children's Health could give their baby the best outcome, and its proximity to home was an added bonus.

"So, we kind of started at Riley even before he was born," Marie Rowland said. "We were able to meet with the team a little bit, get an idea of what to expect, which was really great."

Liam Rowland was born on November 21, 2016, and had his first surgery at four months old and a second at 10 months old.

"We haven't gone for more than a few months usually without going [to Riley] for something," his mom said. "So, we've seen speech and hearing, audiology. He had his bone graft surgery last year and then he's had a few other surgeries and minor procedures in between there."

Liam Rowland will eventually undergo bilateral jaw surgery.

"When they do the palate surgery, it stunts the growth of the top jaw," Marie Rowland explained. "In order for him to be able to talk and eat and things like that as an adult, they have to realign things."

Today, Liam Rowland is an active 9-year-old who loves playing baseball, whether with his team or at home with his little brother, Lennox.

"Liam is the primary pitcher on his team," Marie Rowland said. "For being 9, they moved him up in the league, so he's playing with 10- to 13-year-olds. He does amazing!"

Liam was named the Riley First Pitch Kid for the Indianapolis Indians game on July 25.

"I am really thankful for the Indianapolis Indians for letting me do the first pitch."

Though not the major league, the Rowlands can add Victory Field to their list of stadiums they've visited - and Liam can check off a bucket list item.

"One of our main goals is that we're going to try to go to every single stadium before I graduate high school," Liam Rowland said. "So far we've gone to the Guardians, the Reds, the Milwaukee Brewers, The White Sox and then the Rockies."

Kennedy Ellis has been enjoying a rare stretch of good health lately. So when she came to the Riley Outpatient Center this week with her parents, Dustin and Krystal, she was relaxed, thoughtful and happy.

It’s been 18 months since she last needed chemotherapy, a treatment that has defined her life since she was a baby.

Kennedy, now a 15-year-old sophomore in high school, was diagnosed with an optic pathway/hypothalamic tumor (a low-grade glioma) when she was 19 months old.

It was benign but life-threatening because it grows, putting pressure on the optic nerve and the brain itself, affecting her eyesight and her pituitary gland, in particular. And it is inoperable.

The diagnosis was devastating, Krystal Ellis said, but at the same time it was a relief just to have an answer for why their baby girl was slipping away from them because she couldn’t eat.

“My husband and I took it day by day, hoping and praying, but we were scared to death.”

She credits Riley Children’s Health for never giving up on their child.

“Riley has done so much for us. They have saved her so many times.”

The first step was surgery to try to remove at least a portion of the tumor, but its location in the middle of the brain made that impossible. Her main treatment through the years has been chemotherapy – first administered intravenously, then in pill form as new drugs became available.

The tumor and treatment have taken a toll on Kennedy’s body, but not her spirit. She is the “good” kind of stubborn, her mom said. Strong-willed and smart but with a big heart.

“Her life is proof that strength and gentleness can exist in the same heart.”

She began suffering seizures in 2019, about seven years after diagnosis, and had to be placed in a medically induced coma before they could be stopped. She then had to relearn to walk and talk through intense therapy.

Kennedy was part of a clinical trial in 2024 for a targeted cancer medication called tovorafenib that has revolutionized care in some patients. It was approved by the FDA in 2025. The drug, taken weekly, helped put her on the path to better health, shrinking her tumor by nearly half to about the size of a grape.

Her growth has been affected by the tumor – she stands just 3 feet, 10 inches tall, and she has some muscle weakness – yet her intellectual development has not suffered. She is an A-B student at her Crawfordsville high school, where she particularly enjoys biology, she said.

She is social, loves music and has even developed her own candle-making business. Her favorite thing to do is swing while listening to alt rock and hip-hop, she said. No Taylor Swift on her playlist.

“I like a lot of unique bands.”

You might not catch her dancing, but “I like to move my feet and bop my head,” she said with a smile.

Her mom and dad have been by her side every day. Dustin Ellis stepped back from his job to be a stay-at-home dad for the first 18 months after Kennedy’s diagnosis.

“I was knee deep in everything,” he said. “It was crazy. But when it comes to Kennedy, we’ve been very hands on. She’s all that matters.”

Her mom now handles the day-to-day care, but the couple tackle things together, each supporting the other.

“Our family and community are very important,” Krystal said, noting that so many people have come alongside them to help ease the burden. “Hope carried her through the hardest days, and love surrounded her every step of the way.”

Every four months, Kennedy returns to Riley for an MRI and bloodwork to ensure that the tumor is stable. The past 18 months is the longest period she has gone without requiring any chemo.

“I didn’t really notice how much it affected me until I was off it,” the teen said. “I’m less tired, less nauseous. I enjoy food more and I can go out in the sun.”

The Riley team has changed some over the years, but the family has felt deeply cared for by everyone, Krystal said.

Dr. Sandeep Batra and Dr. Scott Coven are among the oncologists who have treated Kennedy. Both are beloved by the family, as are all the advanced practice providers, nurses, therapists and technicians they have gotten to know in oncology, ophthalmology, neurology, neurosurgery, endocrinology and dentistry.

“There is nobody we haven’t loved,” Krystal said. “That’s the honest-to-God truth.”

Dr. Coven describes Kennedy as a “fascinating and amazing young person” who continues to impress him with her intellect, self-awareness and ability to champion her own care.

“Kennedy is so wise beyond her years. She’s been through so much, and she speaks so eloquently,” he said. “At every visit, she impressed me with her knowledge.”

Also, he said, her smile “lights up the room.”

Most gratifying for him was to see how well she responded to the clinical trial drug.

“We had to manage side effects, but we were seeing benefits we’ve never seen for her,” he said, specifically a reduction in the tumor’s size. “We’re starting to see that with this new class of medications in other patients as well, which is really exciting.”

Another benefit of these new drugs is the ability to restart them if the tumor were to start growing again.

While Kennedy and her parents can’t help but hold their breath when it comes time for a new brain MRI, they keep moving forward with the help of their faith, family and the Riley team.

“There are no words big enough to thank the people who have helped carry our child through 14 years of unimaginable challenges. To every physician who searched for answers, every nurse who offered comfort, every therapist who celebrated the smallest victories, and every staff member whose kindness eased our fears – thank you.”

Why is playground safety important?

Playground injuries can range from minor scrapes and bruises to more serious injuries such as dislocations and broken bones. Whether it’s a fall from the monkey bars or a tumble from a climbing wall, accidents happen during play.

“At Riley Children’s Health, we take care of a lot of elbow and wrist fractures. A surprisingly high percentage of these are from monkey bars and other forms of playground equipment,” says Dr. Gunnar Tysklind.

Playground safety tips

Supervise children and teach them how to play safely

• A parent or guardian should supervise children and stay alert while children play.
• Teach children to slide “feet-first” down slides and one person at a time.
• Wear proper footwear to provide stability and reduce the risk of injuries when climbing, running and jumping. “Crocs and sandals are great for the pool and other light activities, but when it’s time to play on the playground, we recommend wearing supportive, closed-toe shoes that fit well and are securely tied or fastened,” recommends Todd Osterbur.
• Remind children to sit on swings and not to cross in front of moving swings. “Not only is it important to remind children to watch where they walk around children on swings, we need to remind them that jumping off of swings can increase their risk for a serious injury,” Osterbur says.
• Children should not climb outside guardrails on climbing walls or other platforms. “Guardrails and barriers are there for a reason and should not be climbed on or messed with. Children’s limbs can also become stuck in these and twisted,” he adds.

Check for any playground hazards before playing

• Avoid playgrounds with tripping hazards (such as rocks or tree stumps), dangerous playground equipment that is broken, or play structures without guardrails or that are not securely anchored to the ground.
• Check that swing seats are made of either plastic or rubber rather than metal (which heats up quicker and may cause burns).
• Find playgrounds with protective ground surfaces made of wood chips, mulch, sand or rubber-like materials, and avoid playgrounds over exposed concrete or blacktop.

“Unsafe playground equipment should be reported to the organization responsible for maintaining the playground, such as a parks department, school, or community organization. Please be aware of signage about damaged or unsafe equipment, and exercise caution with wet playground equipment after a rain or storm,” says Dr. Tysklind.

Don’t wait to treat playground injuries

If your child does suffer an injury, they can receive same-day access to a highly skilled pediatric orthopedic specialist. Riley Children’s now offers walk-in care for orthopedic injuries in Fishers and Carmel. Walk-in care is available Monday through Friday, 9 am to 6 pm. No appointment or call ahead is needed. Learn more about our orthopedic walk-in care.

If your child needs emergency care, you can find Riley Children’s 24/7 emergency medicine services at one of our three Riley Children’s Health emergency medicine locations in Carmel, Fishers and downtown Indianapolis.

In emergency medicine, no two days are the same, and that’s exactly what registered nurse Kendra Kirby loves about her work.

Kirby began her IU Health career at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in 2021 before joining the team that helped launch Riley Children’s Health emergency medicine services at IU Health Fishers in August 2025. Each shift brings new challenges and new opportunities to care for children and families in need.

“It's always different. We have a lot of children with colds, respiratory issues or sports injuries. We also have more chronic patients who come back to our unit often because it's closer to home,” she explains.

Before transitioning to pediatric emergency care, Kirby worked in both the adult Emergency department and as a nursing case manager. While those roles helped shape her nursing foundation, she found her passion in caring for pediatric patients.

“I love taking care of kiddos because we meet them where they're at. We work with the kids and their family to support them while they are here, especially because kids don't understand what all is going on,” she says. Kirby credits the strength of the team for making the fast-paced environment both supportive and rewarding. “I love the people that I work with,” she says. “We have great teamwork, especially in this department, and they definitely make coming to work an actual treat.”

Looking to make a difference in life while surrounded by a supportive team? Visit careers.iuhealth.org to learn more about nursing careers.

Zoe Walsh, zwalsh@iuhealth.org, Communications intern for IU Health's Metro Region

Ashley Whaley has been a labor and delivery nurse in the Maternity Tower at Riley Children’s Health just since December, but she has made a big impact in that short time.

Whaley was nominated for a Daisy Award for her clinical skills and compassionate care three times in one month alone.

And recently, she was surprised during morning huddle when team members and leadership gathered to present the official award to her.

“I saw the daisies and thought, ‘That’s nice, someone won a Daisy.’ As they were reading the nomination, I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, congrats to whoever it is.’ ”

It took her a minute to realize the award was for her.

“I thought they couldn’t be talking about me. I am super shy and hate being in the spotlight. I was trying not to cry.”

Whaley, who previously worked as a cardiovascular critical care nurse in Florida, was always interested in women’s health, specifically labor and delivery. Finding a position at Riley was a dream come true.

“I did travel nursing last summer, and I was at University Hospital. I applied to Riley, they called me, and I cried. I literally have my dream job.”

She is a dream team member as well, according to Tara Povinelli, clinical operations manager for labor and delivery.

“Ashley builds strong connections while caring for her patients to ensure they have a positive experience while they are with us, so it is no surprise she was chosen as a Daisy Award winner,” Povinelli said. “She also supports her teammates by sharing knowledge, offering advice and working extra when the team needs it. We love having Ashley on our team.”

The women who nominated Whaley for the Daisy describe her as “a pillar of strength,” “intuitive,” “kind” and “supportive.”

“She was on top of everything,” one said. “I felt very safe.”

“She really showed she cared for mother, baby and dad,” said another.

As the mother of a 9-year-old son, Whaley knows how important it is to provide the best possible labor and birth experience to the moms in her care.

“I knew I could advocate for them when they are going through one of the most vulnerable times of their life,” she said.

She has found that the culture at Riley suits her, and she appreciates her managers and co-workers, describing them as one big family.

Outside the hospital, Whaley and her son like to explore Downtown Indianapolis, which is where they live, and she loves to cook. In fact, she went to culinary school before switching to nursing.

“I’ve been cooking since I was 3 years old with my parents and grandma,” she said, “but I decided not to make a career of it. Medicine and women’s health was my top priority.”

The Healing Hands sculpture that sits on her fireplace mantel – presented to her as part of the Daisy Award ceremony – is a reminder that she made the right choice.

Nominate a nurse who exemplifies excellent clinical skills and compassionate care here. https://www.rileychildrens.org/form/riley-daisy-award

Photos submitted and by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org

Call it a mother's intuition; Madison Williams knew something was not right when her son, Krue, who was around six months old at the time, was experiencing frequent unexplained rashes and fevers. Because the symptoms would show up after normal business hours, Madison took her son to their local urgent care.

"They told us every time that it was cellulitis," Williams explained.

But Williams continued to feel concerned, so she made an appointment with Krue's pediatrician. She requested lab work.

"After about two-ish weeks of labs, because they kept redrawing because they're like something's just off with his labs, we can't figure it out, they did give us a referral up here to Riley," Williams explained. "We were told it was going to be within a week, and then within 45 minutes I got a phone call back saying you need to get him to the emergency room now!"

Krue's family packed up and headed north to Riley Hospital for Children.

"That was the weekend before he turned one," Madison said. "We spent his first birthday in the hospital getting his diagnosis. We weren't entirely sure what type of leukemia it was, but we knew it was leukemia of some sort."

A month later, Krue was diagnosed with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML). The toddler began chemotherapy as he awaited a stem cell transplant.

"We all had to be tested first to see if any of us would be a match and [Kamryn] was the only one that was a 100% match," Williams said.

Kamryn is Krue's older sister, who was five at the time of his initial transplant.

"We used Kamryn as the donor initially because she was a full match, to decrease the toxicity, specifically for graft-versus-host disease," Dr. April Rahrig, Krue's pediatric stem cell transplant physician, explained. "Graft-versus-host disease is a condition where the donor's T cells recognize the patient, or the host, as foreign and they start attacking the tissues."

Even at a young age, Williams said her daughter wanted to help her little brother.

"The best way we could explain that to her was Krue had bad cells and she had good cells and Krue needed her good cells," Williams explained. "So that's what she knew is she was giving her good cells to Krue to try to make him better."

Krue received his stem cell transplant in December, but only 87 days passed before he relapsed.

"Really the only cure for relapsed JMML is another transplant," Dr. Rahrig said. "We are doing a different type of transplant this time around and he's going to be getting a transplant from his dad."

Krue's dad, Dale, is only a 50% match. So, in order to prepare for the toddler's second transplant happening on Friday, Dale must undergo special injections.

"Leading up to the cell collection from dad, dad will need to get an injection that will help move his stem cells from his bones into his blood so that we're able to collect those," Dr. Rahrig explained. "Then those cells will go through a machine, and the bad T cells will be removed, those alpha beta T cells will be removed, and what's left is the stem cells and the good T cells that will grow and help those cells engraft."

Krue's family is holding on to hope that the second transplant will wipe the cancer out for good.

"It's super meaningful that we're able to use a second family member to try to save Krue's life," Williams said.

The expanded location will increase access to pediatric orthopedic and sports medicine care in Hamilton County, including convenient same-day care for orthopedic injuries through new walk-in hours. Additional services will include pediatric nonsurgical and surgical orthopedic consultations as well as specialized nonsurgical care for skeletal malformations and congenital conditions, spine conditions as well as sports medicine and injury care.

Riley Children’s Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine – Fishers will be located in Suite 1300 of the IU Health Fishers Medical Office Building and will begin seeing patients on Tuesday, July 28.

Cloe Amos remembers the fear and uncertainty in the young couple’s eyes as they absorbed the significance of their infant daughter’s medical condition.

Their little girl, born in Bloomington with a condition called Pierre Robin Sequence that would require intervention from plastic surgery, pediatric ENT and craniofacial specialists, was rushed to Riley Hospital for Children, where she spent the next two months in the NICU.

But it was on 8 West that Amos got to know Daniel and Elizabeth Wallace and their daughter, Charlotte, who needed a tracheostomy and G-tube before she could go home.

The relationship they built was pivotal for the couple in overcoming their fears about caring for their first child – a medically complex child.

“The entire staff on 8W is incredible and provided so much support to our family as we worked to get home,” Elizabeth Wallace said. “Charlotte’s primary nurse, Cloe Amos, went above and beyond to take care of our daughter and train us to go home.”

Amos was recently celebrated with a DAISY Award for her clinical skills and compassionate care, thanks to a nomination from the Wallaces.

“As you can imagine, learning how to take care of an infant for the first time, who also happens to have a trach and g-tube, is quite intimidating and overwhelming,” Wallace wrote in her nomination, which she consented to share for this story.

“However, Cloe was with us every step of the way. She spent so much time with us to make sure we were comfortable with trach changes, daily trach care, suctioning, giving meds, setting up feeds, and all the other skills you have to have to properly care for a kid with a trach and g-tube.”

Amos has been a nurse at Riley for three years. She moved to Indianapolis from her hometown in Illinois, and 8W was the first place she shadowed during nursing school.

“I loved it,” she said. “And I’d always heard about Riley and that it was a great place to work. The people on the unit really make my job worthwhile. I have a great group of friends, and I love taking care of the trach/vent patients, the cystic fibrosis kiddos and those with asthma. We get more chronic patients, so we get to build good relationships with them and with their families.”

That’s exactly what she was able to do for the Wallace family as she and the team helped train them to care for their daughter at home.

“Nursing isn’t always just physical skills,” Amos said. “The parents had a lot of worries, so we had to work on the emotions of it all. We took walks, shared hugs, found distractions. I told them from Day 1 they would be OK, even though it seems like a lot.”

Sure enough, they were OK. When they returned to Riley later, they were pros.

“Due to Cloe’s training, my husband and I (and Charlotte’s other caregivers) felt confident taking Charlotte home knowing we could care for her,” Wallace said. “While we are home now, we do have the occasional pit stop at 8W for sickness, and you’d better believe Charlotte is always happy to see Cloe (when we are lucky enough to have her on shift).”

Charlotte, who sailed through her cleft palate repair at Riley last week and recently celebrated her first birthday, is doing great, her mom said.

“Without Cloe’s patience, kindness and expertise, we would not be where we are today.”

Seeing Charlotte and her family thrive is what makes nursing so rewarding, Amos said. Outside the hospital, she is planning her wedding to her fiancé, Tyler, in three months. She loves DIY projects, hanging out with friends and her dogs and spending hours at Hobby Lobby with her grandma.

Nominate a nurse who exemplifies excellent clinical skills and compassionate care here.

Photos submitted and by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org

When Austin and Hailey Patterson learned their unborn daughter had two rare heart defects, they were naturally swept up in what ifs – what if she can’t breathe when she’s born, what if she requires major surgery, what if she can’t live a full life.

What they didn’t know then was just how strong their little girl was.

What they never doubted was all the love they had to give.

Bristol Patterson’s birth in May came with another surprise, another challenge. First, she was dealing with intrauterine growth restriction, so she had to be delivered at 37 weeks, weighing 4 pounds, 8 ounces.

Then, she was diagnosed with a tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), an abnormal connection between the trachea and the esophagus, which required surgery to repair on Day 3 of life by Dr. Matthew Landman.

The combination of heart anomalies – unbalanced AV canal defect and truncus arteriosus – are rare and serious in themselves, but to have them together is something cardiologist Dr. Anne Farrell told the couple she’s never seen in her Riley career.

Bristol has been in the NICU at Riley Hospital for Children since she was born 11 weeks ago, as doctors monitor her esophagus, but other than for surgery, she has not had to be intubated, mostly able to breathe room air. She has a G-tube for nutrition, but her care team is working to get her more comfortable with bottle feedings.

Hailey Patterson spends most days by her daughter’s side, while Austin Patterson comes down from the couple’s northern Indiana home as often as he can. Hailey is a nurse and a former NICU nurse, so she knows more about her daughter’s care than the average parent. That’s both a blessing and a curse.

“I had no idea what to expect when she was born. I didn’t know too much about heart defects, but I thought she was going to need a lot more support. I thought she would be intubated. I thought it would be worse.”

Seeing how strong their little girl is gives Hailey and Austin the strength to advocate for her and learn all they need to know to give her the best care possible.

“I’m familiar with a lot, and I’ve learned a lot,” Hailey said as she snuggled with Bristol last week. “I do most of her care times and her baths. The heart stuff is unique, so we’re waiting while they figure out what approach to take.”

Meanwhile, Bristol is wrapped snugly in the love of her care team, particularly her primary nurses, Clara Schulz and Kelsie Walter, along with nurse Jennifer Stark.

“They have helped so much,” Hailey said of the NICU nursing team. “Just loving her and caring for her. It’s pretty great.”

Schulz turns the compliment back around to the family, saying, “They are so strong, and Bristol is such a fighter. I love taking care of her.”

While Bristol’s hospital stay has been complicated, Stark said the family has been “lovely and involved.” She believes their story will help inspire others, which is something Hailey Patterson also hopes to do.

“I wanted to share Bristol’s story because she is so much stronger than I thought she was going to be with two rare heart conditions.”

The unbalanced AV canal defect is a severe congenital heart condition where a single, shared valve opens into just one of the heart’s lower pumping chambers, forcing the other chamber to become too small (hypoplastic) to pump blood on its own.

Bristol’s other heart defect, truncus arteriosus, is another rare, congenital defect leaving her with a single large blood vessel leaving the heart instead of two – the aorta and the pulmonary artery.

The two conditions together represent an extremely rare and complex set of defects, requiring specialized surgical intervention.

Currently, Bristol has flow restrictors placed in her pulmonary artery to decrease the overflow of blood to her lungs so that she puts more blood into the rest of her body to grow. That intervention has enabled the medical team to postpone cardiac surgery until Bristol gets bigger.

In fact, she is doing so well now that her mom said she could be discharged home -- with the flow restrictors still in place -- as soon as next week. That in itself is extremely rare, but the specialized approach will allow her to grow safely before undergoing major open-heart surgery.

“Her ECHOs have looked beautiful these past few weeks,” Hailey said, adding that once home, Bristol will continue to have Riley providers’ eyes on her through the hospital’s advanced cardiac home monitoring program.

“To be honest, I never thought she’d be doing so well. She is one tough cookie.”

Photos submitted and by Mike Dickbernd, IU Health visual journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org