The pair of cleats Carter Jensen is wearing this weekend are bright and colorful, just the way he likes them. The drawings are designed to bring a smile to your face, especially once you know the artists behind each one.

For Players’ Weekend this year – a multiday event that features player personalities, charitable causes and custom gear – Jensen teamed up with Children’s Mercy in Kansas City to get some help designing his cleats. Young patients drew their names and fun sketches in bright colors, and Jensen got the cleats ready to wear for this weekend’s series against the Tigers at Kauffman Stadium. He loves all the names on there, as well as the big “Go Carter” statement on the toe of one of the shoes. The basketball hoop drawn on the tongue of one of the shoes – giving the Air Jordan logo something to dunk in, of course – was a big hit, too.

Read the full article via MLB

A swarm of emergency vehicles surrounded Children’s Mercy Hospital Wednesday night, but it wasn’t an emergency. It was an effort to bring holiday cheer to kids cooped up in the hospital.

The event, called Children’s Mercy Night Lights, is in its fourth year. It features police cars, fire trucks, ambulances and tow trucks flashing their lights for kids and families to see out the windows as they circle the hospital’s research building.

“We do trees and Santa Claus, too, at the hospital, but that’s all inside the hospital. We have so many people in the community that want to show their gratitude and their respect to our patients here. This is their way of giving back,” said Trista Cobbins, Children’s Mercy Hospital manager of patient and family programs.

See the full story via KCTV 5

By Alan Shope

KC Wolf, the Kansas City Chiefs mascot, visited Children's Mercy Hospital on Thursday, bringing smiles to young patients.

It was all part of the third-annual Chiefs kickoff party at the hospital.

"Because when you're sitting in bed all day, you're focusing on the pain, but when you get up and go out and have other people around you, you're not just focusing on your pain," Harper said.

It even has her family a little jealous.

"My mom was upset that she couldn't come down," Koenig said.

See the full story via KMBC 9

Join the Children's Mercy Community of Champions

By Sean McDowell

Every Kansas City Chiefs fan deserves a chance to cheer.

That’s why leaders at Children’s Mercy Hospital organized a special Super Bowl pre-party on Wednesday, giving young patients and their families a fun afternoon.

Sixteen-year-old Jameson Burns and his loved ones attended. Burns and his family hail from St. Joseph, Missouri. He’s awaiting a heart transplant. Burns said he’s been at the hospital’s intensive care unit for 27 days, and on the local transplant list for close to three months.

“It’s fun to get out and see other people doing things that they can’t do all the time,” Burns said. “Plus KC Wolf is here.”

See the full story via Fox 4

The Ward Family Heart Center at Children's Mercy

Children's Mercy Heart Transplant Program

First responders from both sides of the state line had a very special mission Wednesday night: make spirits bright for kids staying at Children’s Mercy.

Trista Tate, manager of patient family programs, said the Parade of Lights is truly a special event that they broadcast in every room throughout the hospital.

“They are going to line the streets, they’re going to turn on their lights, and they’re just going to send some holiday cheer to our patients,” Tate said. “Our patients are stuck here for the holidays, and it’s just a way for them to know that people in the community are thinking of them.”

See the full story via KCTV 5

Ways to support our families and patients

By Morgan Mobley

Spirits were lifted at Children’s Mercy Hospital, as patients got to enjoy their very own ‘spooky season’.

The event was just one of 150 Halloween parties that Spirit Halloween is hosting around the country.

Children, who otherwise wouldn’t get to participate in Halloween celebrations, got to enjoy picking out a costume, painting pumpkins, listening to music and spending time with each other.

We talked to a patient who said this holiday is one of her favorites, and she’s grateful she got to experience it this year.

See the full story via KCTV 5

Donate items to Children's Mercy

By Regan Porter

The pre-party to Thursday night’s Chiefs game took place for patients at Children’s Mercy Hospital on Tuesday. Kids got to meet a familiar face who once took the field with the defending Super Bowl champions.

The kickoff party to celebrate the beginning of another season of Chiefs football helped lift the spirits of patients at Children’s Mercy, and meant the world to a former Chiefs player who surprised them.

Pictures were first on the itinerary with KC Wolf and Chiefs Alumni Mitchell Schwartz. 

“Hearing smiles, hearing laughter, that’s what makes it all worth it,” Schwartz said.

See the full story via Fox 4

Learn more about Child Life specialists at Children's Mercy

In just a few days, life as he knows it could change forever. But before he finds out if his name is called from the podium at the NFL Draft, Ruskin High School graduate Ikenna Enechukwu played with the kids Wednesday. 

He, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Noah Gray and former Chiefs players huddled with a handful of Children’s Mercy patients and their parents inside the hospital’s new Children’s Mercy Research Institute building. 

The players sat with the kids, some in wheelchairs, at stations set up with games and markers for coloring. The men autographed footballs and posed for pictures.

In a room full of NFL experience, Enechukwu, who played football for Rice University, drew the attention from the media present. 

He stands on the cusp of a new life, a possible late-round draftee who is unafraid to say that the Chiefs are his dream team.

Read the full story via The Kansas City Star

Learn more about Child Life Specialists at Children's Mercy

Team Children’s Mercy brings together those who love to run, bike, explore and more, to help fuel the ground-breaking research, world-class care and advanced healthcare delivered to children across the region each and every year.

Athletes from across the Kansas City region and beyond are invited to set up personal fundraising pages and raise funds for kids while they train and race. Join families like Kevin’s who channel their Children’s Mercy experience and give back through race support.

“Children’s Mercy gave our family so much that I want to give back… Team Children’s Mercy represents an opportunity to put our arms around an organization that has their arms around so many families and so many children in our region. And that’s why I support Team Children’s Mercy," said Kevin Wade, a Children’s Mercy parent.

Watch Kevin’s story here

You can also join Team CM by participating in two local races that benefit Children’s Mercy – Burns & McDonnell Rock the Parkway Half Marathon & 5K, and Hospital Hill Run Half Marathon, 10K & 5K.

Your support brings hope, healing, comfort and compassion to kids and families at Children’s Mercy. From art therapy to innovative research and everything in between, your contribution helps us to provide world-class care for all kids in our community.

Burns & McDonnell Rock the Parkway Half Marathon & 5K

April 9, 2022

Show your Children's Mercy pride at the 13th Annual Rock the Parkway and support kids in our community by joining Team Children's Mercy! All donations and fundraising through your participation in Rock the Parkway directly benefit patients and families at Children's Mercy.

Hospital Hill Run Half Marathon, 10K & 5K

June 4, 2022

By taking part in the Hospital Hill Run, a portion of your entry, along with 100% of your fundraising efforts, go to the I Love Children’s Mercy Fund. Make your miles count in 2022 by becoming an individual or team fundraiser. Companies can also activate their employees and compete in the Charity Challenge.

Join Team CM to race for kids who are racing against the clock!

During the AFC Divisional round, the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills in overtime after a shocking 13-second drive by quarterback Patrick Mahomes to tie the game.

As the donation trend went viral online, people began making $17 donations, Allen's number, as well as $32 donations, which combined Mahomes' and Allen's jersey numbers.

The pennants that were donated to Children's Mercy patients say "sportsmanship always wins," along with the date of the Chiefs v. Bills 2022 playoff game.

Elite Comic store owner, William Binderup doesn't wear a cape, but he has got some serious superpowers of his own. For the last decade, he's bought $178,000 worth of holiday gifts.

"So this way they don't have to worry about going to find a gift. They don't have to pay for the gift. They don't have to wrap the gift," he said.

It's all to help ease the holiday stress for families with kids in the hospital. Superheroes shop and then families at Children's Mercy Hospital get to pick out what they want from the holiday store there.

"The parent picks out what their kid wants, wraps it, and it comes from them, not us," he said.

Binderup spends the entire year collecting and raising money for this event. It's more than $28,000 worth this year.

By Abby Dodge

At just 2 and a half years old, Wichita native Norah West was diagnosed with a neuroblastoma.

For the past 6 years, she’s received regular treatments at Children’s Mercy but the experience wasn’t very welcoming to a child like Norah.

“When she first came here, she was scared of everybody,” said Norah’s mom Holly West. “She would hide under the blankets.”

Her timid nature inside the hospital led Norah to find solace in stories.

“When I heard how much she loved to tell stories, I thought it would be so fun to have a storytelling for her in the playroom,” said Children’s Mercy Child Life Specialist Jenna McCoy. “That’s how we got started with it all.”

Norah’s mom said they didn’t have a wig for her first performance because it wasn’t planned. Children’s Mercy staff grabbed a braided ponytail with flowers to clip to Norah’s “Love Your Mellon” hat.

“I was just so speechless at first,” said Patient Activity Coordinator Sydney Shryock. “This girl has so much talent and just brings so much joy to so many people.”

From a shy 2-year-old to a budding 8-year-old filling up playrooms full of nurses and care specialists, Norah found a glimmer of light to look forward to with each treatment.

The ears of Children’s Mercy staff perk up when they hear her name in the halls.

“It’s kind of amazing,” McCoy said. “The minute Norah gets admitted everyone’s like, ‘Okay, when’s the princess performance?’ It’s almost standard of care.”

Norah acts, sings and dances her way into the hearts of all who care for her.

Norah’s mom Holly West teared up after listening to each member of the Children’s Mercy staff talk about Norah in the highest regard, knowing her daughter is being cared for physically and emotionally.

“It means the world that they take care of her the way they do,” West said.

Norah is currently in remission but receives regular treatments at Children’s Mercy to manage the cancer. Her mom said they are “cautiously optimistic” about her recovery.

Watch Princess Norah's performance and see the full article via KCTV

Learn about Child Life at Children's Mercy

By Julie Denesha

From her home studio in Shawnee, Kansas, textile artist Debbie Barrett-Jones creates intricately woven artwork for homes, houses of worship and hospitals.

Barrett-Jones says weaving for her is like a kind of meditation.

“When I'm able to sit at my loom I use my feet and my arms and it's the sound of the loom and it's also my body being involved,” she says. “And just right to left, right to left, thread by thread, beat by beat of the loom, I'm starting to see the creation of a piece of fabric.”

Inspired by the experience, Barrett-Jones designed a loom of her own — with the help of the Visual Art Studio Technologies Lab at KU. This new loom was portable and easy to use. She thought it could be helpful to others.

“I started envisioning these kits that would have these little laser-cut frame looms and yarn and instructions that would be provided for hospitals,” she says.

This summer, with funding from an ArtsKC Inspiration Grant, Barrett-Jones is building 200 wooden looms to donate to young patients and their parents at Children's Mercy Kansas City. She calls the project Healing with Weaving. Each loom take 20 minutes to make and the kits will include supplies to complete two weaving projects.

Gregg Rosenboom, the hospital’s inkind gifts coordinator, says the project dovetails with art therapy programs already in place.

Rosenboom says it’s important for young patients to have a way to work through emotions that can be difficult to express in words. He says simple gifts like the ones Barrett-Jones is providing can change a patient’s experience in the hospital.

Listen to the broadcast and read the full article via KCUR

Learn more about ways to give to Children's Mercy

By Kelly Eckerman

It's not every day that a truck filled with toys shows up outside Children's Mercy. But this is a truck full of thanks from Tripp Hughes, a cancer patient who just completed chemotherapy and is grateful to everyone there.

"They'd offer anything to make us just feel at home as possible," Tripp said. "So, we just wanted them to also feel the way that they made us feel."

Tripp and his mom started a toy drive and it just kept growing. They collected 4,400 toys packed into more than 100 boxes.

During the pandemic, patients are not allowed to share toys, so they go home with the children. Supplies were low and this is typically a slow time for toy donations.

"I love it. He just went through a really tough time in his life and his thought was, 'How can I give back and help other kids that are going through tough things?' So I think that's amazing," Gregg Rosenboom said.

See the full story via KMBC

Learn more about Ways to Give to Children's Mercy

By JuYeon Kim

As a Make-A-Wish recipient, 18-year-old Trenton Elliot could have chosen any surprise for himself. But instead, he chose to give back, donating five Xbox Series X and five PlayStation 5 gaming systems to Children's Mercy.

“I was nervous, but I was overall just excited for what this day would entail,” said Elliot, who has cystic fibrosis. “The hospital has just helped me out for the last five years that I’ve known I had cystic fibrosis, so I wanted to give back to them."

Elliot said he hopes the new gadgets will help ease the experiences of patients like himself and 16-year-old Reese Davis.

“Hospital time is very slow – almost feels like time freezes," Davis said. " And anything to distract you to pass the time helps you so much."

Trista Tate, Children’s Mercy’s volunteer program director, said the magnitude of Elliot’s donation will become twofold in years to come.

“If he would’ve gotten a wish, it would have impacted him in that moment," she said. "This wish is impacting thousands of patients for years to come.”

See the full story via KSHB

Learn more about Ways to Give and help our families at Children's Mercy

By Aryana Azari

All it took for one boy in the hospital to make some new friends was a pack of Post-it notes.

Meyer Mixdorf, 5, from Arkansas, was at Children's Mercy Kansas City hospital for brain cancer-related treatment when his mother decided he needed some cheering up. Confined to his room for a few days after a stem cell transplant in May, Meyer's mother, Liz Mixdorf, decided to entertain him by making Post-it art of a smiley face on the window.

The next morning, they found that a building across the street had responded with a smiley face of their own.

"We called them our mystery friends," Liz Mixdorf said. "It was so fun."

Although the Mixdorfs didn't know it, across from them was Truman Medical Centers/University Health.

"I was just kind of looking out the window and there was a little Post-it note smiley face up there," Johnna Schindlbeck, a Truman Medical Centers employee, told "GMA." "I thought it was cute and grabbed some notes and put up a little winky face."

The back and forth communication through Post-its continued and evolved into more elaborate designs, including Mario characters, Angry Birds, Ninja Turtles and Minions.

"I thought, 'Oh wow, this escalated fast,'" Schindlbeck laughed, and added that other hospital staff joined in to help create the art.

Initially, neither side knew who was on the other end until Mixdorf decided to put up a note that read, "Thank you <3 mom."

"If this little art makes him happy, gives him something to look forward to, and it makes his mother and his family know that other people care ... it was so rewarding for me to see," Schindlbeck said. "I was just at the right place at the right time to be part of something that was so simply beautiful."

With Meyer's latest MRI showing no sign of disease, according to Mixdorf, the family will soon be heading back home and taking Meyer to the zoo as a treat.

Read and see the full story via Good Morning America

Learn more about the Children's Mercy Cancer Center

By Rae Daniel

The Ally Project is a program involving Olathe East High School students who are a part of the 21st Century Future Educators Academy.

The students tutor children who have serious illnesses and receive treatment at Children's Mercy.

Back in 2018, 41 Action News interviewed Ally Baier, a girl who was battling glioblastoma cancer. The "Ally Project" is named after Ally, who had a passion for teaching.

She passed away from cancer in May 2020.

Students continue to honor her legacy by adding to the program. The newest addition is themed learning boxes for patients.

"It's really hands-on, and they provide everything that the patients need so it's really amazing and creative," Mazeitis said. "I just think Ally would absolutely love it. I know she would and I would, I wish I could hear more of her ideas because she always had some crazy, zany, great creative ideas and I feel like that's kind of being carried on. "

"It'll give them a chance to be educated no matter how sick they are and it feels good to know people are still being educated even if they're in the hospital, " Ally said in a 2018 interview with 41 Action News.

While it's been a tough journey for Ally's mom and family, her legacy continues.

"Watching my own daughter be hospitalized and miss out on school, it's a really good opportunity to make those kids who are in the hospital not feel alone," Crysta Baier said. "You feel happy. Still have a connection to some normalcy."

Watch the broadcast and read the full article via KSHB 41

For more information on the Ally Project, visit the family's website set up in Ally's honor

By Kelly Eckerman

Children's Mercy just added a special member to its health care team. You can't miss her. She has four legs and fur and she practices a special kind of medicine. Milly is the newest therapy dog now on duty.

She won't be wearing a stethoscope, but Milly, a 2-year-old golden retriever will be making rounds checking in on young patients at Children's Mercy. 

She has wasted no time working her medical magic. Milly is a specially-trained therapy dog and knows just what to do.

Milly joins Hunter whose been with the facility dog program for six years. Along with the smiles, the hospital said the dogs can help patients emotionally and physically.

"There are sometimes people in rooms that are really stressful and bringing a dog in is something so unique that humans can't do," said Aimee Hoflander, Children's Mercy facility dog program coordinator. "Their blood pressure may decrease or their respirations may lower that can show signs of pain control or lower stress."

While Milly and Hunter are there for the patients, they seem to have an impact on everyone.

"Seeing the dog walk through the hallway when you're not expecting it, you know, people kind of squeal and get excited and just are immediately happy," Hoflander said.

Watch the broadcast and read the full article via KMBC 9

Donate here if you’d like to support the facility dogs and other amazing programs offered by Patient and Family Services.

“When I first met Norah, I learned about her love for reading from our school teacher,” said Jenna McCoy, CCLS, Child Life Specialist. Since Norah was an avid reader and natural storyteller, Jenna had the idea to let her do a reading for the staff in the 4 Henson Hall playroom.

The story was Rapunzel, but it turned out that Norah wanted Jenna to read while she acted out the story. “Little did I know what this would turn into,” said Jenna. Norah wore a crocheted Rapunzel wig and performed scenes, at times pulling in people from her crowd of nurses and students to be characters in the story or act things out with her. At the end, she sang songs from the Disney movie “Tangled.” “I don’t think there was a dry eye in the playroom when she sang ‘I see the light’ from the movie,” Jenna said.

That performance was the start of a routine that now happens with every single one of her inpatient admissions. Norah chooses a princess story and brings a dress or outfit to perform in. “Ever since the very first one we come prepared now with the dresses and the wigs,” said Norah’s mom, Holly West.

While the performances at Children's Mercy began early this year, singing isn’t new to Norah, who often starts the day with a song. “When she’s feeling well, we can tell because she wakes up singing,” said Holly, adding that Norah has been singing as soon as she wakes up since she was just shy of two years old.

While singing and performing bring Norah joy, it also brings about smiles and laughs from the unit staff. “We all look forward to Norah getting admitted now so we can be graced with her acting and singing skills,” said Jenna.

Seeing the staff involved in Norah’s performances is a nice break for Holly, whose conversations with the care team is on a more serious level. “I’m always surprised - but not really surprised - at the nurses that get involved in it,” she said, recalling Norah’s very first performance, where everyone in the room was clapping and dancing around and having a good time. “To see these nurses take a break from life on the oncology floor, which can sometimes be really rough, and stop and dance around and smile…to see them let loose is really nice for me,” she said.

Norah has performed Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast and most recently, Snow White for the second time. The audience has grown, with nurses and students coming in to watch her in the playroom. “It is a whole group affair,” said Jenna, who shares the role of reading scenes with a patient activity coordinator. “I love that this has given Norah something to look forward to and actually be excited about when getting admitted to the hospital,” she said.

Music Therapy often joins in the performances, including intern Joseph Cooper. “I got to know Norah pretty early in my time here at Children's Mercy for my music therapy internship,” he said. Joseph has played the part of the prince in each performance.

“He is always in every single production,” said Holly. “He is such a good sport,” she said, adding that Norah calls Joseph her best friend.

“These performances have played such a role in normalizing her time here, providing a beautiful and supportive space for musical expression, imaginative play and autonomy,” said Joseph, adding that she usually sings acapella.

“Norah really does love the attention and acting things out,” said Holly. “She’s born to be a star.”

Learn more about the Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Blood and Marrow Transplant at Children's Mercy.

Learn more about Child Life Specialists at Children's Mercy.

Two-year-old Greyson Veal began fighting for his life, again, when his b-cell acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia relapsed in December 2020, after his body stopped responding to chemotherapy.

In a race against the clock, Make-A-Wish, Children's Mercy and first-responders pulled together, granting Veal his final wish.

"Greyson has been passionate about fire trucks for as long as we can remember," Karla Veal, who is Greyson Veal's mom, said.

She says her son calls the trucks "woo-woos."

In a customized fire wagon, with his air tank in tow, Captain Greyson Veal rolled out for duty at the corner of Locust and Gillham Road in Kansas City, Missouri.

Karla Veal expressed how much it meant for her son to have this moment surrounded by those who have loved and helped him most along his cancer journey.

See the full story via KSHB 41

Learn more about ways you can help our kids

View the video via KCTV 5

Learn how you can Help Our Kids at Children's Mercy

Some patients at Children's Mercy have to miss out on summer camp, but for the last two years, summer camp has come to them. All week there's art, and other camp like activities, that go with this year's, "Under the Sea" theme. Trista Williams, volunteer program coordinator with the hospital says research shows that getting the kids up and moving, get's them out of the hospital sooner.

"We're really helping to distract them from their illness, distract them from the reason they're in the hospital, and it helps them to feel like a normal child," explains Williams.

She says an organization called Good Cheer brought the idea to the hospital for the first time last year. She knew immediately it would be a game changer for the kids and their parents.

See the full story via KMBZ

Learn more about Child Life specialists at Children's Mercy

The young patients gathered in a hospital room, dispersed toward different tables and quickly got to work. Some drew. Some wrote. Some pasted pictures onto sheets of poster board.

Once per month, they sit here and peek up at the door as they construct their artwork, waiting to see which special guests might arrive. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes came through here. Former Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer did, too. The purpose is to surprise the kids.

But on Tuesday, Sporting Kansas City star Graham Zusi wasn’t in on the surprise.

The kids were.

As Zusi walked through the door for his usual visit, the Children’s Mercy Hospital patients reversed the roles. They held up signs. They clutched pictures of his face. One displayed a jersey.

All to inform him of this: Zusi has been named part of the MLS All-Star Fan XI. It is his seventh all-star selection.

“You’re gonna make me cry,” Zusi said.

And then he did.

They made congratulatory signs, on display as a confused Zusi walked into the room.

“It made me quite emotional,” he said.

They asked for autographs on their jerseys, scarves and posters.

“I was kind of nervous to meet him,” one patient, Gloria, said. “But it was very awesome to meet him.”

And now that you have?

“He’s awesome.”

Read the full story via The Kansas City Star

Learn more about how you can Help Our Kids

Four hours after walking off the field at the Chiefs practice facility in white Adidas cleats bedazzled with iridescent spikes and a blue-green graffitied ‘Three Stripe Life’ logo on the toe cap, Patrick Mahomes pulled on another pair of shoes as he arrived at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

These specific shoes, the Adidas Asterisk Collective Ultraboost 2019, were created for the Foot Locker-assembled group of athletes and artists on a mission to inspire and empower others to make a positive impact. The sneaker is supposed to be worn by people who embody the asterisk and what it means to stand apart.

Mahomes, a founding member of the group, fulfilled that mission when he surprised a group of patients at Children’s Mercy with gear from his 15 and the Mahomies Foundation and a variety of Adidas shoes.

“It was awesome being at Children’s Mercy to do so many great things for these kids, especially around this area,” he said. “It’s something we’ve been talking about for a while, and I’m glad to see it finally coming to fruition.”

Through the Asterisk Collective, he also presented the hospital with donations of iPads, telepresence robots, a Vecta machine and Mamaroos Swings to help assist with patients’ rehabilitation and well-being. Mahomes also donated fully-loaded PlayStation 4 systems.

“It’s been a long process,” Mahomes said of developing his foundation. “I’ve wanted to do it the entire time I’ve been in the NFL, but I had to get the right things in order and do it the right way. Having great partners around me has helped me really boost it and get it going at a very fast rate. I’m glad I can go out and do things like this in the community more often.”

Mahomes is comfortable — in his role on the team, in the community and in his own skin.

Read the full story via The Kansas City Star

Learm more about how you can help our kids

Marissa Graczyk and her family have taken too many trips to Children's Mercy to count, but Friday was different.

"I haven't been here before," Marissa said.

Marissa was going to the second annual Children's Mercy prom. This year's theme: "Let's Glow."

Marissa didn't have just one favorite part: "Dancing and hair and makeup and a beautiful dress," she said.

"She's just a beautiful girl, so it's always kind of a tear-filled moment when she's done and looks as beautiful as she does," her mom Dawn said.

The glam, hair and make-up made her feel, "like a celebrity," Marissa said.

More than 60 teens walked the red carpet and posed for paparazzi Friday night. Some were even escorted by Sporting KC players. Then they played games, stopped at the Kendra Scott color bar and danced the night away.

"We had numerous patients and parents tell us they weren't going to go to their prom they haven't been to school dances, and this is just an opportunity of a lifetime for them," Children's Mercy Volunteer Program Coordinator Trista Williams said.

All the dresses and suits were donated, along with hair and makeup services.

Read the full story via Fox 4

Learn more about Child Life at Children's Mercy

Children with CF can be hospitalized for a week or two at a time when being treated for chronic issues associated with the genetic lung disease. Many inpatients are on nephrotoxic medications and need to manage fluid intake to prevent the risk of acute kidney injury. Jenna worked with Children’s Mercy pharmacists and dieticians to create fluid and drinking charts to help patients visually monitor daily intake.

Child Life regularly uses incentive and sticker charts, but Jenna took things to the next level. She knew the charts had to be interactive, engaging and fun to motivate the kids to keep track of fluid intake throughout the day. Some charts involve coloring, while others have removable Velcro pieces to mark how many ounces have been consumed. The one thing they all have in common is each and every chart is personalized. Jenna sometimes surprises kids with her designs, but most of the time she lets the kids choose what they want. She gets requests for sports teams, the different seasons, family pets (which has included a ferret) and Justin Bieber.

The best thing about the charts—they work. During a six month period, every single patient that used one of her fluid charts stayed hydrated and did NOT develop acute kidney injury! A lot of families say they use the chart at home too, which helps promote good fluid intake beyond the hospital stay.

Read the full article via Speak Now For Kids

Learn more about Child Life at Children's Mercy

Superheroes took over the Target toy section in Mission on Monday night. It was part of a $25,000 shopping spree for the patients at Children’s Mercy Hospital.

William Binderup, the owner of Elite Comics, has been collecting donations for a year to purchase all the toys.

Children’s Mercy provides a list of needs to Binderup, and he coordinates with the heroes, both costumed and not, to comb through the store.

One of the youngest shoppers was a sweet 10-year-old girl named Emma.

"I want their spirits to have that Christmas shine in their hearts. I want them to be happy," she said.

She's so laser-focused on other kids and their pain that you might not realize she's gone through her own share of sorrow. Her father, Wyandotte County Deputy Patrick Rohrer, was killed in June in a line-of-duty-death.

Rohrer was an avid comic fan and took his family to the shopping event every year.

The gifts were delivered in a rented U-haul Monday night. Parents of patients will get to pick gifts on Friday from the hospital’s Snowflake Shop.

Read the full story via Fox 4

Learn more about Child Life at Children's Mercy

Tiffany Rowe, a 46-year-old life coach in the San Francisco Bay area, still remembers how it felt as a teenager to be hoisted onstage to dance with Michael Jackson during his Bad concert tour.

She was 15 and recovering from an excruciating round of treatment for severe idiopathic aplastic anemia — basically total bone marrow failure.

"I was in front of all of those people, and I could hear the roar, and I was calm," she recalls. "I was doing what I wished to do. I felt exactly the way I needed to feel, at home and confident in my body. There had been part of me that felt pretty betrayed by my body, and I felt very at peace in my own skin again."

The moment was transformative for Rowe, who credits the experience with aiding her recovery. A study published in the journal Pediatric Research suggests her experience may not be unique.

Researchers looked back at the cases of nearly 1,000 children with serious illnesses who were treated at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. Half the children had received wishes and the other half hadn't.

"My hypothesis is that these kids, when they come back, are more engaged with their families and medical providers, and perhaps they're more adherent to their treatment plan," says the study's lead author Dr. Anup D. Patel, section chief of neurology at Nationwide Children's Hospital and an associate professor of pediatrics at Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus.

To qualify for a wish, a child must have a life-threatening, but not necessarily terminal, condition, says Jamie Sandys, a spokesperson at Make-A-Wish Foundation. The foundation has more than 60 U.S.-based chapters and has granted more than 300,000 wishes since 1980.

The organization granted approximately 15,400 wishes last year, Sandys says. Still, an estimated 27,000 children are diagnosed annually with an illness that qualifies them, which concerns Sandys. "There's a huge gap that we're trying to fill," Sandys says.

The researchers found that wish recipients were 1.9 times more likely to have fewer emergency department visits and 2.5 times more likely to have fewer unplanned hospitalizations in the two years after their wish was granted, compared with matched children.

The study is observational, so it can't show that receiving a wish caused better outcomes since other factors may have affected the results. But many health care providers see change in their patients after wishes are granted.

"More positivity can sometimes be correlated with treatment adherence," says Ashley Andrews, a social worker at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Mo. 

Read the full story via NPR

Learn more about Social Work at Children's Mercy

Taylor Scott and Alyssa Williamson, both 17, looked like Hollywood starlets ready to stroll the red carpet.

Their hair and makeup had been professionally done and each was dressed in a long glamorous gown. But unlike most teenage girls getting ready for prom, each had an intravenous needle poking from her hand and a hospital identification band around her wrist.

Trista Williams, child life program coordinator at Children’s Mercy, came up with the idea for a hospital prom eight months ago.

“I had a vision that I think we need a prom,” she said. “We have a lot of patients here who can’t go to their normal high school events, and we really wanted to do something special for them. They have chronic conditions that keep them home sick, or they’re in the hospital. So this is a way for them to go to a big life event that they’re missing because of their condition.”

That vision became reality Friday evening when about 30 teenagers entered a hospital activity room transformed into a space befitting its theme: “A Night With the Stars.” Landers Visions, an event production company, had covered the walls with gauzy fabric and installed a disco ball that sprinkled moving beads of colored light around the room.

Jennifer Bertrand, an HGTV star and local designer, emceed the event, there was a DJ, and Sporting KC players acted as dates. Patients could step outside and get their photos taken by Interstate Photography, pretty much like any other prom.

“Once people heard ‘Children’s Mercy Prom’ we had so many people say, ‘What can we do to be a part of it? What can we do to help?’" Williams said. "I could not do it without all these people. The deejay, the photographers, they’re all here on their own time."

Read the full story and see a video via the Kansas City Star.

Learn more about the Child Life department at Children's Mercy.

Pill Swallowing

Tips for parents:

• Be relaxed. The more relaxed you are as a teacher, the more relaxed your child will be.

• You should only practice for 30 minutes or less at a time.

• Stop if your child gets frustrated and try again later.

• Show your child how to swallow a pill.

• Have your child chew a cracker and spit it out on a napkin. This shows your child how much they swallow when they eat and that the size of a chewed up cracker is larger than most pills.

• Use a sticker chart.

When it’s time to swallow a pill, have you child:

• Choose what to drink. Water or juice are usually good choices. (Always check the instructions on your child’s medication or ask your pharmacist if there are any drinks that should not be used with your child’s medicine.)

• Sit up straight.

• Take a deep breath and relax.

• Take a drink before putting the pill on the tongue.

• Put the pill on the back of the tongue.

• Take a drink.

Other ideas you can try if your child has trouble swallowing a pill:

• Put the pill in the freezer for a few minutes. This may help if the pill has a bad taste.

• Have your child suck on an ice cube or a popsicle before trying to swallow a pill. This helps numb your child’s taste buds and makes it easier for the pill to slide down your child’s throat.

• Coat the outside of the pill:
  • Use Magic Shell (a chocolate ice cream topping) on the pill and put in the freezer for a minute. It should be cold and taste like chocolate. (Make sure your child doesn’t try to chew it!)
  • Use a Fruit Roll-Up.
  • Have you child swallow part of a Jell-O Jiggler.

Pill Swallowing Practice

You should always explain to your child that the medicine they’re taking is not candy. But, in some cases, practicing with different sized candy can help your child become more comfortable swallowing a pill. Start with small candy and work up to larger candy. Here are some examples:

• Sprinkles

• Cake dots or slightly larger sprinkles

• Mini M&M’s

• Tic Tacs

• Regular M&M’s

• Mike and Ikes

• Lemonheads

Show your child only one size candy at a time. If your reach a candy size your child is unable to swallow, go back to the last candy size your child swallowed. Have your child swallow that size again to end the practice session with your child feeling successful.

Crushing or Mixing Pills

(Talk with your pharmacist before crushing, freezing or changing any pill in any way!)

Ideas to try if your pharmacist says it’s okay:

• Crush pills and place them in a small amount of food the child likes (applesauce, ice cream, etc.). Make sure you child eats all the food.

• Mix crushed pills with chocolate syrup. It can hide the taste well.

• Melt Starbursts fruit chews in the microwave to soften. Then, place crushed pills inside.

• Mix crushed pills in jelly and have your child swallow a spoonful.

• Mix crushed pills in a sweet fruit drink, orange juice or cranberry concentrate.

Learn more about Child Life at Children’s Mercy. The Child Life Department provides services to make the hospital experience easier and more comfortable for patients and families.

Santa and Mrs. Claus made their annual visit to Children’s Mercy on Thursday for the Christmas party they host for patients and their families.

Mr. and Mrs. Claus have been visiting the children at the hospital for the last 15 years. Santa explained that he and Mrs. Claus (also known as Duane and Deanna Albert) had a son who spent a lot of time at Children’s Mercy.

“What's special for us is the children coming down and just for a couple hours of the day being able to escape their reality and laugh and smile and enjoy an afternoon,” Santa said.

See the full story via Fox 4.

Learn more about Child Life at Children's Mercy.

Children's Mercy relies on the generosity of donors, volunteers and others. Learn more about how you can Give Mercy.

At Children’s Mercy, the colors, artwork and murals that greet visitors convey a warm, positive, playful atmosphere that can even promote the healing process. The pride in our hospital’s environment is captured in a video presented at Kansas City Healthcare Communicators Society 2017 fall conference at the Shawnee Mission Medical Center on Nov. 10.

The presentation was made by Missy Stover, Manager-Child Life Volunteer & Therapeutic Programs; Donald “Scribe” Ross, Special Design & Art Project Manager; and Andy Pollard, Videographer/Photographer, who produced the video.

“Because this topic is best described with visuals, we knew we’d need good photography and video to showcase our hospital environments,” Missy said. “In addition to highlighting the use of color and art throughout the hospital, the video features the perspective of children and parents, which reminds us of why this work is so important. I think the video also shares a glimpse of the passion and drive that our staff has to make this place awesome for kids.”

The video includes comments from Missy, Scribe, patients, parents and other staff members on CM’s innovative approach to creating a health care facility just for kids.

“I think we should always ask the question, ‘what would this be like from the perspective of a kid?,’” Scribe says. “The artwork and the cartoon characters are things that are supposed to spark imagination and create laughter.”

“From the moment you walk into our hospital, you’re immediately taken by the imagery, murals and hanging sculptures that are breathtaking,” Missy says.

Scribe and Missy Stover presented "Art at Children's Mercy" to the Kansas City Healthcare Communicators Society 2017 fall conference at the Shawnee Mission Medical Center on Nov. 10.

Michele Kilo, MD, Director-Developmental and Behavioral Sciences, comments, “The art that we have, the color that we have all throughout our hospital is very welcoming to children; it is key to helping them feel comfortable.”

Rod Suydam, in-house Carpenter, says, I have a deep passion for the health and well-being of kids. I want them to find comfort…I want them to gain a psychological sense of peace and safety.”

Parent Otis Roper says, “They care about how the children feel entering the building. They’ve got a true desire…to see what health care should look like through the eyes of a child.”

CM volunteer Linda Jones says, “You’re scared of going to the doctor; it’s not your favorite place to be, but there are these things you enjoy in the midst of it.”

Perhaps the ultimate endorsement is expressed by patient Avalon Roper.

“I like that it’s fun for kids,” she says.

Missy, Scribe and Rod also will present on this topic at the 36th annual Association of Child Life Professionals Conference in Washington D.C. in May 2018.

Learn more about the services offered by the Child Life Department at Children's Mercy. 

Follow us on Instagram for an inside look at the art and inspiration of Children's Mercy.  

It’s Child Life Week and the Children's Mercy team deserves to be celebrated for all they do to make a difference in children’s lives.

Being in a hospital can be quite scary, especially for young kiddos. There are often times of confusion, stress and anxiety about being in a hospital that can have a significant emotional impact on any child or family.

Our Child Life department promotes a positive environment for patients and families based on their needs. This is accomplished by providing materials and guidance for developmentally appropriate play, preparing children for medical experiences, advocating for patient and family rights, and promoting a non-threatening environment. The team tries to reduce stress and worry that may come with being in the hospital or from being ill through therapeutic and recreational play activities. Additionally, they provide services to help children continue to learn and grow while in the hospital and encourage patients to interact with other children – creating the greatest sense of normalcy possible.

 One of the many favorite aspects the Child Life department provides is the implementation of hospital-employed therapy dogs. Hunter, a 2-year-old golden retriever, is part of Children’s Mercy’s facility dog program and works primarily on the oncology floor. The program launched when he and Hope, who works at Children’s Mercy Kansas' epilepsy wing, arrived from their training at Canine Assistants in Atlanta in summer 2015. “For a child going through tests they’re not familiar with or situations that make them uncomfortable, there is nothing more calming than to be able to sit with a dog and pet them,” Ann Killen, one of the program’s donors, says of Hope’s impact on the epilepsy unit. While the dogs are primarily there for the patients, they help the staff, parents and siblings as well. Jenny Nordin, a nurse on the oncology floor, says Hunter’s presence has lessened the “hospital” feel of the unit. “We have a lot of bad news lingering around, and he helps take our minds, as well as the patients’ and families’ minds, off of those negative events that loom over us,” she says.

Recently, thanks to Child Life, Children’s Mercy has provided several special guests to roam the halls and visit with patients. Our superhero friends including Star Wars, Captain America and Supergirl brought their amazing superpower abilities to promote uplifted spirits and heartwarming smiles among young kiddos. Sesame Street Live brought Elmo and Cookie Monster for a read and sing along for patients who weren’t able to make it to the “Elmo Makes Music” show in town. Since most patients aren’t able to leave the hospital, they most likely weren’t able to enjoy the NCAA tournament festivities either. So, Child Life brought the March Madness to them! Big 12 mascots and cheerleaders filled the room with laughter, big smiles and hugs for the tiny fans. Even if it was for a split second, kids had a chance to forget they were in the hospital.

The Child Life department coordinates a wealth of other programs that mean so much to families. The creation station, kids in the kitchen and art workshops are a few of them. They also plan the special events with Kansas City's professional athletes, lead the sibling support program, music therapy, schedule various volunteer groups, plan evening programs and set up a gift shop during Christmas where parents can shop for gifts. Child Life also manages grief and bereavement support, diagnosis teaching, teaching coping skills as well as preparation and procedure support. 

Child Life documented a total of 214,856 interventions in the past year (February 2016-January 2017) and while they interacts with a variety of different procedures, here are the top 10 they were involved in the past year: 

1. IVs – 6,342                                  6. Sexual Abuse Exams - 1,620

2. Surgeries - 3,454                          7. Blood Draws – 1,596

3. MRIs - 2,105                                 8. Port Accesses - 1,186

4. Laceration Repairs - 2,089             9. Burn treatments - 969 

5. CTs – 1,623                                 10. Anesthesia/Sedation - 563 

What's new in the department??

• We recently added an Art Therapist Volunteer, Kaley, to the team! She will be here two hours a week and will begin services on 6 Henson, then move to other units within a few weeks.
• The Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas Child Life Department hosted their first Snowflake Shoppe this past December.
• We have four Child Life Specialists working on the hospital-wide Comfort Promise Committee.

It’s difficult to capture all of the incredible things Child Life does for our families and patients, but their recognition is certainly deserved. Please help us thank them for making such an impactful difference here at Children's Mercy!

Learn more about what makes our Child Life department so special.

“It's cool, it's awesome actually to see them interact with my little boy, especially Big Jay held him earlier and it was awesome.”

Kansas, Oklahoma, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech and West Virginia teams were represented.

“It's just a pick me up, just to see people come out and come see you,” Children’s Mercy patient Noah Mims said.

Mims has sickle cell anemia and said hospitals aren’t uncommon for him.

"A couple years ago, I used to be in here every two weeks, back to back, and I used to be in here three weeks, two weeks at a time,” he said.

While the Big 12 cheerleaders and mascots hope to bring a little cheer to the patients, Mims said it helps in a big way.

“You see these people on TV and all of that and they still have the time and all of that and they come here and take the time to say hello and things like that,” Mims said. “A lot of people don't think that's a lot, but just a phone call or a visit like this from anybody can really make you feel good.”

For 9-year-old Max Fierro, he and his family had plans to go to the game.

“He was so upset yesterday when he had to get admitted to the hospital,” Max’s mother Leslie Fierro said. “He was looking forward to the game last night and when they came and told us that the mascots are going to be down here, he was smiling ear to ear.”

Although Max wasn’t able to see the game in person, meeting some of his favorite mascots was a slam dunk.

“I got to meet two of the mascots,” Max said about the Jayhawks. “It makes me feel a lot better because at least I still get to see part of the game.”

“It helps the kids forget a little bit that they're even sick or in the hospital,” Leslie Fierro said.

The Child Life Department at Children's Mercy provides services to make the hospital experience easier and more comfortable for patients and families. Learn about Child Life by clicking here. 

The job

I think my role is more of a supportive role to the incredible staff we have that works with our families. My goals are to spark a little imagination, bring out a smile, and help our kids' guardians and staff create a distraction. I'd like to think that with help from our staff we change how someone sees a hospital visit. While we're doing this together, it has to be something that can be maintained, safe and economically responsible.

Style

It's a touch of the familiar for people who grew up on Saturday morning cartoons, a dash of modern street art, and a heartfelt attempt at putting real emotions into characters so people want to get to know them.

Lone artist

I don't know of any other hospitals with an artist on staff. Over the last 14 years, I've been lucky to meet people from other facilities, and we have not found a counterpart yet. It's a testament to how Children's Mercy is committed to the whole patient experience.

Creative process

I watch a lot of cartoons and stay current on what kids are into. This gets me excited and sparks my imagination. I start with the staff members in the area we are working on. Sometimes they have a goal in mind, and other times they want me to start that part for them. I sketch, take lots of calls, help people figure out creative solutions to things, and my typical day changes directions a lot. This can make coming up with ideas hard, but a lot of it comes to me when I'm away from work, and I just write it in my sketchbook that rarely leaves my side.

It takes time

I do large projects, which can take as long as a couple months, but that can partially be because I'm in many meetings for other projects all the time while also doing small projects in Radiology rooms, illustrations for others, and numerous other requests.

Playing favorites

The most recent large piece celebrating our relationship with Federico Gomez in Mexico City is a favorite of mine along with a piece I did at a satellite location. Both of these pieces feel like you are inside the mural with a full surround and flooring. This is my favorite type of work—I feel like it transports you somewhere else for a moment.

Starting young

I did my first mural when I was a senior in high school. I painted on the roof of a small hospital in the Boston area. It was so patients had something more interesting and cheerful to see outside their windows. More than 10 years later, I ended up at Children's Mercy doing sign installation, which lead to me getting a job there. If you asked me when I was a senior if I wanted to work at a hospital doing artwork, I'm not sure how I would have answered. I'm sure glad it came together that way.

Always improving

A big part of my job is done at hours when people are not around for low impact on the space. With the help of social media and people reaching out to me, I get to see how artwork helps people and hear those stories. Feedback and seeing kids stop in a space and look around in awe helps me grow. Uplifting people creates so much motivation to do the next project even better. These things, and employee and administrative support, makes a person feel loved.

The hardest part

Working in health care environments has a lot of rules and for good reason. But to a creative that can be intimidating, and it was at the beginning. Over time I learned how to creatively work in a much needed box. The marriage of creative ideas, safety, maintenance and a large audience is tough. Thanks to our administration, Child Life, Facilities and many more, I've learned so much and it has helped me look at projects in a different way. Some of the learning was hard but totally worth it.

Inspiration

This might sound cheesy, but it's inspiring to see multiple generations enjoying a cartoon. I look at this closely in my work in the hospital and my artwork outside of the hospital. Seeing people share something together in enjoyment inspires me to take that to the next level if I can. Besides that, my family and the large-scale murals of street art around the world also inspire me.

One more thing

I'm blessed I get to work my creative muscle at work, but there is always a team of people that help out in so many ways. Children's Mercy is lucky to have creative and skilled people on staff every day. Our Facilities staff makes so many things happen that are taken for granted on a day-to-day basis. That whole crew is behind making pieces of my projects come together—I can't do it alone, and I have learned a lot from them.

Read the article via Children's Hospital Association.

Learn about The heARTS Social Club.

See more of Scribe's latest artwork around Children's Mercy.

Children's Mercy artist Scribe is loved by so many in our community with artwork displayed not only in Kansas City, but all over the world.

Scribe recently had the opportunity to walk Kansas City Live host Joel Nichols through his creative process, taking ideas and creating images for families and employees to enjoy all over the walls of Children's Mercy. 

At the beginning of his process, Scribe allows his mind to wander using a pencil-like tool to brainstorm ideas on a digital sketchpad.

"We do a lot of digital stuff here at the hospital because it's good for maintenance. We can go back and fix it a whole lot easier. It allows for some speed and you know, infectious control issues you can't always use certain chemicals around kids so this is why we've started doing things digitally here," Scribe said. 

Scribe draws all of his characters individually, followed by painting his backdrop. He then flattens it out into a picture and starts printing it kind of like wallpaper, which then acts as a giant self-adhesive sticker.

Watch Scribe's creative process via KSHB's Kansas City Live

Learn more about the heARTS Social Club.

From All Things Mikita:

I recently had a chance to talk with the director of the Child Life Department at Children's Mercy. I was able to learn about all of the ways Child Life specialists help ease the fear and anxiety of the kids. They do everything from therapeutic play, preparation and support during procedures, bereavement support to education for caregivers, staff and the public.

One of the programs that really struck a chord with me is the sibling support program. When a child is sick and diagnosed with a disease, the whole family is affected. It was amazing to hear that Children's Mercy recognized that and did something about it. I am so fortunate to have healthy children and thought that if one of my children got sick, the others would be affected greatly. There are special evening programs just for children who have sibling in the ICN and PICU as well as an activities assistant who is just there for the siblings.

Along with making sure the patients have everything needed, the Child Life Department coordinates a wealth of other programs that mean so much to families. The Facility Dog Program, where Hunter & Hope make visits, creation station, kids in the kitchen and art workshops are some of them.

They also plan the special events with Kansas City's professional athletes, schedule volunteer groups, plan evening programs and set up a gift shop during Christmas where parents can shop for gifts.

I was amazed at all of the work that the Child Life specialists do. Having a sick child is every parent’s worst nightmare, but knowing that there is a place like Children's Mercy to take them to is extremely reassuring.

Learn more about Child Life or volunteering at Children's Mercy.

This Christmas, 6-year-old Grace Holmes was thinking of other kids fighting the same fight she just went through – cancer. Grace received her last round of chemotherapy Dec. 22 and is officially in remission after beating stage 5 kidney cancer after six months of treatment at Children’s Mercy.

“I don’t know how we would have gotten through everything without Child Life,” said Grace’s mom, Mara Holmes. “Elizabeth Valdivia was at every appointment, holding Grace’s hand and coaching her on how to breathe. Honestly Child Life held all our hands and helped our entire family, including our son, Brennan. They made us feel like, no matter what, they would be by our side and we were going to be okay. Our family mantra has been to ‘fight cancer with grace.’ Our Grace did just that! We are so thankful to Children’s Mercy and wanted to give back.”

Grace donated some of her own birthday gifts, as well as toys donated by Bonner Spring Elementary fourth graders, to Children’s Mercy so kids stuck in the hospital on Christmas could receive presents too. Along the way, Kansas City’s Fox 4 News jumped on board recognizing Grace as their “Pay It Forward” recipient and gifting her with $300. Grace donated the money to Child Life to purchase additional toys for the holidays.

See the special moment by going to http://fox4kc.com/category/news/pay-it-forward/.

Click here to learn more about Child Life.

Discover ways you can help: www.childrensmercy.org/give