Le Bonheur Children's Hospital

The William B. “Billy” Dunavant Jr. Foundation is a Diamond Level Founding Donor of Seacrest Studios at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in honor of Billy’s daughter, Kelli Dunavant. Billy passed away in September 2021 but was inspired by the work Kelli performed as an intern in Le Bonheur’s Child Life department in 2003 and her subsequent philanthropic contributions to Le Bonheur. Billy left instructions for his foundation to make a gift to Le Bonheur in honor of Kelli. When Le Bonheur presented Billy’s widow, Tommie, with the opportunity to help bring Seacrest Studios to the hospital, she knew this was the perfect project. When Tommie mentioned this prospect to Kelli, she was thrilled because she knows the positive impact Seacrest Studios would have on patients, families and Associates at Le Bonheur. Tommie prayed over every gift she made from Billy’s foundation, and she just knew that this gift to Le Bonheur for Seacrest Studios was the perfect project.

Put on your running shoes and get ready for our Pumpkin Run events in October! This year, we have three different events taking place in Memphis, Jackson, Tenn., and Tupelo, Miss. Register for all three pumpkin run events in person or virtually and you will receive a special gift. Triple the fun this fall by registering today at https://pumpkinrun.org!

On a recent episode of the Peds Pod Podcast, we are dived into a topic that’s often overlooked but incredibly important — preteen skincare. Teresa Wright, MD, Chief of Pediatric Dermatology at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, spoke on the hidden dangers of those seemingly innocent skincare routines. Wright discussed what’s safe and what’s not for your preteen including new face washes and trendy beauty hacks. You can listen to this Peds Pod episode here: https://lnkd.in/eNk7_hpt

We are so thankful to our donors who give from the heart. Because of them, we are always here when children and families need us most, including 8-year-old Audrey Leonard. When Audrey’s mom, Barbara, was pregnant, she found out her daughter had spina bifida. Doctors advised Barbara and her husband, Guy, that their baby would unlikely walk or talk. After she was born, Audrey spent a week receiving expert care in Le Bonheur Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The Leonard family was provided with resources on spina bifida and a nurse to answer questions and help arrange appointments. Le Bonheur has become a second home for the Leonard family. Since her initial stay, Audrey has undergone three surgeries. Today, 8-year-old Audrey returns to Le Bonheur every six months for regular checkups. Audrey’s assigned nurse helps her family coordinate appointments so she is able to see all of her specialists — neurology, orthopedics, urology, occupational therapy and physical therapy — in one day instead of having to make multiple trips to the hospital. “Receiving Audrey’s spina bifida diagnosis was scary, but Le Bonheur was with us from the beginning and has provided the resources we need to help Audrey thrive,” Barbara said. “Le Bonheur is our second home, and we are so grateful for the care that Audrey receives.” Thanks to Le Bonheur, Audrey is walking, talking and thriving! The Leonard family is so thankful for Le Bonheur Children's. When you participate in this year’s Pumpkin Run, you are making a difference for kids like Audrey. Sign up today at https://pumpkinrun.org/.

Our 7th Annual Gastroenterology and Nutrition Symposium is this Friday, Sept. 13! Attendees will learn the nutrition interventions for infants, children and adolescents with a variety of common diseases with a special focus on some of the current issues in nutrition in the pediatric patient and what the available literature recommends. This is a hybrid event, so guests can attend in person or virtually. Register here: https://lnkd.in/eH8A4i_Z

A bone marrow transplant may help reverse heart damage in people with sickle cell disease (SCD), according to a recent study. Jason Johnson, MD, MHS, a Pediatric Cardiologist and cardiac imaging expert at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and The University of Tennessee Health Science Center is a study co-author. “Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard to measure cardiac ventricular volume and mass, superior to any other imaging technique… and has the added benefit of myocardial tissue characterization to identify the presence of fibrosis, edema [swelling], or inflammation that is important to define in sickle cell patients before and after bone marrow transplantation.” You can read more on this study here: https://lnkd.in/dxaZZNVN

Our Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Symposium will be Friday, Sept. 20! We will discuss evidence-based trends and practices that aid in the treatment of critically ill children in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, as well as the cardiorespiratory and neurocritical care issues that are present in Emergency Department and Critical Care settings. Register for this conference today: https://lnkd.in/eXi7JeCS

At Le Bonheur’s Germantown Emergency Department (ED), a 9-year-old patient was treated for severe asthma exacerbation. Through the course of his treatment, the care team made the decision to transport him to Downtown Memphis to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). The patient’s mother expressed her desire to drive her son to the hospital herself and refused transport via ambulance. The physician tried to explain transporting him without an ambulance could be detrimental. Technician Valerie “Rene” Nelson had a different approach and carried out the MLH Power of One mission of making a connection, listening to understand and honoring commitments. After establishing a positive relationship with the mother, Nelson went back to learn more about the reasoning to refuse an ambulance. She learned that the mother was worried about leaving her car in Germantown, so Nelson offered to ride in the ambulance with the patient while the mother drove separately. Nelson recently received the #PowerOfOne Award for going above and beyond to support, understanding and a plan that considered everyone involved. Thank you for all that you do! #lebonheurproud #lebonheurchildrenshospital

Ten-year-old George Brewer was rarely sick, but the headaches he started experiencing were so severe that he could not stop vomiting. Kevin and Cindy Brewer rushed their son to Le Bonheur Children’s Emergency Department, where he underwent a series of tests and MRIs. His diagnosis: a brain tumor that needed to be removed. The tumor was caught early, and surgery was successful. Le Bonheur helped save their son during one of the scariest times of their lives. It left the Brewers with a question: what could they do to give back to the hospital that had given so much to their family? The answer came unexpectedly. Cindy and Kevin Brewer along with Kent Underwood, co-owners of LEO Events, a Memphis-based events management agency, were approached by one of their employees with an idea. She had been researching Ryan Seacrest Foundation, a nonprofit started by American Idol’s Ryan Seacrest. Seacrest was building state-of-the-art broadcast studios in children’s hospitals across the country — allowing patients to get away from the burdens of being hospitalized for a while to be entertained. What if they tried to get one for Le Bonheur? Read how Kevin and Cindy Brewer helped Le Bonheur partner with the Ryan Seacrest Foundation to receive a studio in the hospital for our latest edition of Securing The Promise: https://lnkd.in/gnVKHpVs

COVID cases climbed worldwide this summer, and Shelby County hasn't been spared by the latest uptick. Nick Hysmith, MD, MBA, MS, FAAP, Medical Director of Infection Prevention at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and an associate professor of pediatrics at University of Tennessee-Health Science Center College of Medicine said he's "starting to see COVID as more of a routine viral illness," and that there's a lot herd immunity right now overall. Hysmith talked with The Daily Memphian about how COVID looks more like other common respiratory viruses in this article: https://lnkd.in/eespf5Qs