Frederick Outpatient Center

Meet our Healing Garden activity coordinators! Not only is our Healing Garden a place where kids can step outside and enjoy fresh air, but our activity coordinators work endlessly to create exciting events like fashion shows, movie nights and themed parties so our patients can let loose and have fun.

At age 9, Jackson’s sports-filled life came to a crashing halt when he lost his ability to walk, talk and eat on his own. He was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease called anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, which causes the body to attack the brain.

After years of physical, occupational and speech therapies at Children’s National Hospital, he relearned his fine motor skills and keeps pursuing his athletic dreams. Now he volunteers with the doctors and physical therapists that helped him heal and plans to run the Race for Every Child once again in their honor. ❤️

Join Jackson at the Race on Saturday, October 19: http://spr.ly/6189m9fTL

The West Nile virus and Lyme Disease is becoming a topic of conversation. Here's what you need to know to enjoy the rest of summer safely and protect your family:

Diseases spread by insects In the Mid-Atlantic region, West Nile virus and Lyme Disease are the most common diseases spread by insects.

A pit stop into Seacrest Studios really revved up the smiles! Thank you Josh Williams for spending time with us sharing stories about Nascar racing!
Ryan Seacrest Foundation

Let's give it up for Miss Justice who is celebrating her 4th birthday and the start of Pre-K! We love that smile. ❤️🎉

Learn more about Justice's experience with Dr. Tosi and the Bone Health Program: https://foundation.childrensnational.org/see-your-impact/meet-our-patients-and-providers/patient-stories/justices-story

Here’s a glimpse into some of the many work bff’s you’ll find at our Children’s National locations! Friends make each shift brighter!! 💛

Dr. Roger Packer is at the heart of the Medulloblastoma Initiative's (MBI) groundbreaking research. MBI is dedicated to finding treatments for medulloblastoma, a rare and aggressive brain tumor affecting children like 17-year-old Frederico. Through his collaboration with MBI and its global network of laboratories, Dr. Packer is helping to transform outcomes for young patients around the world.

�https://mbinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Folha_EN.pdf

Get ready for school by getting up-to-date on vaccines! ⬇️

Alexis always wanted to be a nurse. She joined Children’s National in 2011, and didn’t just gain nursing experience, but gained the perspective from a patient parent’s point of view when her son’s four month check-up revealed an enlarged spleen that resulted in a mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) diagnosis. Under the care of Dr. Angiolilo and team, Foltzy went through treatment for 11 months and then relapsed at 3 years old. At the time of relapse, a resident heard a gallop in Foltzy’s heart and sent him to the PICU. An x-ray revealed that his heart was enlarged. Soon after that discovery his heart stopped and he coded for hours. The family was thankful to be in the ICU where they could get the care they needed. After 7 days on ECMO, and more chemotherapy to treat his MLL, Foltzy was able to go home again.

There were a few more health setbacks, relapses and rescheduled bone marrow transplants to get Foltzy to where he is today. While doctors continue to monitor his heart health, the now 6-year-old is 2 years post-bone marrow transplant, enjoying sports, activities and playing with his brother. Most importantly – Foltzy is completely cancer-free! Despite the long journey, his mom is thankful for the way the care team went above and beyond to make an awful situation a bit better, and we are thankful to have nurses who care and parents who share. ❤️

Our kids know all too well how a good party & friendship bracelets never go out of style! This Taylor Swift themed party was inspired by one of our sweet patients who is a huge Swiftie! See all the fun we had a few weeks ago in the Healing Garden! 💖

This 18-year-old sought help for his addiction to fentanyl, one of the most lethal illicit drugs in the U.S. ‘A $10 death trip,’ as he describes his addiction, brought him and his family to Children’s National.

Few addiction programs in the United States are tailored to young people – we are one of the few hospitals to offer a pediatric program for addiction.

Watch the CNN video here:

‘A $10 death trip’: Fentanyl is killing teens. Meet one fighting for his life | CNN This 18-year-old sought help for his addiction to fentanyl, one of the most lethal illicit drugs in the US. Few addiction programs in the United States are tailored to young people, but one at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC is filling an urgent need.

Part of what makes Camp Accomplish so unique is the amazing partnership we have with Children’s National Hospital.

Here at Camp Accomplish, medical professionals stay overnight at camp and are on call 24/7 to ensure every camper, whether or not they have a disability or chronic health condition, is safe and ready to tackle any new adventure that comes their way.

Let's give it up for these dedicated and caring professionals who are an integral part of our community and the Camp Accomplish experience!

Team USA's tiniest cheerleaders are cheering from afar! 🎉 Best of luck to all the athletes as they compete during 🏆

A reminder from the NICU: Our precious babies are on continuous cardio-respiratory monitoring. Parents and caregivers should always follow the AAP safe sleep guidelines: Babies should be on their own sleep surface and under no circumstances should babies at home be placed prone to sleep or have items such as toys, loose bedding, or blanket rolls in their cribs.

We're excited to cheer on Dr. Jill Pellicoro's daughters as they're headed to the 2024 Paris Olympics! 🎉

Local Sisters head to the Olympics Track athletes Isabella and Juliette Whittaker join FOX 5 as they head to the 2024 Paris Olympics.

“Race Day has such wonderful energy!” says Ivon Martinez, program coordinator for the Division of Colorectal & Pelvic Reconstruction and member of Team Incredibowels at the Race for Every Child 5K Run/Walk. “We are all there in support of providing the best care to all children.”

Join Children’s National Hospital staff, families and community members on Saturday, Oct. 19 at Freedom Plaza in Washington, D.C., or virtually. Earn a special team captain T-shirt when you create your team by this Saturday, July 27! http://spr.ly/6183cOye7

Greg Scott, gallery coordinator at Children’s National Hospital, has made a career out of making people feel better through art. He joined us nearly 25 years ago as a visual artist-in-residence, or as a young patient called him, "the art man."

"Even just the act of appreciating art is calming and helps people relax during times of stress," he says. "I see the impact every day."

Read more about the healing spaces he curates and more stories of hope in our latest issue of Believe Magazine: http://spr.ly/6185c1aYz

Summer isn't complete without a day at camp! From tie-dying shirts to singing songs around the fire, staff brought summer magic to the hospital!

Our team views violence as a chronic illness and meets patients where they are in their healing journey. Whether it’s a safety plan or career development, they are here to help.

Learn more about our Youth Violence Intervention Program and how the team is helping to make a difference: https://www.childrensnational.org/in-the-community/advocacy-and-outreach/youth-violence-intervention-program

When Ethan was in the hospital for Crohn's disease, one familiar face made a world of difference: his stuffed golden retriever from IKEA. After Ethan recovered, he and his twin Keira raised money to donate more than 150 of his favorite furry friends to kids at Children’s National.

Read more about their impact and other stories of hope in our latest issue of Believe Magazine: http://spr.ly/61859Yxld

Congratulations to pediatrician Dr. Jill Pellicoro for having, not one, but TWO daughters heading to the Paris Olympics! Juliette and Isabella Whittaker will be representing Team USA in track later this month.

It’s always wonderful to celebrate a work anniversary. But 50 of them?! That’s something!

Described as a ‘natural nurturer,’ Dr. Lillian Beard knew she wanted to be a doctor ever since she was a little girl. Through the encouragement she received from family, she was able to make that dream a reality when she started as a resident at Children’s National hospital on July 1, 1970.

After officially retiring at the end of last year, Dr. Beard’s advice for those in the field was to “be willing to learn and never stop learning. It doesn’t stop with your degree, it’s a lifelong search.” Dr. Beard’s tenure at Children’s spans generations or “cycles and circles of love,” as she refers to them – treating 3 generations-worth of patients.

Thank you for your service, Dr. Beard!

Happy birthday to Emma! 🎉 She created her first Race for Every Child 5K Run/Walk team in honor of the Children’s National providers who celebrate her identity beyond her chronic diagnosis.

That includes her love of Taylor Swift, action movies and animals of all kinds. With compassionate care, she chooses to be “Fearless.” ✨

“My care team treats me like a person, not a patient,” Emma says. “I can still be me.”

We love when advocacy, providers and patients meet to conquer health care challenges. Talking on the Hill about how providers are advocating for improved transitional colorectal care, Dr. Erin Teeple joined Sara Struwe, president and CEO Spina Bifida Association; Annie Andrews, CEO of EveryLife, an organization that works on policy change around rare diseases; and Domonique Robinson, a previous Children's National spina bifida patient.

https://www.childrensnational.org/get-care/departments/spina-bifida-program

Summer mode has kicked in! ☀️ Is your child's sleep schedule all over the place? This quick read shares why a regular sleep schedule during the summer will benefit your child. 😴

Summer play all day? Why kids still need a steady sleep routine - WTOP News Many D.C.-area families are in summer mode, but parents may want to adopt a modified school sleep schedule instead.

Public pools, water parks, lakes and oceans can provide refreshing summer fun for kids, but they can also be full of germs. Follow these tips to avoid swimming-related illnesses:

🏊 Don't swallow water while swimming.
🏊 Rinse yourself before entering.
🏊 Dry ears thoroughly after swimming.
🏊 Wash hands after using the toilet or changing diapers.
🏊 Check and change diapers in the bathroom.
🏊 Avoid swimming if you're sick or have open wounds.
🏊Stay out of natural waters after heavy rain.

How to prevent swimming-related illnesses Stay informed about swimming-related illnesses from pools, lakes and oceans. Learn about symptoms and safety tips to prevent these infections.

Coming to work knowing your dad is there makes any day extra special! LaShae is an Operations Coordinator for our Acute Care Nursing team and her father, David, works on our facility team as Construction Team Lead. LaShae says her dad is her hero, personally and professionally! Happy Father’s Day to all the those who are making a difference in a child’s life.