Golisano Children's Hospital

We cut the ribbon on the Brighter Days Pediatric Mental Health Urgent Care Center, the region's FIRST walk-in mental health clinic for young people! Thank you to the Brighter Days Foundation and many donors who contributed to this center, which will provide care for children and adolescents 18 and under without a prior appointment.

A special thank you to our friends West Herr Auto Group who generously donated a vehicle that will be used to transport patients and their families to the center in non-emergency situations, on a case-by-case basis!

To learn all about the center, officially opening on July 15 visit: https://urmc.info/bdmh

Join us at 10:15 am for an exciting announcement! To stream live with us click the link! ➡ https://urmc.info/live26

Happy ✨Thankful Thursday ✨ to all the generous students and community members who supported the recent Clyde-Savannah Schools Splash and Dash for Cash Fundraiser that raised an incredible $1,504 for GCH! We are grateful for your contribution towards helping every child reach their full potential.

Last month, we shared Adaramola's inspiring story as a sickle-cell disease survivor who overcame numerous obstacles and received a life-changing bone marrow transplant from his sister.

Today, on , we take a moment to raise awareness and honor the strength and resilience of those affected by this disease.

To read Adaramola's story, visit: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/publications/strong-kids/miracle-kids-2024-adaramola-olasumboye

Food allergies for children are very stressful. Everything from birthday parties, to restaurants and food trucks offers potential exposure to cross-contamination. A recent study has found that Xolair, a drug commonly used to treat asthma, nasal polyps, and hives, can actually prevent severe allergic reactions for people with food allergies. How much of this is a game-changer for families? We asked our GCH allergy experts in the following article: https://urmc.info/1Cu

Today is a day to celebrate and honor your unwavering love and support. Whether you are a biological father, stepfather, grandfather, or a mentor to someone, your impact is immeasurable. Thank you for all that you do!

Last year, on , we had the privilege of sharing Liliana "Lily" Tahou's story. Born prematurely due to fetal-maternal hemorrhage, Lily's life was saved through the generosity of donated blood.

Today, we are overjoyed to report that Lily is thriving! Her family happily reports that she has surpassed all expectations and is now a strong-willed toddler. "She’s running, jumping, and dancing all day long and talking nonstop. She’s such a joy to be around! You would never know she had such a dramatic start to her life if you saw her today. We are so thankful to the GCH NICU staff and of course the blood donors who helped Lily get to where she is today."

To read Lily's 2023 Miracle Kid story, visit: https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/news/publications/strong-kids/miracle-kids-2023-liliana-tahou

The single largest donation in University of Rochester history was gifted Thursday by Tom Golisano and The Golisano Foundation. The $50 million commitment will create the Golisano Intellectual and Developmental (IDD) Disabilities Institute at URMC.

The transformative gift will help two critical IDD programs build on their successful foundation: The Strong Center for Developmental Disabilities, led by Dr. Suzannah Iadarola, which develops partnerships and fosters accessibility, diversity, and inclusion with and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities program, led by Dr. Laura Silverman, which provides interdisciplinary leadership training for allied health professionals and advocates to improve the lives of individuals with IDD. https://urmcnewsroom.iprsoftware.com/story/urmc-announcement

We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support of this year's and 5K!

With more than 7,000 attendees, as well as support from numerous individuals and organizations, this year's event raised *insert drumroll... more than $312,000 that will support our mission to help every child reach their full potential!

Extending a heartfelt thanks to our presenting sponsor, Abott's Frozen Custard, as well as all the teams and individuals who played a crucial role in making this year's event a success. We would also like to give a special shout out to our top 5 fundraising teams: Osborne's Friends for
Strong Kids, Amazing Grace Esposito, Super Remi, Craig's Cookie Monsters, and Feringtwin Tribe. Your unwavering dedication and efforts are truly commendable, and we cannot thank you enough for all that you do. We can't wait to see you all next year!

On World Brain Tumor Day, we want to give big congratulations to a young boy named Finn Schillaci.

When Finn was in kindergarten, a growing lump, coupled with crossing of his eyes, eventually led his family to get a CT scan at GCH, which revealed that he had a brain tumor. Given the choice between chemotherapy and a new, innovative drug that could be taken orally every day with fewer side effects, Finn's family took the latter option.

As a result, Finn's tumor has shrunk significantly, and he is back to being the boy he was prior to diagnosis! GCH's participation in Children's Oncology Group trials provides the institution access to these innovative treatments, and we hope to make more breakthroughs in the future!

To read Finn's full story, visit the following link: https://urmc.info/1BO

Today, our faculty and staff joined hospitals around the nation to raise awareness for gun violence as part of the Hospitals Against Violence campaign.

They were joined by community violence prevention organizations 585-SNUG, Rise Up Rochester, Pathways to Peace, Mom’s Demand Action and Be Smart to provide resources for families on gun violence prevention and safety.

Join us in giving a special ✨Thankful Thursday✨ shoutout to Sophia Marron, a senior at Spencerport High School and future Nurse Practitioner. As part of her senior project, Sophia delved into the process of becoming a medical provider. Through her extensive research and field placement, she has chosen to pursue a career in nursing. Additionally, she organized a successful fundraiser that raised $532 for the NICU, PICU, and pediatric cancer. We are so grateful for Sophia's generosity and hope to see her return to GCH one day as a skilled medical professional. 😍

For 26 years, Claire Dunn has been knitting hats and mittens for our babies in the NICU. Now, she is planning to move to Massachusetts to be closer to her son. Before leaving, she got a tour of the NICU courtesy of our nurses and Child Life. While we are sad to see Claire go, we are so grateful for the years of support she has provided for our tiniest patients! 💙💛

In the spirit of prom season, the lights shined bright, and music filled the air, as our staff and teens danced the evening away at our 8th annual GCH prom in April. For many of our patients, hospital visits have often meant missing out on typical teen milestones. Our prom offers a chance to create new memories and celebrate in a safe and inclusive space. Because everyone deserves to experience those unforgettable high school moments.

In recognition of World Cancer Survivors Day, we have good news to present on 2023 Miracle Kid Jeyliana "Nana" Gonzalez. The last time we shared her story, she had just entered remission after a difficult journey treating a rare malignant rhabdoid tumor, including multiple rounds of chemo, a stem cell transplant and radiation therapy. We're happy to report that a year later, 13-year-old Nana is doing great and is doing well in school, travelling, and participating in community events!

As comes to a close, we would like to take a moment to continue to spotlight some of our amazing pediatric nurses.

We want to extend a heartfelt thank you, not only this month but every month, for your invaluable dedication and compassion. Your work truly makes a difference.

Over the past few years, there have been many quality improvement projects performed within the NICU. The addition of new chairs to support an increase in opportunities for comfortable and accessible Kangaroo Care has been just one aspect of that work.

The new chairs are designed specifically to support Kangaroo Care in the NICU and feature a soft contoured back that embraces the caregiver and baby, allowing parents to rock their baby to sleep. They also support movement and adjustments as parents and baby turn from side to side.

Since focusing on skin-to-skin care, the NICU has seen an increase in the percentage of infants and families who have utilized skin-to-skin care during their admissions from 57% to 70%; approximately 130 more infants experiencing skin-to-skin care in the unit per year.

The team, Walking with Wesley, has officially launched their efforts by organizing a stroll at Churchville Elementary School this week. Students enthusiastically participated by walking a mile during their PE class and creating a vibrant "Sneakers for Strong" bulletin board. Congratulations to team Walking with Wesley for their fantastic initiative!

We are excited to see everyone at Stroll on Saturday! ⬇️Check the comments for a link to the park maps!

Meet Melina, our final Miracle Kid of 2024. From a young age, Melina struggled with digestion. Her problems escalated as she got to pre-school age, during which she stopped feeding by mouth and needed a central line to get her nutrition.

In order to receive the necessary motility testing, Melina and her family traveled all the way to Boston, as it was the only available option at the time. The results revealed a malfunctioning large intestine, leading to multiple surgeries in Rochester and an additional motility test.

Melina was able to gradually get her digestive system working again and start feeding by mouth. While her chronic pain and digestive issues still flare up, GCH now has new medications, and—most importantly—the technology to perform motility testing so that Melina can receive care at home in Rochester. To read Melina's encouraging journey, visit: https://urmc.info/1zW

Introducing our fourth Miracle Kid of 2024, Remi!

When Remi was 18 months old, a seemingly ordinary sickness turned into a dire situation when she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Through the ups and downs, Remi's infectious spirit and resilience became a symbol of courage, transcending the hardships of cancer. Today, her prognosis is promising, a testament to the power of love and resilience in the face of adversity.

To read Remi's story, visit: https://urmc.info/1zL

We are excited to introduce Maddilyn, our next Miracle Kid of 2024!

After an initial failed newborn hearing test, Maddilyn's parents sought genetic testing which revealed she had Usher Syndrome, a rare genetic disease that can cause deafness or hearing deficits at birth and, later in life, progressive loss of eyesight.

Recognizing the potential impact on her vision and hearing, Maddilyn's parents reached out to GCH to explore the placement of cochlear implants. Thanks to a successful implant surgery, as well as consistent speech and language therapy, Maddilyn is thriving alongside her hearing classmates and living a carefree 4-year-old life.

To read more of Maddilyn's journey, visit: https://urmc.info/1zE

Meet Adaramola 'Dara' Olasumboye, our second Miracle Kid of 2024! Dara is a sickle-cell disease survivor who has overcome many obstacles with the support of his family and care team at GCH. At just eight years old, he received a life-changing bone marrow transplant from his sister and is now a happy and healthy kid.

To read Dara's story, visit: https://urmc.info/1zo

Every year, we proudly highlight some of the miraculous journeys our patients have taken within the walls of our hospital. Through sharing their stories, we honor their remarkable courage and perseverance, as well as the unwavering dedication and hard work of our team.

Isabel Vazquez-Mercado, our first 2024 Miracle Kid, was born at 22 weeks, before her body fully developed and was capable of functioning on its own. Despite the odds stacked against her, Isabel defied expectations and overcame the challenges that come with extreme prematurity.

Babies born before 24 weeks have a slim chance of survival and are at risk for major health complications affecting their vital body systems. However, right from the start, Isabel proved to be a fighter, weighing only 1 pound and exhibiting a strength and resilience beyond her small size.

We invite you to read Isabel's inspiring story by clicking on the following link: https://urmc.info/1zb

It's all about gratitude on this ✨Thankful Thursday!✨

Last month, our friends at Master Kim's Taekwondo Institute hosted their annual Kick-a-Thon event, where students of all ages showcased their impressive techniques and abilities. Together, they were able to raise a remarkable $9,000 for 8 North! We are super proud of our very own Dean, who is a nurse on 8 North as well as a student at the institute!

Thank you to all of the students and staff at Master Kim's as well as everyone else that contributed to making this event a success!

In celebration of , we asked some of our pediatric nurses what they love about nursing.

Turns out, they are here for YOU!💙💛

Let's continue to celebrate and thank our amazing nurses for all they do!

We celebrate your strength, resilience, and unconditional love. May this Mother's Day be a reminder of the incredible impact you have on the world. Wishing you all a day filled with love and appreciation.

Otis was born with a Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia and brought to GCH by a transport team. He was unable to breathe or eat on his own and needed around-the-clock care.

"From the moment the team from GCH arrived, our entire family was handled with such care. They took a situation that was so difficult for us and guided us through each moment, managing our expectations but also showing compassion every step of the way. They took time and answered our questions day and night and made sure we never felt alone."

Thank you, team Otis Strong for joining us at this year's on Saturday June 1st. We are so excited to welcome you back to Rochester!