Cook Children's Health Care System

Karson’s story is just one of the many powerful stories of hope and healing that occur under our blue peaks. Through the generosity of community members like the Ward family, business owners and corporations, we ensure kids like Karson receive world-class care they deserve.   From life-saving treatments to facility dogs, our monthly donors help make that possible. When you give monthly, you’re giving hope to children and families not just once, but 365 days a year.   🌠 Start your holiday season by making miracles happen for patients like Karson.   Become a monthly donor today: https://lnkd.in/gQKdHp9G

We are incredibly proud to announce that Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth has achieved its fifth consecutive Magnet® designation from the ANCC - American Nurses Credentialing Center! 🎉 We didn't just meet the gold standard for nursing excellence; we exceeded it to earn the elite Magnet with Distinction™ recognition. This level of achievement places us among the select few—fewer than 2% of the nation's hospitals—and makes us one of the very few children's hospitals worldwide to receive this recognition five times in a row. This designation is the ultimate validation of the compassionate, high-quality care our nursing staff provides every day. As Director of Nursing Quality & Magnet Designation, Kaylan Branson, shared: "It feels great to recognize the nurses who do this day in and day out. This recognition is a validation of their hard work." The rigorous process involved staff participation across nearly 70 departments and the submission of 3,000 pages of evidence. As our Chief Nursing Officer, Cheryl Petersen, noted, the requirements become more strenuous with each re-application, ensuring we continually grow, evolve, and improve to deliver the best patient outcomes. This is a powerful testament to our commitment to excellence for every patient and family in our care. 💙 To read more about this incredible achievement: https://lnkd.in/dTrEWhjV

Raising a child can come with a lot of questions, especially when it comes to their health and well-being. Vaccines, in particular, often spark a lot of conversation and curiosity among parents. It’s our priority to provide parents and caregivers with clear, reliable guidance. That’s why we asked Laura Romano, D.O., a hospitalist at Cook Children’s, to share the top 10 questions she receives from families. To see the full list and learn more, read here: https://lnkd.in/gsEPX64H

Two years ago, on Nov. 14, 2023, we celebrated the groundbreaking of the neighborhood health center in the Las Vegas Trail community! On Aug. 5 of this year, the new neighborhood health center opened its doors, bringing a fresh wave of safety, health and nutrition resources to Las Vegas Trail residents. The center is a first-of-its-kind partnership between JPS Health Network, Cook Children’s Health Care System, The City of Fort Worth, LVTRise and WestAid. More than just a clinic, it serves as a health care hub, connecting individuals and families to services that support every facet of well-being, from personal safety and medical care to food security, financial stability, and strong family foundations. In the first month of being open, Cook Children’s had 929 visits at this neighborhood health center. Of those 929, 371 are new patients and 74 are newborns. We are excited to have already met and served so many in the community! To read more about the ribbon cutting on Aug. 5, visit: https://lnkd.in/g9UT-9Jk

The beautiful Cook Children's Health Care System main campus in Ft Worth shining bright in purple 🟣 all month for #EpilepsyAwarenessMonth💜

🤲 Generosity is more than a gift; it’s a connection.🤝   Last week, on the lawn of the historic Thistle Hill at Cook Children’s, we celebrated the generosity of our community and the colorful connections that bring brighter tomorrows to the children we serve.   Inspired by the joy, resilience and creativity we see in our patients, the event’s theme, “Creating colorful connections”, reflects the beautiful tapestry of people that make our Promise possible.   Just like every color adds something unique to a masterpiece, each donor, caregiver, volunteer and child brings something meaningful to Cook Children’s.   Photo credit: Canon Elizabeth Photography

Cook Children's Marketing and Communications Team Secures Top Honor at Worthy Awards 🏆 Three cheers to our Marketing and Communications team, who earned several accolades, including the top spot—Best of Show—at the 2025 Greater Fort Worth Chapter of PRSA Worthy Awards! This highest honor, along with the Worthy Award in Reputation/Brand Management, was presented to the Cook Children's Health Care System team, led by Winifred 'Wini' King, for "Grant’s Story Elevates Cook Children’s Prosper." This outstanding work demonstrates the power of compelling narrative in showcasing our dedicated emergency services. Special thanks to the entire team: Sydney Hanes, MS, Reilly Ternan, Lourdes Vázquez, MA, Jeff Calaway, Jessamy Brown, MA, APR, Chelsea Kretz, Eline deBruijn Wiggins, Arianna Flores, MA, Alex Ross, Tom Riehm, Myisha Washington, BA, LSSYB, Ashley Antle, APR, Kaley Johnson, Jennifer Fuester-Reynolds, Ashleigh Wilford, Kimberly McGinnis, Amy Goodnight, Laura Van Hoosier, MS, APR, Fellow PRSA, Deirdre Jack, Amber Kaiser and Co. and key partners like Kevin Greene for this integrated PR, marketing and communications approach to this story. The team also secured multiple Awards of Excellence for strategic communication campaigns that truly exemplify our commitment to Our Promise: Crisis Communications/Issues Management: For “Saving Cook Children’s Health Plan: A PR Campaign.” This win recognizes the vital work of Laura Van Hoosier, MS, APR, Fellow PRSA, Sydney Hanes, MS, Reilly Ternan, Lourdes Vázquez, MA, Blair Chappell, Josh Martz , Kim Brown, MA, APR, Abigail Hoover (Hodgson), MS, and Kasey S. Pipes with our partners like Karen Love, Cinema Story and others in navigating critical issues. Integrated Communications: For the comprehensive “Cook Children’s Measles Response” campaign, highlighting the collaborative efforts of Lourdes Vazquez, Jeff Calaway, Jessamy Brown, Sydney Hanes, MS, Reilly Ternan, Laura Van Hoosier and others. Multicultural Public Relations: For the story “Framing the Future: Internship Program Empowers Students and Gives Hope to Families,” featuring the collaborative efforts of Jeff Calaway, Jessamy Brown, MA, APR, Eduardo Padilla, Arianna Flores, MA, Ashley Antle, APR along with our Health Foundation, Laura Van Hoosier and Cinema Story. The vision behind this one was Winifred 'Wini' King who concepted this vital program for our Child Study Center and a special thanks is given to her. 🤍 We also want to shine a spotlight on two team members for their professional dedication: 2026 GFW PRSA Chapter President Sydney Hanes, MS, was honored with the Unsung Hero award and Reilly Ternan was named a Rising Star. We are incredibly grateful for the hard work, dedication, and strategic excellence this team brings every single day. Their efforts are pivotal in sharing our Promise with the world.

✨ A two-hour drive for a single treatment—what lengths would you go to for hope? Sebastian Ruiz is one of approximately 20,000 Americans facing Dravet syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy. To access a promising new trial treatment, Zorevunersen, his parents routinely drive him to Cook Children’s Medical Center. This medication, developed by Stoke Therapeutics, Inc., is designed to address the disorder's genetic root cause rather than just treating symptoms. Dravet syndrome involves a faulty SCN1a gene that impairs the production of essential sodium channel proteins in the brain. Zorevunersen works by enhancing the production capabilities of the healthy gene copy, aiming to restore necessary brain function. The U.S. FDA granted Zorevunersen a breakthrough therapy designation in December 2024. Cook Children’s is participating in the ongoing Phase 3 EMPEROR trial, led by epileptologist M. Scott Perry, M.D. Rainey Ruiz, Sebastian's mother, acknowledges the challenge of trials but views participation as a critical step toward future patient benefit: "Even if it helps other kids, it’s still a win-win." As genetic medicine moves us closer to repairing root causes, can we truly measure the profound courage required of the families who make these vital breakthroughs possible? To learn more about the trial, visit: https://lnkd.in/gaUPxC4k

🏌 You overshot our hopes at the inaugural Promise Classic! With your support, we raised over $100,000 to support Cook Children’s Hematology and Oncology Center. We are so grateful for the generous sponsors, dedicated committee and enthusiastic players that made this event a hole-in-one! Thanks to you, Cook Children’s continues to keep our Promise to provide the best care to our patients and families. Wingstop Restaurants Inc. Sesami Growe 3PL Real Estate IFC Roofing & Construction Three Part Advisors, LLC CECO Environmental Corporation AWP Safety Jabo's Ace Hardware SRS Building Products Burns & McDonnell KP Corporation Cummings Electrical Paragon Solutions RedBulll Printed Threads, LLC Jason Childress First Rate, Inc Flooret Polar Pros LLC

🍂 One evening of a perfect fall day, Leόn “King” Reyes, and his wife, Lauren, noticed their 17-month-old daughter, Elliana, acting as if she didn’t feel well. A few hours later, Elliana passed out. They rushed her to the emergency room where tests revealed she was very sick and needed an advanced level of pediatric care as quickly as possible. The youngest Reyes and her mother were whisked onto a Cook Children’s Teddy Bear Transport helicopter. Elliana arrived at Cook Children’s Emergency Department, where physicians initiated a battery of tests. A diagnosis came quickly — acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a rapidly progressing cancer of the bone marrow where blood cells are made. In AML, the bone marrow produces too many abnormal immature white blood cells. Elliana’s aggressive inpatient chemotherapy treatment began almost immediately after being admitted to Cook Children’s Hematology/Oncology floor, which would become her home for several months. Even with all of the support, the journey was not easy. There were so many ups and downs that Leόn and Lauren say it felt like a rollercoaster ride where they could do nothing but hold on tight, while trusting the doctors and care team to keep Elliana’s treatment and healing on track. In May, following her last round of chemotherapy, Elliana rang the bell signaling the completion of her treatment. Her cancer is in remission! According to Lauren, she has a greater than 90% chance that her cancer will not return. During a recent visit, the family watched as the giant pumpkin in the medical center’s circular courtyard was inflated—a small preview of the holiday magic Cook Children’s brings to life each year. “Last year, we celebrated every holiday here and watched the decorations for every season go up in the circle. The giant turkey, Christmas lights, Valentine’s Day decorations, Easter eggs, and it all started with the big pumpkin when we first arrived at the hospital,” Lauren said. “Now, the big pumpkin is back a year later, and it’s like we have come full circle. Even though things are not quite back to normal this year, we’re grateful to be able to spend every holiday outside of the hospital. But we still look back and remember how magical Cook Children’s made those holidays and can say we had a very good year of celebrations while there.” 💕 Read more about the Reyes family and their inspiring journey here: https://lnkd.in/gMG-vKjn