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Recognizing Jingle Toy Drive 2023 Supporters

hallk19 — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 20:02:06 +0000

Recognizing Jingle Toy Drive 2023 Supporters hallk19 Fri, 02/09/2024 - 14:02 RSS:

Many thanks to the companies, organizations and individuals who supported our 2023 Jingle Toy Drive. Your donations and fundraising efforts helped bring joy to the patients and their families at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt during the holiday season. Thank you for helping make the holidays special for those who spent their holidays with us.

Gifts to the Jingle Toy Drive and to our year-round Virtual Toy Drive also help our Patient- and Family-Centered Care team provide toys at the bedside, keep playrooms stocked, and provide gifts for patients’ birthdays or other milestone celebrations.

2023 Jingle Toy Drive Fundraisers

AllianceBernstein
Andrews Transportation Group
Brasfield & Gorrie
Cary Loiacono in memory of Michael and Maxine Loiacono
CAT Financial
DPR Construction
Dr. Damaris Olagundoye
Halls Chophouse Nashville
HRlogics
iHeartMedia – iHeart Digital Solutions
Kelsey and Chris Owens in memory of Cienna Rae Owens
Loews Vanderbilt Hotel
Mid-America Apartments
Millcraft Paper Company
NTT DATA – Nashville IDC
Smile Generation
Smith Gee Studio
Taylor Farms Tennessee
The Eads Family
The Hahn Family in memory of George Rapien
The Sharpton Family in honor of Walker Sharpton’s friends at Monroe Carell
UltimatDJz and the Talking Trek podcast community
Vanderbilt University Career Advancement & Engagement
Vanderbilt University Medical Center Adult Clinical Nutrition
Western Express
Zachary Scott Jones Foundation

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Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban gift supports breast cancer clinical trials at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

hallk19 — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 22:06:38 +0000

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban gift supports breast cancer clinical trials at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center hallk19 Wed, 08/02/2023 - 17:06 RSS:

Tom Wilemon

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban have made a generous financial gift to Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in support of clinical trials for new and better therapies for breast cancer.

The Oscar-winning and Grammy-winning international cinema and music superstars have been longtime cancer research supporters. They live in Nashville, home of Vanderbilt-Ingram, which has internationally recognized breast cancer researchers and clinicians.

The couple’s advocacy and philanthropy for this cause are rooted in Kidman’s experience as a teenager when she cared for her mother, a breast cancer survivor. In addition to their financial support for cancer research, they have given direct emotional support to patients. Kidman and Urban recently visited with pediatric patients at the Seacrest Studio inside Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

“My experience of watching a parent or another loved one battle cancer is something that far too many people have had to endure,” Kidman said. “I am fortunate to have had my mother with me all these years since. Keith and I are making this gift in the hope that more people will have more years to enjoy life with the people they love. We realize that clinical trials can have a global impact when knowledge about treatment advancements is shared.”

Kidman’s commitment to women’s health and women’s issues is deep-rooted. In 2006 she was named, and continues to serve, as Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations Development Fund for Women, which aims to empower women, promote gender equality and women’s rights worldwide, and end violence against women.

“This gift from Nicole and Keith is crucial to our mission at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center,” said Vandana Abramson, MD, Donna S. Hall Professor of Medicine and co-leader of the Breast Cancer Research Program at Vanderbilt-Ingram. “Gifts from individual donors are like seeds in a garden. They support emerging therapies that start out as ideas in a laboratory or an examination room. If we didn’t have this kind of support, those ideas would never take root and become clinical trials and ultimately lead to better, less toxic treatments and more cures.”

A National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, Vanderbilt-Ingram is renowned for its expertise in breast cancer. It is one of only six cancer centers in the country receiving the prestigious Specialized Programs of Research Excellence funding from the National Cancer Institute. Research from the laboratory of Vanderbilt-Ingram’s former director, Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, has led to vast improvements in the understanding of triple-negative breast cancer. The current director, Ben Ho Park, MD, PhD, the Benjamin F. Byrd Jr. Professor of Oncology, is also a leader in the breast cancer field and pioneered liquid biopsies for cancer evaluation and treatment.

“We are grateful for the support that Ms. Kidman and Mr. Urban have given to our breast cancer research program. Their actions help us in our mission to lessen the burden of this disease,” said Pietenpol, holder of the Brock Family Directorship in Career Development, and Chief Scientific and Strategy Officer for Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Abramson and Park are currently leading a multi-center national clinical trial to evaluate changes in circulating tumor DNA levels to help guide therapy in metastatic breast cancer. Abramson and Pietenpol have just completed a national study evaluating immunotherapy in breast cancer. The gift from Kidman and Urban will help support clinical trials stemming from this research.

Park added, “We are humbled and honored to be recipients of this gift, which will positively impact the lives of patients with breast cancer and their families.”

(Photo by Angelea Presti-Yoder)

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An enduring legacy

hallk19 — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 22:02:53 +0000

An enduring legacy hallk19 Wed, 08/02/2023 - 17:02 RSS:

Nancy Humphrey

The legacy left behind by the late William (Bill) Long, MD, goes beyond his many years as a beloved Nashville pediatrician. He was a quintessential clinician-educator, always helping advance the mission of Vanderbilt’s Department of Pediatrics and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

The family of the longtime pediatrician at Old Harding Pediatric Associates, who died in June 2020, made a gift to establish the Dr. William R. Long Fund to support directorships, resident education, fellowships and psychologists in the Department of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Through this fund, established by Long’s wife of 50 years, Becky, with her children and their spouses, Matt, Suzanne, John, Lindsley, Emily and Dan:

Rebecca Swan, MD, professor of Pediatrics, vice chair for Education in the Department of Pediatrics and assistant dean for Graduate Medical Education, has been appointed the inaugural holder of the Dr. William R. Long Directorship in Pediatric Medical Education.
Sarah Jaser, PhD, director of the Division of Pediatric Psychology and associate professor of Pediatrics, has been appointed the inaugural holder of the Dr. William R. Long Directorship in Pediatric Psychology.
Kelsey Gastineau, MD, a second-year fellow in Pediatric Hospital Medicine, has been awarded the inaugural Dr. William R. Long Fellowship.

“Dr. Long was a beloved community pediatrician who dedicated his long career to caring for thousands of children and their families in Nashville,” said Steven A. Webber, MBChB, MRCP, James C. Overall Professor, chair of the Department of Pediatrics and Pediatrician-in-Chief of Monroe Carell. “He had an intense passion for teaching, and through his practice, he welcomed countless Vanderbilt medical students and residents to observe and learn, while also exemplifying the vital role pediatricians play in a child’s health journey. We are forever grateful to Becky Long, and the entire Long family, for their tremendous generosity and for allowing his work and commitment to pediatric health care to endure through the support of these three outstanding clinicians.”

A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Long received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University, his medical degree from the University of Kentucky, and was a resident at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Becky Long said that her husband would approve of the ways the fund is being used. “He was passionate about his work. He would be thrilled.”

Becky Long (seated, middle) and family made a transformational gift to establish the Dr. William R. Long Fund in the Department of Pediatrics. (Photo submitted by family)

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Spring event honors donors’ support and generosity

hallk19 — Wed, 02 Aug 2023 21:58:09 +0000

Spring event honors donors’ support and generosity hallk19 Wed, 08/02/2023 - 16:58 RSS:

Nancy Humphrey

Members of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Canby Robinson Society recently joined CEO and President Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, and his wife, Melinda, at Cheekwood Botanic Hall for the Spring Donor Celebration, an annual event honoring donors for their loyal support.

In addition to members of the Canby Robinson Society, those in attendance included members of VUMC’s Board of Directors, the advisory boards of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and the Vanderbilt Eye Institute as well as members of the Canby Robinson Legacy Circle and the Ike and Ann Robinson Society.

“Even during some of the most challenging years in health care, our partnership with each and every one of our supporters has helped us advance new discoveries, personalize patient care and train the next generation of health care leaders,” Balser said.

This year’s Spring Donor Celebration focused on pediatric clinical research in infectious disease and neurology and how philanthropy has helped advance clinical research efforts to benefit patients at VUMC and beyond.

Balser said that pediatric clinical research is one of the many areas where VUMC excels, under the direction of Steven Webber, MBChB, MRCP, chair of the Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrician-in-Chief of Monroe Carell and James C. Overall Professor.

“Under his leadership we have truly become a leading pediatric research center in the United States,” Balser said. “In fact, if you look at all the National Institutes of Health grants awarded in the United States for children’s research, his department is fourth in the nation.”

Balser reminded the group that thanks to their generosity, Monroe Carell was able to embark on a four-floor expansion. Floors 10 and 11 are currently operational and the next phase will include floors 12 and 14.

“In addition to patient beds, for the first time, we will have a dedicated clinical research unit for children at Monroe Carell on the 12^th floor, very analogous to what you might see at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia or Boston Children’s Hospital. This is very important to the people of this region, and it lets us expand the portfolio of clinical trials we can offer children in Nashville and throughout the Southeast.”

Balser introduced Webber who moderated a discussion with C. Buddy Creech, MD, MPH, and Lori Jordan, MD, PhD. Creech serves as director of the Vanderbilt Vaccine Research Program and is Edie Carell Johnson Professor in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. Jordan is an associate professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Neurology, director of the Pediatric Stroke Program and assistant director of the Pediatric Neurology Residency Program and holds the directorship in Pediatric Stroke Research. They spoke about vaccines and treatments in neurology for patients with sickle cell disease who have had strokes.

“This year, we’ve received close to $100 million in research support from NIH funding. We spend a lot more than that. Research is expensive, and the reason we’re able to spend a lot more than that is due to the generosity of all of you,” Webber said.

Creech talked about the Medical Center’s “rich history of vaccinology” going back a half century.

“Thankfully we were able to launch a (COVID-19) vaccine very quickly. You can do amazing things when you have a laser focus in trying to prevent or mitigate a pandemic.”

“What we saw was an amazing integration of what we can do at the bedside with what we can do at the bench,” Creech said, adding that he’s “never seen anything like” the speed at which the vaccines were developed, tested and licensed. “It’s truly one of the most wonderful things I’ve been a part of.”

Webber also mentioned the groundbreaking COVID-19 research of James Crowe, MD, the Ann Scott Carell Professor and professor of Pediatrics and of Pathology, Microbiology & Immunology at VUMC, and Mark Denison, MD, Edward Claiborne Stahlman Professor of Pediatric Physiology and Cell Metabolism.

Jordan, speaking about pediatric stroke and sickle cell disease, said strokes happen just as often as brain tumors in children. Her research focuses on the use of advanced MRI methods to look at cerebral blood flow and oxygen use in the brain, which help figure out which children are at highest risk for stroke or brain injury and which are candidates for the most aggressive treatments.

In Nigeria, the country with the highest rate of sickle cell disease in the world, she has conducted three clinical trials using an oral drug to reduce stroke risk and treat children with stroke.

“We’ve learned some things that are really important for children in the U.S. as well,” she said.

The evening ended with a special musical appearance by singer/songwriter Shelly Colvin, accompanied by singer/songwriter Ketch Secor. Colvin’s son, Judge, and husband, Jeff, were seriously injured in May 2020 when a massive tree fell on them during a storm as they were trying to safely get to their car after hiking on a trail.

Judge, who was 3 at the time, suffered a traumatic brain injury and was treated at Monroe Carell where he was in a coma for two weeks. Jeff, also critically injured, was hospitalized at Vanderbilt University Hospital. Following their successful recoveries, the Colvins have become staunch advocates for the Medical Center in honor of the care they received.

Sue and Gil Chilton attended this year’s event in recognition of their support for various research initiatives across the organization.

“We’re glad to be here and to play a role in helping the Medical Center provide great care,” Sue Chilton said. “Quality health care is so important to us, especially as Nashville continues to grow so much.”

Sue and Gil Chilton attended the Spring Donor Celebration in recognition of their support for various research initiatives across the organization. (Photos by Susan Urmy)

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New Junior League gift celebrates 100 years of support

hallk19 — Wed, 13 Jul 2022 21:37:28 +0000

New Junior League gift celebrates 100 years of support hallk19 Wed, 07/13/2022 - 16:37 RSS:

New Junior League gift celebrates 100 years of support

In a special ceremony in June to mark the milestone anniversary and partnership, the Junior League of Nashville committed another $1.5 million to Children’s Hospital. The centennial anniversary gift, part of the Junior League’s ninth supplemental agreement with Children’s Hospital, will go to support the hospital’s pediatric rehabilitation efforts.

For 100 years, the Junior League of Nashville has been a champion of children’s health care, impacting the lives of countless patients and families through its commitment to service and philanthropy.

The group has a rich legacy that features a long-standing partnership with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, carrying out a collective vision to ensure quality, compassionate health care for children. Through volunteerism and transformative gifts, the Junior League has helped shape crucial health care initiatives and established numerous foundational programs at Children’s Hospital.

In a special ceremony in June to mark the milestone anniversary and partnership, the Junior League of Nashville committed another $1.5 million to Children’s Hospital. The centennial anniversary gift, part of the Junior League’s ninth supplemental agreement with Children’s Hospital, will go to support the hospital’s pediatric rehabilitation efforts.

“It was mind-blowing to learn that the state of Tennessee does not have an in-patient rehabilitation facility for our children. This is such a critical part of traumatic injury or major surgery recovery. As the Junior League’s partnership with Vanderbilt has evolved, what has remained steadfast is our dedication to addressing unmet needs in our community. Our centennial gift underscores this commitment,” said Jenny Barker, Junior League of Nashville President (2021-2022).

“In this full-circle moment, we are making a gift that looks to the future, with a focus on family-centered care while paying tribute to the past. With this gift we are helping provide a bridge to healing — a place where children can fully recover.”

Over the years, the Junior League has given nearly $20 million, including the latest gift, and thousands of volunteer hours.

This gift will establish the endowed Junior League of Nashville Directorship in Pediatric Rehabilitation for a physician, yet to be named, to lead pediatric rehabilitation initiatives at Children’s Hospital. It will also be used to create an endowed fund that will help grow the pediatric rehabilitation program and related patient- and family-centered care well into the future.

“The generosity and caring spirit of the Junior League aligns with our mission to heal and support children and their families, and this gift is emblematic of the deep community-minded relationship between the two organizations. A dedicated pediatric rehabilitation program will empower children and families in moments that shake them to their core. The legacy of this gift will ripple throughout communities for generations to come,” said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

During the ceremony, Children’s Hospital leaders joined with Junior League representatives to sign the supplemental agreement and to commemorate the centennial anniversary.

Meg Rush, MD, MMHC, president of Children’s Hospital, also unveiled the new Junior League of Nashville history wall on the second floor of the hospital. The wall includes multiple panels that open to showcase the extensive partnership between the Junior League and Children’s Hospital over the past century, and features photos and stories of the many patients helped through various programs.

“Starting a century ago and continuing today, the Junior League of Nashville has had a vision of what children’s health care could and should be. Time and time again, the Junior League has come together through special programs, volunteerism and philanthropy to support the children and families in our community and at Children’s Hospital,” said Rush.

“It is fitting that for the centennial anniversary, the Junior League’s latest generosity connects back to its roots in rehabilitative medical care for children by supporting pediatric rehabilitation efforts at Children’s Hospital. We are tremendously grateful to the Junior League for its enduring partnership, now and for many more years to come.”

The Junior League of Nashville’s partnership with Vanderbilt dates back to 1923, when the Junior League Home for the Crippled Children opened. The home provided free convalescent and rehabilitative medical care for children with polio and other diseases.

In 1971, the home moved to what was then called Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

Through the years, the Junior League’s gifts have helped support the Junior League Family Resource Center, the Child Life Program, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Development Follow-up Clinic, the Junior League Sickle Cell Disease and Asthma Program and many more programs. Previous gifts also include providing capital to help build the freestanding Children’s Hospital that opened in 2004, and again in 2016 to help support the hospital’s Growing to New Heights Campaign to build the most recent four-floor expansion.

The Junior League also provided the groundwork for comprehensive maternal fetal care programming at Vanderbilt more than a decade ago when it made a transformative gift to improve care for pregnant women and their infants. The League enabled programming to get off the ground, expand and set the foundation for what is now The Reed Family Maternal Fetal Clinic.

Volunteer work is also an important tenet of every gift the Junior League makes to Children’s Hospital. Prior to COVID-19, in-person volunteers hosted special events for patients and families and spent time with patients in the hospital playrooms and at the bedside, whether to play a board game or offer companionship. Behind the scenes they have ensured the hospital has items for the comfort cart, which provides travel-size personal items and snacks for patients’ families. During COVID with social distancing and public health safety measures in place, the Junior League pivoted to ensure their volunteer mission endured with efforts like playing bingo virtually with patients, putting together activity kits and delivering notes to front-line health care workers.

“It was apparent from the beginning of my Child Life journey that the Junior League of Nashville volunteers would be an integral part of our team at Children’s Hospital,” said Stephanie Van Dyke, director of Child Life and Volunteer Services. “Their support continues to be a difference-maker in how we are able to provide the very best medical and psychosocial care for children, teens and their families.”

by Christina Echegaray

See the story in the VUMC Reporter here.

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Donor Spotlight: The Barbours

hallk19 — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 19:44:50 +0000

Donor Spotlight: The Barbours

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hallk19 Mon, 06/27/2022 - 14:44 RSS:

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

After years of declining health from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Richard Barbour underwent a double lung transplant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

A dramatic improvement in health following the transplant was remarkable to witness, recalls his wife, Elizabeth “Betsy” Barbour.

“I can’t imagine anything that I’ll ever see in my lifetime that would be more amazing than that,” said Betsy.

Richard lived five and one-half years after his transplant. He died at age 53. But Betsy doesn’t see his death as a failure. Instead, his transplant allowed him to live life to the fullest.

After the procedure, Richard became passionate about helping others needing transplants, and his family intends to keep that support going.

Through annual payments and designating the Medical Center to receive her life insurance, Betsy, with her family, was able to create an endowment in Richard’s name that will support the assistance fund and lung disease research.

“I doubt that Richard would have guessed that giving to Vanderbilt on this level could be an option for us. I know he would be extremely gratified that his desire to give back can live on after him,” said Betsy.

"I know that Richard’s transplant will always be the greatest miracle I’ve ever witnessed. And knowing that his endowment will continue to grow and help others is a great comfort to our family." — Betsy Barbour, Richard’s wife

To read more about the Barbours and their story, click here.

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A Family’s Lifeline during COVID-19

hallk19 — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 19:30:02 +0000

A Family’s Lifeline during COVID-19

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hallk19 Mon, 06/27/2022 - 14:30 RSS:

A Family’s Lifeline during COVID-19

When a patient is nearing the end of life under normal circumstances, family members would be called, chaplains would be brought in and the dying would be surrounded by loved ones. But for patients infected with COVID-19, that unfortunately is not possible. Many family members now can only say goodbye over an iPad, unable to be there for their loved one’s final moments.

But for one patient at Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s special COVID-19 unit, a selfless hero helped his family stay with him until he took his last breath. That hero was nurse Maddie Hayes, and the family of 81-year-old Frank Rummo will be forever grateful for the selfless nurse who gave them the chance to say goodbye and who provided their dad with the physical comfort they could not provide.

After contracting COVID-19 in late March, Frank was rushed to the hospital on his 81st birthday in April with shortness of breath. After initially improving, Frank began to deteriorate.

Nurse Maddie held an iPad for two hours so his children and in-laws could say their goodbyes and know he was comforted during his final moments. Frank’s wife and son were present at the hospital, watching from behind a glass door.

"If his family had been there, they would have wanted to hold and touch his hand and rub his head, so that’s what I did, one hand holding the iPad and the other providing the therapeutic touch that his family members weren’t able to.” — Maddie Hayes, Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) nurse

As we continue to fight the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Vanderbilt Health depends on the generous support from donors like you now more than ever before. Your support is providing health care heroes like Maddie with everything she needs to give patients and their families the care they need.

“It was a tremendous thing that she did for us since we couldn’t be in the room. She was our only way to be there. I think my mom probably summed it up the best: Maddie was my dad’s angel in the room.” — Paul Rummo, Frank’s son

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Taking Pediatric Cardiology to New Heights

hallk19 — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 19:02:11 +0000

Taking Pediatric Cardiology to New Heights

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hallk19 Mon, 06/27/2022 - 14:02 RSS:

Taking Pediatric Cardiology to New Heights

Five-year-old Khori was born with a congenital heart defect and has already undergone two open-heart surgeries in her short life. After her second surgery, it was clear she would need a new heart, so she was placed on the transplant list.

Her mother Tomara was shocked when just three months later she received the call that a match had been found for her little girl.

“When he said he was a member of the transplant team and that they’d found a match, I literally almost fell to the floor. I just started crying. They were happy tears, of course,” Tomara said.

“Having all of our services housed in one place has always been a dream. It just makes sense when the day-to-day care of our patients is dependent on interactions with multiple divisions.” — Scott Baldwin, MD, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Cardiology and Co-Director of the Pediatric Heart Institute

Khori is one of the nearly 500 children who will receive a heart operation at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt annually.

And now, thanks to the generous contributions of donors like you, children like Khori have a brand-new, state-of-the-art pediatric cardiology floor to meet all their needs in one place. The addition of the new tenth floor of Children’s Hospital encompasses all inpatient cardiology services, including the cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) and the cardiac step-down unit.

Part of the Growing to New Heights campaign, the new 10th floor cardiology unit will make for a better patient experience as well as more positive outcomes.

Your gifts help make innovations and advancements like this possible, ultimately changing the future of pediatric medicine.

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A New Kind of Heart Transplant

hallk19 — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 18:21:33 +0000

A New Kind of Heart Transplant

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hallk19 Mon, 06/27/2022 - 13:21 RSS:

A New Kind of Heart Transplant

At Vanderbilt Health, we understand that sometimes before we can save a patient’s life, we need to pioneer innovative, new ways to do that. Take Maurice McAllister, for instance.

Just after turning 40, he found himself in an ambulance on his way to a diagnosis of cardiomyopathy. After losing his wife to cancer, Maurice was a single parent, responsible for their two teenage daughters. I can’t die, he thought. Who will take care of my girls?

Maurice’s best hope was to start working to lose the 30 pounds he needed to become eligible for a heart transplant. Unfortunately for Maurice and tens of thousands of Americans, the scarcity of suitable hearts for transplantation has resulted in a wait of 70 to 565 days.

Using support from donors — including generous grateful patients — researchers at Vanderbilt Health pioneered a practice that has reduced the average wait to just four days.

“Vanderbilt saved my life. I could have easily been told that there was nothing they could do for me. That’s why I will be forever grateful.” — Maurice McAllister, heart transplant patient

What was once unthinkable — using hearts from hepatitis C-infected donors to transplant noninfected recipients — has now broadened the donor pool, vastly increasing the number of heart transplant candidates who would otherwise die waiting on a new heart.

Since fall 2016, Vanderbilt has performed 80 transplants using an innovative, new advance that makes hearts from hepatitis C-exposed donors suitable for transplantation. Each of those 80 hearts represents a patient who now has a second chance at life.

Maurice McAllister was one of those recipients.

“What is most rewarding is the opportunity to be a part of the journey for people like Maurice — I met him in the very beginning when he was dying of heart failure and now get to see him living again because of heart transplantation and what we’ve been able to offer him. Stories like his are why I do what I do.” — Kelly Schlendorf, MD, MHS, Medical director of the Adult Heart Transplant Program

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Grateful Breast Cancer Survivor Gives Back

hallk19 — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 18:10:54 +0000

Grateful Breast Cancer Survivor Gives Back

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hallk19 Mon, 06/27/2022 - 13:10 RSS:

Grateful Breast Cancer Survivor Gives Back

Latonya Drumwright was expecting to pop in quickly for a routine mammogram on her lunch break—but when she found herself with a longer-than-usual wait after the exam, she had a feeling this visit may not be just a typical checkup.

When she was told they found something that didn’t look quite right, she took the rest of the day off from work to tell her husband, whose mother had died from breast cancer, that she, too, might have the disease. Later a biopsy would confirm Latonya’s fear—she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

"I’m so grateful to donors because without your support, we wouldn’t be able to assist patients with this compassionate care." — Andrea Birch, M.D., Latonya's Radiologist

After undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy and five surgeries, Latonya is now a breast cancer survivor and activist. With cancer now in her past thanks to the specialized care she received at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Latonya is an advocate for breast cancer screenings. She is a member of the Temple Church, where her husband, Rev. Darrell Drumwright, is the pastor, and they host "Pink Sunday” each October to raise awareness for breast cancer.

"The moment the doctor walked into the room and told me I was breast cancer free was the best moment of my life." — Latonya Drumwright, Breast Cancer Survivor

“I am blessed," she says. "I am very blessed to be here thanks to my strong support system, which includes my family, friends, church family and the compassionate Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center medical team.”

Thank you for making this life-changing care possible.

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Breakthroughs in Bloom

hallk19 — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 17:19:44 +0000

Breakthroughs in Bloom

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hallk19 Mon, 06/27/2022 - 12:19 RSS:

Breakthroughs in Bloom

At 7 years old, Lily Hensiek's biggest worries were homework and getting her ears pierced. But when she started complaining of back pain, experiencing fevers and bruising easily, her family began to worry.

One night when Lily woke up screaming in pain, her mother Larisa Featherstone knew something was terribly wrong. "As parents you know the cries of your children," she says. "This was a cry that I had never heard before." Lily was rushed to the hospital, and after a few days and tests, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

"I remember thinking this couldn't possibly be happening to my child," Larisa says. "This precious 7-year-old girl who was just doing cartwheels in her grandmother's yard could not have cancer."

At such a young age, Lily didn't understand what was happening. To explain it in a way she could understand, a doctor at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt told Lily that cancer was like a weed growing in a garden, and that they would use chemotherapy to kill the weeds, so flowers could bloom.

"My name is Lily," she says. "So the garden analogy stuck."

One day when Lily was in the hospital, she told her mom she wished no child would have to go through this again. “I asked her how much money she wanted to raise to make that happen, and she replied $100,” Larisa says. When her mom challenged her to come up with a higher goal, Lily decided on $1 million, and the idea for the Lily’s Garden initiative began. It was then that her family started focusing on raising funds and awareness for childhood cancer.

After two and a half years of chemotherapy, Lily finished treatment, all the while still fundraising for a cure.

"Over 90 percent of children with ALL are cured," says Debra Friedman, M.D., director of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Children's Hospital. "Most patients who relapse do so within two years. After five years, patients are pretty much considered home free."

Unfortunately for Lily, that wasn't the case. At 15 years old, she started experiencing fevers again, and her mom brought her back to Children's Hospital. A bone marrow sample ultimately confirmed her family's greatest fear — Lily had relapsed.

“Lily is tough as nails and never loses sight of what’s important. On the day we found out she relapsed, we were driving home, and I asked her what she was thinking. She looked at me and said she would do whatever she had to do to beat this and live out her dreams.” — Larisa Featherstone, Lily's mother

Those dreams include raising money for a cure and becoming a pediatric oncology nurse at Children’s Hospital, inspired by her dedicated medical team who have become like family.

“Treatment has shaped my life in a way I never could have imagined,” Lily said. “I wouldn’t have started raising money through Lily’s Garden if I wasn’t diagnosed with cancer. I wouldn’t have wanted to become a pediatric oncology nurse. In a way, I’m thankful for the experience because it has shaped me in many ways.”

Lily’s story goes further than her disease. Her community rallied around her in support, and Lily’s Garden has raised well over her initial goal of $1 million to support pediatric cancer efforts at Children’s Hospital.

"The moment I found out we hit our fundraising goal of $1 million, I was overjoyed. It was hard to put into words, but I didn't want to stop there. It was never about $1 million, it was about a cure for cancer." — Lily Hensiek, Pediatric Cancer Survivor

Once her initial goal was met, Lily and her family contemplated what their next fundraising goal would be. After talking with Dr. Friedman, they decided that supporting an endowed fellowship would be a great way to make a lasting impact.

“At Children’s Hospital, an essential part of our mission is clinical training for our fellows – the next generation of leaders in pediatric health care who will lead tomorrow’s discoveries,” Dr. Friedman said. “We are so grateful to Lily and her family for choosing to support the first endowed fellowship in pediatric hematology-oncology at Children’s Hospital, known as the Lily’s Garden Fellowship. This groundbreaking fellowship will make a difference for decades to come in the fight against childhood cancer.”

The Lily’s Garden Fellowship was established in July 2018 and awarded to first-year fellow Brianna Nicole Smith, M.D., M.S., whose research focuses on novel therapies for leukemia and better treatment options with fewer side effects.

“I will be able to become a better researcher and physician because of the Lily’s Garden Fellowship.” Dr. Smith said. “The extra training opportunities that are possible because of this fellowship will make a long-lasting impact on the field.”

Now at 17 years old, Lily is in remission again. She still comes back to Children’s Hospital once a week for clinic and therapies, but she is nearing the end of treatment.

“Fundraising has helped give our family a greater purpose, and we have been shown so much kindness. A lot of small gifts from different people added up to make those bigger goals possible,” Larisa said. “So even though there have been some weeds spreading in our story, there has been a whole lot of goodness spreading too.”

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The Unsung Heroes

hallk19 — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 16:44:47 +0000

The Unsung Heroes

Impact Report

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The Unsung Heroes

The Vanderbilt Health trauma staff cares for thousands of patients each year, but the team was never expecting they would face three mass shootings in just seven months.

As the only Level 1 Trauma Center for a catchment area of more than 65,000 square miles, Vanderbilt Health has one of the busiest trauma centers in the country. When tragedy strikes like it did in a nearby church, a Kentucky high school and a Waffle House restaurant, Richard S. Miller, M.D., Chief of the Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care, was able to mobilize nine trauma surgeons and an entire team to be down in the trauma bay and ready to go within 15 minutes.

"When you have a team of people that works well together, collaborates and helps each other through difficult times, that's priceless," Miller says. This lifesaving, comprehensive care would not be possible without passionate community supporters like you.

"Most people, if they have the capacity, really want to do something to help. Those donors are our unsung heroes." — Richard S. Miller, M.D., Chief of the Division of Trauma and Surgical Critical Care Carol Ann Gavin Directorship in Trauma and Surgical Critical Care

Together we are giving hope and healing to patients who need us in our region and well beyond.

Thank you.

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Back in the Game

hallk19 — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 16:34:07 +0000

Back in the Game

Impact Report

hallk19 Mon, 06/27/2022 - 11:34 RSS:

Back in the Game

In March 2016, all that should have been on seventh-grader Drew Estes’ mind was middle school baseball tryouts and basketball practice. But when he developed a persistent fever, his parents took him to the doctor to see what was wrong.

After a blood test revealed that his white blood cell count was zero, he was sent to the emergency room for more testing. A bone marrow biopsy ultimately confirmed that what was originally thought to be just a virus was actually much more serious: Drew was diagnosed with leukemia. His care team at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt quickly got to work on a treatment plan, and Drew started chemotherapy right away.

"When we meet patients for the first time, and we tell them that they have a diagnosis of cancer, we know in that moment we are there to hopefully save that patient's life." — Scott Borinstein, M.D., Ph.D., Drew's Oncologist

One of the biggest hurdles for Drew was giving up the sports that he loved. And although he lost the last nine weeks of his seventh-grade year, he finished from home and maintained all A’s. After four weeks of chemotherapy, Drew went into remission. He was able to return both to school and to the baseball team for his eighth-grade year. He is now doing great with his treatments, and he continues to handle every challenge that comes his way with strength.

"The moment I stepped back on the baseball field to play again, it just felt amazing because I was really excited to get back to doing what I love." — Drew Estes, Pediatric Cancer Survivor

“Knowing we have a state-of-the-art place like Children’s Hospital in our region is so comforting," Drew's mom, Jenny, says. "When this happened, we asked everyone we knew where the best place for treatment would be. We are sure that Children’s Hospital is right where we needed to be.”

Thank you for making this life-changing care possible.

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A Come-From-Behind Win

hallk19 — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 15:44:04 +0000

A Come-From-Behind Win

Impact Report

hallk19 Mon, 06/27/2022 - 10:44 RSS:

A Come-From-Behind Win

At 53, Ron Duncan was a successful businessman who played multiple sports and considered himself to be in great health. But when he started having abdominal pain, he visited his doctor and received devastating news. What he thought was just a hernia from playing sports was much more serious.

Ron was diagnosed with peritoneal carcinomatosis, a cancer that originated in his appendix and spread throughout his abdominal area.

When Ron researched this online, the common theme he saw was “terminal,” leaving him gripped with fear.

But then he met Kamran Idrees, MD, MSCI, MMHC, director of Pancreas and GI Surgical Oncology and director of the Peritoneal Surface Malignancy Program at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

Dr. Idrees came to Vanderbilt-Ingram in 2012 to establish the hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemoperfusion (HIPEC) program to offer hope to patients with abdominal cancer. The highly specialized treatment combines surgery with heated chemotherapy delivered directly into the abdomen.

"Building a successful program, such as the one at at our institution, could not have been possible without a true team effort and our incredible community of supporters. " — Kamran Idrees, MD, MSCI, MMHC, Ron’s Doctor at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

In April 2013, Ron underwent the surgery, and it saved his life. Now, six years later, he is back to playing softball double headers. Grateful for the care he received, Ron now raises funds for research and support for families dealing with cancer.

Innovative treatments like this are available because of support from donors like you. Thank you for helping us give new hope to patients.

"I have the most blessed life. I’ve been married to my wife Jill for 38 years. My sons are exquisite young men, and I love being a grandfather. Dr. Idrees and Vanderbilt gave me the gift of being around for my family." — Ron Duncan, Cancer Survivor

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Part of the Family

hallk19 — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 15:39:09 +0000

Part of the Family

Impact Report

hallk19 Mon, 06/27/2022 - 10:39 RSS:

Part of the Family

“A parent’s worst nightmare” is how Lametra Scott, PharmD, CCHP, describes the moment her son Rickey was diagnosed with sickle cell disease, a blood disorder that can cause blood clots and severe pain.

As a new mom, Lametra was scared and had a lot of questions. Fortunately, she had a highly specialized program nearby at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

The Vanderbilt-Meharry Center for Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease is led by internationally renowned sickle cell expert Michael DeBaun, MD, MPH.

“Dr. DeBaun, Ms. Jeannie Byrd and many others at Children’s Hospital have become part of our family,” said Lametra. “They treat you as a family member, a friend, a human being. And that speaks volumes to the personalized care they provide.”

"By creating a medical home setting—a place of coordinated care—the Vanderbilt-Meharry Center of Excellence in Sickle Cell Disease decreases the burden on families and increases quality of care." — Michael DeBaun, MD, MPH, Rickey’s doctor

Today, Rickey continues to take medications and returns to see his friends at Children’s Hospital every three months for check-ups, but he isn’t letting sickle cell disease stand in his way. He is a fun-loving, fearless 6-year-old who loves dancing and martial arts.

Looking to pay it forward for the care her family received, Lametra now educates others about the disease and says her family found a greater purpose in having a child diagnosed with sickle cell disease. She’s founded an organization that helps raise funds and awareness for community sickle cell advocacy.

"Without Children’s Hospital, parents like me would be at a loss. All of the research, all of the treatments and all of the care—none of it could take place without generous donations." — Lametra Scott, PharmD, CCHP, Rickey’s Mom

World-class programs like this exist because of support from donors like you. Thank you for making a difference for patients like Rickey.

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A New Life After Breast Cancer

hallk19 — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 15:26:32 +0000

A New Life After Breast Cancer

Impact Report

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A New Life After Breast Cancer

Jocelyn and Ted Limmer were ecstatic when they found out they were expecting. It was right before their third wedding anniversary, and the couple describes it as the greatest moment of their lives.

But on her first obstetrician visit, Jocelyn mentioned a lump in her breast, thinking it was due to her pregnancy. After a biopsy, Jocelyn learned she had invasive ductal carcinoma, triple negative, stage 2 breast cancer.

“Being told ‘you have cancer’ right after finding out you’re pregnant, it was a total shock,” said Jocelyn.

The Limmers were left with an important decision — where to receive care.

They knew they would need the best care possible, ensuring both mother and baby’s care. They knew there was only one place to go, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.

“Cancer seems to always be seen as someone else’s disease, until you’re faced with it. It turns your world around. Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center was great. It was wonderful to go to one facility.” — Ted Limmer, Jocelyn’s husband

Jocelyn began chemotherapy in her second trimester. Her doctor, Vandana Abramson, made sure to coordinate and meet with her obstetrician face-to-face regularly, making sure everyone was on the same page.

Both Jocelyn’s pregnancy and cancer treatment went smoothly until Charlotte (Charlie) came early at 33 weeks via C-section. She was delivered after her ninth chemo treatment, and she returned for her last treatment three weeks later.

Charlie was able to be there with her for her final treatment and when she rang the bell. Although Jocelyn continued to receive treatment, including a double mastectomy, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center gave her two things she will never forget: a beautiful baby and the chance to be there for Charlie as she grows up.

Your support helps mothers like Jocelyn beat breast cancer and gives more children like Charlie the chance to grow up with a mother.

“The moment I met Dr. Abramson, she had a plan, she knew exactly what she needed to do. She really set my mind at ease, knowing that Charlie would be okay and that I would be okay.” — Jocelyn Limmer, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Patient

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A Gift That Could Give a New Voice to Deaf Children

hallk19 — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 14:53:25 +0000

A Gift That Could Give a New Voice to Deaf Children

Impact Report

hallk19 Mon, 06/27/2022 - 09:53 RSS:

A Gift That Could Give a New Voice to Deaf Children

Anne Marie Tharpe, PhD, and her husband, Jim Kramka, are making a gift to VUMC through their wills in honor of Tharpe’s late father.

What began as a high school volunteer project would eventually lead Anne Marie Tharpe, PhD, to a career devoted to understanding and mitigating the impact of hearing loss in children.

Dr. Tharpe — now chair of the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, associate director of the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center, and a worldwide authority on pediatric hearing loss — is ensuring that work endures and grows. And to continue that legacy long into the future, she and her husband Jim Kramka, senior director for Housing Facilities Operations and Management at Vanderbilt University, are making a gift to Vanderbilt Health through their wills in honor of her late father, the Honorable James M. Tharpe.

The James M. Tharpe Fund for Pediatric Communication Disorders will support endowed research and directorships in the divisions within the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences that serve children.

Tharpe earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from Vanderbilt, and since 2009 has been associate director of the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson Center and chair of the Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences.

Tharpe envisions a world where hearing loss is treated with genetic medicine and fully implantable devices will supplant devices worn outside the body. Her generous gift will support that future research, as well as offering financial assistance for families who use services such as the Mama Lere Hearing School, a preschool for children with hearing loss.

“I don’t see this gift as perpetuating my work as much as helping the department continue to move forward,” she said. “The work that we do here…provides hope and opportunities, and enhances the lives of individuals who have more struggles than most of us.”

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William and Frances Blot Deed Home to VUMC to Benefit Cancer Patients

josephe — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 16:35:24 +0000

William and Frances Blot Deed Home to VUMC to Benefit Cancer Patients josephe Mon, 04/25/2022 - 11:35 RSS:

William and Frances Blot Deed Home to VUMC
to Benefit Cancer Patients

Their condominium in The Westbury was at the heart of all that William and Frances Blot loved about Nashville — its proximity to Vanderbilt where he worked for two decades, its sidewalk that led to the greenspaces where they would watch the seasons change, and its residents who became more like friends than neighbors.

When William Blot became emeritus professor of Medicine this spring, the Blots moved away from Nashville and gave from their hearts, deeding their home to Vanderbilt University Medical Center. The proceeds from its sale created a charitable remainder trust to establish the Frances D. and William J. Blot Cancer Fund to support patient care initiatives, research endeavors and training of the next generation of scientists at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC).

“I’m so glad we did this,” said Frances Blot. “We loved being in Nashville and all the people we knew on the Vanderbilt staff, the professors and the students. We don’t know the new people who moved in the condominium, but we do know that the sale is helping Vanderbilt, and that makes us really happy.”

William Blot, PhD, served as associate director of Population Sciences Research at VICC until his April 1 retirement. He joins many other faculty who have served VUMC and chosen to extend their impact through philanthropic support.

“We are great admirers of the program that Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, and colleagues have developed,” he said. “Having been part of the leadership as an associate director, I have over the years seen the need for increased funding. We figured that since we weren’t going to be using our condominium anymore in Nashville, this would be contributing in a small way.”

William Blot came to Vanderbilt in 2000 to help establish a cancer epidemiology program. The program has grown from a handful of employees to a staff approaching 100. Blot and Margaret Hargreaves, PhD, cofounded the landmark Southern Community Cohort Study, one of the nation’s largest epidemiologic studies, to assess the reasons for racial and geographic disparities in cancer incidence and mortality. The study has received continuous funding from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) since 2001 and has played a role in changes to public health policy, including the recent decision by the United States Preventive Services Task Force to lower the age and smoking history recommendations for lung screenings.

“This is a generous and much-appreciated gift from Bill and Frances Blot. Dr. Blot has already given so much to Vanderbilt-Ingram through his leadership and establishing a world-class cancer epidemiology program.” — Jennifer Pietenpol, PhD, B.F. Byrd Jr. Professor of Oncology, director of VICC, Executive Vice President for Research at VUMC and holder of the Brock Family Directorship in Career Development

“His research has yielded key discoveries regarding the distribution, determinants and means of preventing human cancers. He has created platforms that have accelerated discoveries impacting the health and welfare of communities in the U.S. and around the world. The Frances D. and William J. Blot Cancer Fund will support continued progress in these efforts as we work to lessen the burden of cancer in this region and beyond,” Pietenpol said.

Orrin H. Ingram II, chair of the VICC Board of Overseers, also noted Blot’s leadership and commitment.

“Not only does Bill give back through his cutting-edge research, but he and Fran give back through their philanthropy in supporting young investigators’ research. This early-stage funding is so critical, as most federal and institutional grants require research to be further developed before funding is considered,” said Ingram.

Blot began his career working in Hiroshima, Japan, for the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission after completing an undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of Florida, where he and Frances met in a classroom, and then a PhD in statistics from Florida State University. “I got introduced into the field of medical statistics and epidemiology and discovered that’s where I wanted to be rather than as a mathematician or statistician,” he said.

Blot then worked at The Johns Hopkins School of Public Health before joining the NCI for 20 years, where he served as chief of the Biostatistics Branch. He left the NCI and cofounded the International Epidemiology Institute. The company contracted with Vanderbilt to develop a research portfolio in cancer epidemiology and to recruit staff, a relationship that led to Blot’s appointment as a Vanderbilt professor.

“The first grant application we submitted toward the end of 2000 was for the Southern Community Cohort Study,” he said. “Lo and behold, that got funded on the first go-around. We also were fortunate to recruit epidemiologists Wei Zheng, MD, PhD, and Xiao-Ou Shu, MD, PhD. Suddenly, Vanderbilt went from maybe one or two part-time people engaged in cancer epidemiology to a core group of over a dozen people. We established a track record of funding for epidemiologic research that moved Vanderbilt from almost nowhere on the list to close to the top in about a year-and-a-half period. It was a remarkable period of transition.”

The Blots are now enjoying retirement at their home in Chevy Chase, Maryland, near their daughter, son and three grandchildren, and at their condominium in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

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Gift Highlights Strong, Lasting Bond between Patients & Healers

josephe — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 16:19:09 +0000

Gift Highlights Strong, Lasting Bond between Patients & Healers josephe Mon, 04/25/2022 - 11:19 RSS:

Gift Highlights Strong, Lasting Bond between Patients & Healers

For many Vanderbilt University Medical Center patients, expressing gratitude for their health often takes a philanthropic turn, leaving both the patient and the physician feeling fulfilled.

And sometimes patients choose to honor their physicians with longer-term financial planning. Karen Kendrick-Baker and her husband, Jerry, of Manchester, Tennessee, think so highly of their Vanderbilt physicians that they have included the Medical Center in their estate planning.

“We have no children and have a very small family. When I thought about the thing that most impacts my life, I thought of Vanderbilt and Dr. Jagasia,” she said.

Shubhada Jagasia, M.D., MMHC, professor of Medicine, has been Kendrick-Baker’s physician since 1999 when she first saw her as a resident. Kendrick-Baker has had type 1 diabetes since she was 17. Her husband sees Syeda Zaidi, M.D., assistant professor of Medicine.

“Dr. Jagasia is well educated and credentialed, but I believe you need a person-to-person connection with your doctor, and let’s face it, that’s not always a given,” said Kendrick-Baker. “Dr. Jagasia is compassionate and very earnest. She’s referred me to specialists when needed. Our relationship is trust, upon trust, upon trust.”

Before she committed to the financial gift, Kendrick-Baker was given a tour of the Vanderbilt Diabetes Research Center.

“I already felt good about my decision, but that made me even more sure. There's an incredible amount of work going on there,” she said.

"I went home and told my husband, ‘we’ve done the right thing. We’ve put our assets where they’re going to do the most good.’ It all started with Dr. Jagasia and the trust I have in her.” — Karen Kendrick-Baker

Jagasia said she feels “humbled and grateful” by the gift to Vanderbilt made in her honor. “It highlights what a noble profession medicine is, and I’m honored that someone would consider including me in such a personal decision."

“The qualities that make a good doctor are honesty, humility and integrity. It’s important for physicians who treat chronic disease to not only be empathetic, but also objective. It can be a difficult balance for physicians to reach. You should be a peer, coach and friend, but when necessary, be able to step outside of those roles and say ‘as your doctor, this is what I think,’” Jagasia said.

But she emphasized that the care provided in Vanderbilt’s Eskind Diabetes Center is a team effort with highly trained subspecialists, nurse practitioners, certified diabetes educators and dietitians playing equally important roles in the care of patients.

Jagasia said she is fortunate to have long-term relationships with her patients because she treats them through all of the phases of their lives. “I often see patients through pregnancy, child bearing, acute illness, personal challenges and through the ups and downs,” she said.

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An Accidental Discovery

josephe — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 16:38:54 +0000

An Accidental Discovery

Impact Report

josephe Mon, 04/04/2022 - 11:38 RSS:

An Accidental Discovery

After getting hit in the head with a baseball, a scan revealed that Jordan had a cerebral cavernous malformation -- a large tumor on his brain. After researching the best programs in the country, the Johnsons decided that the neurosurgery team at Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt was the right choice.

When 15-year-old Jordan Johnson was struck by a baseball during a game in June 2020, he never imagined the hit would end up saving his life.

After the injury, Jordan’s parents Jeff and Ivette took him to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to make sure everything was okay. They were shocked when a scan revealed that Jordan had a giant cerebral cavernous malformation — that is, an abnormal grouping of small blood vessels inside of his brain stem. The lesion had likely been there since birth, gradually growing over time — and by the time Jordan suffered the hit, the lesion had reached a critical size. The options were to continue to let it grow, with the possibility of life-threatening rupture, or to remove it with a high-risk surgery.

“We are so thankful that we had this world-class hospital and surgeon right in our backyard.” ***— Ivette Johnson,* *Jordan’s Mom***

Because the lesion was inside the brain stem, a major concern was Jordan’s ability to move and communicate. His parents say their biggest questions were, “Are we going to get our Jordan back? The Jordan he was before surgery?”

After researching the best programs in the country, the Johnsons decided that the neurosurgery team at Children's Hospital, led by John C. (Jay) Wellons III, MD, MSPH, was the right choice.

“We were just a typical family with a typical life,” said Jordan’s dad Jeff. “Our lives consisted of travel ball, school band performances and family vacations to Disney World. We would have never believed that our son would ever have to have brain surgery.”

Jordan’s condition required an eight-hour brain surgery, followed by two weeks of recovery in the hospital. After that, he began his journey to rehabilitation — he would have to relearn everything, from how to eat to how to walk. Throughout the healing process, Jordan grew especially close to Dr. Wellons, who performed his surgery. As Chief of the Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Dr. Wellons was awarded the inaugural Cal Turner Chair in Pediatric Neurosurgery in 2020.

“Jordan is an inspiring young man,” said Dr. Wellons. “He has handled a very challenging diagnosis and recovery with grit and determination." Now a year out from surgery, Jordan is home and receiving outpatient physical therapy. “I think I’m doing great because after surgery, I couldn’t even brush my teeth, and now I can solve my Rubik’s cube," said Jordan. “My goal is to walk on my own and play sports again, and I know that with hard work, I can do anything.”

“We are so thankful that we had this world-class hospital and surgeon right in our backyard,” said Jordan’s mom, Ivette. “Because of that, we have our Jordan back. We were recently able to celebrate his sixteenth birthday, and we’ll get to watch him graduate, go to college and be whatever he wants to be.”

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Recognizing Jingle Toy Drive 2023 Supporters

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban gift supports breast cancer clinical trials at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center

An enduring legacy

Spring event honors donors’ support and generosity

New Junior League gift celebrates 100 years of support

New Junior League gift celebrates 100 years of support

Donor Spotlight: The Barbours

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

After years of declining health from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), Richard Barbour underwent a double lung transplant at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

A Family’s Lifeline during COVID-19

A Family’s Lifeline during COVID-19

Taking Pediatric Cardiology to New Heights

Taking Pediatric Cardiology to New Heights

Five-year-old Khori was born with a congenital heart defect and has already undergone two open-heart surgeries in her short life. After her second surgery, it was clear she would need a new heart, so she was placed on the transplant list.

A New Kind of Heart Transplant

A New Kind of Heart Transplant

At Vanderbilt Health, we understand that sometimes before we can save a patient’s life, we need to pioneer innovative, new ways to do that. Take Maurice McAllister, for instance.

Grateful Breast Cancer Survivor Gives Back

Grateful Breast Cancer Survivor Gives Back

Latonya Drumwright was expecting to pop in quickly for a routine mammogram on her lunch break—but when she found herself with a longer-than-usual wait after the exam, she had a feeling this visit may not be just a typical checkup.

Breakthroughs in Bloom

Breakthroughs in Bloom

At 7 years old, Lily Hensiek's biggest worries were homework and getting her ears pierced. But when she started complaining of back pain, experiencing fevers and bruising easily, her family began to worry.

The Unsung Heroes

The Unsung Heroes

The Vanderbilt Health trauma staff cares for thousands of patients each year, but the team was never expecting they would face three mass shootings in just seven months.

Back in the Game

Back in the Game

In March 2016, all that should have been on seventh-grader Drew Estes’ mind was middle school baseball tryouts and basketball practice. But when he developed a persistent fever, his parents took him to the doctor to see what was wrong.

A Come-From-Behind Win

A Come-From-Behind Win

At 53, Ron Duncan was a successful businessman who played multiple sports and considered himself to be in great health. But when he started having abdominal pain, he visited his doctor and received devastating news. What he thought was just a hernia from playing sports was much more serious.

Part of the Family

Part of the Family

“A parent’s worst nightmare” is how Lametra Scott, PharmD, CCHP, describes the moment her son Rickey was diagnosed with sickle cell disease, a blood disorder that can cause blood clots and severe pain.

As a new mom, Lametra was scared and had a lot of questions. Fortunately, she had a highly specialized program nearby at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.

A New Life After Breast Cancer

A New Life After Breast Cancer

Jocelyn and Ted Limmer were ecstatic when they found out they were expecting. It was right before their third wedding anniversary, and the couple describes it as the greatest moment of their lives.

But on her first obstetrician visit, Jocelyn mentioned a lump in her breast, thinking it was due to her pregnancy. After a biopsy, Jocelyn learned she had invasive ductal carcinoma, triple negative, stage 2 breast cancer.

A Gift That Could Give a New Voice to Deaf Children

A Gift That Could Give a New Voice to Deaf Children

William and Frances Blot Deed Home to VUMC to Benefit Cancer Patients

William and Frances Blot Deed Home to VUMC to Benefit Cancer Patients

Gift Highlights Strong, Lasting Bond between Patients & Healers

Gift Highlights Strong, Lasting Bond between Patients & Healers

"I went home and told my husband, ‘we’ve done the right thing. We’ve put our assets where they’re going to do the most good.’ It all started with Dr. Jagasia and the trust I have in her.” — Karen Kendrick-Baker

An Accidental Discovery

An Accidental Discovery

“We are so thankful that we had this world-class hospital and surgeon right in our backyard.” — Ivette Johnson, Jordan’s Mom

William and Frances Blot Deed Home to VUMC
to Benefit Cancer Patients

“We are so thankful that we had this world-class hospital and surgeon right in our backyard.” ***— Ivette Johnson,* *Jordan’s Mom***