Ann was diagnosed at birth with a soft cleft palate—a hole in the roof of her mouth that caused difficulty with eating and could have caused speech issues if not repaired. A pediatric plastic surgeon practicing at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital repaired Ann’s cleft when she was almost one-year-old. Her parents, Cathy and Robert, were so thankful to have a children’s hospital in Memphis where everything from Bunny Lane to the playroom made her surgery and recovery easier for Ann. Today, you would never know that Ann was born with a birth defect. She has needed no further treatment and is a typical eight-year-old who loves animals, crafts and playing with her sister.
April 2012
04/27/2012
04/19/2012
Meet Mary Quay W., Memphis, TN
During a 20-week ultrasound, Mary Quay was diagnosed with spina bifida (a birth defect in which the backbone and spinal canal don’t close before birth) and hydrocephalus (the buildup of fluid inside the skull which leads to brain swelling). The doctor initially gave her parents, Cathy and Robert, a grim prognosis.
Within hours of her birth, Mary Quay was admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital where they performed surgery to repair the hole in her back. Not only did her parents feel that Le Bonheur took incredible care of Mary Quay during her first weeks of life but the staff welcomed them into the care setting and supported them during a difficult time.
Today, Mary Quay is a very happy and mostly healthy five-year-old.
2012 FAD Twitter Feed
Cheer for the All-Stars
- Children's hospital patients and their families are traveling from across the U.S. for the Children's Hospital Association's Family Advocacy Day, July 23-25, 2012. They will tell Congress about the importance of children's health care coverage and health issues. This site will feature a different participating child each week until the event. Leave a comment and cheer on our All-Stars for children's health!
About Family Advocacy Day
- In its eighth year, the Children's Hospital Association 2012 Family Advocacy Day brings patients from children's hospitals and their families to tell their stories to lawmakers on Captiol Hill. Find out more about Family Advocacy Day.
With All Our Might Policy Blog
- Check out our health policy blog With All Our Might. To contribute a blog post as a 2012 Family Advocacy Day participant, please contact Justin Beland at 703-797-6063.
- Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in individual posts are strictly those of the author(s) and in no way represent those of N.A.C.H. N.A.C.H. assumes no liability for the information therein and extends no implied or expressed warranty or guarantee of accuracy. The receipt of unsolicited ideas by N.A.C.H. does not obligate N.A.C.H. to keep these ideas confidential, nor does it obligate N.A.C.H. to pay the person who submits them.
© N.A.C.H. 2007