March 29, 2017

“The Bump Watch blog was such a great sense of community for new moms and a great forum to come together to share ideas and experiences,” said Texas Children’s employee Emily Klein, who delivered her daughter, Audrey, two days after Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women opened five years ago.

Launched by the Corporate Communications team in March 2012, the Bump Watch blog was designed to educate employees about the wonderful Ob/GYN services, programs and amenities offered at the Pavilion for Women while generating excitement for the opening of the new hospital dedicated to the care of women and babies.

As we celebrate Bump Watch and the Pavilion for Women turning five on March 26, we revisited three of our Bump Watch families – the Clarks, the McDades and the Kleins – to see just how big their babies have grown since we first met them.

“I think the best thing about participating in the Bump Watch blog was the documentation of my first pregnancy,” said Erin McDade, whose son Aiden is now 5 years old and a big brother to his sister who was born at the Pavilion for Women two years ago. “To have photos of my pregnancy and the video of the ultrasound, these memories were unique and very special.”

Besides promoting the services at the Pavilion for Women, the Bump Watch blog was also a great employee engagement tool across the organization. Readers, commenters and bloggers embraced the blog as a place to share their baby’s first milestones, first birthdays and surprise announcements including their experiences delivering their newborns at the Pavilion for Women. Employees shared their pregnancy challenges and offered advice for new and expectant parents.

In the blog’s first three months, Bump Watch generated more than 100,000 views and over 560,000 views until its bittersweet farewell in September 2015.

September 29, 2015

Today marks a bittersweet moment: after more than three years, we are saying farewell to the Bump Watch blog. As we close this final chapter of Bump Watch, Angela Hudson, Hasti Taghi and Rosie Moore share some of their fondest moments about this journey. And we revisit several Bump Watch families to see just how big their babies have grown since we first met them.

How a dusty hospital terrarium inspired Bump Watch

93015BWHudson640Almost 15 years ago, I was admitted to the antepartum unit at a nearby hospital. I was 21 weeks pregnant and had bouts with pre-term labor for about a week before I was finally admitted. Subsequently, I spent the next six weeks on hospitalized bedrest. My hospital room was small, dingy and nondescript. The compact sofa bed with its vinyl covering was too small for my husband and so obviously uncomfortable that I insisted he not stay most nights. And the only window in my room was a filmy 18-inch square high on the wall. Inside the “window” was what I think used to be a terrarium which housed a plastic cactus and years of dust. I spent most of my six weeks in this room, sometimes in Trendelenburg position, the perfect angle from which to study the details of that awful terrarium.

So when I came to Texas Children’s Marketing/PR department in fall 2010 and learned of the plans for Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, I was elated. I was so incredibly grateful for what Texas Children’s was positioning itself to do for women and their families. As I fully grasped the experience that we were intent on providing for our expectant mothers, I was so excited, and I really wanted to do something with that excitement – I wanted to pass it on to all of you. That’s what inspired me to give you Bump Watch.

The opening of the Pavilion represented a huge milestone for our organization, as we were venturing into adult services with an incredible vision that others hadn’t yet grasped. It was important that our staff and employees understood this and appreciated how we were going to majorly shift the approach to ob/gyn services. I was clear, however, that I didn’t want us to solely communicate to you about the Pavilion in the way we typically share news about new capital projects – construction timeline, square feet, project dollars, patient capacity and parking spaces. I also wanted you to see the Pavilion through the eyes of the mothers for whom we were creating it. Bump Watch would allow us to share all of the wonderful, thoughtful features of the Pavilion through the stories of the families.

My team started requesting participants for our Bump Watch blog in summer 2011, and many of you generously agreed to share your stories. Several months later, I was fortunate to have Hasti Taghi join our team. She had just the right amount of eagerness and zeal to embrace the idea of Bump Watch, and she breathed life into it as the blog’s first editor.

Seeing Bump Watch launch on March 3, 2012, was so rewarding. It was an awesome communication milestone for us as an organization. We had more than 100,000 views in the blog’s first three months and 557,006 views to date.

I loved all of the Bump Watch families’ stories, especially in those first months as we explored the Pavilion through their eyes. I know I can’t change the six weeks that I experienced in the hospital years ago, but Texas Children’s has changed it for the thousands of mothers who come here each year. And Bump Watch helped tell that beautiful story. I am immensely grateful, and I thank you for your part in the blog’s tremendous success.

Oh, and that’s my NICU graduate above. Clark is now the most amazing 14-year-old. Thank you for that too, Texas Children’s.

Angela J. Hudson, Director, Corporate Communications

 

Farewell from the Bump Watch editors

Hasti Taghi

93015BWhastiIf you know me well, you know I love babies. If you bring a baby around me, chances are I’ll ask if I can hold him or her and you won’t have much of a choice.

The organization hired me just before Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women opened. I was tasked with leading the creation and execution of Bump Watch, our very first internal blog. I hadn’t had any babies, but I was fascinated with the journeys our Bump Watch moms took as they prepared for theirs and thrilled about the journey we took as we completed the Pavilion for Women.

This blog became my first major project here, my first baby. I was introduced to the loveliest employees and fell in love with all of your families. Our moms and dads were so open with their stories. They shared their highs and lows and several even had me on speed dial as they went into labor.

Through Bump Watch, we all learned of the various journeys that are taken to become a family and of the many services available at the Pavilion. Although it’s no longer new, the care we provide here still fascinates me. I am so proud to have experienced the Pavilion in its infancy and so humbled to have met the beautiful families who let me into the most important time of their lives. If I’m ever lucky enough to have my own babies, I will be so well-informed because of your willingness to open up to me. Thank you for bringing us along on your journey.

Rosie Moore

93015BWRosieOn May 5, 2014, I joined the Texas Children’s Internal Communications team. Shortly after I got here, I became the second editor of Bump Watch. When Hasti passed her “first baby” onto me, I graciously embraced this exciting opportunity.

Over the past year, I’ve learned so many important lessons from our Bump Watch moms. Perhaps the greatest lesson of all was perserverance. No matter what challenges these moms faced – large or small – they never gave up. They kept on going until they reached that light at the end of the tunnel.

I will never forget the story of Amber Jacques who triumphantly beat cancer and infertility issues and is now the proud mother of a beautiful girl. Or the story of Julia Moreira, who described the unbreakable bond she developed with her extremely sick son in the NICU who she only knew for 29 days. What a strong, courageous mother.

Thank you for sharing your stories with us about your incredible journeys to parenthood. I enjoyed being part of this adventure as you shared exciting news with all of us, like your birth announcements, the big gender reveals, or updates on how much your babies have grown since they were last featured on Bump Watch. So I thought it fitting to bring the babies back for a final – and incredibly cute – farewell.

 

Revisiting the “Original” Bump Watch families

1. Tanya Butler-Brown

93015BWButler640It’s hard to believe our sweet, beautiful baby girl, Cai Amelia Brown, just celebrated her second birthday! Cai is a happy, healthy, independent, busy, feisty but loving little girl. She likes to dress herself in everyone’s clothes. She has been putting on her own shoes for quite some time now and she is really loving this potty training adventure…we’re almost there!

Cai is enrolled in a learning academy where she continues to thrive beyond our expectations. Cai’s teachers enjoy working with her because they say, “Baby Cai always has a great day and she is eager to learn, participate and demonstrate.” Cai loves to sing nursery rhymes. One of her favorites is “I Love You, I Love You, I Love You.” Another is “Ring Around the Rosy.” (Only problem is, daddy and I have a hard time getting up after “we all fall down.”) Cai also loves to dance. We have no intentions of expanding our family especially considering that my husband and I were very “mature” when we became parents to our two miraculous blessings.

2. Jessica Cernosek

93015BWCernosek640Two years ago, my husband, Nathan, and I welcomed our first baby, Lucia Isabelle. Our sweet bundle of joy was a welcome surprise. We had tried to conceive for years and was on a waiting list to adopt when we found out we were expecting.

Today, Lucia is a feisty toddler. She is two and doing awesome. Lucia started school and is learning so much. She says new things every day. My favorite is, “I’m pigging out.” I have no idea who she picked that up from!

This year, we welcomed baby Baby No. 2 to our family. I found out I was pregnant again when Lucia turned one. Thomas is five months old and Lucia is doing a terrific job in her new role as big sister. We are a lively household.

3. Kimberly Clark

93015BWClark596Time has flown by since our son, Myles Williams Clark, was featured on Bump Watch. Today, he is a vibrant, young 3-year-old boy.

Miles has reached many milestones. He is in Pre-K 3 at Wonderland Private School where he enjoys learning and playing with his friends. He loves Spiderman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. He has a contagious laugh and smile, and he fills our lives with great joy and happiness. We recently expanded our family when my husband and I welcomed our fifth child, Matthew James Clark, on August 30.

4. Lindsey Gooding

93015BWGooding640Lindsey and her husband welcomed their son, William James, in April 2012 at the Pavilion for Women. He spent four weeks of his fragile life in the NICU. Today, at age 3, he has achieved so many milestones.

It’s hard to believe how fast time goes by and how much can change in the blink of an eye. You would never know that our little guy spent a month in the NICU. William is the happiest little boy who loves playing with trucks, knows all his shapes, can run, hop, do a front roll on his own, swim and loves spending time with this family. We are so thankful for the great care we’ve continued to receive over the last three years in the Pavilion!

Since our last Bump Watch post, we’ve gotten through several surgeries at the Pavilion, had a miscarriage but I am happy to report, I recently delivered a healthy baby girl in September. We named her Anna Grace, and William is thrilled to be a big brother.

5. Emily Klein

93015BWKlein640Our daughter, Audrey Olivia Klein, was born on March 28, 2012 at the Pavilion for Women. She weighed 7 pounds, 6 ounces. She has grown tremendously since then.

Audrey is a thriving 3 ½ years old. She was an infant when Bump Watch first launched. She is a happy, confident, imaginative and outgoing little girl. Audrey started talking early and has a great vocabulary. She loves to get out and see things, and her favorite place to visit is the Alamo. There is never a dull moment with her.

Audrey recently became a big sister in September.

6. Dr. Susan Leong-Kee

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Daniel and Abby just celebrated their two year birthday and are doing great. They just started 2-year-old preschool and their speech and vocabulary have sky rocketed. They love to sing and dance, read books, play outside and play in the pool.

We have not expanded our family yet as we absolutely have our hands full. Grandma (PoPo) is still a very big part of their lives and cooks them gourmet Chinese meals every day. We are so thankful every day she is here to help raise our twins.

7. Veronica Love

93015BWLove640Our precious daughter, Logan Love, was born on January 30, 2014 at the Pavilion for Women. Her arrival was extra special for our family as she was born three years after my triumphant battle against breast cancer.

Logan is now 18 months old and she is beautiful, sassy and on the run. She was featured on Bump Watch when she was about two months old and has grown fast and reached many milestones since then. She climbs anything standing relatively still and loves to chase her 8-year-old brother Declan. She has brought so much joy to our lives and definitely keeps us on our toes.

8. Erin McDade

93015BWMcDade640My husband and I welcomed our son, Aidan James, on March 30, 2012. He weighed a whopping 9 pounds and 13 ounces. Today, he is 3 ½ years old and, as you can see, loves fire engines.

Since Aidan’s debut on Bump Watch, our son has grown up so fast. He walked at 11 months and his first word was “ball,” which is fitting given his love for sports. He enjoys swimming, playing soccer, football and baseball. He went fishing for the first time this summer and caught his first fish. Right now, Aiden LOVES fire engines, fire fighters and any and everything associated with a fire station. He even got to have his third birthday party at the Houston Fire Museum.

Aidan’s biggest milestone to date is becoming a big brother. We welcomed Aidan’s little sister, Addison, into the world in January 2015. He absolutely loves his little sister and is the best in the family at making her laugh. While the last six months with our “threenager” has been a challenge, we wouldn’t change a single second of it.

9. Dr. Joyee Vachani

93015BWVachani640My husband, Sameer, and I welcomed our second daughter, Diya, almost two years ago at the Pavilion for Women. She is 22 months old and has brought lots of joy to our family.

Diya initially had a bumpy first year with a diagnosis of milk protein allergy and then multiple ear infections requiring ear tubes. Since then, she has grown into an amazing little person – talking, running, singing and dancing her way into the heart of everyone she meets. Big sister Avni (who is older by only 18 months) is enjoying her younger sister and realizing quickly Diya can’t be bossed around for long. Avni is thoughtful, caring and sensitive while Diya is joyous, social and fearless, and they each bring out the best in each other.

August 12, 2015

81215BWCameron640Dear Cameron,

Why fit in when you were born to stand out.

One year ago on July 17, you burst into the world. Your daddy raced us to Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, and just 26 minutes later, you were born. After getting over the initial shock of your quick arrival, it sunk in that my life was changed forever. It was during your first bath that our nurse pointed out your dimples. To this day, your dimples remain one of my favorite things about you. Not only are they an adorable and unique facial feature, they are a constant symbol of your happiness. You are the happiest and smiliest baby I have ever known. You flash your smile and wave at anyone that catches your eye. It’s no wonder that people are so naturally drawn to you.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose.

It seems like just yesterday you needed me for everything from holding your head up, getting your burps out and marathon nursing sessions. In those early days, I marveled at your every move. Watching you grow, learn and reach milestones has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. You’re not walking just yet but have several other skills that you are honing to perfection. Your fierce ball throwing, jumping and speed crawling abilities have given your athletic parents high hopes for a sporty future. Your gravitation towards books warms my heart and I love watching you light up as you explore the words and pictures. “Turn the page” was the first instruction that you consistently followed, but only with your left hand.

Oh, the Places You Will Go

The travel seed has been firmly planted in you. It was on your first out-of-town trip to the Texas Hill Country at 10 weeks of age that we discovered the ridiculous amount of baby gear you require. At four months old, you conquered a 10-hour road trip to Destin, Florida to celebrate Thanksgiving with the family. At six months, we rush ordered a passport for you, as sadly your great grandmother in England passed away. On your first flight, the Dreamliner Captain welcomed you into the cockpit and totally dug your Snoopy bomber jacket. Even though the circumstances for the trip were sad, the extended family fawned over you and happily introduced you to mushy peas. At eight months, your daddy wheeled you up and down the hilly San Francisco streets and you experienced life behind bars in an Alcatraz jail cell. Your passion for the outdoors and new experiences has made me giddy for the lifetime of travel we have ahead of us.

81215BWDearCameron640Family, like branches on a tree we all grow in a different direction, yet our roots remain as one.

You are blessed to receive so much love from your entire family. Your Grammy and Pops enthusiastically swing you at the park, play endless games of peek-a-boo and chase you around in your red sports car. Your Nanny and Grandad love exposing you to music, culture, travel, and puppies. Even though your Nanny swore she wouldn’t be “that Grandma,” she proudly showcases you all over social media. Your free-spirited nanny Sarah lovingly cares for you day after day and encourages you to become whoever it is that you want to be.

To the world you may be one person; but to one person you may be the world.

Cameron, you have taught me to practice patience, to be more selfless and to live in the moment. You have allowed me to trust my Mommy instincts and that it is ok to break “parenting rules.” I am infinitely grateful for the bond you have solidified between your Daddy and me. We are a team and you are our M.V.P. You are generous in your cuddles and sloppy kisses and gentle towards other babies and animals. You are courageous, determined and show resilience when you fail. You delight in your accomplishments and value the praise you receive. I admire these qualities and hope that the baby you are today is an indication of the man you will become.

Your first year felt both long and short and hard and effortless, however the one constant is that my love for you grows at a faster rate than you do. I am so proud to be your mom. As this first chapter in our lives together comes to a close, I will end this letter with the wise words of Dr. Seuss: “Cameron, you’re off to great places, today is your day, your mountain is waiting, so go get on your way.”

Love, Mommy (Julie Griffith)

Click on this image to watch a video slideshow of Cameron’s first year.

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July 7, 2015

7815BWLeaming640By Dr. Katherine Leaming-Van Zandt

Our world shifted when we were told that our son had Down syndrome. Although I was 37 years old, and acutely aware of my “advanced maternal age,” I was more apprehensive of the sleepless nights and non-stop feeds and diaper changes versus the risk for a chromosomal abnormality. Intermittently, I would reflect on the possibility of our baby having a genetic disorder, but would quickly suppress those thoughts and feelings with a nonchalant response of “Well, it wouldn’t make a difference” or “I’m just being paranoid.” Perhaps, as a physician, I should have taken more time to consider the medical evidence and undergone further genetic testing, but as a mother, I just wanted to envelop myself in the excitement of being pregnant with a healthy baby.

Our baby’s 20-week ultrasound was an emotional turning point for us. Unexpectedly, we were informed that our son possessed some soft markers for Down syndrome, and to know if he truly had a genetic disorder, we needed to decide whether or not to undergo an amniocentesis. Because my husband and I wanted a more definitive answer and if need be, time to process and accept his diagnosis, we agreed to the procedure and found ourselves in the very same waiting room where we had happily and anxiously awaited our baby’s initial ultrasound. This time, however, we sat in silence, holding back tears and clinging to each other for support, as we watched couple after couple emerge from their ultrasound rooms with smiles and laughter. In those moments, I envied their happiness and joy…and, felt overwhelmed by the plethora of emotions that bombarded my mind and soul.

After our son’s diagnosis was confirmed, my husband and I did a lot of soul searching, both as a couple and individually. We knew that he would be at increased risk for certain developmental and medical conditions more commonly associated with Down syndrome, and we worried about his health and well-being, quality of life and future needs. However, even as we struggled with these potential unknowns and “what-ifs,” we embraced our son’s life and sought to learn as much as we could by reviewing the medical literature, reading parenting books and online blogs, and contacting the Down Syndrome Association of Houston. We also scheduled a fetal echocardiogram and follow-up ultrasound, met with the medical team at the Texas Children’s Hospital Down Syndrome Clinic, toured the Rise School of Houston, and conversed with an estate planning lawyer who specialized in special needs trusts.

For me, although planning and preparing for our son’s potential medical, educational and financial needs alleviated many of my concerns and worries, the brief, unexpected interactions that I had with some of the parents of children with Down syndrome while working in the emergency center gave me the most hope and reassurance. With some hesitation, I’d tell them about my son’s diagnosis and they would shower me with stories of optimism and strength and offer me unconditional guidance and friendship. Those moments, along with our family, friends and colleagues’ love and support, allowed us to overcome many of our fears and doubts and focus on the joyous arrival of our son, Joseph Dash Van Zandt.

7815BabyLeaming640Joseph was born on April 16, 2015, and his father, older sisters and I couldn’t feel more blessed to have this wonderful, little boy in our lives. Since his arrival, Joseph has brought our family nothing but love, happiness, and fulfillment, and in his short, six weeks of life, has enriched all of our lives. Even with a brief NICU stay and some outpatient, follow-up appointments, Joseph has continuously thrived and flourished and his strength and sweet disposition continue to amaze and thrill us every day. Regardless of what challenges may come his way, we know that Joseph will enrich society with meaningful contributions, maintain long-lasting friendships and relationships and live a life full of love and contentment. Many have told us that Joseph couldn’t have “chosen” a better family…we, however, think the opposite is true, for our family couldn’t have been blessed with a more precious gift.

June 16, 2015

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By Janielle Harrison

In less than a month, my husband, Terrence, and I will welcome the arrival of our precious daughter, Addison, at Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women. Her expected delivery date is July 24.

While most mothers-to-be discover their expecting after taking a simple home pregnancy test, that wasn’t the case for me. I never knew I was four weeks pregnant until my husband took me to the emergency room because I was having dizzy spells, feeling lightheaded and my blood pressure spiked. While I was waiting for my X-rays and blood test results to come in, Terrence and my 8-year-old son Dramodd stepped away to get something to eat. When they came back with their McDonald’s bags clutched in their hands, I broke the exciting news, “We are expecting!”

My husband was completely shocked and excited at the same time, and so was I. Immediately, he called his mom and dad to tell them the exciting news that they’d be grandparents! My son’s immediate reaction was, “Mom, you’ve been pregnant all this time and you didn’t know it?” I think he was saying my belly was getting slightly “bigger” like a pregnant person.

bwatchAs my due date approaches, my last trimester is going pretty smoothly. The first few months of my pregnancy was tough since I couldn’t hold anything down. I was severely dehydrated and my OB/GYN Dr. Carla Ortique had me admitted to the Pavilion for Women where I stayed overnight to receive intravenous fluids and anti-nausea medication. The nurses took excellent care of me. I am still taking medication for high blood pressure and visiting Texas Children’s Maternal Fetal Center every week to monitor my baby’s growth and development.

As we prepare for our daughter’s homecoming, my husband and I finished decorating Baby Addison’s nursery with princess and frog theme colors: mint green, lavender and chocolate brown. So many of our family members have showered us with beautiful gifts for Addison and they are so excited to meet our little princess.

I haven’t packed my hospital bag yet, but I am working on it. I expect to have everything ready to go by July 1 in case Addison decides to make her debut ahead of schedule.

June 3, 2015

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Texas Children’s President and CEO Mark A. Wallace is hosting a series of events beginning Friday, June 5, to celebrate our entire Texas Children’s team and what makes this organization so special. The theme is One Mission, One Culture, One Amazing Team. 

The events kick off with four sessions at the Main Campus, followed by two sessions at the West Campus and one at the John P. McGovern (Nabisco) building. Dates and times are below.

One Mission, One Culture, One Amazing Team sessions are for all Texas Children’s employees and physicians. Events are come-and-go and will celebrate our mission and our core values in a fun, festive atmosphere with snacks, drinks, music, and fun activities/giveaways.

Here are the details:

Live Compassionately zoneOMOT map
  • Celebrate our Patient Experience: “Catch” your colleagues caring, pull acts of compassion cards, and win fun giveaways. By Living Compassionately, we make a difference for our patients and their families.
Embrace Freedom zone
  • Let your voice be heard: Mark’s said it before – when you talk, he listens. He and his leadership team want to know what’s on your mind and how you think we can make Texas Children’s even better. Embrace the freedom to share your ideas by writing on our giant brainstorming board.
Amplify Unity zone
  • Take a timeout: Remember recess? You will after just a few minutes of high energy games brought to you by our Employee Health and Wellness team. Come together with your colleagues for some competition and fun as we Amplify Unity through healthy activity.
Lead Tirelessly zone
  • Learn about leadership from the best: As Mark Wallace says, at Texas Children’s, everyone is a leader. To help you on your journey to Lead Tirelessly, Mark is giving everyone a copy of The Magic Book of Maxims, a commemorative children’s book illustrating Mark’s 10 Maxims of Leadership. Make sure you grab a copy.
Photo zone
  • Snap a picture: Who doesn’t love a good selfie? The Photo zone includes a photo booth and a selfie station with fun props, so bring your team spirit and capture it on camera.
Houston Texans tickets
  • Make a touchdown: Who’s ready for some football? You will be if you win two tickets to a Texans game. Make sure you fill out a comment card about why you’re proud to be part of the Texas Children’s team. All team members who complete and turn in a card will qualify for a drawing for a pair of Houston Texans football tickets. We’ve got 25 pairs of tickets to give away.

 

Schedule of event sessions

Friday, June 5

7:30-8:30 am AND 10-11 am

Main Campus – Pavilion 4th floor conference area

 

Monday, June 8

3:30-4:30 pm AND 6-7:30 pm

Main Campus – Pavilion 4th floor conference area

 

Monday, June 22

7:30-8:30 am AND 9:30-10:30 am

West Campus – 1st floor conference area

 

Tuesday, June 30

2-3:30 pm

John P. McGovern Campus (Nabisco Building) – Human Performance Center

 

Parking 

Main Campus 

  • Parking for the Main Campus events will be the same as normal.
  • If you are visiting the Main Campus, park in Garage 19, and an attendant will be at the entrance to let you in.
  • Visitors, please enter Garage 19 on the Colonade Drive side entrance and catch the shuttle on the Meyer Building side.
  • If Garage 19 is your assigned garage, park as normal and ride the same shuttle you normally would.

West Campus 

  • Parking for the West Campus events will be the same as normal.
  • If you are visiting West Campus, feel free to park in the open parking lot.

John P. McGovern Campus (Nabisco Building)

  • Parking for the John P. McGovern event will be the same as normal.
  • If you are visiting John P. McGovern Campus, an attendant will be at the entrance to let you in.
  • Shuttles will transport Revenue Cycle employees to the John P. McGovern Campus. Transportation details will be shared in a separate communication.

Mark Wallace to take One Mission, One Culture, One Amazing Team on tour 

All Texas Children’s staff and employees are welcome to attend any of the hospital-based events listed above. However, beginning in July, Mark will take the fun on the road with stops at Texas Children’s Pediatrics practices, Texas Children’s Health Centers, The Center for Children and Women locations and Texas Children’s Urgent Care sites.

The team tour will continue throughout the fall and winter, until Mark has made it to all locations. He’ll bring books and other treats for every team member. We’ll communicate specific details to the appropriate leaders of the locations as the tour stops are scheduled.

Questions

We look forward to seeing you Friday and Monday at Main Campus and later this month at the other locations. If you have questions, please email us at connectnews@texaschildrens.org.

May 19, 2015

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By: Dr. Charles Fraser, Jr.

It’s hard to imagine how precious the bond between a grandparent and grandchild is until it is personally experienced. For my wife, Helen, and me, that unforgettable moment occurred on April 10, 2015.

It all started with an early morning wake-up call from our son-in-law, David, who told us Laura was having contractions and suggested we head to the hospital. At 1:30 a.m., Helen and I – and several of our family members – hurried to Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women where we waited anxiously for the birth of our first grandchild. I say “grandchild” because none of us knew – nor did Laura and David know – whether they were having a boy or a girl…..until three hours later.

fraserAfter much anticipation, Laura gave birth to our adorable grandson, George Henry Nachtigall, at 4:40 a.m. He weighed 8 pounds and 14 ounces. When we visited Laura and David in the labor and delivery room, our hearts melted when we laid eyes on our grandson for the first time. We were overjoyed as we took turns cradling him in our arms. We were so happy for Laura and David to become new parents, and we were thrilled to assume our new roles as doting grandparents to George Henry.

What made this a truly remarkable experience was watching the outstanding care Laura received from her team of physicians and nurses at the Pavilion for Women. While it’s very rare for me to be on the labor and delivery floors – I am in the NICU a lot – I was overwhelmed by the nurturing atmosphere and the family-centered care my daughter received during her stay. Helen and I were so impressed that we sent an email to Texas Children’s CEO Mark A. Wallace chronicling our daughter’s experience and our experience at the Pavilion for Women.

The Pavilion for Women is truly an amazing place. Before its historic opening in 2012, I remember the early dialogues and the meticulous planning that went into building such a wonderful state-of-the-art facility. From a gaping hole in the ground, I watched the entire construction progress from my 19th floor office window in West Tower. Since my grandson’s birth, I’ve gained a new appreciation of why so many families, like my own, choose to deliver their babies at the Pavilion for Women.

My grandson, George Henry, is a little over a month old now. As a new grandfather, it’s fun thinking about all the things this little guy has brought to our family. He is such a joy to be around, and he is definitely the center of attention for me and Helen. George Henry’s great grandfather, Dr. Denton A. Cooley, adores him too.

Laura and David are doing well. They are learning how to be new parents and we’re learning how to be new grandparents, and as you can tell, we love every minute of it.