March 1, 2016

3216purplesongsinside640Dr. Jennifer Arnold and 13-year old Peyton Richardson, a patient at Texas Children’s Cancer Center, recently collaborated on an exciting new project – they wrote and recorded the powerful lyrics to their new song in the Purple Songs Can Fly studio.

Purple Songs Can Fly is a unique program that provides a musical outlet for children being treated for cancer and blood disorders at Texas Children’s Cancer and Hematology Centers. In this program, which is the first of its kind, the children work with founder, Anita Kruse, and other professional composers to write and record their own songs. In an in-house studio at Texas Children’s, composers work with children and their siblings to write, record, and burn songs to disc within short session.

“Having gone through cancer myself and being a patient here at Texas Children’s, I had heard about Purple Songs Can Fly, but as an adult, I never thought about trying it,” said Arnold, the medical director of Texas Children’s Simulation Center. “When TCH asked if I’d like to sing with Peyton, I was 100 percent on board.”

Their song titled, “A smile and a thank you to you,” delivers a strong message that despite going through a tough time like battling cancer, it’s important to always keep a positive attitude which is only possible by drawing from your inner strength and the love and strength of those around you.

“Both Peyton and I wanted to share the appreciation of our loved ones in our song,” Arnold said.

Watch The Little Couple tonight at 8 p.m. on TLC to watch them sing their song.

3216FraserReunioninside640On a recent Monday afternoon, identical 21-year-old twins Karly and Kestly Tinklepaugh met the man they consider their hero – Texas Children’s Surgeon-in-Chief Dr. Charles D. Fraser Jr.

“We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for giving us a life that is as normal and healthy as possible,” Karly and Kestly said in an emotional reunion. “You are one wonderful individual.”

Two decades ago, when Karly and Kestly were just 2-years-old, Fraser performed corrective surgery on the girls, who were born with Tetralogy of Fallot, a rare and complex heart defect that is treated most successfully with open-heart surgery soon after birth.

Since their surgery, Karly and Kestly have grown up to be normal, healthy young adults. Both of them attend Lone Star College with Kestly studying to become a geologist and Karly planning on being part of the Texas Children’s team one day as an echocardiogram technician.

Over the years, the twins, who are patients with our Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program, have often thought of their hearts and Fraser, the man they believe saved their lives. The desire to meet the pediatric heart surgeon grew and led to a late-night email penned by the twins asking Fraser if he would be interested in meeting them.

To Karly and Kestly’s surprise, Fraser responded to their note saying he remembered them quite well and would be more than happy to arrange a meeting. Before the twins knew it, they were standing nervously on the 20th floor of West Tower waiting to shake the hand of the man who last saw them on an operating table. When Fraser arrived, hugs were exchanged and conversation about everything from heart surgery to college and grandchildren ensued.

“We are elated that we got to meet Dr. Fraser,” Karly and Kestly said. “We will forever be grateful to him and Texas Children’s.”

Fraser said he too enjoyed the visit and is grateful the Tinklepaugh’s reached out to him.

“Periodically, I’ve pondered where they were and what life had brought them,” he said. “Now, I know.”

To learn more about the Tinklepaugh’s reunion with Fraser and the twins’ heart condition, click here to watch ABC-13’s coverage of the event. To read a blog post written by the Tinklepaugh’s themselves, click here.

3216NNMinside280

Here at Texas Children’s, we are a community that cares for each other, so as we get ready to celebrate National Nutrition Month in March, it is important to remember that healthy eating is always in season.

March is National Nutrition Month, and this year’s theme is Savor the Flavor of Eating Right. Let’s take time to enjoy your meal traditions, savor great flavors and cultivate the social experiences that food can add to our lives. To celebrate this important month, the Food and Nutrition department in partnership with Employee Health and Wellness is sponsoring several events throughout the month of March that will provide you with tips on how to develop a mindful eating pattern while enjoying nutritious and flavorful food.

Keep in mind that how, when, why and where we eat are just as important as what we eat. Develop a mindful eating pattern that includes nutritious and flavorful foods – that’s the best way to savor the flavor of eating right.

Bon Appetit!

Upcoming events:

Main Campus

My Plate Bridge Event
Date: Wednesday, March 2
Time: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: The Auxiliary Bridge

Dietitians and diet technicians with Clinical Nutrition Services are hosting a bridge event that will focus on creating a healthy plate that includes adding flavors and other ingredients that will improve the quality and nutrition of the food we eat. There will be games for children and lots of information for everyone.

Cooking Demos
Dates: Tuesdays, March 8, 15, 22, 29
Time: 11 a.m. (while supplies last)
Location: Pavilion for Women Fresh Bistro

We have challenged our chefs to make exciting meals flavored with various herbs and spices instead of salt. The meals – which are listed below – will be available for purchase while supplies last.

March 8: Chef Achim will be serving savory herb crusted tilapia with tomato/lime vegetable fettuccine.
March 15: Chef Lyle will be serving quinoa crusted fish tacos with whole wheat tortilla, Spanish brown rice and cilantro black beans.
March 22: Chef Kenya and Chef Joseph will be serving lemongrass chicken wraps with Asian slaw topped with sriracha sauce.
March 29: Chef Holley will be serving grilled chicken breast, roasted chayote, chipotle black bean cake, avocado and corn salsa.

Well-Being Brown Bag with Registered Dietitian Amy Kennedy
Date: Wednesday, March 23
Time: noon to 1 p.m.
Location: Feign Center, 18B

Amy Kennedy will provide educational tips on how to develop healthy, mindful eating patterns. She also will talk about how to infuse flavor while reducing sodium, sugar and unhealthy fats while cooking.

West Campus

Cooking Demo
Date: Tuesday, March 15
Time: 11 a.m.
Location: Luby’s DOTS Kitchen

Chef Joe will cook a dish from Luby’s Livin’ Smart recipes, which have 600 calories or less, less than 30 percent of calories from fat, and more than 3 grams of fiber. The meal will be available for purchase while supplies last.

Cooking Demo with Samples
Date: Tuesday, March 22
Time: 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Location: Luby’s DOTS Kitchen

Chef Joe will cook a dish from Luby’s Livin’ Smart recipes, which have 600 calories or less, less than 30 percent of calories from fat, and more than 3 grams of fiber. Samples of the meal will be provided while supplies last.

Texas Children’s Blog Post
Check out Texas Children’s blog during the month of March for periodic posts from our dietitians about healthy eating and proper nutrition.

Resources to support your nutrition
The Employee Health and Wellness team supports our staff in achieving optimal well-being by providing a variety of nutrition resources.

  • My Fit Foods, 15 percent off purchases in store, register for discount card here.
  • Snap Kitchen, 10 percent off purchases in store
  • Weight Watchers, 50 percent subsidy on membership
  • The Employee Medical Clinic provides free nutrition counseling and health coaching. Call Ext. 4-2150, opt. 2 for more information.

For more information about proper nutrition and National Nutrition Month events at Texas Children’s, please visit the Wellness website on Connect or email wellbeing@texaschildrens.org. And, to learn more about healthy eating opportunities at Texas Children’s cafes and eateries, click here.

3216SENTAC640The Division of Otolaryngology was well represented at the meeting of the Society for ENT Advances in Children (SENTAC). Otolaryngologist Dr. Karina Canadas and fellow Dr. Kate Dunsky won second place for “A Case of Anaphylactic Shock after Induction Anesthesia and Suspension Laryngoscopy Due to Latex Allergy.”

Eleven faculty members either had podium presentations or posters. These included Drs. Karina Canadas, Binoy Chandy, Carla Giannoni, John K. Jones, Carol Liu, MaryFrances Musso, Julina Ongkasuwan, Tiffany Raynor, Matthew Sitton, Robert Williamson and division chief Ellis Arjmand.

Five advanced practice providers, one fellow, three Baylor residents and two Baylor medical students were authors or co-authors of podium presentations or posters. Chandy moderated a scientific session and participated in a symposium on quality improvement that Arjmand organized and moderated.

“It was great to see so many participants from Texas Children’s and Baylor at all levels, and our program was definitely noticed by the other attendees,” Arjmand said.

3216Fulbrightinside640Three faculty members in the Texas Children’s Hospital Department of Surgery have been awarded a Fulbright & Jaworski LLP Faculty Excellence Award from Baylor College of Medicine. Drs. Timothy Lee, Monica Lopez and Scott Rosenfeld were recognized in the Teaching and Evaluation category.

To be considered for an award in Teaching and Evaluation, a member of the Baylor faculty must show evidence of quality of teaching, number of teaching hours and diversity in content of material and variety of teaching formats among medical students, residents and fellows.

“Congratulations to Dr. Lopez, Dr. Lee and Dr. Rosenfeld on their accomplishments. All three are very deserving of this award,” said Dr. Charles D. Fraser, Jr., surgeon-in-chief.

Lee, Lopez and Rosenfeld note in their submission portfolios that teaching benefits them as well as their students. All three surgeons find they are successful instructors because they adapt their material to students at their particular stage of training, whether that is medical school, residency or fellowship. They teach at the bedside, in the classroom and in the clinic. Reviewing course evaluation comments, attending educational workshops and experiencing peer review are ways they are able to improve as teachers.

“In my role as chair of Texas Children’s Faculty Appointments and Promotions Committee, I encourage faculty to pursue a Fulbright & Jaworski award as they take steps to advance their careers,” said Dr. David Wesson, associate surgeon-in-chief.

The Fulbright & Jaworski LLP Faculty Excellence Award recognizes Baylor College of Medicine faculty who meet designated standards of quality, quantity and breadth for their sustained exemplary educational contributions to Baylor.

Surgeons interested in pursuing a Fulbright & Jaworski award are encouraged to contact Lisa Thomas, assistant director, Office of Faculty Affairs. Thomas will use her expertise to assist surgeons through the application process. She can be reached at Ext. 6-5768, by email or in her office located in the Department of Surgery Academic Office.

8515Drzoghbi175Dr. Huda Zoghbi, known for her groundbreaking research on Rett syndrome and other neurological disorders, is the inaugural recipient of the Mechthild Esser Nemmers Prize in Medical Science at Northwestern University.

The Nemmers prize, which carries a $200,000 stipend, is awarded to a physician-scientist whose body of research exhibits outstanding achievement in their discipline as demonstrated by works of lasting significance. A jury of distinguished scientists from around the country made the final selection.

Zoghbi, a professor of pediatrics, molecular and human genetics, and neurology and neuroscience at Baylor College of Medicine and director of the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s, has devoted her career to uncovering the genetic roots of rare neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases that affect her patients.

“The Nemmers Prize in Medical Science recognizes an outstanding investigator whose discoveries have significantly contributed to improving human health beyond the individual patient,” said Dr. Eric Neilson, vice president for medical affairs and Lewis Landsberg Dean at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “Huda is a superb physician-scientist who has transformed the way we think about the genetic determinants and mechanisms of diseases. We are privileged to honor her with this inaugural award and for her to share her work with us.”

In connection with this award, Zoghbi will deliver a public lecture and participate in other scholarly activities at Feinberg in the coming year.

“It is a tremendous honor to be the inaugural Nemmers Prize recipient in Medical Science, and to have the opportunity to share my research with the stellar community of Northwestern University. It is truly humbling to be rewarded for what I love to do,” Zoghbi said.

3216siu640Leaders with the Texas Children’s Special Isolation Unit recently hosted the first of what they plan to be regular educational conferences focusing on our advanced concepts of pediatric biocontainment.

Representatives from four children’s hospitals – the Ann & Robert H. Lurie’s Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Boston’s Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Colorado and the University of Texas-Houston – attended the two-day conference held February 25-26 at Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus.

Topics covered during the conference included staffing and clinical care of infectious patients, personal protective equipment (PPE) and procedures, and special isolation unit planning, development, policies and procedures. Conference attendees also participated in a PPE demonstration and discussion, and were given a tour of our newly opened Special Isolation Unit at West Campus.

“The conference was a wonderful opportunity for Texas Children’s to share our knowledge and experience with leaders from multiple organizations,” said Dr. Amy Arrington, medical director of the Special Isolation Unit. “We hope to continue this process for years to come in an effort to ensure all children affected by special pathogens are safely cared for in their time of need.”

Texas Children’s began working on its Special Isolation Unit more than a year ago, shortly after an unprecedented Ebola outbreak that resulted in the realization that we must be prepared to handle emerging infections as an institution. As a result, the state and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designated Texas Children’s Hospital as one of several pediatric Ebola treatment centers countrywide.

Texas Children’s Special Isolation Unit is the only one of its kind in Texas and the southwest region, and is among the few in the United States designated just for children. Located on the fifth floor of West Campus, the eight-bed unit is fully equipped to care for any infant or child with a serious communicable disease and has all of the measures available to assure safety of the health care team, other patients and their families.

Children coming to the special isolation unit will receive top notch care from a team of highly-trained nurses and doctors, led by Arrington, associate medical directors Dr. Gordon Schutze and Dr. Judith Campbell, and nursing leader, Sondra Morris.