August 26, 2014

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For kids with allergies, a trace amount of a food substance can trigger deadly anaphylaxis within minutes of ingestion – the fear of which can be life altering for many families.

Researchers at Texas Children’s Hospital are looking to give hope to some of these families through a landmark peanut immunotherapy trial. Using a process known as desensitization where patients swallow tiny, increasing amounts of peanut over time, Dr. Carla Davis, a specialist in the Allergy and Immunology Section of the Department of Pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, will begin a trial this month that treats children with peanut allergy to help lower the risk of severe allergic reactions and eventually cause them to lose their allergy to peanuts. The study also will determine the mechanism by which the body develops tolerance, as well as measure the effect of viral infections on the ability of peanut allergic children to take peanut flour.

In Europe, a recent oral immunization trail (OIT) showed promise, and both the Consortium for Food Allergy Research and Stanford University are conducting studies in the U.S. But so far desensitization is not the standard of care, and no study has determined the mechanism by which the body develops tolerance. Davis’ plan to monitor how and why the immunotherapy works is revolutionary, and could help allergists ID patients who are good candidates for immunotherapy.

“No other immunotherapy trial in this area has used the state of the art laboratory testing of immune cells to improve the process of desensitization,” said Davis. “We believe the information gained from this trial will help make the process of desensitization faster and more efficient in the future.”

Davis and her team, in collaboration with Dr. Jordan Orange’s Center for Human Immunobiology and the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, will be evaluating more than 25 markers of cells called lymphocytes, which are central to controlling immune responses. Patients will have blood drawn, and these markers will be evaluated by a process called flow cytometry. The markers will provide insight into how the immune system works to cause food allergy.

“Our study is evaluating clinical measures but in conjunction with the lymphocyte markers that will give us a better way to treat and potentially cure food allergy,” said Davis.

One in 13 U.S. children has a food allergy according to recent data from national organization FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education). This reflects a nearly 50 percent increase in childhood food allergies between 1997 and 2011, leading to 25 billion dollars per year in related health costs to treatment and diagnosis.

People can be allergic to any type of food, but eight foods account for nearly 90 percent of all allergic reactions to food in the U.S., with peanuts being the food that is most associated with life threatening food related anaphylaxis. More than 400,000 school-aged children in the United States have this allergy, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology.

“We chose this food (peanuts) to make the largest difference in safety for our patients,” said Davis.

Texas Children’s is the first center in the southwest region to have approval by the FDA to dispense peanut flour as an investigational new drug. The study will be funded by donations to the Food Allergy Program, with the majority of funds from a private group of individuals in the Food Allergy Advisory Group. Initially, 20 patients will be enrolled, with the potential to enroll hundreds more over the next three years, with the help of expanded funding.

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Read the newest “Super Star” Q&A featuring Jennifer Neidinger, Adolescent and Sports Medicine, Renal, Rheumatology and Pediatric Adolescent GYN clinics. “A Texas Children’s Hospital Super Star is someone who strives for excellence in every patient/family interaction,” Neidinger said. “Someone who leads by example and goes ‘above and beyond’ to meet the needs of our patients and families – with a smile.”

 
 
 
 

Q&A: Jennifer Neidinger, July – September 2014 Leader

Your name, title and department. How long have you worked here?
My name is Jennifer Neidinger, RN. I am the 11B Clinic Manager for Adolescent and Sports Medicine, Renal, Rheumatology, and Pediatric and Adolescent GYN services. I began my career at Texas Children’s Hospital in September 2001 (12½ years).

What month are you Super Star for?
I am the Super Star Leader for July-September 2014.

Tell us how you found out you won a super star award.
My director, Ryan Breaux, announced my recognition as a Super Star during our Leadership meeting. Following this surprise recognition, our Leadership Team hosted a wonderful breakfast for our team to celebrate together.

What does it mean to be recognized for the hard work you do?
It is such an honor to be recognized as a Super Star within an organization which is so full of Super Star employees and leaders. This recognition is so special to me because I feel so lucky to be part of such an amazing team.

What do you think makes someone at Texas Children’s a super star?
A Texas Children’s Hospital Super Star is someone who strives for excellence in every patient/family interaction. Someone who leads by example and goes “above and beyond” to meet the needs of our patients and families – with a smile.

What is your motivation for going above and beyond every day at work?
The patients and families who trust us to provide their care every day.

What is the best thing about working at Texas Children’s?
I am humbled by the strength and bravery of our patients and their families. I am honored by the commitment and compassion of the staff. I am excited about the strides in pediatric care at Texas Children’s Hospital, and I am so fortunate to work here.

Anything else you want to share?
This recognition is such an honor which I would like to share with my colleagues, the staff of 11B, my physician partners and my leadership team. I am so fortunate to be part of this “family” and am so pleased to represent the organization as a Super Star Leader.

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By Dr. Jennifer Arnold

Soon after adopting Will and Zoey in 2013, our lives were thrown a major curveball when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 choriocarcinoma. After months of treatment and finally kicking cancer into remission, I went back to work this spring as medical director of Texas Children’s Simulation Center. Returning to my job has been a big adjustment for our entire family, but it’s also worked out for the best! It’s really important to me to raise our kids as independent go-getters who work hard to achieve their goals in life. I hope that by seeing Bill and I enjoying our careers – despite obstacles that have come our way – they will learn the value of perserverance and overcoming challenges.

Being a mom is the toughest and most rewarding job. I know everyone says that, but it’s true! It’s not easy to keep up with everything at work and at home when we have so much going on – in fact, it’s a constant challenge. Here are some of the ways that I try to balance it all:

Take things one step at a time
No matter how much is going on, I have to take a deep breath and think to myself, I can only accomplish one thing at a time. Personally, I believe my perspective has changed since becoming a cancer survivor. I don’t sweat the small stuff anymore but instead move towards the things that really matter. I also try not to get caught up in what other people think. I know that work didn’t stop while I was away, and I’m still trying to catch up. I’m really focused on getting back to some important initiatives we are working on in the Simulation Center. I am staying focused on what I think is important for the program and our institution. I’m constantly honing in on what needs to get done one step at a time in order to achieve our larger goals.

Prioritize and organize
Making lists and setting a routine works really well in my work and home life. Before kids, I didn’t think life could get any busier – well I was wrong. Life is crazy busy and it’s getting more difficult to keep up. I am not sure whether it’s residual “Chemo Brain,” the fact that I have turned 40, or becoming a new parent of two toddlers, but it is so easy to lose track of all the work and home “To Do’s” that need to be addressed. With my love-hate relationship with technology, I am trying to better harness tools to help me stay organized. There are so many new applications for your smart phone, tablet, and PCs that you can access anywhere to keep lists and project documents close at hand. Sometimes I have to do work from unusual places, so making everything easily accessible is key. When it comes to everything at home, it helps that Bill and I are pretty good about dividing and conquering! Prioritizing family, health and work is sometimes a struggle, but Bill and I try to keep each other in check. It’s hard for both of us to be away from the kids during work, but it’s easier because we have a good system in place with a fantastic nanny and family support.

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Don’t feel guilty for not doing it all
Sometimes you have to say no, and sometimes it’s ok to just be “good enough” rather than perfect. My best friend recently sent me a card describing how to do this. It’s a trait that I don’t think any mother is good at, but I try to remind myself that no one is perfect. This is tough for me to wrap my head around as I am a perfectionist – both as a professional and as a mom. I have to accept I can’t do everything, and I certainly can’t do it on my own. I’m lucky to have a great support system and so many people to rely on for help. First, my husband has been my sounding board when times were tough getting back into work. Second, my parents and nanny have been essential for helping us take care of the kids. Third, all of my colleagues have been so supportive and welcoming – which has helped me transition back into the swing of things. All of these people have made it possible for me to keep my family and my career on track.

Treat yourself
This one may come as a surprise, but I think it’s important to stay balanced and happy. I need to do this more often when I am stressed out. I try to make time once in a while for something that makes me happy. It can be something as small as watching my favorite TV show or getting a manicure – but I find that attending to my needs and putting myself first every once in a while makes me better equipped at dealing with everyone else’s expectations and the demands of being a working mom. Even though I often complain to Bill that filming our TLC television show on the weekends feels like one extra burden on our very busy lives, it allows us to take time to enjoy life and do fun stuff. Instead of just hanging out at the house with the kids on a Saturday afternoon, we can do something fun we might not otherwise do. I have learned that it is ok to reserve the weekends for quality family time since I’m not around much during the weekdays. I think we’re able to appreciate our time together as a family more since we have less of it with the busy demands of my career. I still feel tired at the end of the day, but at the same time, I’m so happy to get into a routine and just be boring for awhile.

82714BWJArnold640-3Be prepared
Having a Plan A and a Plan B makes me feel very comfortable about immersing myself back in work. Thankfully, we have an outstanding nanny. Kate is great with Will and Zoey, and with her background in child life, I feel comfortable that we have an expert to help care for our kids. But having my parents close by as a backup is also very reassuring. Zoey is much more comfortable, and she and Will are growing so much. They start school this fall so I am nervous, and at the same time, excited to see them flourish outside of our family unit.

Cancer kept me from my work for too long, but the silver lining was a lot more time with our newly adopted kids. When I returned to work, I was nervous about leaving them and not being around as much. It took me a few weeks to adjust, but I am comfortable knowing that little day-to-day issues won’t be a distraction since we have support and a plan (and a backup plan) in place.

August 19, 2014

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A pediatrician sees hundreds of patients a year. Some stick out in their mind more than others, but for Dr. Michael Bishop, pediatrician at Texas Children’s Pediatrics Grand Parkway, the Stovall family is one that he will never forget.

Last year, while on vacation in Galveston, Bishop experienced shortness of breath which prompted his wife to drive him back to Houston for immediate evaluation. Following a week in the hospital with more questions than answers, he was diagnosed with atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS), a rare genetic disease that affects kidney function. Once diagnosed, Bishop was given both oral and IV medication, but dialysis four nights per week also was required due to the failure of his kidneys to recover from the illness.

Shortly after the diagnosis, his daughters started a Facebook page to raise awareness about aHUS and the importance of kidney donation. Because the disease is genetic, none of his family members were able to donate, thus the need to broadly share his story. Patients at his practice started asking about the Facebook page and how they could help.

“The support from my patients and their families was overwhelming,” said Bishop. “I believe that I have been blessed by God to be given the privilege of taking care of children and their families. I never thought I’d receive the greatest gift of all from one of them.”

Jennifer Kennedy-Stovall’s three sons have been patients of Bishop’s since they were born. Now 10, eight and four, the boys are frequent visitors to Texas Children’s Pediatrics Grand Parkway whether for a well-child check-up or an acute illness. Bishop had been out of the office during a few of the Stovall boys’ visits and Jennifer wondered if he was battling a serious health issue. When the family saw Bishop during their next visit, they noticed that he just wasn’t the same – he wasn’t cracking jokes, he was more introverted and more than just the physical changes that occurred since his diagnosis, his personality had changed as well. Bishop shared the news of his diagnosis and his need for a kidney. Kennedy-Stovall walked out of the room and had a feeling.

“I walked out of the room and knew that I had to do something to help,” said Kennedy-Stovall. “I began the living donor kidney screening process that day.”

Kennedy-Stovall went through four rounds of intense screening to determine if she was a match for Bishop. Through blood tests, numerous blood pressure screenings, medical history reports, scans, x-rays and consultations with a nephrologist and social worker, Kennedy-Stovall found out that she was a match.

“When I found out I was a match, my husband and I didn’t hesitate,” Kennedy-Stovall recalls. “I felt like this was something I had to do from the moment Dr. Bishop told me he needed a transplant and I couldn’t have been happier to do this for him.”

Ironically, Kennedy-Stovall and one of her sons had a visit scheduled for the next day with Bishop. She went to the appointment not knowing if he had heard the news yet. She asked if he had any news to share and Bishop said there was testing ongoing, but that no match had yet been reported to him. Little did he know that, momentarily, she told him that she was going to be his living donor.

The families prepared, and the surgery was scheduled. The surgery was successful for Bishop and Kennedy-Stovall, and their recoveries were seamless. On July 16, Bishop celebrated his one year transplant anniversary and is thriving. The Bishops and Stovall families have grown incredibly close through their journey, oftentimes sharing lengthy family dinners together.

“I can’t believe it’s been a year,” said Bishop. “So many thoughts come to mind, but unpayable gratitude is at the top of the list. My patients are my second family, and they mean a lot to me. I’m so proud that I can come back to the practice and continue to do what I love because of this unbelievable gift from Jennifer and her family.”

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Texas Children’s Hospital has been named one of the Best Places to Work in Houston for eight years in a row by the Houston Business Journal. Earning a no. 5 ranking last year was especially meaningful to me because it was based solely on your feedback. Once again, it’s survey time!

Help Texas Children’s be a 2014 contender by taking a few minutes to complete the Best Places to Work survey anytime between now and 5 p.m. Friday, August 22. Company scores are always quite close, so your voice really does matter.

As you consider each question, focus on your overall experience at Texas Children’s. To begin, click on or copy and paste this link into your Web browser: http://survey.quantumworkplace.com/bpsurvey/oc_KTGV20036. If you start the survey and need to save and complete it later, you will receive a unique survey password allowing you to do so.

No organization is perfect, but thankfully an open and honest dialogue helps Texas Children’s grow stronger. Remember, all responses are anonymous and cannot be traced to individuals. Quantum Workplace, Inc. will roll all responses into one organizational report; results will not be reported by group or leader. Company rankings will be announced in mid-October.

If you have questions or technical difficulties, please do not call the IS Service Desk; instead, call Karen Jumonville in Human Resources at Ext. 4-6656.

Thank you again for helping to remind the Houston community that Texas Children’s delivers extraordinary care because of our extraordinary people and their infinite passion for our mission.

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Imagine preparing more than 600 syringes or bottles of milk every day for an average of 80 hungry infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Texas Children’s Newborn Center. That’s roughly eight feedings per day for each baby in the NICU who receives human milk prepared by the Milk Bank.

Preparing milk for these fragile newborns is more than just pouring it into a bottle. Our Milk Bank technicians follow strict procedures and high quality standards to ensure the right milk is delivered to the right baby.

“It’s one of the hardest jobs to fill because it requires meticulous attention to detail, exceptional math skills, the ability to multi-task and follow procedural guidelines at the same time,” said Kristina Tucker, manager of Texas Children’s Lactation and Milk Bank Services. “Our technicians spend most of their time on their feet preparing the milk that will nourish our tiniest and most vulnerable NICU patients.”

82014MilkBankinside640After the mothers’ expressed milk is delivered to the Milk Bank on either the fourth floor of the West Tower or the eighth floor of Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, our technicians verify the information on the labeled bottles, scan it into the system, and store the mother’s breast milk and pasteurized donor milk in large freezers and refrigerators until they are ready for use.

Every day is a busy day at the Milk Bank. From the time our technicians begin their 10-hour shift at 7:30 a.m., they’re working around the clock to ensure all feed orders from physicians are filled and ready for delivery to the NICU at 5 p.m. Despite working in a fast-paced environment, there is no room for error. Every order, which contains the physician’s instructions, is examined numerous times before the milk bottles and syringes are sent to the NICU nurses who feed the babies.

“Sometimes physicians will request that certain fortification products be added to the milk,” said Michelle Jones, a Milk Bank technician at Texas Children’s. “Since each baby’s nutritional needs are different, our primary goal is to make sure the babies receive the right fortified milk which is critical to their care.”

When fortifying the milk, technicians may add complex proteins, carbohydrates and minerals including Prolacta® products which include a cream supplement made from human milk fat that is added to the diet of premature infants who weigh less than 3.3 pounds. These products are derived from pasteurized donor breast milk and when added to mother’s own milk, provide an exclusive human milk diet for these small, vulnerable infants thereby protecting them from infection and disease.

“Most premature babies require these additional additives to help them grow,” said Nancy Hurst, director of Women’s Support Services at Texas Children’s. “The fortifiers add calories and nutrients to the milk without changing the volume since premature babies can tolerate only a certain amount of feedings.”

Once the milk is mixed, prepared and delivered to the NICU, the mission is accomplished.

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how many hours these Milk Bank technicians work or how much their feet hurt from standing all day. What matters the most to them is that all the babies receiving breast milk have been fed.

“It’s all about feeding the babies,” said Jones, who has worked at Texas Children’s Milk Bank for eight years. “It brings me great joy to see the positive impact that my colleagues and I have on these infants, and the trust that the parents have in us to ensure their babies’ nutritional needs are met.”

KTRK recently spotlighted a Houston-area family whose NICU baby benefited from Texas Children’s Milk Bank services. Click here to watch the video.

For more information on how to donate breast milk to the Milk Bank, click here.

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At Texas Children’s we value your well-being, your family, and our patients. This year, we are excited to participate in Miracle Marathon to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and we invite you to participate.

What is Miracle Marathon?
Miracle Marathon is a challenge anyone can complete. You, your friends, family and anyone else who wants to join the team can walk, run or simply move on average one mile every day, for 27 days for a total of 27.2 miles – and complete a Miracle Marathon. A marathon is 26.2 miles, so why 27.2? Because it’s a marathon, plus an extra mile for the kids! Starting Tuesday, September 16 and continuing until Sunday, October 12, join Team Texas Children’s Hospital as we get active and help local kids get well. All funds raised will go toward the expansion of services of Texas Children’s in The Woodlands.
*Fundraising is optional.

What is Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals?
Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals is a network of 170 children’s hospitals across North America. Texas Children’s is part of this network. Learn more about these hospitals at www.CMNHospitals.org.

How to sign up!

1. Visit www.MiracleMarathon.org, click “register” and follow the online instructions

2. Register as a Miracle Maker and receive your starter kit full of great prizes

All TCH badge holders:

    • Click “Yes” when asked if you are a hospital employee
    • Include promo code: TCHEMPLOYEE to receive your starter kit for free!

Directions for your family and friends:

    • Click “No” when asked if you are a hospital employee
    • Do not include the promo code, but you can still receive a starter kit for $27.20

3. Then join our team: Texas Children’s Hospital

4. Choose “Texas Children’s Hospital” as the hospital you would like to support

5. Finish the registration process, to receive your personal, online fundraising page

Once you are registered, you will receive more information about Miracle Marathon, and the children you will be helping. To learn more about Miracle Marathon, or to register, visit the Wellness website on Connect (This link will only open internally).

Should you have any questions, feel free to contact our Wellness Coordinator, Jenna Sneed at: 4-3244 or jjsneed@texaschildrens.org.