Reunited: NICU graduate visits care team 18 years later
668-7043
President & CEO Amy Sampson OUR BOARDS OF DIRECTORS (as of April 2025)
Children’s Health System –Akhil Jain, Chair
Julie Beck
Larry Bernert
George Clarke
Martha Colen
Mark Compton
Leslie Doyle
Kim Georges
Owen Griffin
Katherine Knaus
John Lawson
Nicole Legum
Katrina Lesher, MD
Kevin Murphy
Scott Nottingham, MD
Kieran Poulos
Amy Sampson
Brian Skinner
Eleanor Smith
Carl St. Remy, MD
Susan Wynne
– The King’s Daughters –Nicole Legum, President
Robin Broadnax
Beth Bryant
Leslie Crocker
Lori Fagan
Laura Fulton
Margaret Kelly
Carrie L. Lauck
Carter Madson
Amy Moynihan
Taylor Priest
Carie Shiels
Sunny Sonner
Renee S. Walker
Carrie Williams
Ridgely Ingersoll
Christopher Foley, MD
Heather Kent
Associate Editor
Assistant Editor
Art Director
Brandi Potts
MaryClaire Hudson
Eric Cardenas
Lucas Pahuyo was born with an atrial septal defect – a hole between his heart’s upper chambers – about the size of a dime. Many children can have the hole repaired with a cardiac catheterization, but Lucas was too small for the procedure. Because the condition can lead to serious complications if untreated, he underwent a five-hour open heart surgery at CHKD at just 18 months of age. Today, Lucas has fully recovered and is always on the go, whether playing soccer or dancing to pop music.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Glenn Bashaw
Inside Business Magazine Honors Healthcare Heroes at CHKD
Each year, Inside Business celebrates individuals and organizations making a lasting impact on healthcare across Hampton Roads. This year, two exceptional members of Team CHKD have earned this well-deserved recognition.
< Molly Lowther, RN
With more than 12 years of service at CHKD, Molly Lowther has made a profound difference in the lives of children battling cancer and blood disorders. Her compassionate care has earned her two DAISY Awards, recognizing her commitment to patients in the hospital’s Hematology/Oncology Inpatient Unit. Beyond her work at the bedside, Molly is an advocate for childhood cancer research, serving as CHKD’s team captain for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraiser for the past four years. St. Baldrick’s supports cancer research conducted at CHKD.
Dr. Christopher Foley >
For nearly 30 years, Dr. Foley has been an inspiring presence at CHKD, appreciated for his patience, clinical expertise, unwavering support, and exceptional leadership. Before being named Chief Clinical Operations Officer in 2022, Dr. Foley served as a pediatric intensive care specialist, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Critical Care, and Medical Director of CHKD’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Pharmacy, and Mobile Intensive Care Program. His contributions have had a lasting impact on both his colleagues and the countless patients under his care.
Molly Lowther and Dr. Foley embody the spirit of CHKD’s mission, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements!
Hotline Offers Fast, Expert Care for Sports Injuries
When a young athlete is hurt, parents and coaches want them to be evaluated as soon as possible. That’s why CHKD offers the Sports Injury Hotline at 757-668-PLAY (7529), a dedicated service designed to provide quick, convenient, and athlete-focused care.
The CHKD Sports Injury Hotline is available Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., offering parents and athletes direct access to personalized scheduling guidance. The hotline offers same-day or next-day sports medicine appointments at multiple locations across the region and collaborates with CHKD’s Urgent Care Centers and the Emergency Department at our main hospital to ensure every athlete receives the most appropriate level of care.
Don’t let an injury sideline your young athlete. Call 757-668-PLAY (7529) to get the guidance and care they need to get back in the game.
CHKD Mobile Intensive Care: Celebrating 50 Years of Lifesaving Transport
When critically ill children at other regional hospitals need the highly specialized pediatric care that is only available at CHKD, their doctors know to call on our Mobile Intensive Care team to safely bring them to us. This year, that team will mark 50 years of delivering expert pediatric care to children in their most vulnerable moments.
When CHKD’s Mobile Intensive Care Program was established in 1975, the team operated with just one vehicle and a two-person crew – a pediatric nurse and a paramedic – focused solely on the safe transport of critically ill and premature newborns. In the early 1980s, a second vehicle and a third team member, a respiratory therapist, were added, expanding the program’s capabilities and paving the way for the robust system in place today.
Today, the team operates four critical care units and one acute care vehicle, offering two levels of care to meet the diverse needs of children ranging from tiny premature newborns to full-grown teens and high school athletes.
Two dedicated teams are in place 24 hours a day to respond to physician requests to transfer critical and
acute care pediatric patients from other facilities to CHKD or other specialized care hospitals outside of our service area. Our team flies with Nightingale Air Ambulance on occasion to assist with pediatric or neonatal interfacility transports by helicopter. And for transports deemed too far for a helicopter or an ambulance, members of the team are also qualified to fly with MedCenter Air, participating in fixed-wing aircraft critical care transfers.
Since its inception, the team has completed over 50,000 transports, including 1,554 in 2024 alone –an astounding one-third of these were for critically ill newborns.
As CHKD’s Mobile Intensive Care Program marks its golden anniversary, we celebrate not just the numbers but the lives saved, the families supported, and the unwavering commitment of the medical professionals who serve this team with heart and skill. Their dedication ensures that critically ill children receive complex medical care even before arriving at CHKD, providing a vital lifeline for those in need.
Welcome to Our New and Improved Website
Exciting News! CHKD has launched a brand-new, redesigned website to make your experience smoother, faster, and more user-friendly, especially on your smartphone. Here’s what’s new:
• Powerful Search Tools – Find what you need quickly and easily.
• Enhanced Provider Profiles – Choose the best doctor for your child with confidence.
• Simplified Process for Bill Payments – Paying your bills is now easier than ever.
And there’s more to come. Stay tuned for upcoming upgrades, including digital pre-appointment forms and a refreshed Careers page to help you land your dream job at CHKD Health System.
Discover our new site today at CHKD.org!
Inpatient Rehab Unit Marks 5 Years in Renovated Space
When children suffer severe illness or injuries that affec t their physical mobility or functional skills, the Acute Inpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit at CHKD provides the medical care and motivation they need to realize their fullest potential. Since 1999, this unique program has helped hundreds of children regain essential skills like walking, talking, swallowing, and even breathing on their own.
In 2020, CHKD unveiled its newly renovated unit. Since opening those doors, dozens of patients have taken advantage of the inspirational Blue Angels’ themed décor and state-of-the-art therapy gym, designed specifically for kids needing to regain strength and vital skills. Technology enhancements were also added to each of the eight private patient rooms, including overhead ceiling lifts and accessible bathrooms, to enhance the independence and safety of those patients experiencing serious mobility issues.
Located on the hospital’s fifth floor, CHKD’s rehab unit is the only unit of its kind in Virginia. Because it is part of our full-service children’s hospital, the unit is uniquely qualified and licensed to care for children with complex medical needs, including tracheostomies and central lines that may disqualify patients from other rehabilitation facilities.
Patients follow a rigorous daily schedule that incorporates physical, occupational, speech, and mental health therapy. Doctors, nurses, social workers, art and music therapists, and schoolteachers are also members of the treatment team. Together, this special team helps families rebuild futures after trauma, violence, or illness has forever altered the course of a child’s life.
In CHKD’s rehab gym, patient Lucas Guinn works with pediatric physical therapist
Michael Graham using the ZeroG Gait and Balance System, a robotic body-weight support device, to help Lucas relearn to walk after suffering a stroke at age 5.
OHonoring the Heart of CHKD: A
Night of Celebration
n the evening of Friday, January 10, the Marriott Norfolk Waterside was buzzing with excitement at CHKD’s second annual Milestone Gala. This special event honored the commitment of 233 team members who have been integral to the continued success of CHKD for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, and even 45 years!
The Milestone Gala is more than just a celebration of years served. It’s a tribute to the critical role each of our team members plays in ensuring that CHKD continues to be a place where children find healing
and families find hope. Whether delivering direct patient care or supporting vital operations behind the scenes, each honoree has made a lasting impact on the lives of children and families across our region and beyond. Their dedication ensures that CHKD remains a leader in pediatric care, and we are proud to celebrate their contributions to the organization’s ongoing success.
Are you interested in joining Team CHKD? Visit CHKD.org/Careers to learn how you can contribute to our mission to change lives.
Dr. Umar Boston recently joined the cardiac surgery team at the Heart Center at CHKD, stepping into the role of Chief of Cardiac Surgery. With a career spanning nearly two decades, Dr. Boston brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and a commitment to advancing pediatric cardiac care in our region.
After graduating from Howard University College of Medicine with a residency at the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Boston completed a cardiac surgery research fellowship at the Mayo Clinic and a pediatric cardiac surgery fellowship at Stollery Children’s Hospital.
His passion for congenital heart surgery stems from his time at the Mayo Clinic, where some of his mentors were
A Heart for the Kids
Heart Center names new
Chief of Cardiac Surgery
pioneers in the field. But his expertise extends beyond the operating room. Over the past 19 years, he has served in many leadership roles, most recently as director of the adult congenital heart disease program and founder and director of both the heart transplant program and the ventricular assist device program at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
“The opportunity to build a world-class congenital heart program is what inspired me to come to CHKD,” says Dr. Boston. “I have tremendous support here from a very motivated multidisciplinary team. And as the only independent, full-service children’s hospital in Virginia, I see CHKD as being a destination hospital for the region and beyond.”
The Heart Center at CHKD treats a full spectrum of cardiac disorders in patients ranging in age from newborns diagnosed before birth to adults living with congenital heart defects. The pediatric cardiac surgery team provides expert, patient-centered care in collaboration with our cardiologists, neonatologists, and pediatric intensive care specialists. The Heart Center at CHKD is a member of the Virginia Congenital Cardiac Collaborative. This collaborative, a partnership between CHKD, UVA Children’s, and Children’s Hospital of Richmond has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as one of the best programs in the country.
WRITTEN BY Heather Kent • PHOTOGRAPHY BY Ken Mountain
Dr. Michael Vance, a cardiologist at CHKD, listens to Zoe Irby’s heartbeat. Born at 24 weeks with a congenital heart defect, Zoe was the first patient at CHKD to undergo the minimally invasive Piccolo procedure to fix her heart in 2019.
All Grown Up
College student and NICU graduate reunites with former care team
WRITTEN BY Alice Warchol • PHOTOGRAPH BY Ken Mountain
Eighteen years ago, nurses in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at CHKD watched over a fragile newborn girl not knowing if she would survive without extensive brain damage. Now, as a healthy, happy teenager, that same girl returned to the NICU where she and her mother were able to reunite with some of the same care team members who helped to save her life.
During her birth at a neighboring hospital, Nai’lah Powell had suffered severe oxygen deprivation. She was transferred to CHKD so Dr. Thomas Bass, a CHKD neonatologist at the time, could use a new technique he was studying to stop her brain cells from dying by keeping her body temperature at 91 degrees.
The nursing team that oversaw Nai’lah’s care for several weeks never imagined they would reunite with this baby years later, telling her firsthand in between hugs and tears of joy how she was one of the first infants at CHKD to have cooling therapy – now called therapeutic hypothermia – to counter the effects of oxygen deprivation at birth. Since then, therapeutic hypothermia has become standard of care for newborns at risk of brain damage from oxygen deprivation. In 2024, more than 65 of CHKD’s NICU patients received this type of therapy.
During their reunion, the team gave Nai’lah and her mom, Rita, who now live in Maryland, a quick tour of the NICU, which has significantly changed since Nai’lah was a patient.
Julia Lomax, a CHKD neonatal nurse practitioner who was part of Nai’lah’s care team, recalled how elated everyone in the NICU was when an EEG showed that Nai’lah’s brain activity was normal. “You had everyone rooting for you,” Lomax said during the visit.
Nai’lah’s incredible recovery with cooling therapy was featured in the hospital’s KidStuff magazine more than a year later when she was a toddler and hitting all her developmental milestones.
Today, Nai’lah continues to thrive. She currently takes online classes through Liberty University to attain her associate’s degree in biblical studies.
“We always knew you would do great things – and you have,” said MaryBeth Sanders, one of the nurses who took care of Nai’lah in the NICU. “Seeing you today is why we do what we do.”
For Nai’lah and her mom, the reunion was a chance to tell everyone in the NICU how grateful they are for the care they received 18 years ago. “You don’t know what you mean to us,” Rita said.
Nai’lah Powell shows off her KidStuff feature from 18 years ago, celebrating with former NICU care team members nurse MaryBeth Sanders, neonatal nurse practitioner Julia Lomax, and her mom, Rita Powell.
Novel Neurosurgery
Logan’s procedure to correct rare condition makes medical history
WRITTEN BY Alice Warchol • PHOTOGRAPHY BY Ken Mountain
From the moment he was born, Logan Branson struggled to eat despite a healthy appetite. His mom tried breastfeeding, but he couldn’t latch well. After switching to a bottle, Logan still had difficulty drinking and gaining weight.
When he started eating solid foods, not a day went by without Logan choking. His parents, Hiroko and Jason Branson, quickly became adept at administering first aid – back blows, or thumps on the middle of the back – to clear his airway. The daily challenge to stop Logan from choking became a terrifying norm.
“We had to do back blows on him so many times that we didn’t strap him in his highchair to eat,” Jason says.
As Logan grew older, more issues surfaced. While he was bright and fluent in both Japanese and English, his speech was very hard to understand. By the time he was in kindergarten, his parents wrestled with a recommendation from his speech therapist to give Logan a tablet to carry around so it could speak for him.
the tongue’s range of motion. Dr. Baldassari suspected something more complex, perhaps with the hypoglossal nerve which controls the tongue, and ordered an MRI to rule out any issues with the nerve.
The MRI revealed a rare diagnosis: a blood vessel was pressing on Logan’s hypoglossal nerve, a condition known as microvascular compression. As a result, Logan couldn’t move his tongue to the right side of his mouth.
By the time he was in kindergarten, Logan’s speech therapist recommended he carry a tablet around so it could speak for him.
After reviewing the MRI, Dr. Dilustro, a neurosurgeon at CHKD, examined Logan. His opinion was that the MRI clearly showed a vessel was pressing on the nerve. While this condition can affect many cranial nerves, it is extremely rare for it to involve the hypoglossal nerve. Dr. Dilustro found less than 20 reported cases in medical literature, the youngest patient being 17 years old.
In search of answers, Hiroko and Jason took Logan to Dr. Cristina Baldassari, an ear, nose, and throat specialist at CHKD. They wondered if it was possible that Logan had tongue-tie, a condition that restricts
The Bransons couldn’t believe the news. “A billion things were going through our brains,” Jason says. “But it made sense. It was the final dot that connected everything.”
Deciding to treat Logan was a daunting decision. A successful surgery could change his life, but the risks of any neurosurgical procedure are significant.
Though the surgery Logan needed had never been done before on a 5-year-old, his parents trusted CHKD neurosurgeon Dr. Joseph Dilustro with the complicated procedure.
At 5 years old, Logan would be the youngest patient to undergo this complicated procedure. After a lengthy discussion with Dr. Dilustro, the couple agreed to move forward with the surgery. “We were still pretty nervous about it, but we thought it was the best route,” Jason says. “We trusted Dr. Dilustro,” Hiroko adds.
For the surgery, Dr. Dilustro teamed up with Dr. Stephanie Moody Antonio, an otolaryngologist (also known as an ear, nose, and throat surgeon) at CHKD who specializes in neurotology, a branch of otolaryngology that focuses on medical and surgical problems of the ear and related cranial nerves.
In the operating room, Dr. Moody created a small hole in Logan’s skull just behind his right ear. From this opening, using a microscope with 30-times magnification, Dr. Dilustro carefully made his way to the hypoglossal nerve. This process of isolating the nerve without damaging surrounding structures required meticulous dissection. “It took hours to travel centimeters,” he says.
Once they located the nerve, the surgeons discovered that the blood vessel was significantly covering it and compromising its function. With great care, Dr. Dilustro created enough space to insert a small piece of Teflon between the nerve and the blood vessel to relieve the pressure on the nerve. Dr. Moody positioned it perfectly on her first attempt. “She got it exactly where it needed to go,”
Dr. Dilustro says.
In a waiting room nearby, Logan’s parents received text message updates on their son’s progress throughout the surgery. CHKD social workers and chaplains checked in with them repeatedly to provide support during their agonizing wait.
When it was over, the couple reunited with Logan in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. The first sign of success came the very next day: Logan’s tongue showed noticeable improvement. “That was a wow moment,” Dr. Moody says. “The surgery is really going to make a difference for him.”
Today, Logan is thriving. His speech has improved, and he no longer has any challenges eating. And best of all: he won’t need a tablet to communicate for him.
The Bransons say they’re grateful for all the care Logan received. “I’m so glad we have CHKD,” Hiroko says.
Post-surgery, the Neuroscience Unit’s sensory playroom provided a comforting space for Logan to relax and recover during his hospital stay.
Logan’s condition is so rare, CHKD neurosurgeon Dr. Joseph Dilustro found less than 20 reported cases in medical literature.
PHOTOGRAPHS PROVIDED BY Branson family
In 2022, Sarah had orthopedic surgery at CHKD to improve the function of her legs. Since then, her walking has significantly improved, especially with the help of her walker and braces. Now, she’s out to conquer the world.
Embracing Life with Cerebral Palsy
Ten-year-old Sarah thrives with help from CHKD’s comprehensive program
WRITTEN BY Jessica Davenport
Each year in the United States, around three out of every 1,000 children are diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP), a disorder of movement and coordination related to abnormal muscle tone. It can be caused by factors like premature birth, lack of oxygen during delivery, an insult to the developing brain before the age of 5, or even genetic factors. But with the right treatment and support, kids with CP can unlock their own potential.
At CHKD, a comprehensive cerebral palsy program is available for children with this diagnosis. Patients with CP can vary widely in functional abilities, says Dr. Katrina Lesher, longtime director of CHKD’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Program. Symptoms may include muscle stiffness or weakness, difficulty walking, speech issues, and other complications. CHKD’s CP Program offers individualized care and support, connecting children and their families to the resources and therapies that will help them function to the best of their personal abilities.
Dr. Lesher sees over 500 patients with cerebral palsy each year. She focuses on a multidisciplinary approach that includes fellow physical medicine and rehab physicians, orthopedic surgeons, neurosurgeons,
therapists, and orthotists who provide casting and bracing, all with the common goal of improving function for this unique population.
“It’s an approach to the care of these patients that crosses numerous specialties, and we communicate very effectively, primarily through our electronic health record,” says Dr. Lesher. “We also help coordinate specialist visits and procedures to reduce the number of trips families make for appointments. Our team approach ensures that the patient has the best outcome.”
And, for CP patients who have experienced a prolonged illness, hospitalization, or surgery, CHKD operates the only inpatient rehabilitation unit in Virginia that’s just for kids. The eight-bed unit helps pediatric patients develop new skills or regain those that have been lost due to accidents, illnesses, or surgeries.
It’s an incredible resource for children diagnosed with cerebral palsy, like 10-year-old Sarah McDonald. Born at 23 weeks, Sarah spent the first six months of her life in the CHKD Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, fighting her way through jaundice, a bowel perforation, retinopathy of prematurity, and
• PHOTOGRAPHY BY Ken Mountain
periventricular leukomalacia. Sarah was eventually diagnosed with cerebral palsy and began working with the multidisciplinary CP team at CHKD. As she grew, her family worked with Dr. Lesher to improve her scissoring gait, which occurs when legs are too close together and cross over each other when walking.
By 2022, Sarah’s walking had become a concern. Then 7 years old and attending school, “she just wasn’t walking correctly,” says Sarah’s mom, Monica. “Her knees were kind of bending, and she wasn’t able to support herself.”
To improve her function, CHKD’s orthopedic surgery team performed a single event multi-level surgery to address Sarah’s issues with her lower limbs. For nearly a month after her surgery, Sarah recovered in CHKD’s Acute Inpatient Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit, receiving hours of therapies each day, including physical and occupational therapy, to optimize her post-op results.
“She loved her care team,” says Monica. Because of their work schedules, Sarah’s parents could only visit at night. The staff coordinated family check-ins during the day on Sarah’s tablet.
Today, Sarah still loves that tablet, as well as singing, coloring, and building with Legos. She’s able to walk well with the aid of a walker and ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) and participates in therapies at school. “Sarah is a poster child for motivation,” says Dr. Lesher. “She’s out to conquer the world.”
At her last checkup in March, Sarah impressed her providers with how well she’s getting around and answered questions about her status on her own, without waiting for her father to answer.
“I like them a lot,” Sarah says of her team of caregivers. “They help me understand, too. I’m happy they give me the time to talk.”
Sarah’s come a long way from her pink hat days in the NICU (see picture above), and her resilience and fighting spirit continue to influence everyone she meets.
“With the way that Sarah is progressing and how people are saying that she inspires them, it almost makes us cry,” says Monica.
“Everyone who has worked with her loves having her as a patient,” says a proud Dr. Lesher. “She’s sassy, she’s motivated, and she’s remarkable.”
Sarah, shown here at just 22 days old, was born four months early and weighed barely more than a pound. For the next six months, she battled various medical conditions and received round-the-clock care in CHKD’s NICU.
PHOTOGRAPH BY Susan Lowe
Sarah requires care that crosses numerous specialties, so a multidisciplinary team works together to help meet her multiple medical needs in fewer trips to CHKD.
Surgeons give young athlete a fresh start using the
da Vinci robotic surgical system
WRITTEN BY MaryClaire Hudson • PHOTOGRAPHY BY Ken Mountain
Knox Carter couldn’t stop throwing up. “He would get up in the middle of the night and throw up for three or four hours,” says Tony, Knox’s father.
Tony and Ashley, Knox’s mother, took 11-year-old Knox to an emergency department near their home in Chesapeake multiple times, growing more worried after every visit without an explanation of what could have been causing Knox’s episodes.
“We’d wait in the local ER so long that by the time we were seen, he was already feeling better,” Tony says. “Our neighbor said, ‘Next time, go to CHKD.’”
On December 26, 2022, Knox’s dad took him to CHKD during another bout of nausea and vomiting. Once at CHKD’s Emergency Department, Knox was seen quickly. Doctors ran tests to discover what was wrong.
“I’ve brought my kids to other hospitals before, but CHKD was very expeditious in everything they did, especially getting him seen quickly,” Tony says. “We didn’t have to wait hours to talk to somebody while he was vomiting. They were very quick. Within 30 minutes, Knox was being screened and having scans done.”
A CT scan at CHKD revealed Knox had a ureteropelvic junction obstruction, or UPJ obstruction. His ureter, a tube that connects the kidney to the bladder, had a narrowing that caused a backup of urine into his kidney. This led to Knox’s episodes of nausea and vomiting, known as Dietl’s crisis.
“Dietl’s crisis can occur when children with a UPJ obstruction drink more fluids than the kidney can handle, causing urine to back up within the kidney,” says Dr. Janelle Fox, pediatric urologist and Chief of Pediatric Urology at CHKD. “The extra fluid basically overwhelms the body’s drainage system.”
She explained this to the Carters at Knox’s first appointment with her. “Dr. Fox is just so amazing,” Ashley says. “I think it speaks a lot to her character, her overall demeanor, and her professionalism that a boy Knox’s age gets excited when he has a visit with her. He really enjoys her. That’s a big deal.”
Dr. Fox told the Carters that a UPJ obstruction is typically treated with robotic-assisted surgery. Using robotic instruments, Dr. Fox would identify and remove the narrow part of the ureter. Next, she would sew it back together at the healthy ends over a silicone tube called a ureteral stent. The temporary stent acts like an internal cast to keep the ureter from swelling shut during the healing process and is removed a month later. The procedure is called a pyeloplasty.
“Dr. Fox was really thorough with Knox,” Ashley says. “She showed him the ultrasound and what she was going to do. She explained it all so Knox knew exactly what was going on.”
Knox would be one of the first patients to benefit from CHKD’s recent investment in the da Vinci robotic surgical
“I’ve brought my kids to other hospitals before, but CHKD was very expeditious in everything they did, especially getting him seen quickly.”
Tony Carter, Knox’s dad
system. With robotic-assisted surgery, patients benefit from smaller incisions with fewer narcotics, which are important factors for kids having surgery. Additionally, these minimally invasive procedures generally lead to shorter recovery time.
“The aim of robotic surgery is to achieve the same surgical outcomes through smaller incisions, which results in less pain, less blood loss, and quicker discharge home,” says Dr. Fox. “Technologies continue to miniaturize so we make smaller and smaller incisions. This is particularly beneficial for school-age children and working families because it allows them to get back to school and work faster.”
Dr. Fox performed Knox’s pyeloplasty in March 2023. Thanks to the minimally invasive nature of his surgery,
Knox would be one of the first patients to benefit from CHKD’s recent investment in the da Vinci robotic surgical system. With robotic-assisted surgery, patients like Knox benefit from smaller incisions, less pain, and shorter recovery time.
he was able to go home after only one night at CHKD.
Over the next few weeks, Knox had what he and his family described as an easy recovery: a month off from sports but returning to school after less than two weeks and being able to walk around on his own shortly after surgery. His temporary stent was removed with no complications.
“Dr. Fox said the robotic surgery would be the best option,” Ashley says. “We trusted her.”
Knox, now 13, plays soccer for Beach FC in Virginia Beach. He also runs track and plays the viola. He’ll have one more follow-up with Dr. Fox, and his family is thankful for the expert care he received at CHKD.
“We recommend it, especially for military families like ours,” says Ashley. “Now I always say, ‘Go to CHKD.’”
CHKD Embraces Robotic-Assisted Surgery to Advance Pediatric Care
While “robotic-assisted surgery” might conjure futuristic images of machines operating on humans, da Vinci technology is better understood as an extension of the surgeon’s hands. The surgeon is in the operating room and seated at the da Vinci system console. While cameras magnify the surgeon’s view up to 10 times what can be seen by the human eye, the surgeon maneuvers robotic instruments that move like human hands, but with an extended range of motion and increased precision. The technology first received FDA approval in 2000 and has since become a widely accepted tool for surgeons.
“By equipping our medical professionals with the tools and expertise they need to use advanced surgical technology, we ensure our pediatric patients receive the best possible outcomes through minimally invasive procedures,” says Dr. Robert Obermeyer, Vice President and
Chief of Surgery at CHKD. “We are committed to pioneering the future of pediatric surgery through the use of the most advanced robotic technology available.”
CHKD surgeons perform approximately 40 robotic cases per year. Minimally invasive and robotic-assisted surgery have become routine for cases in which delicate suturing is required or the target organ is difficult to access.
“Urological surgery is only one of the areas that benefits from robotic-assisted technology,” says Dr. Janelle Fox, pediatric urologist and Chief of Pediatric Urology at CHKD. “Robotics can also be used for orthopedic surgery, abdominal surgery, even some cardiac and ENT surgeries. I truly believe that most of our surgeries over the next few decades will evolve into much more precise and less invasive techniques, thanks to technology like the da Vinci.”
In a CHKD operating room, pediatric urologist and Chief of Pediatric Urology Dr. Janelle Fox uses the da Vinci robotic surgical system (shown at left) to perform a minimally-invasive urological procedure, as Dr. Cameron Barruga, urology resident, assists at the patient’s side.
A generous donation from Susie and Clark Childers is supporting renovations to CHKD’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit where Adam, one of their twin sons (shown at bottom right), spent several days fighting an infection in 1990. Below, 14-month-old Adam is comforted by his mother and grandmother during his stay at CHKD.
“They were measuring his life in 15-minute increments.”
Clark Childers
PHOTOGRAPHS PROVIDED BY Childers family
A PICU Passion Project
Longtime hospital donors Clark and Susie Childers are no strangers to CHKD
WRITTEN BY Jessica Davenport • PHOTOGRAPH BY Ken Mountain
Their connection began nearly 35 years ago in the early morning hours of Labor Day 1990. Those days, the Childers were busy parenting three energetic young boys, including 14-month-old twins, Adam and Chris.
That morning, when Susie reached into Adam’s crib to pick him up, she noticed he was feverish and lethargic, with a splotchy rash. Alarmed, she called Adam’s pediatrician who sent them to the closest emergency room. Once there, the Childers learned that Adam had viral meningitis. Adam’s condition deteriorated quickly, and “they made the decision to call CHKD’s transport team to move him safely to CHKD,” Susie says.
Once at CHKD, Adam was whisked into the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for immediate attention (CHKD’s Emergency Department would open four years later) while his parents waited nearby. Susie remembers how gentle and caring Dr. Jorge Montes was as he prepared them to see Adam in the PICU for the first time. “He told us, ‘I will be right there with you,’” she says. “I’ll never forget it. He explained every tube and every monitor. And he sat right there with us, on a stool by Adam’s bed.”
The next few days in the PICU were a harrowing vigil for the Childers. Adam suffered a stroke and seizures. His doctors placed him in a medically-induced coma to allow his brain to rest. “They were measuring his life in 15-minute increments,” says Clark.
After several days of treating the infection, his doctors stopped administering the medication that was keeping Adam deeply sedated, but he remained unconscious and couldn’t be roused. The PICU team met with the Childers to begin the difficult conversations about what they would do if Adam’s condition didn’t change. As that meeting was ending, they received word that Adam had woken up. “I cannot even describe that feeling,” says Susie. “It was a miracle. We were getting our child back.”
Finally on the mend, Adam was able to transition out of the PICU to a regular hospital room before coming home four days later. The Childers family was back together again.
Remarkably, Adam suffers no long-term side effects from his near-death case of meningitis. A sports management graduate of Georgia Southern University, Adam has worked for both the Atlanta Braves and Hawks. He just celebrated his first wedding anniversary.
And now, thanks to a generous donation from the Childers family, the PICU is getting an update. Renovations began in 2024, and all phases of the remodel will be complete by the end of 2025.
“The much-needed upgrades will affect the whole unit, both patient care areas and family spaces,” says CHKD’s Chief of Pediatric Critical Care Dr. Thomas Cholis. The transformation includes new flooring, fresh paint in calming blues and grays in patient rooms, and beautiful beach-inspired artwork.
The Childers donation also ensures the Family Lounge, an area they learned to value during Adam’s stay, receives these long-awaited upgrades. Ultimately the design “will create a soothing, healing environment for patients and families during some of their most stressful times,” says Dr. Cholis.
The entire PICU staff is excited to see the upgrades.
“We recognize that having a child in the ICU can be an overwhelming experience, filled with anxiety and uncertainty,” says PICU Director Jennifer Pierson. “These thoughtful enhancements will not only create a more comforting environment but will also ease some of the stress that families face during this challenging time. The generosity and support from the Childers family will undoubtedly leave a lasting positive impact on the families we care for, helping them feel a little more supported during their journey.”
The Childers hope their gift will provide both comfort and care to families with critically ill children. “This is our way of giving back,” says Susie. “If it wasn’t for this wonderful place, Adam wouldn’t be here.”
Philanthropy Helps Provide Ongoing Care
When Ava was only a month old, she was diagnosed with sickle cell disease, a genetic blood disorder. She immediately began receiving treatment at CHKD’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, where a specialized, multidisciplinary team collaborates on her treatment plan and provides education and support services that address her family’s unique needs.
Since then, the drive from their home in Franklin to CHKD in Norfolk has become all too familiar. Ava’s diagnosis meant many trips in her first year –just having a fever requires a visit to the emergency department for blood work and antibiotics to treat any bacterial infections.
Ava’s comprehensive care team at CHKD is there
Giving is easy. You can make a difference today with a gift by cash, check, credit card, or stock. Use the enclosed envelope, donate online at the link below, or contact us for more options.
Multiply your donation. Many companies will match donations made by employees to organizations like CHKD. Some will even match gifts from spouses, retirees, and part-time employees. Visit CHKD.org/MatchYourGift to see if your employer matches gifts.
every step of the way, whether she is receiving medical treatment from a physician or working with a child life specialist to reduce anxiety and fear through play, learning, and self-expression.
Now an energetic toddler, Ava likes the color pink, bananas, and strawberry smoothies. As she grows through childhood, she will continue to receive ongoing care at CHKD to manage her illness and make sure she is healthy.
Donations are the reason CHKD can offer innovative treatments, advanced technology and equipment, and the compassionate care and support services our children and families need, close to home. Below are some ways you can help.
Make it monthly. Becoming a monthly donor is one of the most powerful ways to help children at CHKD. Your ongoing generosity supports our mission all year long.
Planned and legacy gifts. Friends who establish a planned gift with CHKD become members of the Beth Duke Legacy Society, and these estate plans ensure our ability to provide the best care for children in the future. Learn more at CHKD.org/PlannedGiving.
Children at CHKD need your help NOW! Visit CHKD.org/GiveCHKD or scan the QR code to donate securely online.
To learn more and find additional ways to help, visit CHKD.org/Giving or call (757) 668-7070.
Our Donors Make a Difference
Bronco Federal Credit Union raised $20,000 for CHKD at their 27th annual golf tournament in 2024. Mike Kenzie, Chief Executive Officer, and Holly Ledbetter, Human Resources and Administrative Services Manager, present the donation to CHKD’s John Muszkewycz (middle). Over the years, Bronco FCU has raised more than $300,000 to benefit the children at CHKD.
Wawa Team Brooks joined CHKD at the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore to pack bags of food for CHKD’s Family Nutrition Program, a critical program that provides children and families with healthy, shelf-stable food. In 2024, CHKD distributed 2,100 bags to local families and hopes to distribute nearly double that number in 2025.
Every year, CHKD partners with Dunkin’ and the Dunkin’ Joy in Childhood Foundation in support of CHKD’s Integrative Care/Child Life Program. Pictured here, local Dunkin’ representatives and CHKD team members celebrate the success of Dunkin’s annual Iced Coffee Day, where $1 from every iced coffee sold helped children feel more comfortable and in control of their hospital stay.
CLUBWAKA Hampton Roads’ WAKAPalooza Virginia Beach Kickball Open benefitted CHKD in 2024. The tournament hosted 18 teams which included a group from CHKD and raised $4,025. CLUBWAKA’s Jason Flick and Brent Wentworth present the proceeds to CHKD’s John Muszkewycz.
Partner with CHKD! Support from corporations, foundations, business leaders, and other groups in our community ensures we can provide critical programs and services and care for every child who needs us. Find out how you can help.
Fundraise for the Kids
Join Team CHKD to raise crucial funds for the unique programs and services our children need to heal and grow.
With CHKD’s online fundraising platform, the opportunities to show your support are endless. Dedicate your next event, birthday, holiday, or special occasion to local children at CHKD, or fundraise on a larger scale by organizing a charity race or sports tournament.
Visit CHKD.org/FundraiseYourWay or scan the QR code to learn more and create your personal fundraising page today.
Create a Legacy at CHKD
Plan for your future and support CHKD’s mission by creating or updating your will with FreeWill, an online resource that guides you through the estate planning process at no cost. In just 20 minutes, you can help CHKD provide the best care for children now and in the future.
With a planned gift of any size to CHKD, you join The Beth Duke Legacy Society, a special group of donors who support our mission and inspire others to do the same, just as Beth Duke did throughout her 45-year career at CHKD.
For more information, contact our Philanthropy Office at (757) 668-7070 or Legacy@CHKD.org.
Join The King’s Daughters
Since 1896, The King’s Daughters has made a difference in our community through fundraising, volunteerism, leadership, and advocacy for children’s health. Get involved by joining one of the 31 Adult Circles or nine Junior Circles in greater Hampton Roads – or create your own! Learn more and find local events at KingsDaughters.org.
Beth Duke, pictured in 2017 with CHKD patient Alexa Crawley
Karen Heniger, Alyssa McCrory, Kay Keatley, and Lillian McLemore of The King’s Daughters Horizon Circle collect tickets for a 50-50 drawing during their annual Spring into Mah Jongg event to benefit CHKD.
Parenting and Professional Resources from CHKD
Dedicated to providing quality information based on recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, CHKD offers classes, conferences, webinars, and more for parents and professionals interested in gaining knowledge, skills, and confidence in parenting. From parent education to children’s health, mental wellness, injury prevention, and sports performance, CHKD has got you covered.
Upcoming programs include:
• Wonders and Worries: Back to School and Beyond
• Take Ten! Positive Parenting Tips, On Demand
• Talking Fatherhood Podcasts
• Youth Mental Wellness Suicide Prevention Training
Scan the QR code or visit CHKD.org/Classes to see our schedule and read our latest Community Connections bulletin.
Grow Your Career at CHKD
45 locations. If you want to make a difference in the lives of children, apply for a position with CHKD today.
Find balance in life and work. In addition to traditional medical, dental, and vision care, we offer generous time off that starts accruing on your first day, and two personal days off each year. Employees also have free 24/7 access to our gym, discounts, and a suite of additional popular benefits.
Your family matters to us, too. Our family-focused benefits include paid parental leave, dependent care reimbursement, and best of all, no copays or deductibles for most CHKD services for dependents using a CHKD health plan!
We’ll help with your education. CHKD is proud to offer student loan repayment for eligible employees, and tuition assistance for those currently enrolled in a degree program.
Scan the QR code or visit CHKD.org/Careers to learn more about working at CHKD and browse current openings.
