Children's Mercy

Sometimes, the most meaningful moments in health care are the simplest ones. A child reaches out to pet a dog. A small smile starts to form. A spark of joy appears in the middle of a hospital stay. ✨ Keeping kids curious, joyful and taking steps forward is a big part of why we host inpatient events like a dog’s birthday party. Our 8-year-old facility dog Litta certainly deserves the celebration, too, for all the love, care and calm she brings to kids and families every day. Happy birthday to our four-legged friend and team member. We’re grateful for the light you bring to our Children’s Mercy universe.

Apparently, the residents of Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead are already looking forward to Safety Day. 🐐🐄🐷 Children's Mercy is proud to serve as the presenting sponsor of this free community event, bringing together first responders, hospitals and safety organizations to help families learn about important topics including water safety, poison prevention, child passenger safety and more. Attendees can explore emergency vehicles, meet local safety heroes and participate in hands-on activities designed to help keep children safe. We look forward to spending the day with families and community partners focused on making our community safer for children, and we hope to see you there!

⚡ What started as a way to honor one life continues to make a difference for so many others. Since 2017, the Brandon Russell Memorial Foundation has donated more than $350,000 to charitable causes, including support for Children's Mercy. Their generosity supports the Ward Family Heart Center through a research endowment established in Brandon's name, the Thrive Program and the Heart Center operating fund, helping advance care, innovation and support services for families who need them most. Together, they're creating lasting impact while ensuring Brandon's legacy lives on. Learn more about Flash Dash: https://cmkc.link/3UhIhJb

Part of being a nonprofit means giving back to the community that continues to show up for us. This summer, one way we returned that support was through: 3,165 lunches. Countless summer adventures fueled. ☀️🥪💙 Funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, with food and operations support from St. Luke Memorial Church, our free summer lunch program helped more children in our community have the energy they need to play, learn and grow during some of their most important years. These meals also brought a sense of security and comfort to families during moments when one less thing to worry about can make all the difference. To every team member, volunteer and partner who helped make this possible: thank you. 💙

A hospital stay can interrupt a lot of things. Learning doesn't have to be one of them. Through our Hospital-Based School program, certified teachers provide individualized instruction, academic support and meaningful learning opportunities for school-aged patients during their hospital stay. Beyond academics, the program helps reduce anxiety, maintain routines and provide a sense of normalcy during challenging circumstances. As a nonprofit, independent pediatric health system, Children's Mercy depends on community support to help sustain programs that care for the whole child and support their overall well-being. This back-to-school season, consider making a gift to help ensure children can continue learning, growing and reaching important milestones while receiving care. https://cmkc.link/4yTopvX

As back-to-school season begins, we're celebrating two students who spent their summer making a difference. Pranjal and Rylie, our August Volunteers of the Month, helped create a warm welcome for patients and families through simple acts of kindness, from sharing stickers with children to helping visitors navigate the hospital. Their positivity, compassion and commitment to service made a lasting impact on our Children's Mercy community. Congratulations, Pranjal and Rylie, and thank you for an incredible summer! 💙👏📚

Is it a true food allergy or a food intolerance? Aarti Pandya, MD, breaks down the key differences, including symptom timing, red flags for anaphylaxis and when testing is actually needed. Listen to the latest Pediatrics in Practice episode wherever you get podcasts, and claim credit at the link below. https://cmkc.link/495XkHu

Every portrait tells a story. And on August 23, Kansas City will have the chance to experience 100 of them. Children’s Mercy is honored to be one of only 12 sites in the country selected to host the 100 Cleft Portraits US Tour, presented by the American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association. This powerful exhibition, created by artist and advocate Katie Manning, shares the faces and lived experiences of people affected by cleft lip and/or palate. What makes this experience meaningful is that it invites all of us to look beyond a diagnosis and see the whole person: their courage, identity, resilience and joy. This free event offers: • All 100 portraits • Children’s portrait-drawing workshops • Trauma-informed parenting workshops • Discounted admission to Wonderscope • Food trucks, local businesses and family-friendly surprises At Children’s Mercy, we believe every child and family deserves to feel seen, supported and celebrated. This event brings that belief to life through art, connection and community. Register today for this no-cost, all inspired day on August 23 from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Regnier Family Wonderscope Children’s Museum of Kansas City. We hope to see you there! https://cmkc.link/4wOXdgn

She pulled away from Children’s Mercy in tears. After 53 days in our NICU, Nicole wasn’t thinking about monitors or milestones or the long days that had finally led to discharge. She was thinking about people. The nurses and doctors she wanted to thank by name. The fact that her family had the region’s only Level 4 NICU close to where they live, work and play. The moment her daughter held her baby brother for the first time. 🙏 His first outfit. His first diaper. His first Kangaroo cuddle with Dad. And, maybe most of all, she was thinking about what it means to have an entire system of care wrap around your family when life feels fragile. This tearful drive away says everything. Because at Children’s Mercy, we don’t just hope families feel cared for while they’re here. We hope they leave knowing they were seen, supported and loved through every hard, beautiful, unforgettable moment. Nicole, your nurses and doctors hear you. They carry your words with them. And the love you shared? Right back atcha. 💙 To you and yours. Thank you.