Stories that inspired us in 2024

What a year! As 2024 comes to a close, we, like most of you, are looking back on our favorite memories from this year and found ourselves being inspired by the stories shared by patients and families who came through Children’s Mercy’s doors. Take a look at 10 stories that inspired us, made us smile and brought us joy this year. 

1. Care that traveled all the way to Italy. Five years ago, Giuseppe didn’t have the strength to stand or even smile. Fast forward to 2023, he got married in Italy with his provider, Dr. Doug Myers, in the audience. “He gave me energy and strength,” Giuseppe says of Dr. Myers. “He is the best person I know in my life.” 
2. Alex turns 13! When Alex had a stroke at 6 months old, doctors weren’t sure he’d breathe, walk, talk or eat on his own. This year, thanks to his determination and his care team’s support, he celebrated his 13th birthday. Go, Alex! 
3. Jordan is trach free. After living with a tracheostomy for 3,006 days (8+ years), Jordan celebrated trach-free life with a splash! He headed to Great Wolf Lodge where he could enjoy the water park for the first time. 
4. A NICU built just for kids. Children’s Mercy cares for kids of all shapes and sizes…even the smallest of babies. Specialized diapers, pacifiers, masks and more are made just the right size for the tiniest newborns in the NICU.  
5. Celebrating a teenage rite of passage. Teenagers shouldn’t miss out on prom just because they’re in the hospital. Thanks to generous donors, the magic of prom was brought to Children’s Mercy patients who had the chance to get gussied up and dance the night away. 
6. Julian and Litta, BFFs. While Julian has spent his whole life at Children’s Mercy, the facility dogs are a great tie to his dogs back home and bring connection and comfort to Julian and his family. 
7. Bells for Parker! Parker celebrated the end of her chemo treatments by ringing the bell, but her family also celebrated being equipped with genetic testing results that will help their whole family be proactive about their health in the future. 
8. Jaxon’s big heart. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome hasn’t stopped 16-year-old Jaxon from getting his driver’s license or playing video games with friends. Thanks to the Children’s Mercy cardiology team, Jaxon lives life just like any other teenager, and his story is still being written. 
9. Seeing double. A recent milestone brought our NICU 2x the joy – times 8! The team cared for a record-setting 8 sets of twins, providing top notch care to each of these little fighters. 
10. ‘Illuminating’ mental wellness. In partnership with Camber Mental Health, Children’s Mercy celebrates the grand opening of the Mental Wellness Campus in Olathe, Kan. This state-of-the-art facility will provide essential inpatient mental health care for more than 3,400 pediatric and adult patients each year.