Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

11/18/2025

Help bring comfort & joy to children spending the holidays at Lurie Children's! Toy and gift donations help ensure kids feel cared for and supported throughout the holiday season and beyond. There are several different ways to help stock our toy shelves this season. www.luriechildrens.org/holiday

11/17/2025

Today on World Prematurity Day, we’re celebrating the enormous strength of our tiniest patients and our extraordinary NICU team who supports them every step of the way.

About 1 in 10 babies worldwide are born preterm (before 37 weeks), according to the World Health Organization. This number is a reminder how vital early care, family-centered support, and access to resources really are.

While premature birth can be a challenging experience for families, Lurie Children’s is proud and equipped to give preterm babies a strong start for a bright and full future. The Lurie Children’s NICU is a Level IV facility, which is the highest designation in Illinois for the level of specialized expertise and comprehensive resources available to treat the smallest and sickest babies. The unit cares for more than 2,000 infants each year and brings together expert teams of neonatologists, neonatal nurse practitioners, developmental care specialists, respiratory therapists, nutritionists, social workers, and more, to provide the highest-quality care to these babies and their families.

Thank you to our NICU specialists who provide the compassionate care, emotional support and expert guidance needed in these important and early days. 💜

11/14/2025

11/14/2025

In April 2024, when their bright and fearless 6-year-old daughter, Lilley, was diagnosed with leukemia, their world collapsed in an instant. The months that followed were filled with Lurie Children’s hospital rooms, heavy silence, and the kind of fear no family is ever prepared for. Somehow, in the middle of heartbreak, the family chose gratitude over despair and compassion over fear.

It was during those long clinic visits that Lilley noticed the hat hub was nearly always empty. She decided to bring comfort to the little warriors fighting beside her and fill the hub. What began as a simple wish became “Lilley’s Beanies of Bravery”. Last year, she donated over 300 beanies. This year, her dream was even bigger. 700 beanies, 100 for every year she has been alive.

The family hosted an event in September to support Lilley’s beanie drive and to spread awareness about childhood cancer. With the help of her supportive community, she exceeded her goal! Collecting over 940 beanies.

Join us in thanking Lilley for her mission to wrap these brave warriors in warmth and love, one beanie at a time. If you are interested in learning how to fundraise like Lilley, visit our website. https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/blog/how-to-fundraise/

11/14/2025

Until recent advances in genetic testing, 22q Deletion Syndrome (also known as DiGeorge Syndrome) was often challenging to diagnose. Now, more children are getting answers sooner and receiving the coordinated care they need.

In our latest Precision podcast episode, Dr. Laura Rosenthal – otolaryngology physician, director of the Lurie Children's 22q Deletion Center and medical director of Speech and Language Services – and Dr. Kelly Regan-Fendt, genetics, genomics and metabolism physician, share how the 22q Deletion Center brings together specialists from genetics, immunology, otolaryngology, audiology, social work and more to support the unique needs of each child and family.

🎧 To learn more and listen to the full episode, visit https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/precision-podcast/expert-care-for-22q-deletion-syndrome-with-drs.-laura-swibel-rosenthal--kelly-regan-fendt

11/13/2025

Cranberries are now in season! Here is a fun and easy way to incorporate them into a snack for the whole family to enjoy! Learn more about WIC through WIC grocery:
https://www.wicgrocery.org/.

Together with Lurie Children's, members include:

11/11/2025

One month from today, the Lurie Children’s Radiothon returns. Join us for a day filled with inspiration and courage, where every story reminds us what’s possible when hope and healing come together.

Tune in to Fox 32 Chicago or your favorite iHeartRadio Chicago station on Thursday, December 11, from 6 am – 7 pm to hear powerful stories from our patients, their families, and the incredible care teams who never stopped fighting for them.

Together, we can turn those stories into action. Help fuel research, support families, and give more kids a chance to heal. luriechildrens.org/radiothon

93.9 LITE FM WGCI 107.5 Radio 1035 KISS FM V103 Chicago Inspiration 1390

11/10/2025

Scoliosis hasn’t stopped 13-year-old Mackenzie from being a three-sport athlete, a funny best friend – and now, a young philanthropist!

Since age 9, Mackenzie has worn a back brace to help correct the curve in her spine. At first, she worried about what kids at school might think. But with the care and encouragement of her Lurie Children’s team, she found confidence and community.

Wanting to give that same comfort to other kids, Mackenzie hosted a hometown bake sale that raised an incredible $5,500; enough to donate 226 stuffed animals wearing back braces, just like hers.

Together with her best friend Dylan and her mom Bridget, Mackenzie brought the stuffed animals to Lurie Children’s Orthotics Program to remind other patients that they’re not alone.

“Just knowing that somebody understood what I was going through was helpful,” Mackenzie remembers. “So I wanted to help other kids.”

11/07/2025

Juggling kids and work is hard enough. That’s why WIC provides flexibility to ensure a healthy first five for families, including EBT cards, remote appointments, and more. Wondering how WIC can work for you? . Learn more about WIC at https://wegotyouillinois.org.

Hacer malabarismos con los niños y el trabajo es bastante difícil. Por eso, WIC ofrece flexibilidad para garantizar que las familias tengan unos primeros cinco saludables, así como tarjetas EBT, citas a distancia y más. ¿Se pregunta cómo WIC puede ayudarle? (estamos aquí para usted). Obtenga más información sobre WIC en https://wegotyouillinois.org

Together with Lurie Children's, members include:

11/06/2025

Every child deserves the chance to feel safe, supported and understood, and Amelia’s story is a reminder of just how powerful that support can be.

When Amelia first experienced depression and anxiety as a pre-teen, things like going to school, finishing her homework or even getting out of bed some mornings felt completely unattainable or impossible at some points. But over time, and with the right support from her care team, her family, and her community, Amelia learned to recognize her emotions, build healthy coping strategies and find joy in everyday life again.

After working closely with her therapist for several years, Amelia has now moved to having sessions on an as-needed basis. She’s also graduated from high school, and just started college at the University of Iowa, where she’s on a pre-med track with dreams of becoming a general surgeon. Amelia’s story speaks to the healing that’s possible with care, compassion and persistence.

“We all have some light inside of us,” Amelia said. “Sometimes we just need a little help to allow it to shine bright.”

11/05/2025

Late last year, the Tauchman family welcomed their daughter, Remi, who was born with a cleft palate. Inspired by their journey, Mike Tauchman, Eileen Tauchman, and the Chicago White Sox came together to raise $47,064.75 to support the Lurie Children’s Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Their efforts help families with emergencies. From transportation to meals, when support matters most.

In addition to fundraising, the Tauchman family and White Sox also donated care bags for the patients and families in the program. These simple acts of kindness bring comfort and hope to those receiving care.

We are deeply grateful to the Tauchman family and the White Sox for turning their experience into a source of support for our patients and their families.