Cook Children's

03/31/2026

A reunion that brought together a doctor and a patient he cared for 30 years ago was recently featured in the Fort Worth Report. Read on to learn how Paul Bowman, M.D., who spent decades as a pediatric oncologist in Fort Worth, reconnected with a former patient who was searching the web for leukemia foundations to support!

Interesting fact: In 1982, Dr. Bowman came to what is now known as Cook Children’s Medical Center as co-director of the Hematology and Oncology department after working at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital!

Dr. W. Paul Bowman has worked in the blood cancer space for 50 years.

03/30/2026

Superman, sunshine and SLIME! ☀️💙💚

We had such a great time this afternoon at Slime-A-Doc 2026! Huge thanks to all of our participants, audience members, host Kimberly Johnson and the facilities appearance team who worked behind the scenes to make the event happen. It was truly a celebration like no other!

View more photos and videos from the festivities here: https://tinyurl.com/4yr6hfxx

03/27/2026

Movin’ and groovin’ is good for everyone! 💃🕺

This summer Cook Children’s partnered with iCanShine to host iCan Dance! During the five-day program, instructors taught individuals of all abilities a dance routine. The camp ended with a performance for friends and families!

Cook Children’s is proud to co-host a five-day camp, called iCan Dance, alongside iCan Shine, an organization that offers a variety of programs to enrich and impact the lives of children with disabilities.

Over the course of a week in June, campers of all abilities will learn a dance routine and experience the joy of creativity together. The camp will wrap up with a fun performance for friends and families!

To learn more and register your camper, visit: https://icanshine.org/ican-dance-fort-worth-tx/

03/26/2026

Cook Children’s Health Care System is providing essential safety guidance regarding Tessalon Perles (benzonatate) after a recent tragedy in Denton County. While it is an effective medication for older children and adults, health experts are highlighting the importance of strict storage and dosing to prevent accidental ingestion in younger children.

With respiratory illnesses on the rise for both adults and children, many families are turning to cough medications for much-needed seasonal relief. Cook Children’s Health Care System is providing essential safety guidance regarding Tessalon Perles (benzonatate) after seeing cases of accidental in...

03/26/2026

Addie is one in a million. Really!

She's among the million Americans living with cerebral palsy. At the Jane and John Justin Institute for Mind Health, Addie’s team provides a personalized plan of care to help her achieve personal goals and find her voice. This model of care is designed to give every child the tools to thrive and every family a reason to hope.

In celebration of , learn more about the incredible work done by our Movement Disorders Clinic: https://www.cookchildrens.org/services/neurosciences/clinics/movement-disorders-clinic/

03/25/2026

At 8 years old, a child should focus on fun with friends and family, learning and reading, climbing jungle gyms and playing with toys. What a child should not have to endure is what George Morford had to go through, beginning in February 2025.

Each year more than 10,000 children are diagnosed with cancer and nearly one in three cases is a form of leukemia. There are two main types of acute leukemia, with Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) being the least common in children. In 2025, George Morford was diagnosed with AML at 8-years-old.

George’s diagnosis and hospitalization came one month before The Blast, a community walk along the Trinity River benefitting the Cook Children’s Hematology and Oncology Center. His family and friends formed “George’s Purple Tomatoes,” on his behalf since he couldn’t go and they ended up becoming the organization’s largest team of 132 participants that year.

Now in remission, George will walk The Blast for the first time as the leader of his renamed team “George’s Funky Town Fight Club” at the 2026 event on Saturday, March 28 at Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth.

“Cook Children’s is meant for kids, and it has everything a kid could need and it makes me mostly only remember the good things,” said George.

It’s why The Blast is close to the Morford family’s hearts. To read more about George’s inspiring story and how you can get involved with the Blast, visit: https://tinyurl.com/mwvuk7xw

03/24/2026

Where they all began! 💙

During , we’re celebrating the inspiring work of our Child Life team, who bring smiles and strength to our patients every day.

Swipe to see a few pictures of them in their childhood, and what they are doing now. ⏰

03/23/2026

March is , a time to celebrate the team who works with medical teams and other hospital staff to make sure that patient needs and concerns are addressed and ongoing needs are met. For Sarah Pitman, a Pulmonology, Sleep Clinic and Transitional Care Unit (TCU) social worker, the role is defined by a commitment to long-term relationship building, acting as a steady presence for families navigating the often-overwhelming intersections of healthcare and systemic barriers.

The impact of this work is best seen through the lens of families like Chasity Nowlin’s. When Nowlin brought Sir Mack in for a pulmonology appointment, the medical team recognized that his asthma triggers weren't just medical - they were environmental. A failing air conditioner in their apartment was compromising his health, and the paperwork to fix it was stalled in a bureaucratic loop.

That was the moment Pitman stepped in. By providing the support and professional advocacy Nowlin needed, Pitman helped move the needle on a housing situation that was rapidly spiraling toward homelessness.

“I didn’t know I needed a social worker and I’m so glad I decided to reach out,” Nowlin said. “Sarah always understands the seriousness of my situations and provides help however I need.”

While doctors treat the symptoms, Pitman and the Cook Children’s Social Services team treat the environment, ensuring that when a child like 6-year-old Sir Mack leaves the clinic, he has a safe, stable place to recover. To learn more, visit: https://tinyurl.com/3uh5k94n

03/21/2026

5-year-old Annie Morey makes the most of every day with a smile that lights up her whole face. Her mom, Courtney, says Annie is the most cheerful person in the house and always makes people laugh.

Annie was born with Down syndrome, a heart condition and pulmonary hypertension. At 4 months old, Annie fought for her life on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU). It was during this time that Courtney truly understood the power of the connection between caregivers and patients. After more than 60 shifts of nurses caring for Annie, Courtney finds the CICU culture at Cook Children’s hard to explain.

“These nurses sacrifice so much mentally and emotionally to provide the highest acute care,” Courtney says. “There is a bubble of heroes in Fort Worth that not everyone knows exists.”

Today, Annie is a thriving girl who loves reading books, learning French, dancing at ballet class and playing with her brothers and cousins. Courtney has discovered a passion for advocating for children with Down syndrome, inspired by Annie.

To take a peek into a day in the life of Annie for , visit: https://tinyurl.com/236y43s7

03/21/2026

Hip, hip, hooray! It’s Cook Children’s 108th Birthday! 🥳🎂

We are so thankful for the trust our patients and families have placed in us for these many years. It's an honor to be a part of your journey! To our Cook Children’s community: thank you for the passion and dedication you bring to the lives you impact daily.

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03/20/2026

Cook Children’s invites school nurses and pediatric health care professionals to the 34th annual School Nurse Symposium on June 11, 2026, a full day dedicated to advancing school health, professional growth and collaboration.

Last year’s hybrid symposium brought together over 2,000 participants from more than 15 states. This year, we’re excited to continue offering both in-person and virtual attendance options with the added benefit of on-site vendors available to share valuable resources and answer questions throughout the day.

The 2026 symposium features expert-led sessions spanning a wide range of topics relevant to school nursing practice. Presentations will cover:
• Trauma case studies and emergency response in schools
• Recognizing and supporting students with eating disorders
• Updates on unassigned albuterol use and safe legal practices for nurses
• Oral health promotion and care for trafficked youth
• Identifying pediatric oncology red flags and supporting students with persistent pain

The day will include interactive discussions, continuing education opportunities and insights from leading physicians, nurse practitioners and specialists from Cook Children’s.

Don’t miss out! Join us for this dynamic event to gain practical knowledge, connect with peers and strengthen your ability to care for students.

Registration for in-person event
https://www.onlineregistrationcenter.com/register/4268-5513

Registration for virtual event
https://www.onlineregistrationcenter.com/register/4268-5514

03/19/2026

Expert care close to home.

Children: full of potential and promise. Each life is a journey of ups, and sometimes downs. At Cook Children's, we're here for it all, connecting your family to world-renowned specialists and pioneering research, providing breakthrough treatments and the latest technologies for when it matters most. It’s exceptional expertise, paired with compassion you can feel. And when you're here, you can trust that your child is in the best possible hands. Cook Children's: expert care at the peak of possible.

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