Vanderbilt Children's Rheumatology Franklin

07/21/2025

Velour’s birthday “pawty” was doggone fun. 🐾

As one of our Canine Companions, Velour comforts and motivates young patients, helping them feel safe and supported during their hospital stays.

She works alongside staff to make being here feel less intimidating — and a little more like home.

Happy birthday, Velour. You’ve earned all the treats.

Read the full story in the comments below.
Canine Companions

07/15/2025

We are so thankful for the work Stand Up To Cancer does and we can't wait for the special!

Have you heard the good news? Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center is welcoming the televised fundraising special, Stand Up To Cancer, to Nashville. 🤠

Music icon Dolly Parton will appear in the special, with Grammy Award-winning artist Sheryl Crow serving as host. Additional performers and celebrity participants will be revealed in the weeks ahead.

Telecast viewers will hear from leading researchers funded by this organization about recent advances and why continued support is vital in the fight against cancer. The program will also feature powerful stories from survivors who benefited from research made possible by donor contributions. From early detection to new treatment approaches, these stories reflect the real-world impact of research funded by this effort, and the hope it brings to patients and families.

We are so thankful for the work Stand Up To Cancer does. Learn more about the telecast and how you can tune in on Aug. 15 by clicking the link in our comments. ⬇️

07/14/2025

Earlier this month, patients and families celebrated the Fourth of July with some of our Friends of Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt volunteers! The fun afternoon included lunch, face painting, bingo and sweet treats!

07/11/2025

If your baby has a tongue tie, don't fret. Often tongue ties do not require surgery. Some tongue ties — also called ankyloglossias — are obvious, while others are not. Some may restrict the movement of a baby’s tongue that makes it difficult to feed, but if a baby is feeding well and there are no other problems, treatment is not necessary.

Read more at the link in our first comment, below.

07/10/2025

“There were days Brynlee didn’t want to move. Then we would say, ‘Velour is coming,’ and her whole face lit up.”

After a tragic car accident left her with severe burns and broken bones, 9-year-old Brynlee faced weeks of painful recovery. Physical therapy was challenging, but a gentle facility dog helped her find the courage to try again.

Velour, one of our facility dogs, stayed by Brynlee’s side, making each small step feel a little less scary. Moments that once brought tears turned into giggles.

Watch as Brynlee works through physical therapy with Velour by her side.

We are so grateful to Brynlee and her mom for allowing us to share their story with you.

Read the full story in the comments below.

07/08/2025

She was dancing one moment. The next, her heart had stopped.
Zoe Forman was backstage at a Nashville dance competition, about to perform her final number. At 17, she’d trained for this for years. But instead of stepping on stage, she whispered to her mom, “I can’t breathe.”

She collapsed minutes later. In the ambulance, her heart stopped.

At Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, pediatric heart surgeon Dr. Carlos Mery diagnosed Zoe with a rare and often silent cause of sudden cardiac death in teens: anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA). A six-hour surgery restored her heart function and likely saved her life.

Now Zoe is home in Alabama, crocheting, laughing and waiting for the chance to dance again. Her story is a reminder of how quickly life can change — and how our expert care can give it back. Read more about Zoe’s story in the comments below.

07/08/2025

Neuropsychologist Douglas Terry, PhD, works with the National Football League as the senior director of research, focusing on enhancing the health and safety of NFL players.

This is an extension of his expertise in sports-related concussion and cumulative head impacts. The NFL works with elite athletes, but things like car accidents and slips and falls are the leading causes of concussions, he said — ordinary mishaps that can happen to anyone, including children.

See the first comment below for a Q&A with Terry about concussions and how to study them.

07/08/2025

Constipation is one of the most common reasons for a child’s visit to the pediatrician. It can cause belly pain and distress for children — and their parents. See the link in our comments for tips for keeping things, well, moving.

07/07/2025

Thanks to our community of support, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt has announced plans to create Tennessee’s first inpatient pediatric rehabilitation unit to keep children closer to home while recovering from life-altering illnesses or injuries. We are so grateful to the many generous individuals and businesses in the community who are helping to make this vision a reality. Read more by visiting https://bit.ly/3IedSWg.

07/03/2025

Handled safely, fireworks are fun. Getting hurt is not. Eye surgeon Dr. Sylvia Groth reminds us that fireworks tend to injure the hands and face, particularly the eyes. In a single shift in a recent year, she and her team treated 11 firework injuries at Vanderbilt and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt — the majority were children. Please use these smart strategies to prevent fireworks injuries and have a happy July 4. See the first comment below for Groth’s tips.

07/02/2025

Looking forward to it. ❤️

Mark your calendars! The Telecast is back and headed to Nashville! Join us Friday, August 15th for a night of music, inspiration, and hope. 🎸🧡

🌟 Sign up for updates and reminders at StandUpToCancer.org/Show.

07/01/2025