Riley Children's Health

04/13/2026

Morgan Watson, certified child life specialist at Riley Hospital for Children, combined her love for children with her passion for dance in last month’s Reason to Dance fundraiser for the Riley Children’s Foundation. Watson, who covers 5 West and stem cell at Riley, came home with two Mirrorball replica trophies – one for the kids’ choice award and another for the judges’ choice award with a near-perfect score. In addition, she raised more than $23,000 for RCF. “It’s the most fun I’ve ever had fundraising for Riley,” she said. Watson and her partner did a traditional ballroom dance, as well as one for the kids, dressed as Lilo & Stitch. Riley kids got to watch the competition on closed-circuit TVs in their rooms, and others joined a watch party in the Child Life Zone. Watson, who trained as a dancer from childhood through college, had plenty of support for the March 13 event at the Indiana Roof Ballroom, including Riley physicians, 5W and stem cell team members, child life specialists and family. All proceeds from Reason to Dance this year will benefit Child Life through RCF.
--mgilmer1@iuhealth.org

04/12/2026

Eleven-year-old Harper Delellis is battling an optic pathway glioma after being diagnosed last summer. Recently, her mom, dad, uncle, and her late grandma shaved their head to show support for the young patient.

"I love my family," Delellis said. "I love how they're like supporting me with it."

Delellis continues to attend school five days a week in addition to weekly chemotherapy treatments at Riley Hospital for Children, where she is under the care of Dr. Alex Lion.

While Harper and her mom said she was initially scared of her diagnosis, her battle with cancer has not stopped her from enjoying her childhood, which includes reading and robotics.

Eleven-year-old Harper Delellis is battling an optic pathway glioma after being diagnosed in summer 2025. Recently her mom, dad, uncle, and her late…

04/11/2026

This isn’t the first time that Makenna has been featured on social media. She is a friendly, personable 11-year-old who has already found success as a content producer on TikTok. She’s amassed several hundred followers and had a post that was viewed by almost 50,000 viewers. It makes sense when you talk with her and see how upbeat and fun she is. Makenna may have been especially upbeat Thursday afternoon because she was scheduled to go home after a three-week stay at Riley Hospital for Children. She has chronic lung disease, which makes her lungs more fragile and more susceptible to illness. Sometimes her lungs need a “tune up” to make them healthier and stronger to ward off germs. She has been a Riley inpatient several times and received a major surgery at birth, all of which help improve and protect her health. Makenna was enjoying spending time with her mother, Breaunna, Thursday, and was looking forward to going home so she can see her two sisters and hold her younger sister who is still a baby. She’s also looking forward to going back to school to see all of her friends, and continuing to engage virtually with her many TikTok friends.

04/09/2026

Dallas White, born March 4 at Riley Hospital’s Maternity Tower, dozes as his mom, Kallee Harvey, watches over him in the Heart Center at Riley. Dallas was diagnosed during a 20-week scan with tricuspid atresia, a serious congenital heart defect where the tricuspid valve doesn’t form, restricting blood flow. His mom, a nurse at IU Health M**hodist Hospital, also suffered pre-eclampsia and delivered Dallas a month early. He is the first child for Harvey and her partner, Derek White. “It’s completely different being on this side of medicine,” said Harvey, who works on a medical-surgical unit at M**hodist. “I can’t speak highly enough about the doctors and nurses, from antepartum to labor and delivery to here. Everyone has been amazing. We’ve got a really, really good team, and I know I’m in the best possible place for him and his condition.” Dallas, who weighs 6 pounds, 1 ounce, has had two surgeries but could be discharged in a couple of weeks if he continues to grow as expected.
--mgilmer1@iuhealth.org

04/09/2026

The Sickle Cell Story Club is celebrating its 5th birthday at Riley! Since 2021, the club has helped foster a love of literacy and learning among patients battling sickle cell disease by providing them with new books during clinic visits.

Dr. Julia LaMotte, who launched the club, says it’s important to the Riley team that patients can see themselves in the books they receive. Today, more than 5,000 books have been distributed thanks to the Sickle Cell Story Club! To purchase books for this group, check out the wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/I5Y50YNSH91Y?ref_=wl_share.

04/09/2026

Greene, whose daughter, Christine Greene, is a nurse at Riley Hospital for Children, found himself facing his mortality after a $49 heart scan at IU Health North Hospital revealed severe aortic stenosis, requiring double bypass surgery at IU Health M**hodist Hospital on Feb. 16. Now, he is back to walking the beach in Florida.

He had no symptoms, but Tim Greene’s heart could have given out at any time.

04/08/2026

Dr. Mark Hoyer, beloved by his team and his patients, has tended hearts big and small for 25 years.

04/08/2026

An enchanted morning ✨ at Riley Hospital for Children as the DEOC Ensemble serenaded our staff, patients and their families with music from Taylor Swift. Plus, our "Fearless" patients got the chance to pick up some Eras Tour goodies and Music Therapies instruments from the T-Swift Merch table. Riley Cheer Guild Taylor Swift

04/08/2026

A day spent one-on-one with Mom is always a great day, especially when it includes a trip to Riley's Child Life Zone. Six-year-old Sophia Baten loves visiting this play space each time she has therapy at Riley Hospital for Children. Sophia is diagnosed with autism which brings her to the hospital often, and her mom says playing here is always her daughter's favorite part.

Sophia's family began trusting Riley for her therapy when she was a baby. Brenda, Sophia's mom, adds, "I just appreciate Riley and helping a lot with Sophia!"

04/06/2026

It’s Day 73 of an estimated 100-day stay at the Ronald McDonald House at Riley Hospital for Children for MaKayla Lovely, 11-year-old daughter of Bryan and Jade Lovely. MaKayla, seen here making music on the piano mat in the 5W playroom at Riley, underwent a stem cell transplant in January for severe aplastic anemia, a serious blood disorder where the bone marrow fails to produce enough new blood cells. Her little sister, MaKenna, who was her donor, got a chance to play with Peppa Pig toys alongside Riley volunteer Barbara VanDevender last week. MaKayla, who likes to visit her favorite nurses on the fifth floor, recently asked child life specialist Morgan Watson to cut her hair when it began to fall out. “MaKayla is one of the most resilient kids I know,” Watson said. “It's really been an honor to walk alongside her and her family these past few months and watch her personality and spunkiness shine through.” Jade Lovely has not been home since MaKayla was admitted to the hospital for a ruptured appendix and severe infection in November, but the rest of the family was able to join them in Indy for Easter weekend.
--mgilmer1@iuhealth.org

04/05/2026

The Easter Bunny (aka Riley Hospital for Children’s NICU Nest team) hopped into the rooms of some of Riley’s tiniest patients to bring the babies and their parents some Easter cheer recently. Pictured with their handmade floppy ears, courtesy of team members Anji Hines and Brandi Brizendine, are twins Zarah and Zion Civil, Elijah Masson, Leilani Solis, Benny Miller and Baby Girl Gellhouse. Not to be outdone, CVICU patient Noah M**h is sporting his own set of egg-stra sweet bunny ears. Noah has been hospitalized for several months as he waits for a heart transplant.

04/04/2026

Atticus Richter, six weeks old, sleeps peacefully at Riley Hospital for Children Thursday afternoon. Laying next to him is a “sound globe” which emits a soft, breathing sound to help comfort him. He is relaxed and content as his parents, Jacob Richter and Haliey Galeas are close by. Atticus sleeps peacefully now, but his health journey started out with some difficulties. He was born at a different hospital and had post-partum low blood sugar and a Subgaleal hemorrhage. The bleeding resulted in his head swelling and his blood wasn’t clotting properly. He was transported to Riley Hospital by ambulance and was initially cared for in the NICU for two weeks, then was moved to a different floor. During that time it was discovered that Atticus has a Bicuspid aortic valve and a borderline Hypoplastic aortic arch (the aorta is abnormally narrow). He also had some additional bleeding on his spinal chord. He was intubated and had a feeding tube for a while to help him gain weight and continue to grow. He’s had some setbacks along his journey, but he is doing better now and is gaining weight. He will have surgery in a couple of weeks to address the coarctation of his aorta. In the meantime Atticus’ parents are grateful and happy to see him feeling better and know that he is on the right path towards better health.