Riley Children's Health

01/15/2026

A Fort Wayne girl raised money to purchase hundreds of stuffed bears with braces to bring comfort to kids like her.

01/14/2026

Things are changing on the eighth floor at Riley Hospital for Children. In a move to create more space for the hospital’s tiniest patients, a new 12-bed NICU Progressive Care Unit has opened on one side of the floor, while 8 West and 8 East pod A have merged into a 36-bed unit. A few of the nurses and other team members representing the new 8WE unit were photographed last week on the first day during morning shift change. Although 8W and 8E have historically been separate units with separate teams, the “merger” means that approximately 120 team members on those units now work together for the benefit of patients and families, explained Sara Murff, who has managed 8W for about five years and has seen her role expand to include half of what was 8E. “We’ve done a lot of work over the past few months getting to know a new team of nurses, techs and secretaries and making it smooth for our patients,” she said. “Today (Jan. 6) was the first day we started functioning as one unit.” Nurses whose primary experience on 8W has been with pulmonary patients are being cross-trained to care for orthopedics patients, including those with halo traction devices, while those skilled in orthopedics are going through “boot camps” to care for pulmonary patients. While some level of anxiety is natural, Murff said she has been impressed with her expanded team. “They have been phenomenal with being open to change and offering their thoughts and ideas on how to make it work.”
--mgilmer1@iuhealth.org

01/14/2026

"Traumatizing" and "terrifying" is how Taylor Farmer describes delivering her babies at 24 weeks and three days. On May 27, her babies, Leelan and Lynleigh, were born at Riley Hospital for Children.

After seven years of hoping for positive pregnancy tests, the couple found out they would be parents to twins. The babies both spent months in Riley's NICUs. Leelan was discharged on December 10, 2025, but Lynleigh remains inpatient in the PICU.

"Traumatizing" and "terrifying" is how Taylor Farmer describes delivering her babies at 24 weeks and three days. On May 27, her babies, Leelan and…

01/13/2026

Pharmacist Laura Monday has dedicated more than 30 years to Riley Hospital for Children. In August 1995, this then-Butler University pharmacy student began working as a pharmacy technician at Riley as she finished her degree.

Laura was no stranger to the pediatric hematology/oncology clinic where her mom worked for years as a pediatric neuro-oncology nurse practitioner. She remembers spending time here as a child.

"I've always loved Riley because of her," Laura said.

In her pharmacist role, Laura helps ensure all orders for the outpatient oncology patients are correct. She also supports non-oncology patients battling various diseases and disorders who get frequent infusions by making sure they get their correct medications. Her team also makes all of the chemotherapy for the clinic.

"Doing something for them that's going to change their life is pretty amazing," Laura said. "I really enjoy working in oncology and taking care of these patients."

Laura, thank you for your compassion and dedication toward Riley kids and families! Happy National Pharmacist Day!💊💉

01/12/2026

DAISY winner pours her heart into tiny babies in the NICU.

01/10/2026

Oliver “Ollie” Brewer, four months old, was moving his arms and legs quickly as his visitor entered his room Friday afternoon. He’s an active baby and is excited by the new things he can do as he continues to grow. On Thursday he was able to make sounds with his voice and was surprised and happy to realize that he could produce noises. Ollie’s parents, Kylie (pictured) and Neil Brewer, had to have Ollie flown to Riley Hospital for Children after he was diagnosed with Cerebrocostomandibular syndrome, an extremely rare condition characterized by jaw underdevelopment, rib abnormalities and other symptoms which cause breathing and feeding complications. Ollie was in the NICU for 2.5 months, then went home for two weeks, then returned to Riley Hospital on Nov. 20th. He has already had two surgeries to address his jaw distraction to correct any breathing obstruction and has been intubated. But he continues to grow, which is important because it reveals how his body continues to adapt to his syndrome. Kylie Brewer said she is happy to see Ollie hit his milestones and continue to feel better. “He’s achieved and surpassed everything the doctors have set for him,” said Kylie. Ollie will have many more surgeries in the future, but Kylie said they will handle them as they come and that Ollie will get to where his health needs to be in time.

01/09/2026

Silas Baker, a tiny fighter weighing about 4 lbs., is growing stronger every day at Riley Hospital for Children. That's great news because he has four older siblings who will certainly want to play with and snuggle him soon!

Silas was born on October 23 at IU Health Bloomington. At just a week old, his mom said he suffered a bowel perforation and was brought to Riley on October 30. Despite several scary situations and surgeries so far, Amelia, Silas' mom, said, "We are definitely seeing God work in all these tiny and big ways. We've been really blessed."

01/08/2026

Ronda Revere is often the first person visitors interact with when they arrive at IU Health Methodist Hospital. The guest services associate mans the front desk inside the Senate Avenue entrance to the hospital and often trains volunteers at Riley Hospital for Children as well. Barely anyone escapes her friendly greeting and offers of help. “Good morning” rings out near constantly. In the next breath, “You guys OK?” “Everybody know where they’re going?” “Palm tree elevators, yes, right this way.” “Let me get a cart for you.” To an observer, it seems almost nonstop as waves of people enter the lobby, some familiar with the building and others visiting for the first time. Revere, who has been in this role since 2015 but will celebrate her 30th year with IU Health in March, welcomes everyone with a smile, but she is serious about her job. “My thing is to reach out and help people relax, take the stress level down as much as I can,” she said. “I want to show compassion and help get people where they need to be.” As she’s talking, her eyes don’t miss a thing. She sees a woman struggling to unlock a wheelchair and politely steps away from our conversation to assist. That helpful attitude comes naturally to Revere, who says her mom, Carolyn Duerson, was her role model. Asked if she ever has a bad day, Revere suggests you will never know it when she comes to work. “I’m definitely not going to come to work with a bad attitude. My focus here is our patients, visitors and staff, so whatever happens at home, I leave it at home.” A mother of three and grandmother of three, she loves ice skating and roller skating in her time away from work.
--mgilmer1@iuhealth.org

01/08/2026

Two transplants and this baker is advocating for others

Kevinna Walker was 6 months old when her kidneys failed due to dysplasia, abnormal growth or cells. In 1984, she required peritoneal administered at IU Health Riley Hospital for Children.

To help care for her daughter, Walker’s mom, Betty Reese became a dialysis technician. Together, they faced kidney disease.

“I had a great team at IU Health,” said Walker, mentioning pediatric nephrologists Dr. Jerry Bergstein, Dr. Sharon P. Andreoli, and Dr. Muhammad Yaquad. She also offered thanks to her transplant coordinators Kim Lippelt and Mary Lynn Subrin. On December 18, 1987, Walker received her first kidney transplant.

“I went on to a normal life with lifetime medications transplant appointments, and labs,” said Walker, 41. In 2007 she had her first son, “AJ.” She experienced the loss of a second child, a girl, in 2011. “Shortly after her passing I was back on dialysis, when my mother trained me to know everything about the dialysis machine, what to look for, how to better educate myself on certain foods, and fluid intake,” said Walker.

While she continued life, she waited for a second transplant.

During that time, she raised her son and attended the Chef’s Academy, a culinary division of Harrison College. Walker’s passion was baking and she worked for several Indianapolis restaurants including Cake Bake and The Gallery Pastry Shop.

On Oct. 13, 2023, Walker received a second kidney transplant in the care of Dr. William Goggins.

As she continues her labs every month and appointments every four months, Wallace said she’s doing great.

“I’m looking forward to doing anything I want,” said Wallace. “I want to write a book about my experience and become more involved advocating for transplant.”

-Photo by Mike Dickbernd, Visual Journalist, mdickbernd@iuhealth.org
-By TJ Banes, IU Health Senior Journalist, tfender1@iuhealth.org

01/07/2026

Creativity, compassion, and even cheer are evident in the art therapy space at Riley Hospital for Children on the first Wednesday of every month. 🎨🖌

Rob Laux, owner of Pottery By You, donates all of the art supplies and our dedicated art therapists join with our families for a time of respite and relaxation. Not only do the caregivers create beautiful artwork but hopefully receive a dose of mental health care and a feeling of connection as well.

01/07/2026

Morgan Watson will combine her passions for dance and for her work as she competes in Reason to Dance.

01/06/2026

When your child is recovering from a serious head injury or brain tumor removal, it can feel overwhelming. After so much time spent in the hospital, it’s normal to want to be done with medical procedures.

When an injury, tumor or other trauma causes facial paralysis, plastic surgeons can help kids recover using facial reanimation surgery.