Arkansas Children's

01/19/2026

Today, as we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we reflect on the principles of kindness and equality that Dr. King championed. These universal values, essential to our work, guide us in creating a nurturing environment for every team member and every child.

Let’s continue to honor his legacy by fostering love, respect and opportunity for all. 💙

01/17/2026

In an instant, everything changed.

Teenage bull rider Cayson Hall was bucked off his bull during competition, a horn smashing into his throat.

Dr. Andre’ M. Wineland and the ENT Head and Neck Surgery team at Arkansas Children's performed 11 critical surgeries over 47 days — including 13 in the ICU — to save his life.

Watch Cayson’s full journey: bit.ly/CaysonHallsJourney

01/15/2026

Teenage bull rider Cayson Hall’s life changed in an instant after he was bucked off his bull during competition, a horn smashing into his throat. Thanks to the expertise and compassion of Dr. Andre’ M. Wineland and the Otolaryngology (ENT) Head and Neck Surgery team at Arkansas Children’s, Cayson received the lifesaving care he needed — and the support to begin his long road to recovery.

Cayson spent 47 days at Arkansas Children’s Hospital, including 13 days in the ICU, and underwent 11 surgeries. Each procedure played a critical role in his healing and recovery.

“I thank all the nurses and Dr. Wineland for being there when I needed that and blessing me with life,” Cayson shared.

01/14/2026

A major milestone is now standing tall at Arkansas Children’s. Yesterday, we celebrated the topping out of the National Center for Opioid Research & Clinical Effectiveness (NCOR) building — a first-of-its-kind center in Arkansas and across the nation.

In this time-honored tradition, the final beam was raised to the highest point, adorned with an evergreen tree to symbolize growth and an American flag to honor every hand that helped bring us here.

Thank you to the Honorable Tim Griffin, attorney general of Arkansas, as well as the construction crews, architects, engineers, and Arkansas Children’s team members who made this moment possible.

Explore the impact of NCOR and stay tuned as we share more about how this work will help save children’s lives: bit.ly/ResearchNCOR

01/13/2026

National Center for Opioid Research and Clinical Effectiveness (NCOR) Topping Out Ceremony

01/12/2026

Arkansas Children’s executive leadership and team members were joined today by the Honorable Tim Griffin, attorney general of Arkansas, to sign the final steel beam of the National Center for Opioid Research & Clinical Effectiveness (NCOR) building — a first-of-its-kind center in Arkansas and across the nation.

Located in Little Rock, the 65,000-square-foot facility will focus on understanding how the opioid crisis impacts fetuses, newborns, developing children and adolescents, as well as pregnant and parenting individuals. Anchored in maternal and child health, NCOR will advance research, develop treatment programs, strengthen prevention efforts and deepen community outreach and engagement.

Explore the impact of NCOR in our digital experience and stay tuned as we share more about how this work will save children’s lives: bit.ly/ResearchNCOR

01/11/2026

🧸 Our patients at Arkansas Children’s Hospital love having a cuddly friend to bring comfort and joy during their stay. This month, we’re collecting donations of new stuffed animals to help brighten their days and provide a little extra reassurance.

Schedule your drop-off with the Volunteer Engagement team at 501-364-1825 or visit archildrens.org/toysandgifts

01/07/2026

On March 9, 2024, during a junior bull riding competition in Natural Dam, Ark., 15-year-old Cayson Hall was bucked off his bull, a horn smashing into his throat. While his skin was not punctured, “his airway was completely exploded,” explained his stepmother, Ashlee Hall.

Over the course of a year and a half, through 11 surgeries and rehabilitation, Cayson had one persistent question: “When can I get on another bull?”

But for his family, the only question that mattered was whether Cayson would survive and thrive. Thanks to Arkansas Children’s pediatric ENT specialist Andre’ M. Wineland, M.D., and his team, the answer was yes.

Learn more about Cayson's journey: bit.ly/CaysonsJourney

01/06/2026

Last year, Arkansas Children’s pediatric otolaryngologist Dr. Robert Saadi successfully performed bilateral cochlear implant surgery on an 11-week-old patient — making her the youngest in Arkansas, and one of the youngest in the country, to undergo the procedure.

Learn more about her journey. ⬇️

For Katelyn and Justin Hargrave, hearing a diagnosis for their four-week-old daughter Kennedy was just the start of a long battle to recovery.

01/03/2026

From Arendelle with love! ❄️🏰💙

Sisters Anna and Elsa took a detour from their wintry adventures to meet with patients and team members at Arkansas Children's Hospital, bringing a little Frozen magic to everyone they met. ☃️✨

01/01/2026

About one in every 33 babies is born with a birth defect, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

At Arkansas Children’s, the Arkansas Reproductive Health Monitoring System (ARHMS) works to identify and track patterns of birth defects across the state, helping support critical scientific research.

Learn more about ARHMS at Arkansas Children’s: bit.ly/ARHMS, and join the nationwide effort to raise awareness of birth defects, their causes and their impact.

12/31/2025

Seven-year-old Arkansas Children’s patient Locke Keller was honored as at last night's Arkansas Razorback Men's Basketball game, and he was joined on court by our very own President and CEO, Marcy Doderer! ❤️🐗🏀

Diagnosed with Tetralogy of Fallot just six hours after birth, Locke has faced a complex heart condition made up of four defects that prevent his heart from pumping blood efficiently throughout his body. Before his first birthday, he bravely underwent two open-heart surgeries and, most recently, a third surgery in February 2025 to replace his pulmonary valve.

Today, Locke visits the cardiology clinic at Arkansas Children’s every six months for ongoing monitoring and care. In between appointments, he loves golf, musical theater and cheering on Razorback Basketball.

Locke is also a Children's Miracle Network Hospitals 2025 National Champion, representing kids across the country and advocating for support of children’s hospitals across the U.S. and Canada.

Go Locke and go Hogs!