Children’s Hospital New Orleans, the Gulf South’s only comprehensive children’s hospital, celebrates a new chapter and name as Manning Family Children’s!
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Together, we’re charting a bold future for child health fueled by two strong Louisiana legacies.
04/13/2026
Last week, we honored the gift of life during Donate Life Month with a meaningful flag-raising and butterfly release ceremony. 💚
Together with our partners at LOPA - Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency, we had the privilege of celebrating the life and legacy of Cameron Calamari, whose decision to become an organ donor saved six lives.
His story is a powerful reminder that one person can make an extraordinary impact, with the potential to save up to eight lives through organ donation. Cameron’s legacy lives on through the hope, healing, and second chances he made possible.
04/09/2026
A little rodeo magic made its way through our halls today 🤠💛
We were so grateful to welcome The Hondo Rodeo team to Manning Family Children’s, bringing smiles, laughter, and a whole lot of western spirit to our patients and families.
Moments like these remind us that healing happens in many ways—and sometimes it looks like boots, hats, and big grins.
Thank you for brightening our day! 🐎✨
04/07/2026
Thank you to everyone who came out to support Manning Family Children's this weekend at the LCMC Health Crescent City Classic! If the stunning course and RaceFest wasn't enough excitement for you, Team Children's ran and walked with over 250 teammates, and our charity runners raised over $9,000 for Children's! Huge thanks to each and every one of you who cheered, donated, and ran for this incredible cause. You truly made it an extraordinary day of celebration! 🏃 🏅
04/06/2026
Thanks for making miracles happen! 👑 Our friends at Phi Mu at Phi Mu at Southeastern hosted their annual Miracle Man Pageant and raised $16,911 to help us make miracles happen at Manning Family Children's!
Phi Mu Fraternity
Southeastern Louisiana University
Children's Miracle Network
04/03/2026
Hoppy Easter! 🐣🌸
We had an egg-stra special time celebrating today with our amazing community partners Easter egg hunting in the hospital with our patients! They even got a special visit from the Easter Bunny! 💛 Thank you to our ThriveKids team and community partners, NOLA Public Schools, and Superintendent Dr. Fateama Fulmore for their participation and making this joyful day possible for our kids.
04/03/2026
🌼 We are filled with gratitude for our Among the Wildflowers sponsors: In-Telecom and Motorola Solutions, Our Lady of the Lake Children's Health, and American Safety LLC. Your generosity has allowed our meadow to flourish, blooming into a remarkable and record-breaking $1.7 million for the children of Louisiana, the Gulf South, and beyond. Thank you for taking root with us and helping our community thrive.
04/03/2026
In May 2025, we celebrated the dedication of Dash's Dream Aquarium, which was created in loving memory of William Dashle "Dash" Barrett. Dash was born on April 3, 2006 and left a large impact on everyone who came into his short life. Despite being born with Myelomeningocele Spina Bifida, hydrocephalus, syringomyelia, and neuromuscular scoliosis, his most defining features were his personality and spirit. His family’s journey with Dash didn’t lack challenges, but it was always filled with an abundance of joy and love. One of Dash’s favorite things was the aquarium in his bedroom. He would watch the fish swim for hours and admire their colorful beauty and gentle movements. When anyone thinks of Dash, they think of his prized aquarium.
To honor Dash’s memory, loved ones helped fund an aquarium – Dash’s Dream Aquarium – for all patients and families at Manning Family Children’s to enjoy. Since Dash’s Dream Aquarium made its debut, there is hardly a moment that you don’t see a child and family in wonder… mesmerized by the beautiful fish, having conversation about what they see, and taking just a moment to breathe, and to smile. We are grateful to the Barrett family, and to all of the donors of Dash’s Dream Aquarium who have created countless moments of joy for patients and families. Learn more at https://bit.ly/3NLJp57
04/03/2026
🏃 Brian Marelo was born with spina bifida and has become an expert at defying the odds. In 2025, Brian completed the LCMC Health Crescent City Classic 10K in 45:52, faster than 96% of participants.
When Brian was born with his spinal cord growing out of his back, doctors said he would never walk. His initial diagnosis was grim—that Brian would lie in a bed and have no quality of life. The Marelos made it their mission to give their son the best life he could have, spending day after day in occupational therapy and dealing with the challenges that came with his diagnosis, including epilepsy and hydrocephalus requiring a shunt. With 20 operations under his belt, Brian has had “more surgeries than birthdays—and we never know when the next will be,” his mother said.
They celebrated each of his milestones, and as he grew, he developed an interest in sports, playing baseball, soccer, and basketball with The Miracle League. He later joined the Lafayette-based Cajun Wheelers. In 2024, when he participated in a 5K fundraiser for the youth wheelchair basketball team, he discovered a need for speed, and he hasn’t stopped since.
This week on the Man Fam Kid’s Cam, Lou sits down with Brian to discuss adaptive sports, racing, and Brian’s training for the Crescent City Classic 10k this weekend!
Watch the full episode out on YouTube (https://youtu.be/kz3md5J_6_I) and catch Brian, Lou, and the Manning Family Children's team out on the route tomorrow! 🏅
04/03/2026
Thanks to the generous support of The Ray & Jessica Brandt Family Foundation, we kicked off our evening Where the Garden Grows with a stunning Floral Fête VIP Party. Then our $50,000 cash raffle flourished into something truly extraordinary, raising more than $100,000 for the children of Louisiana for the very first time!
One very lucky guest went home with the most spectacular bloom of the evening, raffled live during the ball. Thank you for helping our garden grow!
04/03/2026
Our Sugarplum Ball Stage Sponsor, ENFRA, planted the most spectacular stage, and we leaf-t it ALL on the dance floor! 🌿 We spent Saturday rooted to the dance floor, twirling, singing, and soaking up every moment inspired by the one and only Az IzZ Band.
Thank you, ENFRA, for helping this garden grow into a night we will never forget. 💐
04/02/2026
Like the most magnificent garden in full bloom, this year's Sugarplum Ball flourished beyond measure—and it's all rooted in the extraordinary generosity of our presenting sponsor, LEMOINE. Together, we cultivated an incredible $1.7 million for the children of Louisiana, the Gulf South, and beyond, ensuring that every child receives the care they need, regardless of their ability to pay. In a garden where compassion grows, no child is left without the care they need to thrive. Thank you, LEMOINE, for being our most beautiful bloom of the ball. 🌺
04/01/2026
👶 Manning Family Children’s is proud to announce that it has achieved certification as a Gold Level Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital. This certification recognizes the hospital’s healthcare team members’ commitment to best practices in infant safe sleep, ensuring the highest standards of care for its youngest patients. By earning this certification, Manning Family Children’s demonstrates adherence to rigorous guidelines by the Cribs for Kids® National Safe Sleep Hospital Certification Program.
Learn more about how we are working to ensure every baby in our community has a safe place to sleep at https://bit.ly/4bHhDzL
Cribs for Kids® National Infant Safe Sleep Initiative
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At Children's Hospital New Orleans, our promise is to shape a healthier, happier future for kids. For more than 60 years, we've provided expert healthcare for children across our state and region. Today, we provide unmatched pediatric expertise wrapped in a whole lot of love.
Families across our community can count on the extraordinary care provided by our pediatric-trained specialists, from the most complex pediatric procedures, to the everyday health of children and adolescents.
From our main campus in Uptown New Orleans, to satellite locations throughout Louisiana, 14 pediatrics locations, and an after hours clinic, we’re working to ensure that families across our state and region have access to the specialized pediatric care they need. Last year, we cared for children from all 64 parishes in Louisiana, 43 states, and 9 countries!
It is an unprecedented time in Children’s Hospital’s history! With a $300 million campus transformation and capital campaign effort underway, we are investing in the future of Louisiana’s children. The transformation of our Uptown campus is not only improving infrastructure and technology, the enhancements we’re introducing will make it easier for patients and families across the region to access our vital services.
