A nurse’s son needs a heart transplant: Their story is a reminder of why compassionate care matters
Dane was born fighting. At just 1 week old, he underwent complex open heart surgery. And now, at just 6 months old, he and his family are facing their greatest challenge: waiting for a heart transplant. On March 13, 2026, Dane officially was listed for a heart transplant at Status 1A, the highest priority level….
Read Full StoryElaina rings the bell
There once was a girl named Elaina who had just turned 3 and was getting ready for big-girl school. She was nervous, but excited. Her mom noticed she was starting to walk on her tiptoes, but she thought it was just anxiety. She was also very pale, even though she called herself an “outy-outy girl”…
Read Full StoryAfter beating childhood cancer, former patient inspired to ‘give back’ and become a nurse
Newborn survives undiagnosed transposition of the great arteries with care team that didn’t give up
Ashlie Paulin and her family were expecting a joyful Christmas in Louisville when her son Booker was born on Dec. 23, 2021. Instead, they had to hope for a Christmas miracle that their baby boy would survive. Doctors discovered baby Booker had a serious heart condition that went undetected during Ashlie’s pregnancy. Suddenly, it was…
Read Full StoryComplex congenital heart disease
Hattie Etling’s heart journey began before she was born, with a diagnosis so complex it required advanced planning, innovative imaging and a highly specialized heart team. Hattie was diagnosed before birth with heterotaxy syndrome and complex congenital heart disease. Her care team at Norton Children’s Heart Institute knew her untypical anatomy would present extraordinary challenges….
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Born way too early, baby celebrates a homecoming just in time for 1st holiday outside the hospital
On a seemingly normal July day, Charles and Samantha Rockwell never imagined their lives were about to change forever. Samantha, who was not even four months pregnant, had just finished a long, 15-hour workday when she began feeling stomach pains. “I thought maybe it was nothing,” she recalled. “But two hours later, we were holding…
Read Full StoryEva’s journey: Breathing easier, thanks to Norton Children’s
When Eva Orlanka Taylor arrived in Kentucky from Haiti at just six years old, she brought with her more than a new name and a new home. She carried an illness no one had fully explained, one that had shaped her early childhood. At Norton Children’s, her family finally began to uncover the answers, and…
Read Full StoryFrom micropreemie to football fan: Madden Baechle’s journey with hydrocephalus
Madden Baechle was born at just 25 weeks’ gestation, weighing 1 pound, 10 ounces. He spent 152 days in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Norton Children’s Hospital, facing life-threatening complications and undergoing 13 surgeries. Today, those NICU struggles feel like a distant memory, as 11-year-old Madden recently stepped onto the field at Western…
Read Full StoryA petite fighter emerges during care for complex, life-threatening heart condition
As a newborn, Magnolia Lee Ford-Conway was diagnosed with transposition of the great arteries (TGA), a complex heart condition that requires early surgery after birth for survival. Today, the energetic 3-year-old from Bowling Green, Kentucky, loves books, dolls and playing with her older sister. Magnolia’s mom, Mekinsey Ford-Conway, clearly remembers the difficult days after her…
Read Full StoryMore than a decade of trust: How Cole, family found stability and hope in epilepsy care
When Cole Wilson was a toddler, life changed in an instant. A nighttime tumble from his crib turned into something far more frightening the next morning, when he had his first seizure over breakfast. For his mom, Sabrina, the fear was instant. Living in Berea, Kentucky, at the time, Sabrina took Cole to the nearest…
Read Full StoryHow brain surgery helped Lydia overcome epilepsy
Brain surgery is always a challenging journey, but for Lydia McCloskey of New Albany, Indiana, the combination of skilled surgeons, advanced technology and personalized care made it possible to overcome a life-threatening condition. Lydia’s story began before she even entered the world. Born at just 33 weeks after her mother experienced a serious pregnancy complication…
Read Full StoryEarly diagnosis and expertise in prenatal and neonatal care: Felix’s story of healing
It’s one of the most exciting milestones in pregnancy: the 21-week anatomy scan. Like many expectant moms, Hunter Hamilton of Westport, Kentucky, couldn’t wait to watch her baby’s tiny movements on the screen and finally learn if she was having a boy or girl. What started with pure joy at a baby boy quickly shifted…
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