Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

08/29/2026

We’ve got 5 tips from our friends at WIC for breastfeeding families:
1. Keep easy snacks ready: Yogurt, fruit, cheese, and whole-wheat crackers are quick snacks that help breastfeeding parents stay energized.
2. Add iron: Stir canned beans or spinach into meals like pasta, rice, or quesadillas for an iron boost. Add fruit or tomatoes to help your body absorb it.
3. Make simple meals ahead: Overnight oats, cold pasta salads, and bean bowls are easy to prepare and help families during busy back-to-school days.
4. Use canned veggies for quick meals: Canned vegetables are already cooked and WIC-approved. Just drain, rinse, and add them to soups, eggs, tacos, or pasta.
5. Drink more water: Breastfeeding increases fluid needs. Keep a water bottle nearby and include water-rich foods like fruit or yogurt.

Learn more at wicgrocery.org

Tenemos 5 consejos de nuestros amigos de WIC para familias en período de lactancia:
1. Mantenga snacks fáciles listos: El yogur, la fruta, el queso y las galletas integrales son snacks rápidos que ayudan a los padres en lactancia a mantener energizados.
2. Añada hierro: Incorpore legumbres enlatadas o espinaca a comidas como pasta, arroz o quesadillas para un aumento de hierro. Añada fruta o tomates para ayudar a su cuerpo a absorberlo.
3. Prepare comidas simples con anticipación: La avena nocturna, las ensaladas de pasta fría y los bowls de legumbres son fáciles de preparar y ayudan a las familias durante los ajetreados días de regreso a clases.
4. Use verduras enlatadas para comidas rápidas: Las verduras enlatadas ya están cocidas y son aprobadas por WIC. Simplemente escúrralas, enjuáguelas y añádalas a sopas, huevos, tacos o pasta.
5. Beba más agua: La lactancia aumenta las necesidades de líquidos. Mantenga una botella de agua cerca e incluya alimentos ricos en agua, como fruta o yogur.

Obtenga más información en wicgrocery.org

08/28/2026

Today's Foto Friday celebrates last week's ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Austin HOPE Center!

It was an incredible day hearing from the many involved partners and dignitaries, touring the space, and meeting some of the youth who had a voice in the new facility and will be directly impacted by its presence in the neighborhood.

Alongside Lurie Children's, Stone Community Development Corporation, Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives, Wintrust and Thresholds, are thrilled to bring pediatric specialty care, behavioral health services and community resources together under one roof at the Center.

08/28/2026

Our Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) makes sure families know that every cuddle counts. 🫶🏻

This week, Lurie Children’s was one of 40+ hospitals to participate in the second annual Congenital Heart Disease Skin-to-Skin-a-Thon, led by the Cardiac Neuroprotective Newborn Network (CNNN). This global initiative is a week-long effort by cardiac intensive care units to educate, encourage and assist CHD families with safe skin-to-skin care.

Skin-to-skin care offers many important benefits for babies with CHD and their parents, including bonding and attachment, regulating heart rate and breathing, reducing stress and pain, promoting sleep and brain development, aiding in growth and immunity, and increasing milk supply.

“Camp Cuddles” in our CCU featured a week of fun camp-themed activities, crafts, singalongs, photo ops and stories for the entire family to participate in. The team set a goal of 60 collective hours of skin-to-skin care, creating plenty of meaningful opportunities for families to bond, connect, and support their baby’s healing journey.

The CCU also created a “holding card” to help families and care teams identify when and how a baby could be held safely using a color-coded system. The resource has since been adopted by other participating hospitals, helping more families feel confident about safely holding and connecting with their babies.

For situations where skin-to-skin holding wasn’t possible, the team educated families about “hand hugs” and other forms of healing touch, which are an excellent alternative that still provide gentle comfort to an infant.

It was an especially heartwarming week in the CCU – thanks to all the families who took part.❤

To learn more about the initiative, visit https://www.chdskintoskin.com/

08/27/2026

If your child plays sports, you’ve probably heard the term “sudden cardiac arrest” and scary stories of young athletes collapsing mid-practice or competition. While those moments can be scary to think about, knowing the signs and symptoms to look for — and understanding how cardiac sports screening can help — is one way parents can take a more proactive approach to their child’s heart health.

In this video, Dr. Greg Webster, Section Chief of Electrophysiology at Lurie Children’s and Assistant Professor of Pediatric Cardiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, answers some of the questions parents may have about:

❤️ Sudden cardiac arrest
🩺 What “cardiac clearance” means
🔎 How doctors assess an athlete’s risk
🚩 Red flags parents and athletes should know
💬 What to do if an athlete has symptoms (or no symptoms at all)
📋 What happens if a concern is found during screening
✅ & How effective screening can be in identifying athletes who may need a closer look

Most young athletes are able to safely participate in sports. But because some heart conditions may not cause obvious symptoms, knowing your child’s health and family history and making cardiac screening part of their sports physical can be an important first step in keeping your young athlete safe.

🔗 Learn more about cardiac screening and sports participation on our blog: https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/blog/cardiac-screening-for-youth-sports/

08/26/2026

🐶Happy National Dog Day! Thank you to Hawk, our Rainbow Assisted Animal Therapy dog partners, our security dogs and all the four-legged friends that help keep kids happy, healthy 🐾

08/26/2026

Born with a rare and aggressive brain tumor, Matthew Erickson has reached an incredible milestone: starting high school.

Matthew’s journey is a powerful story of resilience, hope and the impact of specialized pediatric cancer care. From his earliest days of treatment to this special moment, his family has been supported by the expertise and compassion of our multidisciplinary, family-centered care.

We’re honored to have been part of Matthew’s journey and are celebrating this achievement with him and his family.

Read more about Matthew’s inspiring story in the Chicago Tribune: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2026/08/22/matthrew-erickson-brain-cancer-high-school/.

Dubbed the “miracle child,” cancer survivor Matthew Erickson endured 16 brain surgeries and multiple rounds of chemotherapy.

08/24/2026

On August 17, 2026, Kyle began a 300-mile journey from Evansville, Indiana, to Lurie Children’s to raise awareness and funds for the Lurie Children's Heart Center.

Every mile represented a child fighting for a stronger heart, a family holding onto hope, and the incredible doctors, nurses, staff, and caregivers who keep showing up every day.

Though plans changed along the way, he never stopped moving forward.

“This journey was never about the miles,” said Kyle. “It was about raising funds and bringing awareness to all the children who fight each day with heart issues and show what true courage really is.”

Thank you to Kyle and everyone who supported this incredible journey! You helped make a heartfelt impact for the Heart Center at Lurie Children’s.

To learn more about Miles for Little Hearts, please visit: https://events.luriechildrens.org/community-fundraising/milesforlittlehearts

08/23/2026

Lurie Children’s President & CEO, Dr. Tom Shanley, is one of the many athletes taking on the Chicago Triathlon today as part of the Corporate Challenge benefiting Lurie Children’s. From swimming in Lake Michigan to biking and running through the heart of Chicago, athletes are showing what’s possible when a community comes together for a cause.

We’re proud to cheer on Dr. Shanley and all of the athletes supporting Lurie Children’s and our patients and families.

Together, we’re aiming to raise $125,000 through the Corporate Challenge. Funds raised will benefit our Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, helping advance the care, research and resources that are creating a healthier future for every child.

08/22/2026

Feeding your baby shouldn’t feel overwhelming. During National Breastfeeding Month, remember that WIC is here to support families through every step — including challenges like latching. Reach out for free help, resources, and encouragement.

Learn more at wicgrocery.org

Alimentar a su bebé no debería sentirse abrumador. Durante el Mes Nacional de la Lactancia Materna, recuerde que WIC está aquí para apoyar a las familias en cada paso, incluso con desafíos como la prendida. Comuníquese con nosotros para recibir ayuda, recursos y aliento gratuitos.

Obtenga más información en wicgrocery.org

Together with Lurie Children's, members include:

08/21/2026

🎗️Join us on Thursday, September 17 for Lurie Children’s Race Against Cancer at Diversey Harbor.

Whether you run, walk, or cheer, the Race Against Cancer is a chance for Lurie Children’s supporters to connect with one another, walk alongside caregivers and staff, and celebrate the strength and resilience of the kids we care about.

Register today and be part of the race that makes a difference for kids and families in our community.

https://events.luriechildrens.org/race-against-cancer/