Wesley Children's Hospital

06/17/2026

At Wesley Children's Hospital excellence is about the moments that help patients feel seen, understood and hopeful.

This week, our patients had the opportunity to meet Ella Morrissey, a former Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas recipient, heart transplant survivor and author whose journey resonated deeply with children facing medical challenges of their own. Through her story, Ella offered something powerful: proof that hope can exist alongside uncertainty.

“It’s absolutely amazing getting to talk to her and meet her,” said Ava Thibodeau, 14. “Especially connecting with someone who’s been in a similar situation as me — definitely makes it feel a little bit easier, less overwhelming, because the hospital gets really scary sometimes.”

For Ava and other patients, the visit was more than a special event—it was a reminder that they are not alone. Along with copies of Ella’s book and teddy bears from Make-A-Wish and Build-A-Bear Workshop, children received encouragement from someone who truly understands the challenges they face.

“We’re grateful for opportunities like this to bring comfort and joy to children during their hospital stay,” said Jordan Lumley, special visitors coordinator and board-certified music therapist. “Ella’s story is incredibly inspiring, and being able to pair her message of hope with these special gifts helps remind our patients and families that they’re not alone in their journey.”

Thank you to Make-A-Wish Missouri & Kansas, Build-A-Bear Workshop and Ella for helping create a memorable day filled with hope and healing.

06/10/2026

Summer is made for sunshine and time outside — and we’re sharing a few simple precautions to help you stay safe and enjoy every moment. As warmer weather brings more people outdoors, emergency rooms often see more injuries and illnesses related to heat, overexertion and recreational activities.

As part of HCA Healthcare, Wesley Healthcare is connected to a broader network of care spanning 19 states and the U.K., making it easier to get the care you need, when and where you need it. Taking a moment to plan ahead can help you know where to go for timely treatment.

🏥 Emergency room: https://bit.ly/3QtBqLc

06/02/2026

Creative expression can be an important part of the healing environment.

On June 1, Wesley Children's Hospital welcomed Portraits of Hope as part of its 14-state tour on a quest to visit all 50 states. The team — including founder Ed Massey, his daughter Georgi Massey and staff member Peter Olszewski — spent time with many of our patients and families, bringing hands-on art activities in our pediatric playroom and even to the bedside so children and could participate in a way that worked for them.

Portraits of Hope projects are designed for children and adults coping with serious health and physical conditions. Their adaptive tools — including telescopic paint brushes, shoe brushes and flavored mouth brushes — help make creative therapy more accessible for people with a wide range of abilities.

For Brandon Denham, 17, who participated with his mother, Jessica Denham, the visit offered a meaningful break from his hospital stay.

"It's pretty cool," Brandon said. "It's getting out stress, and it's better than sitting in my hospital room."

Artwork created at Wesley and during the national tour will be included in the Freedom 250 display in Washington this October, part of a yearlong celebration of the United States’ 250th birthday.

We were grateful to host Portraits of Hope for helping bring moments of creativity, connection and joy to patients like Brandon and Alivia Heckathorn, 10, while they receive care. To learn more about Wesley Children's Hospital, visit https://bit.ly/4a5tqqi.

05/27/2026

Play can be a powerful part of pediatric care — helping create comfort, expression and a sense of normalcy during treatment.

Wesley Children's Hospital received a $9,400 grant from The Toy Foundation™ Play Fund to bring tactile sensory items into pediatric treatment rooms across different units. The grant is part of The Toy Foundation’s 2026 allocation of more than $600,000 to 37 children’s hospitals, supporting play projects that are expected to benefit more than 220,000 pediatric patients.

"We are so excited to receive this grant," said Aleesa Werbin, a Certified Child Life Specialist at Wesley. "Children now have a new opportunity to have their sensory needs met in a way that is therapeutic and allows them to express feelings and emotions through play."

This funding supports the work of our pediatric care teams, who use developmentally appropriate tools to help children feel more supported during care.

Thank you to The Toy Foundation and Kansas Children's Foundation for helping improve the care experience for Kansas kids. To learn more about Wesley Children's Hospital, visit https://bit.ly/4wOw7Gt.

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country and remember the families who carry their legacy forward. Their courage and selflessness will not be forgotten.

05/21/2026

We hosted Trauma Survivors Day, bringing together trauma survivors, their families and the care teams who supported them through some of their most difficult moments.

For survivor Ashley Smith, it was a powerful milestone after surviving a car crash last year that crushed both her legs: “I’m in here walking today, and I drove here today," she said. "Thank you guys."

Trauma surgeon Dr. Joe Sliter lauded the trauma team for their strength, adaptation, connection and persistence. "These aren’t slogans, they’re decisions. Decisions made every day. Sometimes quietly, sometimes at great cost. Your work is giving somebody a chance when it feels like chances are in short supply.”

Our colleagues were honored to celebrate the strength of our trauma survivors, the courage of their loved ones and the dedication of the physicians, nurses, EMS teams, chaplains, therapists and colleagues who help make recovery possible.

As a Level I trauma center with both adult and pediatric trauma programs, we are proud to care for patients of all ages when every second matters. Learn more at https://bit.ly/4tT6kdA.

05/19/2026

At Wesley Children’s Hospital, moments of encouragement can be part of the care experience for children and families.

This week, Wichita natives and Kansas State football players Avery Johnson, Will Anciaux and Wesley Fair visited with kids at Wesley Children’s Hospital, helping bring smiles and connection to our pediatric care environment.

Their visit reflects the community support surrounding our patients and the committed pediatric care teams who are here for our children and families every day. As the region’s only dedicated children’s hospital, Wesley Children’s Hospital provides specialized pediatric care close to home.

"I hope they remember purple and that there's just people in their corner cheering for [them] and hoping they do well," Kansas State junior safety Wesley Fair said.

Thank you to Avery, Will and Wesley for spending time with our patients and helping show what it means to care for our community!

See the full story: https://bit.ly/3PQU6nO

The trio made stops at their respective elementary schools, then finished the day visiting with kids at Wesley Children's Hospital.

05/16/2026

Welcoming a new baby can bring joy as well as emotional changes you may not expect. Some feelings — often known as “baby blues” — may pass quickly, while others may be signs of postpartum depression. Understanding the difference matters.

🔹 are temporary, mild mood swings that often begin a few days after delivery and typically improve within two weeks.

🔹 is a more serious condition involving persistent or intense mood changes. It can affect daily functioning and bonding with your baby. Symptoms may begin during pregnancy or within the first year after delivery and can last for months without treatment.

Taking care of your health looks different for everyone — and it starts with finding the right support.

Whether you’re managing stress, dealing with physical symptoms or just want to check in on your overall health, Wesley Healthcare's network is here to help.

Find a provider who’s right for you: https://bit.ly/3PLfhaT

05/15/2026

When Haley Prosser experienced sudden, life-threatening complications after giving birth to her daughter, Kiley, her care team moved quickly.

After CPR restarted Haley’s heart, a CT scan revealed a saddle pulmonary embolism — a dangerous blood clot blocking blood flow through the heart. Her doctors in Pratt quickly coordinated with Wesley Medical Center, where a multidisciplinary team was already preparing the next step in her care.

Within minutes of arriving at Wesley, Haley was placed on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO — a specialized technology that circulates and oxygenates blood outside the body so the heart and lungs can rest. With her condition stabilized, doctors performed a minimally invasive thrombectomy to remove the clot.

Haley was taken off ECMO the next day and discharged just three days after being flown to Wichita.

“I’m so grateful that we were in the right place at the right time with the right people,” Haley said.

This is the power of coordinated, specialized care — and the teams who are ready when every minute matters.

Read Haley’s story: https://bit.ly/3Rfhvja

05/14/2026

When a child is in the hospital, care means more than treating an illness — it also means helping them understand what is happening in a way that feels less scary.

Wesley Children's Hospital certified child life specialists are trained to help children and families cope during hospital stays by explaining medical terms in kid-friendly ways, offering choices when possible and creating moments of comfort during difficult experiences.

In this KSN-TV story, one family shares how that support helped their daughter feel more at ease during ongoing care — even extending beyond the hospital to help classmates better understand her diagnosis.

We’re proud of the expertise and compassion our child life specialists bring to pediatric care at Wesley. See how they’re making a difference for families:

“Our children need it, and honestly, we need it as parents as well.”