Series note: 2020 has been a roller coaster of a year. Despite all of the trials and tribulations, we wanted to take some time to reflect upon 2020 and the amazing stories that our bravest patients at Atrium Health Levine Children’s have had throughout the year. Take a trip down memory lane with us in our 12 Days of Christmas.
For more, read Atrium Health's Most Inspiring Stories of 2020
On the first day of Christmas🎄
Music, Composed to a Child's Heartbeat
Our music therapists as Atrium Health Levine Children's are pure magic for families who are in need of something special. Not only can they play a variety of musical instruments, but they also record music, composed to the rhythm of children’s hearts. Pediatric patients and their families can choose a favorite song – some even write their own. All of this is set to a very special percussion: a looped track of the child’s heartbeat. The result is something as unique as the child’s heartbeat itself.
For some families, the song becomes a souvenir of a challenge that a child overcame. For other families, the music becomes a cherished memento, honoring a child who didn’t come back home.
On the second day of Christmas❄️
From Patient to Provider: A Doctor's Special Bond with Kids
Dr. Brendan Kleiboer knows what it’s like to be a kid with a blood disorder and a young adult with cancer. Now, he cares for children at Levine Children’s who are going through what he did.
On the third day of Christmas 🎁
My TODAY Plaza: North Carolina Nurses Honor Health Care Heroes
Virtual visitors to My TODAY Plaza Monday include a group of nurses from Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte, North Carolina, who pay tribute to heath care workers on the front lines of the pandemic.
On the fourth day of Christmas 🕯️
Levine Children's Care Teams Lift Spirits through the Power of Dance
With the constant cycle of news centered around COVID-19, teammates at Atrium Health Levine Children's wanted to do something to bring smiles to people’s faces. What better way than by creating fun dance videos using TikTok?!
On the fifth day of Christmas 🦌
Jaheem Celebrates His One-Year Kidney Transplant Anniversary!
Before Jaheem, 17, got his new kidney, he was on dialysis multiple times a week for five years. To celebrate this milestone, Jaheem's nurse, Bill, made him this snake cake - believe it or not, he loves snakes! Congratulations, Jaheem - we're so proud of you!
Jaheem, 17, celebrated his one-year kidney transplant anniversary! Before he got his new kidney, he was on dialysis...
Posted by Levine Children's on Wednesday, January 22, 2020
On the sixth day of Christmas🎅🏼
Kahil Now CURED of Sickle Cell
Meet Kahlil, age 9. He’s had sickle cell disease his whole life and has seen our pediatric hematologists since he was a baby. His first pain crisis was when he was only two years old, and it completely shook his family’s world.
Over the years he’s had many pain crises and a couple of hospitalizations at Levine Children’s Hospital, but they have worked hard to manage his sickle cell disease and pain so he could stay home and out of the hospital as much as possible.
Recently, Kahlil had a bone marrow transplant and he is now CURED of sickle cell disease! Both of his older siblings were perfect matches for him, and his sister, Kaavya, 14, happily volunteered to be the donor. She gave him the gift of health.
Kahlil was in the hospital for 45 days under the care of our BMT team (his mom says they are “forever grateful to all of the staff for changing his life”). Now, he’s home and enjoying riding his bike, spending time with his dogs, playing video games with his brother and making beautiful art pieces. But mostly, he’s just enjoying being a kid without worrying about sickle cell triggers and having days of excruciating pain.
Meet Kahlil, age 9. He’s had sickle cell disease his whole life and has seen our pediatric hematologists since he was a...
Posted by Levine Children's on Saturday, October 3, 2020
On the seventh day of Christmas 🍪
Charlotte Ballet Makes Face Masks for our Healthcare Heroes
As COVID-19 first began to affect our communities, two local groups identified an opportunity to help when they heard about the need for face masks for patients who are experiencing flu-like symptoms The masks serve as a vital way to prevent exposure. See how a group of seamstresses and members of Charlotte Ballet are creating CDC approved face masks to donate to Atrium Health.
On the eighth day of Christmas ☃️
Levine Children’s Hospital Among Select Sites Worldwide to Open Pediatric COVID-19 Clinical Trial for Remdesivir
Remdesivir is an anti-viral drug that was originally developed by Gilead Sciences as a treatment for Ebola but has shown promising success against many different viruses, such as COVID-19. Atrium Health’s Levine Children’s Hospital is just one of 30 sites across the world –and the only children’s hospital in North Carolina – selected to open a clinical trial to test the efficacy of remdesivir in pediatric patients who test positive for COVID-19.
On the ninth day of Christmas 🔔
Their Dreams Bring Out Our Best
At Atrium Health Levine Children’s, we’re not just inspired by kids’ dreams. We’re committed to making them come true. That’s why we’re the only children’s hospital in the region to be named a Best Children’s Hospital by U.S. News & World Report for 13 years in a row. And this year, we’re ranked in more specialties than ever.
On the tenth day of Christmas 🤶🏼
Superhero Window Washers Visit Levine Children's Hospital
It's one of our favorite times of the year! Superhero window washers made their annual visit to come to visit our pediatric patients at Levine Children's Hospital! And if you look closely enough, you'll notice they're also wearing face masks so as to set a good example for our patients and to keep everyone around them as safe as possible.
It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's our Levine Children's Hospital superheroes!! Our own little heroes had the time of...
Posted by Levine Children's on Wednesday, September 2, 2020
On the eleventh day of Christmas 🎶
White Coats for Black Lives
At Atrium Health Levine Children's, we’re driven by Atrium Health's mission to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing – for all. By creating an environment where differences are valued and inclusion is a way of life – where the care we deliver is truly “for all” – we make it possible for everyone to feel their best. These images truly capture who our teammates are at their very core, kneeling next to each other in a united effort to demonstrate our commitment to eradicating racial disparities and inequality in healthcare.
We strive "to elevate hope, and advance healing FOR ALL" - not just within our walls, but throughout our community. For...
Posted by Levine Children's on Friday, June 5, 2020
And on the twelfth day of Christmas 🌟
Isabella Rings Victory Bell After Spending Months in the Hospital for Cancer Treatment
After 140+ days in the hospital for cancer treatments, Isabella got to go home! But before she did, some of her hospital besties sent her off in style. We're so happy for you Isabella!
We know it's been a tough year for us all. Lucky for us, we're hopeful for the future and hope you can be, too, with the COVID-19 vaccine so close on the horizon. We're all in this together. And together, we'll get through it. We're proud for the opportunity to serve each and every patient who walks through our doors, and are grateful for our teammates who work so hard each and every day to ensure our patients are safe and cared for. We hope you take some time to read through some of these amazing stories and are able to reflect on some of the things to be grateful for in your own lives. And with that, we hope you have a healthy and safe this holiday season!
