Every fall, patients at the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center participate in a Halloween trick-or-treat event that makes their stay a bit less scary, and provides a much needed sense of community.
Team members from across ECU Health gathered to put on their Halloween best, giving kids a chance to peruse through booths depicting the books of Dr. Seuss, a box of crayons, or Shrek’s swamp. Games and goodies were on tap to give patients and their families a boost of Halloween cheer, and a different component of care than the kind they find in their hospital rooms.
Kenzie Hornsby, a Child Life intern at Maynard Children’s Hospital, said her team has been planning the event for months. A big part of making it happen is meeting patients where they are.
“We always want to make sure patients have what they need, whether that’s help getting down to the floor or certain accommodations they might require while they trick-or-treat,” Hornsby said. “This event happens thanks to collaboration and communication across so many different groups who want to make it fun for our patients.”
Child Life Specialists visit patients and families individually to see if they are interested in attending the trick-or-treat event. Patients who want to dress up can pick from a variety of costumes donated by the community.
Leo-Elijah Lampla, 10, has been a patient at Maynard Children’s Hospital for about two weeks. His mother, Daphlie Lampla, said he was admitted after he experienced breathing issues and felt generally unwell. She said since being admitted, Child Life team members have gone above and beyond to make their inpatient stay less stressful.
“They have decorated his room and it looks beautiful,” Daphlie Lampla said. “He loves basketball, and the (East Carolina University) basketball team came and signed a basketball for him.
“The care here has made a big difference. He loves using the tablet to listen to music. Everything makes the experience less anxious or stressful.”
She said seeing her son have the chance to enjoy trick-or-treating, like he would outside the hospital’s walls, was a welcomed moment of relief.
“We’ve been through a lot, so this is a really good change of pace,” Daphlie Lampla said. “It raises his spirit and mine too. It feels like we have been through the storm and we are almost there. There’s a light in the distance. That lifts us up.
The event is also fun for team members, who booked open slots to participate within two hours of their being posted. For team members in patient-facing roles like Taylor White, an ECU Health case management team leader masquerading as beloved Muppet Elmo from Sesame Street, the trick-or-treat event is an opportunity to interact with the community in a different way.
“I love events like this,” White said. “This is a way for us to give back to our patients, so it means the world to be able to see these kids and families who are going through so much be able to come in and do something fun, to take their minds off their hardships.”
Mindy Wallace, a human resources service consultant at ECU Health, dressed as Velma from Scooby-Doo with her team filling in the rest of the Mystery Inc. gang, agreed having a chance to meet patients where they are is exciting and important for team members across the system and reinforces the sense of duty to serve one another and the wider community of eastern North Carolina.
“We serve our team members, but to be able to see them interact with patients really makes me happy,” Wallace said. “In HR we empathize with our team members and really extend to them that mission to improve the health and wellbeing of eastern North Carolina. If we’re doing that for our teams, then they’re able to do that for our patients. This lets us see that happening firsthand.”
In 2025, Caroliena McCoy was a junior in ROTC teaching marksmanship to a few kids in her group when another student accidentally stepped on Caroliena’s right leg. A week later, she experienced a medical emergency.
“My right leg hurt but after four days it improved and we thought everything was okay,” Caroliena said. “By the following Tuesday, I was limping.”
“I picked her up from school and she was pale and looked tired,” added Caroliena’s aunt, Connie. “Before I could get out of the parking lot, her eyes rolled back and she started sucking air like she couldn’t breathe. I thought she was having a seizure.”
The assistant principal of Ayden-Grifton High School directed Connie to pull over and brought out two teachers: Ms. Alphin and Ms. James. Sylvia James was the health science teacher and she and Ms. Alphin were both first responders; before joining the school system, Sylvia worked at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital for 33 years as a nurse.
“I had started to come out of it by then, but Ms. James recommended we call 911,” Caroliena said. The EMTs could only determine Caroliena had high blood sugar, but Ms. James recommended she still go to the emergency department at Maynard Children’s Hospital.
“Ms. James saved me because she thought I was showing signs of respiratory distress,” Caroliena said.
“I was called out because they said someone had a seizure, but then I saw how dusky blue Caroliena was, and her oxygen saturation wasn’t good,” Sylvia said. “I had seen her just the day before and knew about her leg pain, and it sounded like she had complications from an injury that caused the respiratory distress. I called the rescue squad right away.”
At the hospital, the emergency department team acted quickly by running tests, including x-rays, a CT scan and ultrasounds, to figure out what was going on with the 17-year-old. It turns out Ms. James was right.
“I had blood clots in both lungs and my right leg,” Caroliena said. “My episode in the car was the result of me not getting oxygen to my brain.”
Dr. M. Umer Tariq
That’s where Dr. M. Umer Tariq stepped in.
“We recommended she have a mechanical thrombectomy for pulmonary embolism immediately,” Dr. Tariq said. “It’s a minimally invasive, percutaneous treatment—meaning you aspirate the clots out with a catheter. It’s done while the patient is awake and it’s a life-saving procedure. Pulmonary embolism is the third leading cause of cardiovascular deaths behind stroke and heart attack.”
This was an unusual situation, as 17-year-olds don’t often present with blood clots, but Dr. Tariq felt confident about the treatment plan.
“Our program has been doing this for at least six years now and it’s performed by cardiology and vascular surgery. The novelty in this case was working with the pediatric ICU and cardiology teams,” Dr. Tariq said. “We told Caroliena that when the clot in the lungs are large and another breaks off from the leg, it can be fatal.”
“Dr. Tariq explained everything very well and answered all our questions. I’m glad he was her doctor,” Connie said.
Caroliena looks back on her experience with gratitude for the care she received—both at the school and the hospital.
“Ms. James recognized the urgency of the situation,” she said. “Dr. Tariq was very straight forward and talked to us about the procedure, and during the procedure a nurse—I don’t remember her name—stayed with me and held my hand.”
Her favorite part was getting a visit from Sam, Maynard Children’s Hospital’s facility dog.
“That was really special,” Caroliena said. “She made me think of my dog at home that I was missing, and that made me feel a lot better.”
Caroliena is doing well now. Her care team determined she has a Factor V Leiden mutation of one of the clotting factors in blood, which raises the risk for developing harmful blood clots; that means she has to be on a low-dose blood thinner from now on.
“I still have some limitations,” she said. “If I am in one position for too long my leg hurts, and my plan to join the military after college had to change. Now I plan to attend Pitt Community College and then transfer to East Carolina University to study geology.”
“I’m so thankful I was at school that day,” Sylvia said. “I knew Caroliena was in trouble the minute I saw her. Those nurse instincts just kicked in. I’m so thankful the emergency department providers acted quickly and they got her into surgery. Caroliena was incredibly brave through the whole thing. She showed resilience and bounced back quickly.”
Bailey Hattem Edwards
Bailey Hattem Edwards is a respiratory care manager and program lead for ECU Health’s Pediatric Asthma Program, which operates through ECU Health’s Center for Child and Family Wellness. For 30 years, the program has served families of children until the age of 18 who have or may have asthma through education in schools, clinics and over telehealth. Recent data shows the program managed 1,469 cases and made 2,196 unique patient encounters in fiscal year 2026.
Q: What is ECU Health’s Pediatric Asthma Program?
A: ECU Health’s Pediatric Asthma Program serves children from birth to age 18 who have asthma or may have asthma. It began at an elementary school and primary care office in Pitt County 30 years ago with the goal to bring education and resources into the community so families could better understand asthma, manage triggers and avoid unnecessary emergency department visits or hospitalizations.
Today, the team provides in-depth education for children admitted with asthma, helps families understand what caused an exacerbation and works with them on prevention. The program partners and supports asthma-focused care in primary care settings and case manages students in schools, helping families avoid missed work and school whenever possible.
Q: What drew you to care for pediatric asthma patients?
A: I always wanted to work in pediatrics because I was drawn to the resilience of children. My experience as an asthmatic helped me connect with families, and my passion for service continued to grow as I worked bedside in the PICU (Pediatric Intensive Care Unit) and NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit). Seeing children with asthma become critically ill showed me the importance of education, prevention and access to resources. I’ve seen the program grow over the past eight years and open even more opportunities to expand its impact across eastern North Carolina.
Q: Why is fall such a challenging season for asthma patients?
A: September begins a perfect storm of triggers in North Carolina. Children are returning to school, where they may be exposed to older ventilation systems, older buildings, recent renovations or other new environmental factors that can trigger their asthma. Weather shifts, humidity, storms, mold spores and ragweed season all add to the challenge. It is also the start of heavier virus activity, including flu season, and children are back in close contact with classmates.
Q: How do viruses or other illnesses affect asthma patients?
A: Virus-related flares are especially common among school-aged children, but adults with asthma can experience them too. Common examples include the common cold, rhino/enterovirus, RSV or flu, but the dominant illnesses can vary year by year. We encourage families to work with their primary care providers on appropriate prevention strategies, including flu shots for children with asthma.
Q: Is asthma a constant condition, or can it be seasonal?
A: Asthma can be intermittent or persistent, and each child’s asthma action plan should be tailored to their needs. Some children may only struggle during the first few months of school, while others can experience an asthma flare throughout the entire year. Our team approaches care season by season, reassessing what a patient needs as conditions change. Even if a child only needs medication during certain times of the year, they should have a rescue inhaler, asthma action plan and medication authorization form available at school year-round.
Q: Does asthma look different from child to child?
A: Asthma can vary widely, even among siblings or twins. One child may have mild persistent asthma, another may have severe persistent asthma and another may not have asthma at all. Because of that, the program emphasizes individualized care rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.
Q: How does the Pediatric Asthma Program address unique challenges in eastern North Carolina?
A: Rural geography creates barriers, especially transportation and access to care. Some families struggle with the cost of inhalers, even when they have insurance. The Pediatric Asthma program helps by using an indigent medication fund supported by a Children’s Miracle Network grant to cover medications temporarily, while the program’s social worker helps connect families with sustainable resources such as North Carolina MedAssist, manufacturer coupons or patient assistance programs.
When transportation is a barrier, the team looks for ways to bring care closer to the child, including direct visits to their schools, pediatrician’s offices or county health departments. Our work is highly collaborative and varies from county to county, which means we need outreach, networking and knowledge of local resources.
Learn more about ECU Health’s Pediatric Asthma Program by visiting the program’s website.
Jenny Maness is using her experience as a Neonatal Intensitive Care Unit (NICU) mom, and the example set by the nurses and providers at Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center who cared for her twin sons, to guide and comfort the parents of children in neonatal care from the other side of the isolette.
In 2018, Maness’s water broke at 24 weeks, and she began an inpatient stay at the hospital. Complications led her care team to deliver her identical twin boys, Ryan and Scott, at 25 weeks and three days. The delivery was a success, and both boys began the first four and a half months of their life in the NICU.
For Maness, that frightening start became a life-changing experience.
“I remember feeling so scared and so stressed,” Maness said. “The attending on the night we delivered was Dr. Joseph Ginski, and I remember he made us feel so much more comfortable.
The nurses probably do not even realize how much of an impact they had on me. They were our cheerleaders and kept up with us every step of the way. I still have all of the hand and footprint crafts they made for us.
“They made us feel so comfortable. We were terrified, of course, to touch the boys or do anything really. The nursing staff really encouraged us, they helped us change diapers, give baths and have our skin-to-skin contact. All of the things we wanted to do, but were too scared to try, they helped us find that courage.”
Eventually, Ryan and Scott came home from the hospital. Maness had worked as an X-ray technician for 12 years, but as she had time to breathe and process her experience, she felt called to a different side of healthcare.
“I always say, when you walk through those NICU doors it’s going to change you one way or the other,” Maness said. “For me, it changed me for the better. I knew this was what I wanted to do with my life, so I went back to school.”
Maness started classes at Beaufort County Community College in 2021. In 2023, she graduated with a nursing degree. At first, she was set on working exclusively with NICU families but found that between classes and seeing Ryan and Scott grow into their personalities, she wanted to work with children of all ages. In 2023, she started her nursing career in the Women’s and Children’s Operational Pool at ECU Health, and now divides her time between the NICU, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and General Pediatrics.
“I get to be there for my little tiny babies and I can also play games or blow bubbles with the older kids,” Maness said. “It’s really the best of both worlds for me. Kids are so fun at all ages.”
Today, Ryan and Scott are eight years old. Maness said they are happy, healthy and doing things any kid their age would do, free of any long-term complications.
“They are wild,” she laughed. “Honestly, you would never know they were premature. We are so very fortunate to have the outcome that we did, and I have to credit that to the doctors, the nurse practitioners, the nurses who made all the calls. They did everything just excellent for us, and still do to this day.
“When I started working, a lot of the providers and the nurses told me they remembered my boys,” Maness said. “Things can be a blur here, and that was eight years ago, but they still remember me just from my face. That means so much to me. You can tell they really care and it makes such an impact on every family they come across.”
Maness is proud to offer that kind of compassion to families, and to give parents currently in the shoes she filled eight years ago the perspective of experience — things get better.
“It’s very high anxiety when you have a baby in the NICU, whether they are a micro-preemie or a baby who went to term who might need breathing assistance,” Maness said. “I remember crying and breaking down at the bedside when my boys were here. Letting the parents who need it hear my story, I hope it puts them at ease, lets them know they are allowed to feel comfortable and maybe go home at night and get some sleep.
“It’s the most rewarding thing to tell them, you need a rest. It’s important that parents take care of themselves too, and that they realize, eventually, you will get where you need to be.”
Share your story with us at go.ecuhealth.org/gratitude. Stories like these show the lasting impact of Maynard Children’s Hospital.
Young patients at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center face challenges every day that require courage, fortitude and a community of care. Now, they have a new way to show their courage and team spirit during hospital stays thanks to a unique partnership between ECU Health, Kids Who Give, the Carolina Hurricanes and ECU Athletics, who collaborated to create and donate specialized pediatric hospital gowns featuring designs inspired by Kids Who Give, the Carolina Hurricanes and ECU Pirates.
The project began more than a year ago and brought together community organizations, donors and health care team members with a shared goal: help children feel a little more at home while receiving care.
Kids Who Give, a Raleigh-based nonprofit organization founded and led by young people dedicated to helping others, spearheaded the initiative.
According to Stella Magliulo, 14, president of Kids Who Give, the young philanthropists raised money for the Brave Gowns by hosting lemonade stands, going door to door for donations and finding sponsorships. She said one member even asked for donations instead of gifts for her ninth birthday party.
“We’re kids who help kids,” said Magliulo. “When we learned about Brave Gowns, we thought it was such a cool idea for children who have to stay in hospitals. We wanted to help bring joy, love and encouragement to kids who are going through difficult times.”
One Kids Who Give member reached out to the Carolina Hurricanes to share their goal of donating 1,000 gowns to children’s hospitals across North Carolina. The Canes donated $10,000 for 400 gowns to reach their goal.
The gowns were unveiled during a special event at Maynard Children’s Hospital, where representatives from each organization joined patients, families and health care team members to celebrate the partnership.
Kathryn Jarvis, interim vice president of Women’s and Children’s services at Maynard Children’s Hospital, said the gowns provide far more than a new look.
“When children come into the hospital, so much feels out of their control,” Jarvis said. “Something as simple as choosing a hospital gown can make a meaningful difference. These gowns help normalize the hospital experience and give patients a sense of choice and comfort during what can be a difficult time.”
The pediatric gowns feature colorful, child-friendly designs, including Carolina Hurricanes gowns carrying a message of courage and ECU-themed gowns showcasing Pirate pride.
Amy Daniels, executive director of the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation, said the project aligns closely with the organization’s mission of supporting communities across North Carolina.
“Being here at ECU Health is a nice way to tap into who we know are superfans all across the state,” said Daniels. “Greenville is a special place and supported us on our run to the Stanley Cup, so it’s really cool to be here and spread the love down east in North Carolina.”
On the Canes jersey, the word “Courage” was featured on the back nameplate.
“Canes players are on the ice every day showing their courage in a sport they love, and it’s important to pass that along to these kids,” said Daniels. “We hope that wearing a ‘jersey’ gives them that extra strength to fight.”
Shane Willis, director of community outreach for the Carolina Hurricanes, said the project is about using the power of sports to brighten difficult days.
“These children show incredible courage every day by continuing to fight,” Willis said. “If we can put smiles on these kids’ faces and encourage them to continue to fight to get better and get outside of this hospital, then that’s what it’s all about. We want them to know an entire community is cheering them on.”
During the visit, Canes mascot Stormy made a special appearance to bring joy to pediatric patients racing through the hallways with giggling children, posing for photos and handing out high-fives to fill the hospital with laughter and smiles. His playful energy not only delighted young patients and their families but also brightened the day for health care team members who joined in the fun.
For families like Dawn Romero’s, the impact is immediate.
Romero’s son, Noah, was born at 24 weeks at Maynard Children’s Hospital in 2021 and spent more than six months in the neonatal intensive care unit. Now five years old, Noah continues to receive care through regular appointments and procedures at the hospital.
“I still have lasting relationships with some of the nurses,” said Romero. “To be able to come not too many miles up the road and have these resources is calming, with his condition. I feel like it is not too far, it’s a place he can feel safe, welcome and loved.”
Romero said it was exciting to see both jerseys after the Canes won the 2026 Stanley Cup and as a former ECU student.
“The amazing team here told us about Kids Who Give and the Hurricanes donating jerseys for kids and invited us to come down,” said Romero. “Anytime we come, they are always giving us resources that make it a little easier. This hospital is full of amazing people.”
According to Tara Tadlock, engagement specialist, Maynard Children’s Hospital, approximately 50 gowns were distributed during the kickoff event, with plans to continue using them for hospitalized children and select outpatient visits.
“The smiles we saw today were incredible,” Tadlock said. “From the moment Stormy arrived, there was laughter echoing through the hallways and excitement throughout the hospital. Watching our patients light up as they received their new jersey-style gowns was a powerful reminder that healing is about more than medical care. It’s also about creating moments of joy, comfort and connection for children and families.”
Hospital leaders say that the lasting impact on children and families facing some of life’s most challenging moments would not be possible without great partnerships.
“This has truly been a team effort,” said Elise Ironmonger, director of programs, ECU Health Foundation. “So many individuals and organizations came together to make this possible. From our partners at Kids Who Give, Brave Gowns, ECU Athletics and the Carolina Hurricanes Foundation to our ECU Health team members behind the scenes, it’s exciting to see this vision come to life and know the impact it will have on our patients. We are so grateful for the thoughtful vision and leadership from Kids Who Give for helping make this possible.”
In high school, Morgan Quintanilla thought she wanted to be a nurse, but after a clinical rotation during her certified nursing assistant (CNA) program, she changed her mind. Instead, she went to the University of Mount Olive and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business management. An internship with Chick-Fil-A led to a six-year career in leadership with the chain.
“Then I got a spark,” Morgan said. “I thought, let me try to be an RN again, so I got into a program but didn’t do well.”
Still undeterred, Morgan opted for a licensed practical nurse (LPN) program, which she completed in August 2021. During that time, she also married her husband Juan and got pregnant with twins.
That November, however, Morgan went into pre-term labor at 28 weeks and delivered two girls: Leah and Mia. Mia passed away, and Leah spent 65 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Maynard Children’s Hospital before discharging home.
“When I was pregnant, I had no desire to go back to school,” Morgan said. “But sitting in the NICU, I realized I wanted to serve in that role. I wanted to work where I could help parents experiencing the same thing I did, and work beside the people who made me feel comfortable and cared for. A nurse told me only RNs can work in the NICU, so I applied for an LPN to RN program sitting next to my baby’s bed.”
Leah was discharged in January 2022, and Morgan began RN program that May. When she graduated from the year-long program in August 2023, she immediately found a job with the NICU.
“As soon as I stepped foot in that NICU, I knew this is where I needed to be,” she said. “My heart was fulfilled again. I was where both my babies had been alive, and I get a lot of comfort from that.”
Morgan said this experience was a classic example of taking something bad and turning it into something good.
“I can let other parents know that I’m both a NICU mom and a NICU nurse,” she said. “I know what it’s like to have a survivor and a loss. When they hear that, there’s this sense of relief that we’ll get through this together. I want to make sure the parents, especially those who experience a loss, are advocated for.”
She also said her pursuit of nursing feels meant to be.
“I would never wish for this to have happened,” she said, “But if it hadn’t, I wouldn’t be an RN now. In high school, I just had this intuition I wanted to be a nurse, but I wasn’t sure how I would get there. This was my calling and I’m lucky to have found it.”
Share your story with us at go.ecuhealth.org/gratitude. Stories like these show the lasting impact of Maynard Children’s Hospital.
Class is back in session, and ECU Health wants every student in eastern North Carolina to have a safe, healthy, successful school year. To help make that happen, experts from across the health system recommend parents help their K-12 students get adequate sleep, maintain a steady routine, eat nutritiously and have a positive attitude that will help ease unnecessary stress.
According to Virginia Marr, a school health nurse care manager at ECU Health who serves as a school nurse with Pitt County Schools, getting into a healthy routine takes time. She recommends that parents start having children go to bed and wake up earlier before school starts in order to get the sleep their bodies need. Turning off electronics at least an hour before bed is one way to help promote good sleep hygiene, Marr said.
Marr added that packing lunches the night before helps reduce any need to rush in the morning, and that younger children can even practice their full routine from waking up to being at the bus stop to ensure they are confident and informed about what to do.
“It’s difficult when kids get back into a routine, especially when they have been off for a whole summer,” Marr said. “Things go from calm to structured, so seeing their parents have a positive attitude always helps kids start their day off right and sleep easier at night. Give yourself, and your student, a little grace.”
Dr. Kelli Long, a licensed psychologist at ECU Health who works with pediatric patients, agreed that establishing predictable routines and having a positive attitude go a long way for both students and their parents. Offering praise and positive reinforcement for behavior is important too, she said. She also recommended that parents keep conversations focused on what kids can be excited about, rather than what parents are worried about, to ensure students are going into the school year on the right foot.
“Attending an open house to meet teachers, explore the school building, and find friends can go a long way,” Dr. Long explained. She encouraged parents to talk positively about what their student can look forward to, like seeing friends or going to recess, to give kids something to be excited about as they return to school. “Parents have a huge impact on their kids’ mental and emotional well-being, so the more that parents can stay positive about those things, the better.”
Healthy meals are also a space where parents can help their kids at school, according to Madison Carson, a clinical pediatric dietitian supervisor at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center. She said starting the day off with breakfast, whether that’s milk and cereal, a full spread of pancakes and sausage, or similar, will set kids up for a productive day. She said lunches should contain protein, a starch or grain, a fruit or vegetable and something fun like a kid’s favorite drink or a small treat.
“As we’re going back to school, we want to prepare our children and make sure they are filling their bellies so they are fueling their minds so that we can have a good school year,” Carson said.
By focusing on healthy routines, restful sleep, nutritious meals and a positive mindset, families can help students feel prepared and supported as they return to the classroom. With a little planning and encouragement, children across eastern North Carolina can start the school year with confidence and build habits that support their success all year long.
For one week each summer, Camp Needles in the Pines transforms a traditional summer camp experience into something much more meaningful for children living with Type 1 diabetes. Located at Camp Boddie in Blounts Creek, campers spend their days kayaking, swimming, climbing, creating crafts and making lifelong friendships. Unlike most summer camps, however, every child at Camp Needles in the Pines shares a common bond: managing Type 1 diabetes.
Founded in 1985, Camp Needles in the Pines serves children ages 8 to 14, while older teens participate as counselors-in-training before eventually becoming counselors themselves. The camp is supported through a partnership between the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, ECU Health and ECU Health Foundation, with funding assistance from Children’s Miracle Network and community donors.
For Camp Director Mindy Saenz, a registered dietitian and diabetes educator with ECU Health Pediatric Specialty Care, the camp’s impact extends far beyond outdoor activities and summer fun.
For Camp Director Mindy Saenz, a registered dietitian and diabetes educator with ECU Health Pediatric Specialty Care, the camp’s impact extends far beyond outdoor activities and summer fun.
“A lot of the kids might be the only one in their whole school who has Type 1 diabetes,” Saenz said. “Here at camp, every single camper has Type 1 diabetes. Everybody counts carbs together, gets insulin together and understands exactly what everyone else is going through.”
This year, 51 campers from across North Carolina – and even one from Texas – attended camp. Throughout the week, they participated in activities including paddleboarding, archery, rifle and shotgun shooting, arts and crafts, STEM projects, ecology programs and a traditional camp talent show.
While camp looks like a typical summer camp on the surface, extensive planning ensures every camper can safely participate.
“The biggest thing is making sure we have enough medical staff,” Saenz said. “Each group has a medical staff person assigned to be with them at all times.”
Camp leaders also coordinate donated insulin, blood glucose testing supplies, glucose treatments and other medical necessities. Daily diabetes education and nutrition classes are woven into the schedule, helping campers build confidence in managing their condition.
Perhaps most importantly, campers are encouraged to celebrate milestones. Whether it is checking their blood sugar independently for the first time or changing an insulin pump site on their own, each achievement is recognized in front of fellow campers.
“We announce it and everybody cheers,” Saenz said. “It’s really about fostering independence and helping them realize they can do these things themselves.”
That sense of support and belonging is what keeps many campers coming back year after year.
Madelyn Sutter knows that feeling well. Now 18 and serving as a counselor-in-training, she has attended Camp Needles in the Pines since she was 8 years old.
“At home, my only experience was my sister also being Type 1,” Sutter said. “There was no one else in my school or sports. Being at camp, everyone is the same for once. Everyone has diabetes and everyone’s going through the same thing.”
Today, she enjoys helping younger campers navigate challenges she once faced herself.
“A lot of them have that same experience where there’s no one at home that’s going through the same thing as them,” she said. “I remember being their age, so I can help them get through whatever’s going on.”
Sutter said the community campers find at Camp Needles in the Pines is unlike anything else.
“It’s my favorite week of the year,” she said. “I count down the days.”
For 16-year-old counselor-in-training Kade McLawhorn, the relationships built at camp are the reason he returns every summer.
“It’s just the people,” McLawhorn said. “Year after year, having the same people you can hang out with and bond with. Sometimes we don’t get to see each other that much, but at least once a year we come together and make some great memories.”
In addition to supporting campers, Camp Needles in the Pines provides a unique learning environment for future health care providers. Dr. Caleb Oakley, a fourth-year Internal Medicine-Pediatrics resident at
ECU Health volunteered at camp this year while completing a pediatric endocrinology rotation.
“In the hospital, things are very black and white with protocols,” Dr. Oakley said. “When you come to camp, you get to see the art of medicine and how individualized diabetes care really is.”
Working alongside campers allowed Dr. Oakley to gain experience with insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors and the day-to-day realities of living with diabetes.
One of the moments that left the biggest impression on him was watching campers reach personal milestones.
“You can see how proud they are of themselves,” he said. “They’re away from home, outside their comfort zone, and taking big steps in managing their own care.”
Beyond the clinical experience, Dr. Oakley said camp also showed him the importance of community for children living with Type 1 diabetes.
“One thing I underappreciated before coming here was how different it can feel being a kid with Type 1 diabetes,” he said. “At camp, they’re not outsiders. This is the norm. They get to just be kids.”
For Saenz, that feeling of belonging remains at the heart of Camp Needles in the Pines nearly four decades after its founding.
“It’s really about being with other people who understand,” she said. “The friendships they build here last a lifetime.”
Children and seniors are at particularly high risk of heat-related injury if they are left in a hot car, even for a short time. ECU Health’s Center for Child and Family Wellness Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program, the N.C. Governor’s Highway Safety Program, Martin-Pitt Partnership for Children and Safe Kids Pitt County gathered to demonstrate that parked vehicles and hot weather can be a deadly combination for people stuck inside.
“Children heat up three to five times faster than adults and cannot cool themselves down as quickly,” said Ellen Walston, injury prevention program coordinator and Safe Kids Pitt County coordinator at ECU Health. “Seniors’ body temperature also regulates slower. Cracking your windows or leaving them down does not help, despite popular opinion. That is why it’s so important that you never, ever leave a child or a senior in a vehicle unattended, even for a minute.”
Walston said that 50 North Carolina children have died in hot cars from 1998-2025. At the demonstration, pairs of children’s shoes were displayed on a table to illustrate that total.
Also on display was a police vehicle with a temperature gauge depicting the temperature inside and outside of the vehicle. On an unseasonably cool summer day in the mid-80s, even as the temperature outside dipped and rose the air inside the car continued a steady climb to eclipse 130 degrees. Walston said that on a hot day, temperatures inside a parked vehicle rise 20 degrees in a span of ten minutes and continue to rise.
Walston said nationwide more than 50 percent of child deaths in hot cars happen because kids are forgotten in vehicles. Leaving an item like a backpack, cellphone or something else you will remember can serve as a good reminder to check your backseat.
About 17 percent of deaths occur when children are intentionally left behind, Walston said. The remaining deaths come from children gaining access to, but being unable to escape from, a hot vehicle.
“No amount of time, whether it is a trip inside the store or the bank or whatever it may be, is a safe amount of time to leave a child unattended,” Walston said. “When you are at home, lock your vehicle so kids cannot play inside. Small steps can make a big difference when it comes to keeping our children safe.”
An unprecedented illness that started with stomach pain and spiraled into multi-system organ failure proved to be a defining experience in Kayla Jordan’s young life. Looking back, 14 years later, the now 20-year-old Jordan said it also shows how team members at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center gave a scared little girl in an extended stay hope, support and the chance to just be a kid.
In 2012, Kayla, then six years old, was taken to her pediatrician in Beaufort County for vomiting and stomach pain. She and her mother, Rebecca Williamson, were directed to the emergency department across the street where tests revealed that Kayla had an inflamed pancreas. As her condition rapidly deteriorated, an EastCare team transported her to ECU Health Medical Center for advanced treatment.
“I was going downhill pretty fast. They put tubes in my nose that night and then sent me to Greenville,” Kayla said. “From there on out, I was pretty sick for about a month.”
In Greenville, a care team told Rebecca that her daughter had necrotizing pancreatitis, where severe inflammation can kill tissue in a person’s pancreas. They said 50 percent of the tissue in Kayla’s pancreas was already dead. Soon after, Kayla’s organs began to shut down. She was placed in a medically induced coma because her pain was so unbearable. Her family had a chance to say goodbye, just in case, before she went under.
Rebecca, an assistant nurse manager at ECU Health, was shaken. Her instincts as a mother overrode her education as a nurse.
“It’s funny, you can be a health care professional and your kid or your loved one or someone you’re close to gets sick and suddenly, it feels like you know a lot about nothing,” Rebecca said.
Pediatric physicians worked tirelessly to determine how a 6-year-old could possibly contract a condition typically seen in older adults with a history of alcohol use. They consulted with infectious disease doctors at the hospital and on the other side of the country, performed genetic testing and ran an array of viral tests to determine the best course of treatment. It took time, but tests determined that Kayla had contracted mycoplasma pneumoniae, the bacteria that causes walking pneumonia. The bacteria had completely bypassed Kayla’s lungs and instead attacked her pancreas.
Andy Williamson, Kayla’s stepfather and an ECU Health nurse practitioner, said the diagnosis was unprecedented.
“That is unheard of, but once they identified the bug, they could treat it,” Andy said. “As soon as we got the right antibiotics on top of it, you could start seeing Kayla improve.”
The medicine worked and, astonishingly, Kayla did not require surgery. She soon began her month-long road to recovery at Maynard Children’s Hospital, where in addition to her medical care, she participated in pet therapy, received tutoring and schoolwork to prevent her from falling behind in her classes, and progressed through physical therapy to recover her strength. Friends from school wrote her cards, and her teachers even came to read to her.
“I remember we celebrated the day that she made it all the way down to the little playroom,” Rebecca said. “She borrowed my husband’s credit card so she could play shop. There were so many things to help her feel like a kid.”
For her mom, the patient- and family-centered model of care was apparent. She also felt valued as a team member.
“They provided everything that my kid needed, not just for her health but for her mental state,” Rebecca said. “There were coloring books and crayons, playrooms and a pool and pet therapy.”
Rebecca’s ECU Health team also supported her during Kayla’s hospital stay.
“My nurse manager would come to check on me and ask if I needed anything,” said Rebecca. “They helped submit paperwork to get me started on my leave of absence. It was nice. I didn’t have to worry about my job and could worry about my child. I was treated like I was a family member of the hospital.”
Kayla celebrated her 20th birthday in February. She is now a rising senior at East Carolina University, where she helps broadcast Pirates athletics on ESPN+ and plans to pursue a career in sports broadcasting. She said she was a “frequent flyer” for many years at the emergency department as she dealt with stomach issues. She also recently had her gallbladder removed, a result of the pancreatitis she fought more than a decade ago.
“She’s so resilient,” Andy said. “Not many 18-year-olds get their gallbladders out. She continues to do so well, does well in school. She’s a very smart girl and she’ll do well. We’ll be there for her, like we always have been.”
For Kayla, it’s comforting to know that ECU Health team members are there to support her, whether that’s at home or elsewhere.
“Every time I’ve had to go to the emergency department or something like that, they were always very thorough with me, and they always took my past into consideration,” Kayla said. “There has been peace of mind for me and my mom, who always went with me. It always felt like a family environment.
“As a little girl, you don’t really understand what’s happening,” she continued. “Everyone still went above and beyond to make me feel like I was a normal kid. Looking back now, it shows that, for one, medicine is awesome, and secondly that having people who are right there with you the whole time makes a huge difference.”