Greenville, NC – ECU Health is proud to announce the Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program (ECIPP) at ECU Health Medical Center was honored with the Martha Collar Partnership Award at the Safe Kids Worldwide International Childhood Injury Prevention Convention (PrevCon) for its outstanding contributions toward preventing childhood injuries. Named for Oklahoma Safe Kids State Coordinator Martha Collar, this award recognizes inspirational individuals or organizations that exhibit outstanding leadership and a commitment to collaboration and partnerships.
“ECIPP is honored by this recognition, which reflects the dedication and innovation of the entire team in advancing injury prevention and safety across eastern North Carolina,” said Ellen Walston, Injury Prevention Program Coordinator and Safe Kids Pitt County Coordinator at ECU Health. “Through strong partnerships and community-focused strategies, we have expanded access to education and resources that make a real difference in people’s lives. Our greatest reward is seeing the positive impact of this work on the health and well-being of the children and families we serve.”
ECIPP is dedicated to improving the health and safety of eastern North Carolina by reducing the frequency and severity of preventable injuries, especially to children. Founded in 1995, ECIPP is a collaborative initiative between the ECU Health Trauma Center, Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center and the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. Through hands-on community outreach, ECIPP offers car seat and bike helmet fittings, along with educational programs focused on risk areas such as driver and pedestrian safety, fall prevention, water safety, suicide prevention and safe firearm storage. ECIPP also plays an active role in regional coalitions, including the Greenville Traffic Safety Task Force, formed in partnership with the Greenville Police Department, and the Pitt County Firearm Safety Coalition, working together to build a safer, more informed community.
“The Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program exemplifies how community collaboration can transform safety education into measurable action,” said Torine Creppy, president of Safe Kids Worldwide. “Their partnerships and holistic approach embody Martha’s legacy of building bridges that protect families.”
The award was presented at PrevCon on Oct. 15, 2025, that convened more than 600 child health and safety professionals from around the world, including academic researchers, community activists, health care providers, manufacturers, public health and injury prevention practitioners and policy makers. More than 20 individuals and organizations were honored for their leadership in the field. PrevCon is one of the largest gatherings of individuals and organizations dedicated to childhood injury prevention. Preventable injuries are the number one cause of death for children in the United States. Throughout the world, almost one million children die of an injury each year, and almost every one of these tragedies is preventable.
ECU Health celebrated Wear Pink Day on Oct. 17 to honor those impacted by breast cancer and to raise awareness of the importance of annual screenings. In addition to wearing pink, the Cancer Care team and members of the East Carolina University Women’s Basketball team, including head coach Kim McNeill, handed out pink ribbons and information about breast cancer and 3-D mammograms to ECU Health team members and ECU Health Medical Center visitors.
ECU Health Cancer Care and the ECU Women’s Basketball team work together to share the importance of early detection for breast cancer across the community. For several years, the Women’s Basketball team, assistant coaches and staff, as well as McNeill, have visited ECU Health Medical Center to greet and educate team members and patients.
“Even with their busy season starting, the ECU Women’s Basketball team is committed to spreading this awareness message,” said Phyllis DeAntonio, administrator of ECU Health Cancer Care. “We are extremely grateful for the team’s commitment to ECU Health’s mission, to improve the health and well-being of eastern North Carolina.”
Screenings are important for prevention and early detection. ECU Health offers 3D mammography at 11 locations throughout eastern North Carolina. Key advantages of 3D mammography include:
- Greater detail for improved accuracy
- 40 percent increase in cancer detection
- Locates more invasive, life-threatening tumors
- Better at detecting cancer in dense breast tissue
- Digital images allow doctors in other locations to consult if needed
- Fewer call-backs, resulting in less anxiety
- Patient-friendly design that is more comfortable for all breast sizes
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month continues, make sure you are talking with your health care provider about receiving regular mammograms. Women at higher risk may need to start screening earlier. Learn more about breast cancer and finding a screening location near you by visiting ECU Health’s breast cancer page.
The James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center was filled with smiles and excitement as CAPTRUST employees arrived with bright green boxes packed with fun on Oct. 2. These Cheeriodicals care packages were filled with age-appropriate toys, crafts and comfort items, and were hand-delivered to pediatric patients and their families to brighten their hospital stay.
The donation is the result of a collaboration between CAPTRUST, an independent retirement plan and investment advisory firm, and Cheeriodicals, a team-building company that partners with corporations to create meaningful community impact. Each box is thoughtfully tailored to specific age groups, including infants and their mothers, children ages 3 and up, and tweens and teens.
The partnership was sparked by a shared Pirate connection: both Fielding Miller, CEO of CAPTRUST, and Gary Parisher, President and CEO of Cheeriodicals, are proud East Carolina University alumni.
“It was Gary’s idea to reach out,” Miller said. “He’s an East Carolina grad, and so we knew of each other. Gary shared this idea of how they help children in hospitals, and I said, ‘I want to know more.’ He sent me the box, I opened it, and said, ‘Oh yeah, we’re in. We’re doing this.’”
For Parisher, the mission hits home.
“I’m actually from Pitt County and went to East Carolina,” he said. “We’ve delivered to over 150 children’s hospitals across the country, and I wanted Maynard Children’s Hospital to be one of them.”
Cheeriodicals organizes corporate team-building events where employees pack care boxes for children’s hospitals, veterans’ facilities, and Ronald McDonald Houses.
“It’s really about bringing corporations together where teams can do work that makes a difference,” said Parisher.
Miller emphasized the emotional impact of the initiative.
“I just hope these kids feel that pure joy of being a child again – bright eyes, excitement and a moment away from the hospital routine,” he said. “And for the parents, who are there every day supporting their children, if we can make their day just a little bit better, it’s worth it.”
That joy was evident as Miller and Parisher hand-delivered boxes to patients, including Aleksandra. Her face lit up as she opened her box, revealing coloring books, fidget toys, crafting materials, and most special of all, a stuffed green frog.
Frogs, it turns out, hold a special meaning for Aleksandra and her mom, Lydia.
“She’s always loved frogs,” Lydia shared. “Whenever she’s in the hospital, usually for a long period of time, her frog friends show up.”
Aleksandra explained that her mom often leaves little frog toys for her to discover, on her water bottle, tucked into her bag, or hidden around her room.
“Now they have a big friend,” Aleksandra said with a smile, holding up her new plush frog.
Ali Grimes, manager of Children’s Services at Maynard Children’s Hospital, explained that when the pediatric patients receive donations like this, it brings more joy than most people realize.
“When we’re able to bring in toys and activities for our patients, we’re able to see kids be kids and help normalize the hospital experience,” Grimes said.
The impact of the delivery extended far beyond the contents of each box. For the CAPTRUST and Cheeriodicals teams, it was an affirmation of the difference collaboration and giving back can make.
“The delivery was more than just a gift,” said Scott Senatore, chief philanthropy officer, ECU Health Foundation. “It was a moment of true joy for children and families navigating some of the hardest moments of their lives, and for two ECU alumni, it was a chance to give back to the community that helped shape them. ECU Health is so grateful to CAPTRUST and Cheeriodicals for their compassion and care for the patients and families we serve.”
A terrifying accident
On November 4, 2024, Ed Walsh and his wife received a call that no parent wants to get.
“Bella was in hysterics, saying ‘Dad, I was in a wreck, and I can’t get out of the car.’ It felt like a 5,000-pound weight was on my chest.”
Bella Avila had driven home to Wilmington, NC that afternoon to have dinner with her family, but more than halfway back to her dorm in Greenville, she hit a car in the road.
“The road was dark and very rural. I hit a car that was in the middle of the road after it hit a deer.”
What followed was chaos. It took a moment for Bella to realize what had happened. She was trapped in her car, wedged between the guard rail and the other woman’s vehicle.
“My phone contacted emergency services, and I called my parents. Dad asked what I could and couldn’t feel, and I couldn’t feel my legs. I thought I was paralyzed.”
“I asked her where she was at and she didn’t know,” Ed said. “I told her we were on the way. We looked like rodeo clowns, wearing whatever we found, and we probably set the land speed record driving to Greenville.”
“A breath of fresh air”
By the time Ed and his wife arrived in Greenville, Bella had already been cut out of her car and transported to the ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital emergency department (ED).
“There’s your kid with the neck brace on and she’s crying. Her mom is crying. I went into Marine mode and decided I’d cry later. Everyone was nice and did their jobs well,” Ed shared.
“The ECU Health staff were amazing,” Bella confirmed. “They cared for me even though I was terrified. I was in pain, and I didn’t know what was going on. No one knew what was wrong with me. I had bruising from the seat belt, but at first, they thought I was bleeding internally,” Bella said. “They told me I shouldn’t be alive, with how mangled my car was. I was freaking out. Then Reagan came in and she was like a breath of fresh air.”
Reagan Crowe, staff nurse II in the ED, met Bella and her family when she began her day shift.
“This experience was very scary for her. She was 18 but her parents weren’t there yet. I can only imagine how frightening that was to be alone, and I’m sure it was terrifying for her parents,” Reagan said.
Reagan joined ECU Health in 2023, and she realized she wanted to be a nurse after participating in a career exploratory program with NC State University. “Unfortunately, NC State doesn’t have a nursing program, so when I decided to pursue nursing, I transferred to East Carolina University (ECU).”
None of Reagan’s clinicals were in the emergency department, but she wanted to try it out. “I knew I wanted to work with children, and the ED lets you see a lot of different things every day. We have a wide population coming in for many different reasons.”
When Reagan met Bella, she said she felt a connection with her. “We’re close in age, and it was evident she is close with her parents – I’m close with my parents, too,” she said. “Bella stayed in the ED through my entire shift, which is not typical, so I got to know her and her family better. I feel lucky that I did.”
“She saw me as a terrified 18-year-old and she treated me more as a friend than a patient,” Bella shared. “I’ve had my fair share of doctors and nurses care for me, because I was a cheerleader in high school and got injured frequently, but Reagan was the most caring person. I’ve never seen a nurse take care of my parents so well. She talked to them and spent her time with us like she didn’t have any other patients. It changed my entire perspective on nursing.”
A change of plans
Bella said she had considered working in health care before, but she had never been sure of which path to take. “I had already changed my major three times,” Bella shared. “Her career plans ranged from nurse to physical therapist to dentist to doctor,” Ed added. “After working with Reagan, she said, ‘Dad, I know what I want to do with my life – I want to be a nurse.’ Reagan gave Bella clarity, direction and was the example of everything she had been looking for. She changed the trajectory of Bella’s life.”
As soon as Bella was released from the hospital three days later, she changed her major to nursing and began taking steps to apply for the bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) program at ECU.
“It was one of those life-altering experiences that changes your perspective on everything,” Bella said of her accident. “I should have died that night, and I didn’t. Why not shoot for the big things in life and live every moment to the fullest?”
Bella later reached out to Reagan to ask for advice. “Two or three months after my accident, I texted Reagan and asked her out for coffee so we could chat about what I should expect when applying to nursing school. We met and talked for more than two hours, and not just about nursing. We also became friends.”
Meanwhile, Ed and his wife wanted to show their appreciation for the care Bella received. They decided to nominate Reagan for a DAISY Award, an international program that recognizes and celebrates the extraordinary, compassionate care nurses provide.
“I don’t go around writing up people for awards all the time,” Ed laughed. “I couldn’t say all I wanted to in the DAISY Award nomination, but nurses make an impact on people’s lives every day. That’s something that doesn’t come in milligrams, and you can’t put it in an I.V.”
When the family found out Reagan had been selected as a DAISY Award honoree, they wanted to join the celebration. “We had to sneak into the ED so we could be there when she received the award,” Ed said.
“Seeing Reagan’s face light up when she realized what was happening made me so happy – it was one of the most rewarding feelings of my life,” Bella said. “I got to put the DAISY pin on her badge, and to be a part of that moment felt full circle.”
Later that same day, Bella took the entrance exam for nursing school.
“The ED team made me a good luck bag for the exam, and I can’t be more grateful for what they’ve done for me. Eight months ago, I didn’t see myself as being a nurse, but taking the exam the same day we celebrated Reagan felt like fate.”
Reagan is quick to point out that she’s not the only nurse deserving of the DAISY Award, but she’s grateful for the recognition.
“I have imposter syndrome because there are so many other nurses deserving to be recognized,” she said. “ED visits are so chaotic and quick, and our nurses sometimes get forgotten. Our whole team is amazing, and I have learned from the best. I feel lucky to be recognized.”
This summer, Bella continues to take nursing school prerequisites, and in the meantime, she thinks she might want to work in the Children’s ED. “For the longest time I thought I’d want to work in Labor and Delivery, but since my accident, I’ve contemplated the ED for kids. Children are so resilient and have a fight – I love that. Whatever I do, I hope I can work at ECU Health after I graduate.”
Bella and her family said they can never repay Reagan for her calm professionalism and kindness, but celebrating the work she does by nominating her for the DAISY Award was a good start. “She deserves this award hands-down,” Ed said. “Some people go their entire lives wondering if they ever made a difference, but I’m here to tell you Reagan Crowe doesn’t have that problem.”
To learn more about the DAISY Award or to nominate a deserving nurse, visit their website.
East Carolina University (ECU) Baseball player Parker Byrd has stepped up to the plate to lead Homers That Help, a charity initiative supporting families at the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center. Taking over from former player Carter Cunningham, Byrd has embraced the opportunity to expand the program’s impact and continue its mission of giving back.
The idea for Homers That Help was born after Cunningham participated in a career shadowing experience at ECU Health Medical Center in November 2023. Walking through Maynard Children’s Hospital, he felt a deep calling to do something meaningful for the young patients and their families.
He started small, asking his ECU Baseball teammates for donations to bring holiday cheer to the hospital. The players raised $500, which they used to buy gifts and spend time playing with the children. The visit left a lasting impression on both the players and the families.
After reflecting over winter break, Cunningham launched Homers That Help, an initiative where sponsors pledged donations for each ECU home baseball game and contributed additional funds for every home run hit. The program exceeded expectations, raising $50,000 in its first season. In addition to the donations, the baseball team would make regular visits to pediatric patients.
“I felt that it was so important to serve others, and even if you can’t give money, time is so important,” Cunningham said. “Whether that’s your time, your talent or your treasure, really being generous goes a long way.”
As Cunningham graduated and was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays, he wanted the initiative to continue. Cunningham felt Byrd was the perfect fit to lead the program forward after seeing Byrd connect with patients during hospital visits.
“It was like a God-given talent and ability when he was in a patient’s room,” Cunningham said. “He just knew how to connect with the kids a lot better than I ever could – and anyone for that matter.”
According to Tara Tadlock, a child life specialist at Maynard Children’s Hospital, these visits bring much-needed joy.
“The kids get so excited to see the players,” Tadlock said. “It lifts their spirits more than people realize. Whether playing games, coloring or simply talking baseball, the experience means the world to them.”
Byrd said having been a patient in the hospital for a long time previously helped him understand how it feels to be one of the kids.
“Carter told me about his plans early on, and I saw firsthand the impact it was having,” Byrd said. “When he asked if I could take over, it was an honor.”
Byrd’s leadership has ensured Homers That Help continues to grow and flourish. Cunningham remains involved, offering guidance and staying connected to the program’s growth, including the sale of shirts where $10 from each purchase is donated directly to the Children’s Hospital.
“He could have just handed it off and moved on,” Byrd said. “But he still contributes, checks in and continues to bring new ideas.”
Building on Cunningham’s foundation, Byrd introduced Ks for Kids, allowing pitchers to participate by raising money with strikeouts.
“It’s awesome to get the pitchers involved,” Byrd said. “Last year, hitters had competition for the most home runs, and now pitchers have their own way to contribute and have some healthy competition.”
ECU pitcher Ethan Norby demonstrated the program’s potential with a standout performance, recording 19 strikeouts in one game, directly benefiting families in need.
“During the game, I was actually thinking it was awesome for the kids because he was racking up a lot of strikeouts and support for the families here at the hospital,” Byrd said.
Managed by ECU Health Foundation, the funds raised through Homers That Help have had a direct impact on families, covering essential costs like gas and food gift cards to ease their hospital stays. Funds also will be going to other needs of Maynard Children’s Hospital to improve care and the hospital experience for pediatric patients and their families.
“Being a college student and student athlete is very time consuming, but then they still make time out of their weeks to come and visit these kids and during every single game, raise money for Maynard Children’s Hospital,” said Elise Ironmonger, Director of Programs at the ECU Health Foundation. “This fundraiser is just amazing and shows what great humans they are and just their love of wanting to give back. ECU Health and our patients and their families are so grateful to them.”
Byrd expressed his gratitude to Cunningham, his teammates and the entire ECU community for their unwavering support. As the 2024-2025 season comes to an end, Byrd is grateful for all of the community support and excited for the future of Homers That Help.
“The community has been tremendous,” Byrd said. “Seeing everyone rally behind this cause makes it all worth it.”
To date, Homers That Help has raised over $75,000. To learn more about Homers That Help or to give, please visit give.ecuhealthfoundation.org
Each summer, Camp Hope and Camp Rainbow offer a sanctuary for children in eastern North Carolina living with cancer, sickle cell disease, hemophilia and other chronic bleeding disorders. More than just a change of scenery, these camps provide a place where kids can just be kids.
“This is a week for them to come to camp and just be a kid and have fun and meet other kids that may have the same type of condition that they have,” says Tamika Mackey, child life specialist at the Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic at ECU Health and the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University and director of Camp Hope and Camp Rainbow. “My favorite part is seeing smiles on their faces, getting hugs from the kids and seeing them meet new people.”
Camp Rainbow is for children with cancer, hemophilia and children who have lost a sibling to one of these diseases, and Camp Hope is for children with sickle cell disease.
ECU Health and Brody School of Medicine team members develop camping programs to provide pediatric patients an opportunity to learn more about themselves and their illness, participate in fun activities like swimming, canoeing, archery, crafts, music and drama, all while making life-long friendships with other children with similar conditions and experiences. While at camp, located at The Refuge in Ayden, children receive 24-hour medical care and close medical monitoring by their ECU Health care teams including physicians, nurses, child life and social workers.
“The goal is for kids to meet other children that may share the same medical condition that they have and to build lifelong relationships,” Mackey said.
For kids navigating life with chronic illnesses, especially in rural communities where connection can be even harder, Camp Hope and Camp Rainbow are more than just a week of fun. According to Mackey, they’re a lifeline, a reminder that they are seen, supported and deeply loved.
“They’ve been enjoying camp,” said Mackey. “I can tell by the hugs and smiles I get daily. Just to see them having fun and not in a medical environment, that’s everything.”
The connections the kids make extend beyond the week.
“They don’t all live in the same area, but they stay in touch with group chats and even checking on each other during hospital stay,” said Mackey. “That kind of support is invaluable.”
Lawsen Ziemba, a twelve-year-old camper, was diagnosed with leukemia when he was just two years old. Ziemba spent his first week at camp this year and said he was able to connect with kids and adults who had gone through some of the same medical experiences he had.
“You can get a perspective from other people that have gone through the same thing you had and have a relationship with them about what you have gone through,” said Ziemba.
One of the camp’s examples of the impact camp has is Heaven Glaspie, a former camper turned counselor. Diagnosed with sickle cell disease, Heaven began attending Camp Rainbow at 8 years old. Now 23, he returns to give back the joy he once received.
“Whenever I was growing up, we had mentors and volunteers that were coming to camp and taking time out of their week to make sure that we had a very great time,” said Glaspie. “For me to be able to do that whenever I aged out of camp and come back and be able to help other people have a good time, that’s one of the best feelings in the world to me. The smile on their face that they give you whenever they’re having the best time of their life at camp, it’s very heartwarming.”
His firsthand experience gives him a unique perspective.
“Not a lot of people can relate to what these kids go through, but I’ve walked in their shoes,” said Glaspie. “I can let them know they’re not alone.”
For both campers and counselors, camp is about more than just memories.
“Camp becomes a family,” Heaven said. “Everybody’s so used to seeing each other in the summer, and even when we go home, we keep talking.”
Mackey said seeing campers grow up and come back as volunteers is inspiring.
“It shows younger kids that they, too, can grow up, go to college, give back,” said Mackey. “It’s powerful for them to see someone living with sickle cell disease or a similar condition to them who’s thriving.”
Greenville, NC –The 40th annual Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Celebration Broadcast, honoring the thousands of children treated at Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center this past year, raised an outstanding $1,278,873 to support pediatric care across eastern North Carolina, bringing the cumulative total raised to $35,680,524.
The telethon, which aired from May 31 to June 1, was produced by longtime CMN television partner WITN, highlighted emotional and inspiring stories of children who have overcome complex medical challenges thanks to the exceptional care received at Maynard Children’s Hospital. A special long-time donor and friend of Maynard Children’s Hospital provided a generous $100,000 match during the event, doubling gifts and doubling the impact for sick and injured children in eastern North Carolina.
“This year’s Celebration Broadcast was incredibly special, marking 40 years of support for Children’s Miracle Network and bringing together those who have made a difference,” said Elise Ironmonger, Director of Programs at the ECU Health Foundation.
“It was amazing to reflect on this journey and connect with our dedicated supporters. We also honored the generous businesses, community groups and individuals whose commitment will continue to save lives and bring hope to the children at Maynard Children’s Hospital.”
To commemorate 40 years of making miracles happen in eastern North Carolina, the event included many special acknowledgements to celebrate the milestone. Former WITN personalities throughout the years provided messages of encouragement and support while past miracle children provided updates on their journeys and how their lives were directly impacted by the generous donations from the telethon. Four loyal volunteers joined the celebration for their 40th time, attending all 40 telethons throughout the years: Fred Anderson, Debbie Austin, Vivian Bazemore and Diane Oakley. Another very special moment included an interview with Lillian Jones, who honored her late husband, Dick Jones, WITN personality and talent who hosted the very first telethon in 1986.
Funds raised during the Celebration Broadcast ensure that children from across the region have access to the highest quality care, advanced medical equipment and life-saving programs. Each dollar raised stays local to support pediatric services at Maynard Children’s Hospital.
Major sponsors once again demonstrated their generosity, with the following top contributors each giving at least $100,000:
- Speedway, part of 7-11, Inc: $209,647
- Jersey Mike’s Subs: $188,375
- Walmart and Sam’s Club: $153,672
- Music for Miracles Radiothon: $113,734
- Log A Load for Kids: $100,000
The following sponsors each made a significant impact with donations totaling over $25,000: Ace Hardware ($37,383), Panda Express ($32,035), Dance Arts Theatre ($28,876) and Extra Life ($26,345).
Coming through in a big way, the following organizations donated between $5,000-$20,000: Central Heating and Air Conditioning, Barbour Hendrick Honda of Greenville, Electric Cooperative of ENC, Dairy Queen, Ollies, Phi Mu, Pepsi/Minges Bottling Group, American Builders, Publix and Eastern Radiologists.
Finally, a big thanks to these generous donors who contributed between $1,000-$5,000: Miller & Friends Lemonade Stand, Grady White Boats, RE/MAX, Whistle Express Car Wash, Care-O-World, Baynor Inc, Ajay Ajmera, Arun Ajmera, Ricci Law Firm, Builder’s Discount Center, Harris, Creech, Ward & Blackerby PA, MSL Healthcare Partners, Stallings Plumbing Heating and Air Conditioning, POPS Mart Fuels and Aldridge & Southerland.
The local CMN Hospitals fundraising program is staffed and supported by the ECU Health Foundation, the non-profit charitable corporation that serves as the custodian for all financial gifts and bequests to ECU Health. The ECU Health Foundation oversees allocation of all donated funds.
Since October 2024, the Books from Birth program, a partnership between Maynard Children’s Hospital and Book Harvest, has provided boxes of books to infants and their families, ensuring that reading routines become an integral part of a baby’s earliest days.
On Monday, June 2, Book Harvest staff and N.C. House Rep. Tim Reeder, MD, District 9, who secured funding for the project in the North Carolina State Budget last year, joined the Maynard Children’s Hospital team members to speak with recipients of the book boxes and hear feedback from nurses and child life specialists.
The partnership with Book Harvest aims to enrich the lives of families across eastern North Carolina by supplying books that encourage bonding and learning. Each family with a newborn baby discharged is offered a Books from Birth box, containing 10 board books, educational materials and a onesie, reinforcing the importance of literacy right from the start.
“Books are a powerful tool for connection, learning and development, and the Books from Birth program is giving families the resources to start that journey from day one,” said Tara Stroud, vice president of Women’s and Children’s Services at Maynard Children’s Hospital. “Our nurses and child life specialists see firsthand how these books help families bond with their babies, where parents cherish having stories to read during their hospital stay. This program is about setting a foundation for lifelong literacy and ensuring every child has the opportunity to thrive.”
Stroud said the nurses and child life specialists at the Children’s Hospital are the program’s biggest advocate.
“I love how inclusive the books are,” said Don Sauls, a nurse in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). “I’ve seen multilingual books; I’ve seen books that include sign language. It is very conducive to creating a welcoming and nurturing learning environment and facilitating that bond between parents and their baby and even siblings.”
Amanda and Blake – both elementary school teachers – are in the NICU with their baby and expressed how grateful they were to be able to add to their baby’s library.
“We started reading to her from the moment we found out we were expecting, and even Amanda’s mom would come and read books to her while she was still in the womb,” said Blake. “Just knowing those voices and hearing those stories helps build a foundation for learning, and we hope it will make her a strong reader, speller and learner one day. We’re incredibly thankful for the books and support we’ve received.”
With the Books from Birth program, ECU Health and Book Harvest are paving the way for a new generation of readers, ensuring that every baby’s first moments are accompanied by the power of stories.
“We are so uplifted by the partnership with Maynard Children’s Hospital to make sure every single newborn is starting their life with their own library,” said Ginger Young, chief executive officer, Book Harvest. “Literacy starts at birth, and early literacy is the key to building a foundation of literacy that will last a lifetime. To be able to send families home not only with their new bundle of joy, but also the start of their own home library, is the thing we dream about all the time.”
Since its launch at Maynard Children’s Hospital, the Books from Birth program has made significant progress in reaching families and fostering early literacy. From October 2024 to March 2025, more than 1,700 book boxes have been provided to newborn families. Families from 36 counties and three states have benefitted from the program. Additionally, 28 percent of the boxes have been provided to premature or medically complex infants, offering literacy support to some of the most vulnerable newborns.
“I recognized how important the program was to encourage reading, but to see how this hospital has embraced this vision and the impact on patients and families has been monumental,” said Rep. Reeder.
Greenville, N.C. –The Children’s Miracle Network (CMN) Celebration Broadcast honors the legacy of past telethons by sharing powerful miracle stories of children treated at James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at ECU Health Medical Center. These stories represent the thousands of children across eastern North Carolina who have received exceptional care over the past year.
“I am so incredibly excited to be celebrating 40 years of miracles this year,” said Elise Ironmonger, Director of Programs for the ECU Health Foundation. “To see where we started in 1986 as the ‘Children’s Hospital of Eastern North Carolina’ to where we are now — a 197-bed hospital with a Level IV NICU and Level I Trauma Center — is just extraordinary.
Thousands of miracles happen here, and there’s so much to be proud of. I invite our community to tune in and witness these incredible stories. Help us change kids’ health to change the future for the next 40 years.”
The 2025 CMN Celebration Broadcast will air on longtime partner WITN at the following times:
- Saturday, May 31, from 7–8 p.m.
- Sunday, June 1, from 6–9 a.m. and 7–11 p.m.
Throughout the broadcast, viewers will see firsthand how donations to the Children’s Miracle Network are used to fund critical care and services. These examples will highlight the life-changing impact of every philanthropic gift.
This year’s miracle children and stories will include:
- Alejandro Mendoza-Hernandez, Age 14 – Beaufort County
- Owen Tripp, Age 1 – Pitt County
- Graylon Goddard, Age 8 – Pitt County
- AiTayvion Nelson, Age 4 – Pitt County
- Insley Santifort, Age 4 – Duplin County
- Christopher Everette, Age 2 – Hertford County
The 2025 broadcast will spotlight the exceptional care delivered each day at Maynard Children’s Hospital while celebrating the hope and healing made possible by generous community support. Thanks to donors across eastern North Carolina, thousands of children receive the specialized medical care they need each year. With continued support, the team at Maynard Children’s Hospital can ensure every child receives the best care possible — today, tomorrow and for generations to come.
The local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals fundraising program is staffed and supported by the ECU Health Foundation, a non-profit charitable corporation that serves as the custodian for all financial gifts and bequests to ECU Health. The ECU Health Foundation oversees allocation of all donated funds. To donate, please call 1-800-673-5437 or visit givetocmn.com.
When Rawlings Warren was born in December of 2024, she seemed like a healthy baby. Lacey and Ross Warren took their daughter home from the hospital to begin their life as a family of three, but at 12 days old, Rawlings began to show signs of not feeling well. By Jan. 3, Lacey knew something wasn’t right, and she and Ross took Rawlings to the ECU Health Emergency Department (ED). “We thought we’d get some medications and be sent home,” Lacey recalled. “But that ED visit turned into a 27-day stay in the hospital.”
Rawlings was transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in ECU Health Maynard Children’s Hospital, where she received quick and comprehensive care. “As a first-time mom, I was scared to death. No one knew what was wrong, and we were terrified,” Lacey said. What turned that day around were the nurses on the PICU team, one of whom was Corbin Martin, a staff nurse III.
“Ross and I had stepped out of the room for a minute, and when we walked back in, Corbin was singing You are My Sunshine to Rawlings. We knew we were in the right place, and they were going to take care of our baby,” Lacey affirmed. “First-time parents spending the first weeks of their child’s life in the hospital can be an all-too-common story for our unit,” shared Corbin. “I connected with the Warrens through laughter to bring a lightness to their dark time.”
What Lacey, Ross and the PICU team didn’t know but eventually discovered was that Rawlings was born with a late onset bloodstream infection. That infection turned into sepsis, with additional diagnoses of meningitis, failure to thrive and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). “You have this 13-day old, and you can’t ask her what’s wrong,” Lacey said. “Finding out what was going on was the main thing, and the PICU team did everything they could to find that out.” Candace Guy, a staff nurse IV in the PICU, recalled the experience: “They were going through one of the most difficult things in their lives, and there was some uncertainty at the beginning of what the treatment plan would be, but the family was never unkind to us even though they were understandably frustrated. You can’t not be friends with them, and they are great parents.”
During their stay, Lacey said either she or Ross were at Rawlings’ bedside every minute. “We took shifts,” she said. “One of us would go home to take a shower and do a load of laundry, and then the other one would go. We were there 24/7, and these people became our family.” Lindsi Ahern, a nurse practitioner who responded to Rawlings’ Rapid Response and facilitated her transfer to the PICU, witnessed the Warren’s dedication. “They are so special to our team!” she said. “They quickly became great advocates for their child and a vital part of our team in caring for Rawlings. As a mom, I cannot imagine going through what they did in their child’s first month of life, and they did it with grace.”
Jonanna McGee, a staff nurse III, reinforced that feeling. “The family was very good at communicating with our team members, and it made it easier for us to advocate for Rawlings because we could speak to her and the family’s wishes,” she said. “They truly trusted our judgement and that formed a deeper relationship.”
The PICU team made sure the Warrens felt more comfortable during their daughter’s hospital stay, often in unexpected ways. “They would come in and talk to us, just to say hello,” Lacey recalled. “They always asked us what we needed, even in the middle of the night. If we cried, a nurse was there to cry with us. When the doctor came in, we’d hold our breath, but she would talk to us about dinner, books or whatever. We have a whole new set of friends.”
She also appreciated the staff’s concern about her own needs as a freshly postpartum mom. “There was never a day a nurse didn’t ask how I was doing postpartum,” she said. “They were the sweetest people,” said Dr. Anna Hamanjian, one of the attendings who cared for Rawlings during her stay. “Being a new mom and postpartum and being scared to death because their newborn was having all these issues – I can’t imagine. The most heartbreaking thing Lacey said was hearing about other new moms complaining about late nights or feeding, and she just wanted to be home and do those normal things. But even when they were frustrated, they were understanding.”
The team also did little things that, to Lacey and Ross, meant everything. “It snowed during our stay, and the team made sure we got to take Rawlings outside to see the snow. She was 20 days old, but it was important to us, and they made it happen.” Lacey also recalled that when the team learned about her and Ross’s tradition of going to Chicos every Friday night, a tradition now upended by Rawlings’s hospitalization, the PICU team ordered Chicos takeout. “These people who didn’t know us were picking up on things we were missing out on and bringing joy to a scary situation,” Lacey said. “They did it because their hearts are big and the have so much love to give.”
Another resource for the Warrens was their child life specialist, Chelse Smith. Certified child life specialists provide support and resources to help decrease the stress and anxiety of a hospital stay for children and their families, and they work alongside the medical team to meet the mental, emotional and social needs of the patients and their families. “Chelse was assigned to us in the PICU, and she is a gift from above,” Lacey said.
“I was able to build a relationship with the Warrens through conversation – although nurses and doctors rotate shifts, a child life specialist is a constant at the bedside,” Chelse said.
During those conversations, Chelse learned about the Warrens, including that their beloved golden retriever had recently passed away. “We are dog people,” Lacey laughed. “Our golden retriever died just before Rawlings was born, and that’s the theme of her nursery.”
“I was able to decorate Rawlings’s room with items similar to her nursery theme to provide normalization. We took several pictures of Rawlings and her family throughout her admission and I posted those pictures in the room,” Chelse said. Chelse is also the secondary handler for the hospital’s facility dog, Sam.
“Sam was a huge part of coping and support for Lacey and Ross,” Chelse said. “When we found out that Sam likes to sit in laps, that was great,” Lacey shared. “We now have a stuffed animal version of Sam in Rawlings’s nursery. It’s those little things that truly helped us in ways we can’t explain.”
Chelse also realized through her conversations with the Warrens that Rawlings hadn’t had her newborn photos taken yet, something that had been planned the day she went to the ED. “We have a program called Little Wishes that grants patients a wish during their hospitalization,” Chelse explained. “Lacey and Ross talked about missing out on normal baby milestones, including a newborn shoot.” So, Chelse arranged for the photo shoot to come to the hospital. “I got to be there every step of the way and celebrate the small wins.”
When Rawlings was discharged, Lacey and Ross couldn’t forget the compassionate care their family received, which is what prompted Lacey to invite the PICU team to Tie Breakers in Greenville a few months later. “We weren’t going to let them go,” she said. “They saved our baby’s life. The staff doesn’t get to always see what happens to their patients after they leave, and it was important to them see that we now have a healthy baby. They deserve to see the good side of things.”
The PICU team enjoyed seeing the Warren family again, including a healthy Rawlings. “It was so special to see both Lacey and Rawlings outside the hospital; to hear that she was thriving at home was heartwarming,” said Lindsi. “It’s nice when you can make those kinds of connections with families,” Candace reiterated. “We couldn’t wait to see the Warrens again,” Corbin said. “When we arrived, it was so refreshing to see Rawlings growing, off all her medications, and just being a healthy baby. We also got to see Lacey being a mom and finally ‘breathing’ as a first-time mom. It just validates why we do what we do – seeing a healthy, happy baby with her mother thriving and no longer needing our intensive services is rewarding.”
None of that would have been possible without the high-quality care Rawlings received while in the PICU. “When I think of what we get families through – it’s incredible,” Dr. Hamanjian said. “From the shortest admission to the kids who are here for weeks or months, we work together to communicate and advocate in the patient’s best interest. Everything we do is for the kids, and that’s what I love about working here.”
“We love our patients hard, and we love our team hard,” Candace added. “We’re super passionate about our patients and their families, and we are supportive of each other on our team. I’ve been here almost 20 years and the teamwork is strong here.” Lesley Smith, the PICU manager, spoke highly of the team. “We make an impact on patients, and they make a big impact on us,” she shared. “The Warrens are a prime example of how far our team goes for our patients and their families. It’s more than a nursing relationship – it’s genuine care.”
Lacey said now Rawlings is four months old and doing well. “She would not be here if not for the doctors and nurses in the PICU. Every single nurse, and I could name all of them, were all great. That’s why Ross and I are advocates for the PICU. They will forever be our friends because of how they treated us and continue to treat us.”