ACH Ambassadors are a group of current and former Arkansas Children's Hospital patients who are giving hope and inspiration to other patient families, donors and volunteers by sharing their stories. The Ambassadors are true examples of the care, love and hope that ACH provides.
ACH Ambassadors were nominated and chosen by hospital staff members and volunteers to serve as advocates for the hospital. For one year, Ambassadors and their families will share their stories about their
ACH experiences at speaking engagements and special events and through printed materials.
The Ambassadors represent the thousands of children treated annually at ACH and its clinics. Click on the links below to view Ambassador stories and photos.
Abbie Dolan
Conway
For four years Abbie battled skin infections. Her skin became so infected that eventually her pediatrician took a blood sample, which tested positive for staph infection.
Kase Kersey
Paragould
In June 2008, Kase developed what his parents thought was a regular virus. An x-ray showed that Kase’s heart was enlarged.
Haven Blu McCormack
Little Rock
Immediately after birth, Haven was rushed to ACH, where she was diagnosed with pulmonary stenosis, a congenital heart defect. To repair her defect, she had two heart procedures in her first 11 days of life.
Nick Mehlman
Cabot
On July 10, 2008, Nick was with his family when the car they were in was hit head-on by another vehicle. Nick was sent to ACH, where doctors immediately began working to correct his traumatic brain injury.
Tyler Drake Mills
Ruston, La.
Tyler attended a late summer cookout in September 2007 and accidentally ate an undercooked hamburger. A few days later, he became very ill. Tyler’s parents took him to the local hospital, where the cause of his illness could not be determined.
Kelton Neyland
Little Rock
In 2002, near Kelton’s first birthday, his teacher noticed that he seemed to have some hearing problems. His mother brought him to the audiology clinic at ACH, where he was diagnosed with hearing loss in both ears.
Sarah Pickering
North Little Rock
In April 2008, Sarah began experiencing vomiting, headaches and increasing weakness in her left leg. Doctors at ACH discovered that an infection had traveled to Sarah’s brain and created an abscess, causing her symptoms.
Kristen Robertson
Fort Smith
In 1990, when Kristen was in the womb, an ultrasound showed a narrowing of the aorta in her heart. After birth, Kristen underwent heart surgery at ACH.
Bethany Lynn Roper
White Hall
Bethany’s parents awoke one morning to find their 10-day-old daughter suffering from a 103-degree fever. They rushed Bethany to the local hospital, where tests indicated Bethany had a severe case of meningitis.
Payton Jane Sanders
Texarkana
Born in May 2002, Payton was not only 2 months premature, she also had hydrocephalus, an excess of fluid on her brain. The hydrocephalus was caused by a bleed on the right side of her brain.
John Michael Thornell
Rogers
When John was just 20 weeks in-utero, his parents were told he had a condition known as hydrops fetalis. Ultrasounds showed that John had a sack of fluid around his heart, which was weakening the heart and causing it to fail.
Mallory Wooten
El Dorado
When Mallory was 6 months old, she began running a high fever. Her pediatrician thought she had an obstruction in her large intestine.
Jarrod Wylie
Leola
Jarrod was born with several heart defects which were treated successfully at ACH. As he grew older and returned to the hospital for check-ups, doctors noticed Jarrod’s aorta was enlarging.
Arkansas Children's Hospital, 1 Children’s Way, Little Rock, AR 72202-3591, (501) 364-1100 or TDD (501) 364-1184
