Golisano Children's Hospital at UVM Health

01/29/2026

“Recent national events have caused fear, anger and uncertainty for many in our community. Our commitment to being a safe, welcoming place is unwavering. Please know that we will continue to prioritize and uphold the rights and well‑being of all who seek care here and work here.”

Stephen Leffler, MD
UVM Health CEO

01/28/2026

Eight hours of surgery. Months of rehab. One determined teenager.

After a complex brain operation and intensive recovery, Kian Ruid had to relearn how to walk—driven by one goal: getting back on the ice.

“I underestimated how difficult it would be,” Kian says. “Relearning to walk is a whole different thing. But I was determined to play hockey again.”

Nine months later, he made his high school varsity hockey team at CVU. Today, he’s playing the sport he loves and thinking about a future in neuroscience.

“He’s an incredibly hard worker,” says Allie Triola, a neurologic specialist who has been Kian’s constant companion in physical therapy. “His recovery has been absolutely amazing.”

We’re so thrilled to see Kian back on the ice!

🔗 Read Kian’s full story in the comments.

01/25/2026

At 14, Kian Ruid was hit with debilitating headaches - and an MRI revealed a rare brain AVM that made urgent surgery necessary. Hear how he made a remarkable recovery and returned to hockey just nine months later, plus insights from Vermont’s only pediatric neurosurgeon, Dr. Katrina Ducis.

🎧 Listen to the Podcast
(link in comments)

~~~

Living Healthy Together Podcast

Episode 20 | Untangled: How Vermont’s Only Pediatric Neurosurgeon Helps Young Brains Overcome Big Challenges

Real stories. Real care. Real impact.

01/21/2026

Brain Surgery. Big Comeback.

At 14, severe headaches brought Vermont athlete Kian Ruid to a breaking point. An MRI revealed a rare and dangerous brain abnormality—an arteriovenous malformation (AVM)—lodged near the motor center of his brain.

With the risk of a potentially deadly rupture steadily increasing as Kian grew older, doing nothing wasn’t an option. But surgery could mean a permanent loss of movement.

“It wasn’t until I spoke with Katrina that I started to think, we’re going to get through this,” said Kian’s mom, Rebecca.

Kian’s family placed their trust in Dr. Katrina Ducis—the only pediatric neurosurgeon in Vermont—and a team prepared to take on one of the most complex challenges in neurosurgery.

👉 Next: what happened in the operating room—and beyond. Link to story in the comments.

01/20/2026

01/14/2026

Every parent wants to keep their child healthy through virus season. This year, protection matters even more: RSV, flu and COVID-19 continue to cause serious illness in young children, especially infants.

Weston Bird was only 4 months old when RSV nearly took his life. He spent more than four weeks in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit at Golisano Children’s Hospital at UVM Health, much of it on a ventilator.
Today, he is a joyful 7-year-old who loves Nerf battles and making his classmates laugh. But his story is a reminder of how serious these viruses can be.

The good news is that we have strong tools to help keep kids safer. And it’s not too late to get essential vaccinations!

Flu and COVID-19 vaccines are recommended by the American Academy of Family Physicians for children six months and older, and infants can receive an RSV antibody shot that helps prevent severe disease. These steps make a real difference for the youngest and most vulnerable. 💚

Rebecca Bell, MD, pediatric critical care physician, shares why the RSV vaccine matters for kids, families and our community.

Find out where your child can get recommended vaccines by checking our link in the comments.

01/11/2026

What helps a child feel safe before a medical procedure?

At Golisano Children’s Hospital at UVM Health, families like Alexa’s are finding support in The Comfort Zone - a personalized space designed to ease fear and build trust before care begins.

In this podcast, clinicians and Child Life Specialists share how thoughtful preparation, communication and comfort can make a real difference for children and families - in medical settings and beyond.

👉 Listen to the podcast. Link in the comments.

~Real stories. Real care. Real impact. ~
Living Healthy Together | Into the Comfort Zone: Reducing Fear for Pediatric Patients

01/08/2026

You Can Go Home Again

Megan Prue, MD, grew up in Vermont’s rural Northeast Kingdom, dreaming of becoming a doctor and helping others.

At a time when many medical students choose specialized practices in urban areas, Dr. Prue found a different path – one that led her back to the same pediatric clinic where she had been a patient.

“This was my dream, but I never thought it would be possible – at least, not right away,” Dr. Prue says.

Read more about her journey at the link in the comments.

12/23/2025

🌼 DAISY Award Winner! This one caught ICU nurse Alex Graves by surprise 😀

Alex was nominated by an appreciative colleague, who wrote:

"Not all angels have wings - some wear a name badge, scrubs and answer call bells.

🪽 Alex was the nurse that tended to my patient in their final moments of life with reverence, tenderness and grace. In every gesture, she honored their life...From one nurse to another, I can't explain the gratitude and respect I have for Alex...Watching her care for [her patient] reminded me of the “why” we became nurses, why we do this. Why presence matters. Why compassion is its own kind of medicine.

The DAISY Award doesn't begin to measure what you gave that day... But it's a small way to say: I see you. I admire you. I respect you. And I am so deeply grateful for you and the work that you continue to do.

Thank you."

12/23/2025

🩵 A Special Tribute 🙏

Visitors to our Children’s Specialty Center might notice a new mural featuring our mascot, Monty the Moose, as a captain with a crew of lounging cats on a ship called the “SA Victory.”

This colorful artwork is a heartfelt tribute to Sue Victory, a longtime champion of children and families at Golisano Children’s Hospital at UVM Health, who passed away in August.

Sue devoted more than four decades to supporting local health care, starting in 1969. She eventually became senior administrative coordinator for our Children’s Hospital, where she was instrumental in shaping the spaces and programs that define us today.

There was no one more committed than Sue, and there was no job she would not take on when asked. Sue was front and center for renovations and new spaces, including the Children’s Specialty Center. She even helped create Monty.

Sue was known for her warmth; her sense of fairness and fun; and her deep love for cats (hence their cameo in the mural!). She was a friend, a mentor and an advocate for family centered care. She served on boards like KidSafe Collaborative and Ronald McDonald House, and she tirelessly connected our hospital to the community.

After Sue retired in 2021, she continued to help with special Children’s Hospital projects. When asked why, she replied, “Because I care.”

💙 Thank you, Sue, for caring so much, and for leaving a lasting mark on everyone who was fortunate to know you, work with you and learn from you.

12/22/2025

♥️ Meet Baldr! 🐾 🐾

Together with his owner, Michelle Carroll, they're the leading team behind PAWS, a grant-funded program designed to support the wellbeing of our health care staff through the healing presence of therapy dogs.

The PAWS Program encourages staff members to work with their own dogs to become certified through Therapy Dogs of Vermont, allowing them to return to the workplace as volunteer therapy dog handler teams.

Many more therapy dogs are on the way, courtesy of PAWS!

12/20/2025

The holidays are joyful, but they’re also busy. Small oversights can turn into big health emergencies.

Our emergency care experts recommend planning ahead:

✔️ Child-proof your home when hosting families. Secure medications and other hazards.

✔️ Stock up on medications before holiday closures.

✔️ Know when to call your doctor vs. visit the ER - especially if you’re under specialty care.

See all 7 expert tips to keep your holidays safe. 🔗 Link in the comments.