Blank Children's Hospital

11/21/2025

Meet Kinsley! This 5-year-old from Chariton is this week’s Blank Children’s Hospital Kid Captain for Iowa State Football.
Kinsley just wrapped up 2 and a half years of treatments for leukemia. She loves singing and dancing and plans to put on quite a show for the crowd at the game Saturday.
Go Kinsley!

11/19/2025

🌟 Safety Store Spotlight 🌟
Carbon monoxide is a silent danger — but protecting your family doesn’t have to be. The Hannah Geneser Learning Center & Safety Store
offers reliable carbon monoxide alarms to help keep your home and loved ones safe.

11/19/2025

🎶 It's tiiiiiiiiime......for Festival of Trees & Lights!

Our Child Life team is decking the halls with holiday cheer in preparation for the best time of the year! Join us November 28-30 for a weekend filled with festive fun. 🎅 🎄 ✨ Proceeds help this amazing team provide comfort and care to children in the hospital. 💙

🎟️ Learn more and buy tickets now: festivaloftrees.com

11/18/2025

Congratulations to our DAISY Award winner Saylor S., RN, from Pediatric ED at Blank Children’s Hospital who was recognized by a patient’s parent for compassionate care.

The nomination read, “When our son was rushed to Blank Children’s Hospital in severe pain and distress, we were overwhelmed and heartbroken watching him struggle. Nurse Saylor walked into the room, and in that instant, everything changed. With warmth, patience and calm confidence, she immediately recognized his fear and trauma from a recent hospitalization and knew exactly how to meet his needs. She brought in Child Life, advocated fiercely for interventions to ease both his pain and anxiety and gave him something he desperately needed in that moment—control. Her presence was steady, her smile genuine and her compassion unwavering. Because of Saylor, our son felt safe, heard and respected in one of his scariest moments and we felt seen and supported as parents. Saylor embodies everything that extraordinary nursing should be. We are profoundly grateful for Saylor’s care and for the difference she made in our son’s life.”

Amazing work, Saylor! 🌻

11/17/2025

Keeping your little one safe is our top priority. ByHeart Whole Nutrition powdered formula has issued a recall with a link to an outbreak of infant botulism. If you have this product, please stop using it immediately. If infant botulism is suspected, treatment should not be delayed.

Symptoms of infant botulism include constipation, poor feeding, loss of head control, and difficulty swallowing, which can progress to difficulty breathing and even respiratory arrest. Infant botulism, which is diagnosed clinically, can take as long as several weeks to develop following formula ingestion.

For the latest information and updates:

Do not use recalled ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula. FDA’s Investigation is ongoing.

11/16/2025

Festival of Trees & Lights is just around the corner! 🎄

Join us for a fun-filled weekend and experience the magic of the holidays with activities for the whole family to enjoy! 🎅 💕

All proceeds directly support patients and families at Blank Children's Hospital. 💙 Buy tickets today: festivaloftrees.com

11/14/2025

Some kids spend their holidays in the hospital. You can make those moments brighter. 🎄 ✨

When Marky was born, a healthy pregnancy suddenly turned into an emergency, leading to lifelong medical challenges. Marky’s first Christmas was spent at Blank Children’s Hospital. Donated gifts, a warm meal for family and a visit from Santa brought comfort and compassion in the middle of uncertainty. 💕

“When you donate, you are telling families like ours you support us and want to give our child the best chance to participate in life and all it has to offer,” says Kassi, Marky’s mom. “Thank you for giving my son a chance and for believing in him.”

Because of your generosity, children like Marky will experience comfort, joy and healing this holiday season. 💚 Give today to bring hope to patients at Blank Children’s Hospital: bit.ly/BCHholidayhope

11/13/2025

✨ Celebrating 20 Incredible Years ✨

Thank you, Iowa Realty, for 2 decades of impact as Presenting Sponsor of Festival of Trees & Lights. Your steadfast support has changed countless lives, ensuring children and their families receive the best care possible. As we take a walk down memory lane, your kindness, generosity and dedication shine bright! 🎄 💕

The compassionate care given to patients every day would not be possible without YOU. Cheers to 20 years! 🥳

11/10/2025

Shout out to a few of our Blank Children's NICU team members who volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, building a new deck for a Navy veteran in Des Moines! 💙

11/08/2025

🎄 ✨ It's the most magical time of the year! Join us at Festival of Trees & Lights for a weekend filled with celebration, family fun and community giving.

From November 28-30 you can experience 90 beautifully decorated trees, kids activities, treats, shopping, Santa and more! The best part? Every ticket helps fund programs like Child Life and the Center for Advocacy & Outreach, ensuring every child receives compassionate care. 💕

🎟 Buy your tickets now at festivaloftrees.com and bring joy and hope to children this holiday season!

11/06/2025

A young leukemia patient from Knoxville just wrapped up six long months at Blank Children’s Hospital. When Hazel’s family gathered to watch her ring the bell signifying the end of her treatment, she was also surrounded by her Blank family (both two and four-legged members).

11/06/2025

👕 💕 Celebrate the holidays in style with Festival of Trees & Lights apparel!

With multiple designs and styles to choose from, you are sure to find the perfect fit to spark holiday cheer. There are many ways to purchase apparel:

📱 Online at bit.ly/UPHapparel.
📍 In store at all UPH-DM Gift Shop locations.
🎄 At Festival of Trees & Lights November 28-30 at the Iowa Events Center.

Shop now to snag your favorite designs before they sell out! ✨