Riley Children's Health

12/31/2025

The Riley NICU babies are ringing in the New Year with extra cuteness for 2026! 💖
Their resolutions include more snuggles, more milk, and bringing endless joy for all of those around them. ✨

📸: NICU Nest™

12/29/2025

Every day, healthcare professionals make decisions rooted in one guiding principle: delivering the best care for every patient. Thank you for your expertise, compassion, and unwavering commitment to excellence. It makes all the difference.

12/27/2025

A cry or a smile is one of the first ways your baby communicates their feelings to you. It can also be the first time parents notice issues in their child’s facial muscles.

Your baby’s first smile is a big moment. It can also reveal problems with your child’s facial muscles. Learn how facial paralysis is treated in children.

12/24/2025

Please join us in showing appreciation for every healthcare hero who brings compassion and dedication to work each day. Their steadfast commitment to caring for our community, even in the toughest moments, doesn't go unnoticed. The exceptional care they provide truly changes lives.

12/23/2025

Henry Hinson wasn't able to throw an "Eras Tour" documentary watch party at home, so the party came to him.
~via Today Show

Henry Hinson wasn't able to throw an "Eras Tour" documentary watch party at home, so the party came to him.

12/22/2025

Alfie, Holly, Jingle, Jangle, and their fellow elves have certainly enjoyed spending time at Riley Hospital for Children this holiday season! With just a few days left before Christmas, they are excited to tell Santa that every child at Riley is wonderful. 🎄🎅🎁

12/22/2025

Katie and Jeremy Whetstone bring a little Christmas spirit in the form of music to their 8-week-old daughter, Hope, in the NICU at Riley Hospital for Children.

12/22/2025

Kolton (Zainey) Ragonesi celebrated his first birthday Dec. 8, and the plan was for him to be discharged that day to go home for the first time in his young life. Things took a turn for the little guy, so his departure from Riley Hospital for Children had to wait a week, but his parents are no less thrilled to have their son home for Christmas. Christian Ragonesi and Tori Zainey have been by Kolton’s side since he was transferred to Riley in February from a Northside hospital, where he spent the first two months of his life. Born at just 22 weeks, he weighed 1 pound, 4 ounces and “has had a roller coaster of a time,” his mom said. Now a chunky 19 pounds with rosy cheeks, he’s dealing with typical health problems associated with preemies, including underdeveloped lungs, so he’s going home with a trach, vent and G-tube. The little family said goodbye to their Riley family Wednesday, headed home to Fortville, where Kolton’s nursery is decorated in a jungle theme. “We’re feeling so happy and grateful that we finally made it home after so much uncertainty throughout his journey,” Zainey said. “It’s definitely scary and intimidating, but we’ll figure it out day by day.”
--mgilmer1@iuhealth.org

12/20/2025

Jingle bells attached to Santa Claus’ boots gave Riley Hospital for Children patients a little advance notice of his visit Thursday afternoon. Some patients and their families heard the jingling and waited by their doors to see their North Pole guest. Others received a knock at their door and were greeted by their jovial visitor. Santa helped spread some holiday cheer by talking with the children and sharing gifts with them. And despite his busy holiday schedule he was able to visit Riley patients three days this week. Special thanks to Santa and the Child Life team for raising holiday spirits throughout Riley Hospital.

12/19/2025

Gus, one of the doggy volunteers at Riley Children's Health, delighted 9-year-old Amelia this week on 3 West as she awaits a heart transplant. Amelia's been inpatient since September, so she and her mom appreciated these moments of holiday cheer. 🎅🎄

Amelia misses her cats and dog at home so visits from the therapy dogs always put a smile on her face. 🐾🐕🐈

12/18/2025

Of course Abbie Pyle and her husband, Spencer, wish they were not spending their baby's first Christmas inside Riley Hospital for Children, yet they are also grateful.

"We have a Christmas tree that was donated to us which was so nice," Pyle said. "We're just planning to come in. We're going to do a little Christmas photo shoot this weekend. We're just going to rock it because I'm just happy she's here, we're just happy she's here."

Paige was born at a hospital in Newburgh at 24 weeks and 2 days. She was eventually transported to Riley Hospital for Children when she was 36 days old.

"I cannot thank Riley enough for this," Pyle said. "We had gotten second opinions from other hospitals and they're like, she's not in good shape. She's got crappy lungs, but Riley's just fought for her. It has not been sunshine and roses at all. It has been hard. And there have been a lot of why us? Why here? She doesn't deserve any of this. It's been a lot of emotional acceptance."

While Paige has a long road ahead, her parents are completely committed to walking alongside her.

Full story: https://tinyurl.com/2tvxue6t

12/17/2025

Maycie Collman Boyd turned 100 days old Dec. 6, so her mom, Hannah Collman, decided to have some fun with her. “I always see kids dressing up like old people for the 100th day of school, and Maycie was coming up on her 100 days in the NICU, so I dressed her up like an old lady,” said Collman, who used fluffy cotton balls for her little girl’s hair and added wire-rimmed spectacles on her tiny face. She completed the look with a pale pink cardigan over a flower-print dress, with Maycie clutching a candy cane for a cane. This week, Maycie had another photo shoot with special guests Santa and Mrs. Claus. Maycie has been in the Simon Family Tower NICU at Riley Hospital for Children since Oct. 6, but she spent a month before that at Deaconess Hospital in Evansville, where she was born at 26 weeks due to a diagnosis of life-threatening pre-eclampsia in her mom. As a result of her pre-term birth, Maycie suffers from BPD (bronchopulmonary dysplasia), a chronic lung disease caused by underdeveloped lungs. Collman is grateful to be able to work remotely in Indianapolis while her daughter is in the NICU. Her husband, Mark, comes up from their home in Princeton, Indiana, to visit on weekends.
--mgilmer1@iuhealth.org