Family Advisory Board Members

My husband, Adam, and I have four children-Gracie, Trooper, Copan and Kipton. We own and operate 2A Cattle Company-an angus based cattle operation, as well as a row crop farming operation partnership with my husbands parents. We are proud and honored to be the recipients of the 2025 Missouri Angus Association’s Commercial Producer of the Year award. 

I joined FAB to be part of bridging the gap between patients and hospital leadership. To be a voice for the parents-of the good and the bad experiences, and to help make a difference to improve areas needing improvement and celebrate the areas that are doing amazing. Turners Syndrome, Stickler Syndrome, CSID, CVID and Juvenile Onset Parkinson’s Disease are among some of the many diagnosis that my family rely on Childrens Mercy for treatment. My children have been patients of Children’s Mercy Hospital for a span of 17 1/2 years. 

Harper and Laiken were born prematurely in 2013 and spent two months in the Children’s Mercy NICU. Harper suffered significant complications and underwent nine brain surgeries. Her primary diagnosis is cerebral palsy, but she has multiple medical issues. Harper was referred to the Beacon Program in 2014 and Laiken was diagnosed with autism in 2019 with the support of the Beacon Program and the division of Developmental and Behavioral Health.

I always enjoy educating new residents and graduate nurses during annual parent panels. These opportunities highlight the hospital’s commitment to constantly improving the patient and family experience.

I am very fortunate to contribute to the mission of the Family Advisory Board, working together with other families and the amazing leadership team at Children's Mercy to share my family's experiences and advocate on behalf of all parents, patients and families. 

My wife, Barb, and I are proud parents to Benji who was diagnosed, while still in utero, with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia. Benji continues to be cared for by an integrated team of specialists across the Children's Mercy network.

My wife and I have three beautiful daughters.  Our youngest, Annie, was diagnosed prenatally with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.  She was born in Children’s Mercy staying in the NICU and CICU.  After a couple of procedures, it was determined she needed a heart transplant.  She stayed in Children’s Mercy for 10 months until she received her new heart.  She continues to be seen by her wonderful cardiology team. 

 I am so grateful for the people at Children’s Mercy and for the opportunity to be a part of an organization that values families and their experiences. 

I am a semi-retired architect and full-time community volunteer. I am the proud father of three girls with my best friend and wife, Diane, who is also highly active in the Children’s Mercy family.

My love for Children’s Mercy grew from the care, support and love of my middle daughter, Elizabeth. Elizabeth passed away at the age of 19 from Angelman’s Syndrome and another undiagnosed genetic disorder. Her experience allowed me to share her voice.

In 2014, my son was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He underwent 3 ½ years of chemotherapy and other pediatric cancer treatments and continues to be seen by the wonderful people in the Hematology/Oncology Clinic.

I joined the Family Advisory Board in 2019 after looking for a way to give back to the organization that has been such a significant part of my family’s journey for the past seven years. I continue to be grateful for the opportunity to advocate for families and patients and contribute to such an extraordinary place.

In 2022, our world changed when my son Gabe was diagnosed with cancer at just two years old. What felt like our darkest hour was met with light through the excellent care and compassion we received at Children’s Mercy. The doctors, nurses, and staff became a lifeline for our family, carrying us through treatment and giving us strength when we had none. Gabe bravely completed his treatment in November 2024, and he continues to receive follow-up care in the Hematology/Oncology Clinic. 

My husband, Roman, and I are the Founders of and Pastor of Alive Church. When I asked God how I could give back to the place that gave us so much, He placed the Family Advisory Board on my heart. It is an honor to serve and to advocate for families who, like ours, need hope for the moment and faith for the future.

Our family consists of my husband, Pastor Roman D. Harris, our sons Roman Harris II and Donovan Harris, our daughters Niya Harris and Gabrielle Harris, and our braveheart miracle baby, Gabriel Harris.

My husband Mohammad and I have been blessed with five wonderful children. Over the years, we have been treated at many different clinics at Children's Mercy. The most challenging days for our family came in 2019 when our six-year-old daughter, Eman, was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. Children's Mercy took excellent care of our family and ultimately, we said goodbye to Eman 15 months after her diagnosis. 

It is my honor to be a member of the Family Advisory Board with the hope that I may play a part in facilitating a positive experience for other families seeking treatment at Children's Mercy.

I have been a member of FAB for seven years and continue to be so grateful for the opportunity. My involvement in FAB has allowed me to plug my passion for increasing access into a productive, receptive forum that is dedicated to improving care for all children.

I’ve participated in executive recruitment interviews, diversity and inclusion work groups, a strategic plan workgroup focused on access and navigation, and I am currently working with the Center for Family Connections.

My husband and I are proud parents of two incredible children we adopted from birth. Our son arrived seven weeks early, out of state, and required NICU care, while shortly thereafter, our daughter experienced a serious injury while in the care of friends. I flew back here to be with her, and during that stressful time, being states apart from my husband, the Children’s Mercy team cared for our daughter with incredible compassion, expertise, and reassurance.

That experience left a lasting impression, and I am honored to now contribute to Children’s Mercy’s mission, sharing my family’s experiences and advocating for the compassionate, high-quality care every patient deserves. As a Sustainability Program Manager in healthcare, I’m also committed to advancing safer alternatives for chemicals in medical products. Protecting our children and our planet isn’t just important, it’s essential. Our health, especially the health of the most vulnerable, is directly tied to the world we care for, and I am passionate about making a positive difference for both.

I have been a member of the Family Advisory Board for 5 years. Both of my kids have been patients at Children's Mercy, so when I had a chance to be a part of the board, I was excited to jump in.  I am also a member of the Mental Health PFAC. 

My son was born with a cleft lip and palate, and we spent a lot of time in the Craniofacial/Plastic Clinic. My daughter has been treated for scoliosis and some mental health challenges.   Both of our experiences have been fantastic and I'm so glad that we have such an outstanding children's hospital in the Kansas City Metro area.

My husband Nate, and I have been blessed with four beautiful children, Our oldest Caleb was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and Autism at the age of three here at Children's Mercy Hospital.

I've joined the Family Advisory Board to contribute to enhancing their services beyond just my family's experiences. With over 15 years of gratitude for the care we've received, I aim to help shape a better experience for all families who rely on this hospital.

As a member of the Family Advisory Board, Patient Experience Executive Steering Council, Hem/Onc/BMT Patient Family Advisory Council, and Patient Rights & Responsibilities Committee, I advocate for expert pediatric care in our community. It became my passion when my son, Buddy, was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor at six months old, resulting in multiple disabilities.

Our multi-disciplined Children’s Mercy team is dedicated to enabling Buddy to live his best life and equipping our family with information and resources to maximize his potential. Children’s Mercy has our back and it’s felt in every interaction. I want all families to feel that way.

My husband, Brian, and I have three children - Lilah, Ella and Carter. We fostered and adopted Lilah and Ella and both girls have been given a myriad of diagnoses throughout their lives. We have made Children's Mercy our daughters' specialty medical home and have greatly appreciated the excellent care they have received from all their doctors.

I joined FAB on 2021 and am so grateful for Children's Mercy's desire for family voices in their daily operations. Advocacy and family voice are incredibly important to me and I am thrilled to be serving on FAB with such a passionate group of parents and staff.

I'm a wife to Tony and mom to Caleb and Steven. I'm grateful to Children’s Mercy and their providers for helping take care of their boys' medical needs and providing them health answers they previously didn’t know due to their adoptions.

I'm an advocate at heart and want to see every child and family receive excellent medical care, such as my desire to serve on the Family Advisory Board. I also serve on many other councils and advisory boards at the county, state and national level.

My husband and I are blessed with four beautiful kids.  Our oldest son was born with aortic stenosis.  He has had several procedures, including open heart surgery at age 5.   Our youngest son was diagnosed with Hirschsprung's Disease at 18 months and has also undergone several procedures and surgeries.   He continues to have daily struggles and we are so grateful for the specialists at Children's Mercy who help us every step of the way.    

I joined FAB in 2023 because we have been on the receiving end of so many  children's hospitals, I was excited for the opportunity to give back and to be given a voice to help where I can.  

My journey with Children’s Mercy started when my son, Aamir, was four months old and finally diagnosed with a rare chromosomal abnormality. Over the next few years, I found my voice as his advocate and knew I could help others facing the same challenges.

My passion for health care and special needs advocacy led me to enter the medical field and serve as a proud member of Children’s Mercy’s Family Advisory Board, Beacon Patient & Family Advisory Council, and Parents as Educators Program. My husband I have six children who all use Children's Mercy for primary care and specialist services.

My husband, Chris, and I are the parents of three children, West, Miller and Wyatt. At four months, our oldest son became very ill. West was diagnosed by the Liver Care Center with a rare disease. The urgency and multidisciplinary approach provided by the team at Children's Mercy allowed West to make a full recovery. Five years later, little brother, Wyatt, was born with the same genetic recessive condition. 

Children's Mercy plays an important role in my sons living their best, healthiest life. I joined the FAB to give back to a hospital that has given my family so much and also to provide a louder voice for all rare disease families. 

My daughter, Leaya, has been receiving treatment at the orthopedic clinic at Children's Mercy since the age of 8 following a scoliosis diagnosis. It was later discovered that she has Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), leading us to seek care at four additional clinics on a regular basis.

I am motivated to join FAB to advocate for single mothers raising children with chronic illnesses, as well as to represent families of color facing similar challenges. Through my involvement with FAB, I aim to promote equity and inclusion in healthcare for children in the Kansas City area.