Clinical Care Impact

You make access to world-class pediatric care a reality

 

Your support of clinical care at Children’s Mercy ensures families like Frankie’s have access to expanding care in Springfield, Wichita and throughout the region. Your generosity helps kids heal close to home.

From Springfield to Kansas City with expert care

When Stevie was pregnant, she faced HELLP Syndrome — a severe type of preeclampsia that can cause significant danger for expectant moms. Because of this, Frankie was born at just 26 weeks – and 1.5 pounds in January of 2024.

Just a couple days after he was born, Frankie had a pulmonary hemorrhage in his lungs and his brain. His Springfield care team decided he needed to be transported to Children’s Mercy. Frankie was life-flighted to the Adele Hall campus – the only Level IV NICU in the region – while mom and dad drove to Kansas City.

“What would Dr. McNellis do?”

Once they arrived in Kansas City, Stevie and Josh had many conversations about complex care for Frankie with their neonatologist, Emily McNellis, MD.

Dr. McNellis said something to us that instilled so much peace and comfort. She said she would never do anything to put Frankie in harm’s way or cause him any pain, and that whatever situation came up, she would walk us through it. Dr. McNellis had such a profound impact on our lives. Even now, we still find ourselves asking, ‘What would Dr. McNellis do?’

Defying the odds

Frankie’s NICU stay lasted more than 200 days — so the whole family was full of relief when they were finally able to return home to Springfield.

They’re grateful to be able to access several of these teams through our satellite clinics in Springfield and via telemedicine when appropriate. “We’re excited for the growing options for us to get Frankie’s care closer to home,” Stevie said.

In November of 2025, Children’s Mercy and Mercy Springfield announced details of their transformative partnership that will bring expanded pediatric services to families from across southwest Missouri.

Because of your generosity, patients like Frankie have access to expert, compassionate care when they need it.

Wherever they are, Frankie’s family is confident that they’ll feel at home at Children’s Mercy for many years to come. “Children’s Mercy gave us a miracle that we never, ever expected,” Stevie said.

With your help, we're building a network of expert care

Your investment in world-class clinical care at Children’s Mercy reaches children from across the heartland, all 50 states and 17 countries each year.

You transform lives

Born amid the devastation of Syria’s civil war, Mohamed suffered a brain injury that led to him developing cerebral palsy. After years of limited mobility and surgeries across the Middle East, his family relocated to the U.S. in Kansas City, Children’s Mercy performed life-changing surgery, helping him walk, gain confidence and connect with friends — transforming his life.

*Statistics as of fiscal year 2025.