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One Family, Two Children and a 16-Year Quest for Answers

November 23, 2021  |  General, Patient Stories Post Comment
A woman and a man standing next to each other in downtown Seattle.

In March 2020, Maleea (on left) and her brother Malachi started infusion treatments at Seattle Children’s every other week for a rare genetic condition, CLN2.

Sabrina and Reiff Castillote knew something was wrong with their daughter Maleea’s health when she was just 5 days old. Then, their 6-year-old son Malachi’s behavior became concerning.

For over 15 years, Sabrina and Reiff took their children to countless specialists, but they never received a clear diagnosis. “We were told our daughter was considered ‘failure to thrive,’ without any real answers to as to why,” Sabrina said. “Some providers thought Malachi might have autism and ataxia, but not all their symptoms lined up.”

Finally, in 2019, they got an answer.

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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at Seattle Children’s Through Art

October 16, 2021  |  General Post Comment

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Seattle Children’s Hola Inclusion Network, a group focused on improving connections and services with the Hispanic/Latinx community, invited workforce members, patient families and community members to share their perspectives and stories through art. We have the privilege of sharing the artists’ work.

Every year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, people around the country observe National Hispanic Heritage Month — a celebration of the histories, cultures and incredible contributions of Hispanic and Latinx peoples from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America.

This year, Seattle Children’s Hola Inclusion Network invited workforce members, patient families and community members to recognize and celebrate the month in a new way: a first-ever Hispanic Heritage Month art show. The Hola Inclusion Network provides advocacy for and builds community among Seattle Children’s Latinx/Hispanic workforce and allies. The network aims to create better connections within internal and external communities and improve services for Hispanic/Latinx patients and families. Read full post »

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month at Seattle Children’s Through Art

October 13, 2021  |  General Post Comment

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, Seattle Children’s Hola Inclusion Network, a group focused on improving connections and services with the Hispanic/Latinx community, invited workforce members, patient families and community members to share their perspectives and stories through art. We have the privilege of sharing the artists’ work.

A collage of two images used in the article.

Two of the entries from the Hispanic Heritage Month art show. See below to view these and other art show pieces and learn about the artists.

Every year from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15, people around the country observe National Hispanic Heritage Month — a celebration of the histories, cultures and incredible contributions of Hispanic and Latinx peoples from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and South America.

This year, Seattle Children’s Hola Inclusion Network invited workforce members, patient families and community members to recognize and celebrate the month in a new way: a first-ever Hispanic Heritage Month art show. The Hola Inclusion Network provides advocacy for and builds community among Seattle Children’s Latinx/Hispanic workforce and allies. The network aims to create better connections within internal and external communities and improve services for Hispanic/Latinx patients and families.

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How a “Kid at Heart” Surgeon Created Seattle Children’s Hospital on Minecraft

September 10, 2021  |  Media and Technology, Patient Care Post Comment

“Before COVID-19 restrictions, patients facing surgery were given the opportunity to tour the hospital with their families ahead of time to help ease the nerves and to become comfortable with the process. Since that option became unavailable, Dr.  Henry Ou took it upon himself to create a virtual tour that a kid can walk through on Minecraft! In their world! It is very impressive, and you can tell he has spent a lot of time and effort perfecting it for the kiddos.” — Mariette Broncheau, partner employee — Research

As a self-described “kid at heart,” Dr. Henry Ou said he’s got a good sense for how patients may be feeling, including what they’re interested in and which situations may be scary for them. When the pandemic struck and hospital visitation had to be limited, Ou used his kid-like perspective to accomplish a task very different than his usual surgical case — creating a Minecraft version of the hospital.

Minecraft is a video game that allows players to virtually explore a 3D world with different terrain and environments to accomplish various tasks or missions — a virtual LEGO world of sorts. Over the past 18 months, Dr. Ou has taken thousands of videos and photographs around the hospital and spent hundreds of hours during his personal time designing a Minecraft version of the hospital building.

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How Two Seattle Children’s Nurses’ Personal and Professional Experiences Motivate Them to Tackle Inequity

March 22, 2021  |  General Post Comment

Nurses Genevieve Aguilar (left) and Mari Moore (right) serve as facilitators for Seattle Children’s equity, diversity and inclusion training for nurses.

Seattle Children’s nurses Genevieve Aguilar and Mari Moore share their perspective on equity and inclusion in the workplace, why they’re engaged with Seattle Children’s journey toward anti-racism, and about their roles as facilitators for Seattle Children’s equity, diversity and inclusion training.

Seattle Children’s nurses Genevieve Aguilar, a Medical Unit team member, and Mari Moore, a unit based educator in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), have lived and witnessed firsthand the experiences of Seattle Children’s patients and workforce members who are Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC).

Here, Aguilar and Moore share their perspectives on equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the workplace, why they’re engaged with Seattle Children’s journey toward becoming an anti-racist organization, and about their roles as facilitators for Seattle Children’s EDI training for nurses. Read full post »

How the OBCC Team Is Stepping Up, and Out, to Help During the Pandemic

February 16, 2021  |  Patient Care, Philanthropy Post Comment

Zenashe (pictured on left) and her two children pick up food and other supplies at one of the Seattle Children’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic pickup locations in August.

When the economic and social impacts of the coronavirus pandemic began taking root in early spring 2020, the team at Seattle Children’s Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic (OBCC) immediately anticipated the devastation and hardship it would bring.

“From the start, we recognized that the families we serve were being disproportionally negatively impacted by the virus itself, and its effects,” said Arlesia Bailey, senior director of community health and development at OBCC.

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