Promise: Summer 2023

This issue is full inspiring stories of hope, generosity, kindness and imagination from our staff, donors and patients. Read more to learn how your donations are making a big impact on patient care, especially for one special patient, Ever.

Download the digital version

I hope summer has you welcoming a slower pace, more time with friends and family and a few fun adventures.

It seems that each new season at Cook Children’s, and each new issue of Promise, brings a fresh batch of inspiring stories of hope, generosity, kindness and imagination from our staff, donors and patients.

Because summer is a time for celebrating dads, I’m particularly excited to share the story of Darrius Hamilton on page 9. As a father myself, I understand the desire to give your kids the very best. So I’m inspired by dads like Darrius, who sacrificed so much to make sure his son received the best medical care available. Now he’s making sure other kids have access to the same by raising money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, which include Cook Children’s.

This issue is full of grateful patient families and their personal connections to our Promise, as well as ways that donations are directly impacting patient care. In addition to parents like Darrius, those donations come from businesses, like Michael Walker Construction and Twisted X footwear company, patients like Lilli Williams, and friends of Cook Children’s like Drs. Leena and Nick Shroff. Their generosity perfectly reflects our values and keeps us humbly connected to why we do what we do.

Take Lilli, for example, who is featured on page 15. She’s a softball player making winning plays both on and off the field. Not only did Lilli beat cancer, but she went on to become a patient ambassador and young philanthropist to help other kids facing similar battles. She’s headed to college this fall to play softball at the University of Arkansas Rich Mountain. No doubt all of her doctors, nurses and caregivers will be cheering her on through this next monumental life chapter. I know we’re in TCU territory, but just for Lilli, “Go Bucks!”

After retirement, Drs. Leena and Nick Shroff moved from West Texas to make Plano their home. They generously and intentionally made a gift to our surgery center in Prosper, all in support of the families in their new community. We are honored to be entrusted with their gift and to continue their life’s work of helping others.

Our employees are donors, too, and help to fund the very supplies and resources they use in patient care. When you read about how their gifts to the Cook Children’s Employees Care program are helping to keep our patients safe and comfortable, you’ll be as proud to be a part of the Cook Children’s family as I am.

And you are a part of our family. It’s thanks to you and your support that all of this is possible. These stories belong to you, too. We hope that you will treasure them as much as we do, and share them with your friends and family. Thank you for believing in our Promise.

With gratitude,

Rick W. Merrill
President and CEO
Cook Children’s
Health Care System

Download the digital version