Open Soon! continued
e’re welcoming new pediatric specialists, superior
technology, and expanded facilities to allow us to deliver
the highest-quality care to children, in a loving and
supportive environment.
As the fresh paint dries and the child-sized equipment is put in
place, we want to thank everyone who has been generous of heart,
from your time to your treasure. As we count the days to when the
W
Children’s Hospital at Scott & White opens its doors, we’re
reminded of how hope and the healing work of Scott & White
caregivers make all the difference to young patients, like Elizabeth
and Dustin, whom you’ll meet on these pages. They are two reasons
why our pediatric team is dedicated to protecting and improving
the health of all children. Please visit www.foundation.sw.org to
learn how you can become involved or make a gift.
ELIZABETH JENNER, AGE 5
stay in the hospital—which included
a basket of toys to play with and fun
with child life specialists—Elizabeth
was ready to go home. “We’re grateful
Scott & White knew about this disease
and could help our daughter,” says
Mrs. Jenner. Elizabeth now takes
thyroid medication daily to replace
the gland’s function.
It was literally a lump in the throat,
after Terri Jenner’s father’s death
that began her family’s journey of
understanding and managing the
thyroid disease they had inherited.
It’s called multiple endocrine neoplasia
(MEN), an extremely rare condition
that causes thyroid cancer if it isn’t
diagnosed and treated early. When
Mrs. Jenner learned she was pregnant,
she and her husband, Army Specialist
Thomas Jenner, Jr., were concerned
that their child might carry the gene
that signals MEN. When baby Elizabeth
arrived, she was tested at Scott &
White. The test turned up positive
for MEN Type 2A.
Terry Lairmore, MD, a surgical
oncologist at Scott & White, is one of
the world’s foremost authorities on the
genetic disorder. He participated in the
initial groundwork to identify the MEN
gene two decades ago while he was
at Washington University in St. Louis,
Missouri. Dr. Lairmore collaborated
with Bill Bryant, MD, a pediatric
endocrinologist at Scott & White,
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THE CATALYST Summer/Fall 11 | www.sw.org
“Children who inherit the gene have
a 100 percent chance of developing
cancer,” says Dr. Lairmore. “MEN is a
great example of a genetic disease in
which we can change that course, with
early testing for changes in a child’s
DNA and intervention to prevent cancer
from developing and spreading to the
lymph nodes.”
and Danny Little, MD, chief of the
Section of Pediatric Surgery, on
Elizabeth’s care. After surgery to
remove her thyroid and an overnight
Endocrinology fellow Cortney Y.
Lee, MD, also played a key role in
Elizabeth’s recovery, by drawing the
shy little girl out of her shell and
bringing a sparkle to her eyes. “We all
think Elizabeth is a real sweetheart,”
says Dr. Lairmore. “She’s a brave
little girl.”