After suffering a spinal cord injury, James Leonard beat the odds and is back on the ski slopes, thanks to the Pediatric Neurosurgery Center at Dell Children's.

At 14, James Leonard lived to ski, competed in national championships and looked forward to a bright skiing future. In July 2007 while attending summer camp in Austin, he dove into a lake head first, colliding with a rock. He was air lifted to Dell Children's, where doctors discovered a spinal cord injury and feared he would remain a quadriplegic for the rest of his life. The same determination and drive James once used to succeed on the ski slopes was being used to fight a much more serious battle. Two weeks later, thanks to his spirit and the excellent care he and his family received through the Pediatric Neurosurgery Center and Dell Children's, James walked out of the medical center.

Established in 1992, the Cancer and Blood Disorders Program is a center of excellence specializing in the care of leukemias, brain tumors and other pediatric cancers, Sickle Cell Disease, Hemophilia, and other childhood blood disorders. Our health care team is comprised of experienced professionals who focus on addressing the emotions and concerns of the children and their families, while providing individualized, effective and progressive medical treatment. The crucial advantage of rapid diagnosis with access to the most modern treatments is available close to home for the children of Central Texas. In partnership with the Lance Armstrong Foundation, the LIVESTRONG Survivorship Center has been established to improve the health and well-being of childhood cancer survivors by promoting adherence to a schedule of follow-up appointments; providing referrals to specialists; offering psychosocial support groups; transitioning patients to adult care when they are ready; and educating patients, parents and healthcare professionals about the long-term effects of cancer treatment.

Patient Story

Carson Peal lives with Asperger syndrome and is thriving, thanks to The Texas Child Study Center at Dell Children's Medical Center.

Gail and Michael Peal appreciate unique qualities about their 15 year-old son, Carson, who has Asperger syndrome, a form of autism. He struggles to communicate his thoughts and has experienced a delay in growth and development, but despite his challenges, Carson thrives as a ninth grader and earns top grades.

Gail remembers little things about Carson as a baby, which left her uneasy. "He had problems breastfeeding and would not gaze into my eyes," she says. "By age two, he would make sounds, but didn't talk. Despite these developmental problems, Carson has exhibited real strengths: at age three, he started to read. He thinks outside the box and can solve problems because of his unique view of the world. His teachers and therapists discovered a spark deep down inside and by appreciating Carson's uniqueness, they are encouraging him to reach his fullest potential."

Trauma Services at Dell Children's Medical Center is designed to provide the Central Texas community with comprehensive health care services for the injured child.

What is Trauma Service?

Trauma Services is a multidisciplinary team of surgeons, nurse practitioners, nurses, registrars, social workers, child life specialists, injury prevention educators, therapists, researchers, and support staff who work together to care for children who have suffered a serious physical injury.

Patient Story

Rowan Sicola underwent delicate skull surgery at nine months of age – today he's a happy and healthy kid, thanks to the Craniofacial Team at Dell Children's.

Nicole Sicola sensed a problem with her 9 month-old baby, Rowan, when his head began to take on a strange shape. Normally babies are born with an opening in their skull (often called the "soft spot") that remains open long enough to give the brain room to grow. Rowan's opening had closed too early, and because his brain was growing rapidly, pressure was building and forcing his head to grow in an oblong shape. If he didn't undergo surgery, the shape of his head would grow to be dramatically abnormal with potential problems of pressure building in the brain, developmental delays or blindness.

After meeting with the Craniofacial Team, Rowan underwent a nine hour surgery so that doctors could create an opening in his skull to allow his brain room to grow. After five uncomfortable postoperative days with tubes coming out of his chest, head and arms, he returned home with an excellent prognosis. Rowan will continue to be monitored closely by the Craniofacial Team as his skull grows. Today he's three and a half and loves swimming, preschool and Transformers.