La Rabida Children's Hospital

Nevaeh has a playlist she listens to after her visits to La Rabida. The Beatles are her favorite band. When she listens to the songs, she feels calm and like she can take on the world.

Her grandmother, Gloria, sees this side of Nevaeh after her weekly appointment with Dr. Guadalupe Barrios, one of our pediatric psychologists.

“She goes in, and you can tell; she feels comfortable talking about her feelings and what’s going on in her mind,” says Gloria. “It's so good for her because she comes out as the best version of herself.”

In this month’s edition of Currents, read about Nevaeh’s healing journey with the support of our behavioral health team.

Read more: https://larabida.org/support-brings-healing-and-harmony/

Every day, our pediatric experts care for brave children and families facing complex, chronic, and critical illnesses.

Last week, we brought their voices and stories to the state capitol in Springfield for the Illinois Health and Hospital Association Advocacy Day.

La Rabida President & CEO, Dr. Rolla T. Sweis, and Director of Outreach and Business Development, Amy Lulich, met with colleagues from Illinois Health and Hospital Association, and elected officials, including Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr., to advocate for critical Medicaid funding that sustains safety-net hospitals and protects access to care for communities who need it most.

Tools and accurate testing are the differences that help our patients breathe easier.

This week, Sherry, NP; Lorian, RN, MSN, NCM; Lisa, RN, BSN, NCM; and Mindy, RN, MSN, NC, specialists in our Asthma Clinic, presented successful patient outcomes using spirometry testing at the World Asthma Day conference hosted by the Chicago Asthma Consortium.

Spirometry testing is a tool that assesses lung function, which helps our pulmonologists create an action plan to empower our patients to take control of their Asthma.

While it may look like data and numbers, it represents La Rabida's commitment to innovation and best-in-class care, as well as the patients who have learned to manage their condition or mitigate the impact of environmental triggers on their breathing.

Congratulations to the team on winning recognition at the 2026 Chicago Asthma Consortium Poster Session for outstanding presentation and contribution.

Thank you, American Lung Association, for your support!