Grace's Story

When someone's child is sick enough to be in the hospital, parents want the facility to have the latest equipment, the most knowledgeable people and the best resources possible. One way hospitals can do that is through an organization called the Children's Miracle Network.

Six-year-old Grace Callahan is an old-hand at medical procedures. "Maybe, I want to be a nurse when I grow up," said Callahan.

Callahan was born with cardiomyopathy, a disease that progressively weakens the heart muscle. Due to the condition, Callahan is a patient at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta at waiting for a heart transplant.

Spending a month in the hospital is tough. "We have good days and bad days, good moments and bad moments in the hospital," said Callahan's mother, Audrey.

There are several people that can help with that hospital stay.

Stephanie Dill is a child life specialist who's been with Grace Callahan since the beginning of her hospital stay.

"She was just so anxious when she first got here," said Dill.

The child life specialist program was started with money from the Children's Miracle Network, which is a nationwide organization that works on a local level. All of the funds raised in north Georgia benefit the three hospitals that make up Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.

Specialists like Dill help children become familiar with medical procedures they have to go through.

"One of grace's biggest fears is needles, she hates needles," said Dill.

So Callahan gets a chance to use a real needle and a real IV line on a doll.

Callahan is on the organ donor waiting list, so a heart could come at any moment and she's got to be ready.

When the moment comes for Callahan to be wheeled into the operating room, Dill will be right there with her.

"You can imagine that operating room, so much equipment and so many scary looking things there, it's nice to have somebody there you know," said Dill.

Dill said it is all important that Callahan understand what to expect after she gets her new heart.

"After surgery, they wake up with lots of lines and tubes and bandage and pain, and I want to be able to talk to them so it's not as scary when they wake up," said Dill.

For now, Callahan and her family have the tough task of waiting, but having a bedside buddy helps.