Hallie

Hallie is 8 years old and has never met a stranger. A third grader with a big personality, she is the kind of kid who lights up the room when she enters it. Between soccer, basketball, softball, and volleyball, Hallie is a busy girl. She can often be found singing Taylor Swift at the top of her lungs, adores her little brother and dogs, and enjoys spending time at school with friends.

So, in early 2025 when Hallie began complaining of a stomachache every morning, her mom began wondering if a school or friend issue was the trigger—but everything seemed normal. A short time later, Hallie came down with influenza and when she returned to school her teacher reached out to Hallie’s parents with concerns she wasn’t acting like herself. A visit to the pediatrician and the tests that followed proved to be inconclusive. Hallie’s parents and medical team were stumped. She was referred to a specialist and Hallie was tested for various food allergies, chronic gastrointestinal diseases, pancreas function, and more, and the only thing they determined was that her iron level was low and she was dehydrated. When Hallie began vomiting shortly after this checkup, more tests were conducted and the panel confirmed that she had norovirus, which seemed to explain her symptoms.

Things were starting to make sense, but when Hallie was still refusing to eat after a week home sick, her parents decided it was time to take her to the Emergency Department at another BJC hospital where a CT scan revealed a very large bowel obstruction. Hallie was immediately transported by a mobile intensive care unit to St. Louis Children’s where surgeons removed a 21-inch trichobezoar, a blockage composed primarily of hair. Her family was shocked since they never saw her chew on her hair. By the time she underwent surgery, her intestines had begun twisting, making the situation even more urgent. A 10-day hospital stay followed, which included a PICC line, which allows for constant medication, and an NG tube for nutrition because she could not eat by mouth. During her months of recovery, Hallie also endured a severely infected incision that required additional medical visits, and discussions with a psychologist who determined Hallie was most likely unconsciously eating her hair in her sleep when no one was watching.

Even through all the hard days, Hallie’s spirit continued to shine through. Nurses and therapists became trusted friends who held her hand through medicated and painful dressing changes. Slime, bingo, and scavenger hunts with Child Life Services motivated her to get out of bed. Hallie is now back to her old self hanging with her besties and her mom says that Hallie remarkably has no fear of hospitals and she only talks about the laughter during her experience.

How CMN Funds help Hallie and Kids Like Her:

For Hallie’s mom, who was finishing her own treatment for breast cancer at the time, the care extended beyond her daughter. The Center for Families provided a space to shower. Caregiver meals eased daily stress, and every detail reinforced what Hallie’s parents already suspected, that kids really are the center of everything at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.