OriAnn

OriAnn Phillips was a young mother when she pulled her youngest child, Kace, as a toddler from the family pool. He was unresponsive, and she frantically performed CPR while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.  

And on the drive to Children’s Health^SM, he experienced multiple seizures.  

When they arrived at the Emergency Department, physicians told OriAnn her son, who she described as “full of life from the moment he was born,” had a 50/50 chance of survival.  

As a last resort, physicians advised putting Kace on a heart and lung bypass machine called extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) — a life support system for critically ill children who have life-threatening heart or lung problems. In the late 1980’s, this was new technology and very few hospitals had these massive machines on-site.  

But the device – that enveloped Kace in a forest of wires and beeping machines — was a huge part of saving his life.  

Aside from the clinical expertise, what OriAnn remembers most about the experience was the kindness team members showed her family.  

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When I walked into the ER, two staff members said, ‘Let’s get you in dry clothes. Even in the middle of an emergency, they noticed me, the mom. They cared about both of us. That’s the kind of place Children’s Health is.

— OriAnn

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Kace grew up to be a loving son, father, and husband. In 2023, at the age of 37, he passed away from glioblastoma. And throughout his life, OriAnn continued to support Children’s Health through steady monthly gifts that now add up to thousands of dollars in lifetime giving.  

More recently, she’s pledged a legacy gift to leave Children’s Health in her estate plans to support the future of Children’s Health and pediatric health care in North Texas, making care accessible for children now and for generations to come. 

Q: What does Children’s Health mean to you?   OriAnn: I have a profound sense of gratitude for the doctors and nurses at Children’s Health. They helped save my son’s life. I don’t know if Kace would have survived without them. Kace grew up to be creative and musical — music was like his middle name. He taught himself how to play the mandolin. He got to grow up, to be a dad, to have a family. Kace got 37 good years because of Children’s Health. And one of the biggest impacts you can make on society is to give back. 

You’ve supported Children’s Health for many years through a recurring gift. Why has giving back financially been important to you?    OriAnn: I’ve given a small amount for years and years. I never had a lot to give, but I gave what we could. For me, it was an important way to stay connected to Children’s Health. I knew that little amounts added up. And Kace lived to give back. 

What led you to include Children’s Health in your estate plans?  OriAnn: They gave me Kace’s life back. It felt like the least I could do. After everything Children’s Health gave me, I knew early on that I wanted them included in my estate plans. I don’t have millions to give, but I realized I could still make a difference. And I knew I wanted to help children and ensure they grow up to be healthy and have a future.  

Children’s Health is growing and building the new Dallas pediatric campus alongside UT Southwestern Medical Center. Why do we need a resource like this in our community?   OriAnn: Children’s Health is solely focused on the wellbeing of children. Everyone there cares so much. In the Jewish religion, we believe in tzedakah, which is our religious obligation to do what is right and just. In our tradition, giving back helps repair the world. And I feel like Children’s Health is all about that, repairing children and making it a better world for them.