The Power of Hope

North Texas family finds hope after son is diagnosed with rare, life-threatening fetal condition

What began as a routine 20-week ultrasound quickly turned into a life-altering moment for Melanie and Andy Allen. Their unborn son, Link, was diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). CDH is a rare condition in which a hole in the diaphragm allows abdominal organs to move into the chest, limiting the unborn baby’s lung development.

In Link’s case, the diagnosis was severe. Link’s parents had been told that the entire left side of their son's diaphragm was missing, which caused his stomach and other organs to shift into his chest, pushing his heart and lungs aside. The family’s local care team informed them that even with surgery, Link’s chances of survival were only 50-50.

Determined to explore every possible option, the Allens searched for a medical center with deep experience in treating complex fetal conditions. That search led them to Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, home to a nationally recognized program for CDH and other high-risk fetal diagnoses.

$Children\u2019s Memorial Hermann Hospital$

Photo courtesy of Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital

Meet Link Allen

The CDH program at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital takes a multidisciplinary approach for both prenatal and postnatal care and treatment, with affiliated UTHealth Houston physicians delivering highly specialized fetal care at The Fetal Center at Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital.

The Fetal Center is recognized nationally as a leader in fetal care and interventions for infants with complex issues. For care and treatment after delivery and beyond, the affiliated pediatric surgery team provides specialized CDH postnatal surgery, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) management and follow-up care.

Melanie’s doctor referred the couple to Matthew Harting, MD, associate professor of Pediatric Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston and an affiliated pediatric surgeon at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. Andy recalled his surprise and gratitude when Dr. Harting personally called his cell phone the same day he submitted an online inquiry. This direct and accessible approach helped persuade the family to travel to Houston.

Soon after, Andy and Melanie met with the multidisciplinary team, including Dr. Harting and Anthony Johnson, DO, professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at UTHealth Houston and co-director of The Fetal Center. Together, they outlined a coordinated care plan for Melanie and Link. Among the options discussed was fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO), an advanced prenatal procedure to help stimulate lung growth in utero.

Given the complexity of Link’s condition, the team planned carefully. Dr. Johnson explained that due to how underdeveloped Link’s lungs were, they anticipated he would face significant respiratory challenges immediately after birth and would likely require ECMO, a form of heart-lung life support.

Andy admitted the family was initially hesitant about the FETO procedure. They were mindful of the risks, which the doctors explained thoroughly. After careful consideration, the Allens decided to temporarily relocate to Houston for the procedure and the remainder of Melanie’s pregnancy.

When Melanie delivered at 36 weeks, the team was prepared. Link required immediate support, including ECMO, to allow his lungs time to function. Dr. Harting later performed a complex operation to reposition Link’s organs and reconstruct his diaphragm, a critical step in his recovery. Link then spent 63 days in the hospital’s Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), guided by a coordinated team of specialists.

Today, Link is a thriving, energetic toddler. For the Allens, the experience highlighted the importance of specialized, team-based care. Andy expressed his confidence in their decision, noting that the team was prepared for every contingency and knew exactly what to do at each turn, which gave them assurance that Link was in the best possible hands.

Learn more about congenital diaphragmatic hernia care at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital .

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bowled over

Houston artist dishes on Food Bank fundraiser happening this weekend

Picture of several artists at a table with a bunch of handmade ceramic bowls.

Photo courtesy Paula Murphy

Ceramics professor Cori Cryer and her students from Lone Star College Kingwood and the bowls they donated to the 20th Empty Bowls fundraiser

On Saturday, May 16, shoppers have an opportunity to feed those in need by purchasing unique, handcrafted items. The 20th Empty Bowls event takes place at Silver Street Studios at Sawyer Yards from 10 am to 3 pm. A preview party takes place on Friday, May 15 from 6-8 pm (buy tickets here).

The fundraiser is a collaboration between Houston-area ceramists, woodturners, and artists working in all media and Silver Street Studios.

Shoppers can purchase one-of-a-kind bowls for $25 each (larger bowls are priced accordingly). A simple lunch from Salata, a sweet treat from Ben & Jerry’s, and iced coffee from Katz Coffee is served until it runs out. Every dollar of the purchases goes to the Houston Food Bank, which estimates that for every dollar donated, it’s able to provide three meals to Houstonians in need. Since its inception, Empty Bowls Houston has raised $1,208,959 for the Houston Food Bank, which equates to more than 3.6 million meals.

The event also includes live music and art demos. More than 2,000 bowls will be available for purchase, donated by area artists.

Empty Bowls began as a grassroots effort started many years ago at a high school in Michigan and is now held all over the world. Nearly everything for Empty Bowls events, from the food served to the venues hosting events and the bowls for sale are donated.

Cori Cryer, a professor of ceramics at Lone Star College Kingwood, is one of those who, along with her students, donated bowls for the fundraiser. She’s been involved with the effort for all of its 20 years in Houston, and before that in other cities.

“When I started donating, I didn't have a whole lot of money,” Cryer tells CultureMap. “I was a graduate student, and so this was a way for me to give back to the local community. And I think my students today kind of recognize that same feel. You know, they may not have money to send a check off to someone, [but this is] an easy way for them to be able to contribute to the community.”

Cryer teaches Ceramics I and Ceramics II to a variety of dual-credit high school students, college students, and continuing education students. Those in her Ceramics II classes are required to create five bowls to donate to Empty Bowls. But her students in her introductory class often end up donating as well. This year, she and her students provided approximately 150 bowls for the event.

Cryer said that the style of bowls for sale range from something as small as a condiment bowl to much larger serving bowls As each bowl is an individual work, they represent a variety of styles and themes. One of her students this year designed a glazed, ceramic leaf-shaped bowl with ceramic insects on it.

“There's a ladybug and a caterpillar and a spider,” she says, each created out of clay and positioned around the bowl.

Cryer loves seeing how the artists use their imaginations and abilities.

“Most of my students do throw their bowls on the pottery wheel, but that's not required,” she says. “They can hand-build them. It’s completely up to them what kind of construction technique they use.”

Cryer loves knowing that this event is a way for students to see that their artistic efforts can have lasting impact on the community around them. In addition to being able to support the Houston Food Bank, the bowls her class donates, she knows, take on special meaning for those who purchase them.

“I tell my students there is a pot for every person and a person for every pot,” she says.

In fact, one of her personal favorite bowls is one she purchased from an Empty Bowls sale.

“It's a very small bowl, maybe like three inches in diameter, and two inches tall, and it's a little pink pig that I think an elementary student made,” she said. “He has no tail, and he has no ears, but he has a snout, and it is definitely a pig. And I love that little bowl. I have it sitting on my desk at home.”

Cryer knows shoppers attending the Empty Bowls sale will find similar, soon-to-be-beloved items.

The Saturday event is free. Those wishing to attend the preview party on Friday, May 15 from 6-8 pm, which offers light bites, beer and wine, and the first chance to purchase bowls, can purchase a $50 ticket online. In addition, Archway Gallery is hosting an exhibition of 30 one-of-a-kind bowls that can be purchased as part of the Empty Bowls fundraiser. The exhibit runs through May 30.