The Glennon Factor

When 17-year-old Brayden Baer suffered a life-threatening traumatic brain injury in a devastating car crash, his family was suddenly faced with unimaginable uncertainty. Braden and his mother, Elaine Baer, are joined by Dr. Amber Grana, a Pediatric ICU intensivist, and Mary Grace Dunham, a PICU charge nurse at Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, to share the story of his remarkable recovery and the compassionate care that guided them through it. Together, they reflect on the difficult balance of honest conversations, unwavering hope, and the resilience that carried them forward one day at a time. It's an inspiring conversation about survival, healing, and the people who make extraordinary recoveries possible.

Mary Grace Dunham, PICU charge nurse at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, reflects on Brayden’s early signs of recovery, noting how remarkable it was that he could track movement and engage with the team despite a traumatic brain injury. The conversation turns emotional as his family recalls the first time he spoke again—simply asking for a chip—an ordinary moment that felt extraordinary in his journey back. Together, they highlight the subtle but powerful milestones that signaled hope and healing in the PICU.

In this episode, listeners follow Emily and Paul Cullmann’s journey after learning during pregnancy that they are both carriers of Cystic Fibrosis, giving their daughter Clara a 25% chance of having the disease. Referred to the St. Louis Fetal Care Institute at Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital, they were guided by experts including Katie Francis, program coordinator of the St. Louis Fetal Care Institute, and Dr. Chris Buchanan, medical director of the institute, who helped them navigate fear, uncertainty, and complex decisions. Together, they pursued an innovative and largely untested approach—having Emily take a CF medication during pregnancy in hopes of treating Clara in utero. After birth, Clara was diagnosed with CF but showed remarkably mild symptoms, likely influenced by early treatment both before birth and through breastmilk. The episode highlights not only Clara’s promising outcome, but also the evolving field of fetal medicine, the power of collaboration and research, and the hope that compassionate, cutting-edge care can offer families facing complex prenatal diagnoses.

How would you feel if you received a scary diagnosis for your unborn child? Emily Cullmann shares her emotions after receiving news of her unborn daughter, Clara before being referred to the SSM Health Cardinal Glennon St. Louis Fetal Care Institute - The team she would later come to know as a "family" to her as she navigates the unknown.

Barb Kountzman - RN believes Cardinal Glennon fosters trust through personalized care, beginning in fetal care and pre-op, where staff build genuine relationships with families. She emphasizes their excellent surgical outcomes, but also highlights the compassionate support they provide, acting as a comforting presence for families navigating challenging times. Barb's honesty and transparency, coupled with the focus on individual comfort, create a unique sense of security for families choosing Cardinal Glennon.

Dr. Joshua Arthur explains that the Danis CARES Program addresses the profound social needs many pediatric patients face, such as food insecurity, which he describes as both tragic and motivating for continued intervention. He reflects that routinely asking families about their social challenges has significantly deepened trust and transformed his long‑term relationships with patients. When the initial grant ended, support from the Cardinal Glennon Foundation enabled the program to evolve into a flexible, sustained model that is now funded by the hospital itself.

SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital President, Hossain Marandi, MD performs a blind taste test of his favorite food - hash browns - from four different establishments (one of them being the Cardinal Glennon cafeteria).

In this episode of The Glennon Factor, we explore the Danis CARES program at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital and how it’s redefining pediatric care at the Danis Pediatrics Center. CARES — Connection and Resource Equity Services — was created after research revealed that a significant number of families were facing challenges like food insecurity, housing instability, and transportation barriers that directly impact children’s health. The team now screens families through a well-being questionnaire and connects them to immediate and long-term community resources, while preserving dignity and building trust. Through powerful, real-life stories, the episode highlights how simple interventions — like providing a meal kit or arranging transportation for a newborn visit — can prevent larger health crises. Ultimately, Danis CARES represents a holistic, community-centered model of care that supports not just the child in the exam room, but the entire family beyond it.