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“We are truly thrilled to finally bridge the gap in pediatric inpatient rehabilitation services, creating a dedicated space where Tennessee’s children can receive both rehabilitation and comprehensive health care under one roof. This new unit represents our unwavering commitment to making children’s health care personal,� said Meg Rush, MD, MMHC, President of Monroe Carell.

“This would not be possible without the support of many generous individuals, families and businesses in our community — including the Carell family, Cal Turner Jr., Walmart, Mariel and Bucky Ingram, Joe Galante and the Junior League of Nashville — who provided the cornerstone gifts to kickstart our efforts. We are forever grateful and could not do what we do every day to bring hope and healing to children and families without these supporters,� Rush said.

The new inpatient pediatric rehabilitation unit and program — the first and only in Tennessee for children 13 and younger — will be housed on the eighth floor of Monroe Carell, which will be named in honor of Kathryn Carell Brown. Brown, a Monroe Carell Advisory Board member, is the daughter of the hospital’s namesake Monroe Carell Jr. and his wife Ann Scott Carell.

While design plans to renovate space for the new unit are still in progress, the unit is expected to include: 12 patient rooms dedicated to the specialized care of children recovering from injury or illness; a gym and spaces for activities of daily living for patients; and physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and psychological support services all within one dedicated space.

While gifts to launch the unit’s construction have been secured, additional philanthropy will support programming and staffing in the unit.

Physical rehabilitation, a crucial part of the healing process, helps restore lost skills, like walking and eating, and can make all the difference in a child’s recovery and potential to live a full life. Rehabilitation can last weeks or even months.

Given current barriers, roughly half of patients recommended to receive inpatient rehabilitation are able to get these vital services, and most who do receive services are over 13 years old. For patients who are able to receive inpatient care, 80% of them must travel out of state, and 20% are old enough to have inpatient care at an adult facility.

“Monroe Carell and Vanderbilt have really incredible resources here, including comprehensive medical care and a great therapy and rehabilitation team,� said Elizabeth Martin, MD, MPH, MHS, medical director of Pediatric Rehabilitation and assistant professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. “But by not having a dedicated physical unit and all the specialized support that it provides, we have a significant gap in the higher acuity rehabilitation care that our children in Tennessee need. So, to finally be able to fill that gap and really show the full potential of all that Monroe Carell can offer as children are healing through the rehabilitation process is really exciting.�

Martin said the unit will have the latest equipment and advancements to ensure the comprehensive care needed for healing is available, as well as essential therapeutic wraparound services and supports like psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech therapists, child life specialists, facility dogs, nutrition services, music therapy and school programming.

To make the vision for a pediatric inpatient rehabilitation unit a reality, a campaign cabinet led the effort to raise awareness for the need and to garner philanthropic support for the project. The cabinet members include Kathryn Carell Brown, Shelly and Jeff Colvin, Allison DeMarcus, Larisa Featherstone, Caren Gabriel, Tracey and Sean Henry, and Michelle Kennedy.

For cabinet members Shelly and Jeff Colvin, the need for the pediatric inpatient rehabilitation unit was personal.

During a storm in 2020, a 75-foot oak tree fell on Jeff and their then 3-year-old son Judge Colvin. Both would require lifesaving intensive care followed by inpatient rehabilitation.

Judge was routed to Monroe Carell, as he was in a coma and had suffered a traumatic brain injury. At the same time, Jeff was in the intensive care unit at Vanderbilt University Hospital with multiple injuries, including a broken back.

When Judge woke from his coma, he would need inpatient rehabilitation, which meant moving to Atlanta, since no pediatric inpatient rehabilitation services exist in Tennessee.

“As campaign cabinet members, it fills Jeff and I with such encouragement and pride to see how Nashvillians and Tennesseans statewide have stepped up to help make this rehab unit a reality,� Shelly Colvin said. “It’s been incredibly inspiring to sit with other members of the campaign cabinet and brainstorm different ways to get the word out to our respective networks and witness how everyone truly came through, from our music community and corporate donors to private citizens. People truly wanted to help and understood that it was just the right thing to do for our kids.�

Inspired to advance this effort even further, the Colvins also established a nonprofit, the Out of the Woods Foundation, and made a philanthropic gift to the campaign to help more children like Judge. Judge, now 8, is thriving.

“Judge’s recovery has been remarkable, and we want every child to have that same chance,� Shelly Colvin said. “Our Out of the Woods Fund is committed to providing ongoing support for inpatient rehab, which feels like the most meaningful way to give back to the community that swiftly came to our aid in our time of need.�

This inpatient rehabilitation project will help children across the state and has the support of the Children’s Hospital Alliance of Tennessee, which includes Monroe Carell, East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital at Erlanger, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and Niswonger Children’s Hospital.