Tomorrow, someone I love will have an MRI.
I’ve been thinking about that a lot this week. As adults, we know why we’re there when procedures like this are scheduled.
We understand the process, even if we’re anxious about the results.
But when I picture one of my seven grandchildren going through that same experience, I see it differently. I see fear, confusion and a child wondering why strangers are talking to them.
Dr. Jason Foland, President of Studer Family Children’s Hospital, has spent his whole career asking this simple question:
What if we could make those moments a little less scary?
It’s that question that sits at the heart of this year’s 8th Annual Cat Country Cares for Kids Radiothon, happening Thursday, August 14, benefiting Studer Family Children’s Hospital.
This year’s goal is to raise $300,000 to build a dedicated Pediatric Sedation Suite, an investment that won’t just change a room.
It will change the way children experience medical care.
For Dr. Foland, that’s exactly the point.
“Most procedures adults go through don’t require sedation,” he said. “But for a child, everything is different. Everything is new. Everything is scary. They don’t understand why it’s happening.”
Today, many children needing sedation for an MRI or specialized procedure are cared for through the operating room process. It’s safe. It’s effective.
But let’s be clear: it’s also designed around adult patients and surgery. The nature of effective adult care is efficiency, proficiency, and timeliness, which is the world most adults live in and appreciate.
The new Pediatric Sedation Suite, however, will be designed around and for children.
Instead of bright lights, quick movement, and the fast pace of an operating room, families will enter a quieter, more comforting environment where children are treated the way that best suits children.
Parents will be able to stay with their child longer. A Child Life Specialist can read their favorite book. A doctor can meet them at eye level, explain what will happen, and allow them to fall asleep in the arms of the person they trust most.
“It’s a softer approach,” Dr. Foland explained. “It gives us the opportunity to meet children where they are.”
That philosophy isn’t just about medicine. It’s about honoring childhood.
The vision includes child-friendly spaces, books, toys, mock MRI experiences, interactive learning tools, and even plans for an AI-powered therapy dog that will guide children through every step before their procedure.
Dr. Foland explained that every detail has two purposes: to replace fear with comfort and replace anxiety with trust for both the child and the parents.
He knows that when you care for a child, you’re also caring for an entire family.
One story still stays with him.
“I will never forget years ago in my early career, a young boy with leukemia needed multiple painful procedures. His mother was understandably terrified. I decided on the spot to take the time to slow my pace through the process and just sit with them both.
I explained every option of what we were about to do, and I let my young patient help choose how his sedation would work. I answered all his questions, I cracked jokes, and when he laughed, his mother visibly relaxed.”
Suddenly, one of the hardest days of their lives became just a little more manageable.
“You’re trying to get to the family’s level,” he said. “The child gets to be part of the process, and the impact on their anxiety is significant. I want every child that comes to this hospital to have that option.”
That is exactly what the new Pediatric Sedation Suite is designed to do and why Dr. Foland is actively advocating for it.
Mallory Studer, Dr. Dawn Walton , Dr. Jason Foland, and Mary Hoxeng at the Cat Country 98.7 Cares for Kids in August 2025.For many families across our region, it will mean shorter procedures, less stress, and a more elevated, compassionate experience from the moment they walk through the doors until the moment they leave. It may seem like a simple change, but to a frightened five-year-old, it’s everything.
When asked what keeps him coming back after difficult days, Dr. Foland didn’t talk about titles or accomplishments.
He looked instead to a quote by Albert Einstein that hangs in his office.
“A life lived for others is worth living.”
“It really is that simple for me,” he said. “Knowing I can come back to work, grind through the hard days and make a difference in the life of a child.”
That purpose has helped build one of the most advanced pediatric hospitals in our region.
From bringing lifesaving ECMO technology to Northwest Florida to expanding specialized pediatric care, Dr. Foland says every advancement comes back to one mission: “making sure children receive the care they deserve, close to home.”
Now the community has an opportunity to become part of that mission.
Every dollar raised during the Cat Country Cares for Kids Radiothon will help transform the experience of pediatric healthcare for families across our area.
While parents may never remember the equipment, they’ll always remember how someone on Dr. Foland’s team made their child feel.
And thanks to this year’s Radiothon, thousands of children will remember that even on one of the hardest days of their lives, someone cared enough to make it a little less frightening.
How You Can Help
The 8th Annual Cat Country Cares for Kids Radiothon takes place Thursday, August 14. Community members can listen throughout the day, hear incredible stories from local families, and donate that will help fund the new Pediatric Sedation Suite at Studer Family Children’s Hospital.
You can also donate now at: Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation
Many times, monetary gifts buy equipment. This one buys equipment, comfort, and compassion.
And for countless children facing an uncertain day, it buys something every parent hopes for, a little more peace.
