When Poppy Gorden was a toddler, her parents couldn’t help but notice that she had difficulty performing activities, like walking or feeding herself. They began traveling to find answers from medical professionals across the country.

Eventually, the Gorden family connected with the expert neurological team at their local HCA Healthcare facility, Overland Park Regional Medical Center. HCA Healthcare’s team quickly diagnosed Poppy with myoclonus-dystonia—a rare, complex movement disorder—and joined forces with specialists at their sister facility, Menorah Medical Center, to create a personalized care plan.

At four years old, Poppy was one of the youngest patients to undergo a complex neurological procedure for dystonia. HCA Healthcare’s highly skilled nurses, physicians and child life specialists worked together closely to incorporate play therapy and build a trusted relationship with Poppy to meet her needs.

Poppy’s parents claim their time at HCA Healthcare “was hands-down the best healthcare experience we’ve had from start to finish.”

Through every step of Poppy’s journey, HCA Healthcare’s compassionate caregivers came together to create a positive experience tailored to her specific needs. Poppy’s story is one among many that showcase how HCA Healthcare’s connected network of hospitals collaborates to provide essential, multidisciplinary care in local communities across the country. The depth of HCA Healthcare’s network allows its healthcare professionals to orchestrate exceptional care, close to home—from the biggest needs to the smallest patients.