CEO Message

Helping the Smallest Patients Take Their Biggest Breaths Yet

At the Respiratory Care Center at Rockcastle Regional Hospital, it’s not uncommon to find 10 or more young patients under the age of three at any given time. Many of these children have complex medical histories: some were born prematurely with underdeveloped lungs, others with rare birth defects or conditions linked to drug exposure in utero. Some arrived after experiencing accidents such as near-drowning.

Despite the wide range of circumstances that bring them to us, these children have one thing in common—the need for mechanical ventilation. And our goal remains the same for each of them: to provide the highest quality of care possible with the ultimate goal of helping them breathe on their own.

In recent years, we’ve seen an increase in pediatric patients at our facility. So far, in 2025 alone, four children have been discharged—most returning home after being successfully weaned from their ventilators. That kind of progress is both inspiring and worth sharing.

Inside this second edition of Little Lungs magazine, you’ll learn more about how we care for our youngest patients—how we pair expert clinical treatment with compassionate communication and emotional support for families.

You’ll also meet children like Levi and Grant, who both were weaned from ventilator care and went to their respective homes this summer, and get a glimpse into the teamwork and dedication that make moments like theirs possible.

Stephen A. Estes

President and CEO

Rockcastle Regional Hospital and Respiratory Care Center