A surgeon’s reflection on Riley Champion Brilea Southard’s journey

Dr. Cartland Burns and Brilea Southard — Riley pediatric surgeon Cartland Burns, MD, reunited with Brilea Southard, who he cared for during her 513-day stay at Riley Hospital for Children.

Riley Children’s Health pediatric surgeon Cartland Burns, M.D., performed most of Brilea Southard’s 30 surgeries across her 513-day stay at Riley Hospital for Children. Two years ago, she faced a 4% chance of survival when she was airlifted to Riley Hospital for Children with extensive injuries from a car accident, including a torn aorta. Dr. Burns reunited with Brilea, who now serves as a 2026 Riley Champion presented by Kroger, at her wagon ceremony in February. He reflects on Brilea’s journey leading to his moment:

“You learn something from every patient. I learned a lot about resilience from Brilea.

She came in with devastating injuries and required a number of operations, one after another, and we didn’t really have a clear idea that it’d be successful at each time. She had such incredible strength. And her family was incredibly strong and supportive.

Brilea used every resource we had available. We had people come from all around IU Health to participate in her care. We required so many different subspecialties to be involved in her care and over 30 surgeries. It was a tremendous effort to get her through this.

Quite frankly, her family never left her side. To be able to see them support her through this rehabilitation process and to get back into her life as a teenage girl is incredible. Every time Brilea would have a setback, we’d have to go in and have a very difficult conversation. The family worked hard to be positive. Brilea never faltered. She never wavered. She was positive every single time. You’d come to her with bad news, and she just took it in stride and said, “Okay, what do we do to get past it?” Every single time.

The greatest reward we ever see as physicians is to see our patients who had a very difficult time get through it and get on with their lives.

Every child deserves all the care that they need to get to a point of recovery. It’s a wonderful thing to partner with the family, be able to accomplish that goal, and return to normal activities.”