Cook Children's
The first time patient-artist Brianna designed a pair of shoes, she was hooked up to an IV.
Not exactly your typical fashion origin story — but at Cook Children’s Medical Center in Fort Worth, creativity has a way of cutting through the noise of hospital monitors and sterile white walls. It started as a sketch during treatment. Now, it’s a real-life shoe — lightweight, bold, and sold alongside a second design by fellow patient-artist Alex as part of the newly expanded Cook Children’s by Twisted X® collection.
What began as a kid-focused drop in 2023 has grown into something bigger. Twisted X — a Texas-based footwear company with a heart for community — has re-teamed with Cook Children’s to bring those patient-designed shoes into adult sizes. Medical staff asked for them. Parents asked for them. Supporters asked for them. Now, they’re here.
And they’re not just stylish. They’re personal.
Each pair in the updated collection was co-created by a patient at Cook Children’s working hand-in-hand with Twisted X designer Tuan Le. The kids made the choices. Tuan made it real. The result? Two pairs of shoes, each named after its designer, featuring slip-resistant soles, featherweight materials, and a whole lot of heart stitched into every seam.
“It’s been incredibly rewarding to see this collection embody the joy of footwear design,” said Twisted X CEO Prasad Reddy. “We continue to believe that little steps can make a big impact.”
But this isn’t just about style — it’s about support. Every single pair sold gives back. Twisted X donates 100 percent of wholesale proceeds from the collection directly to the Cook Children’s Creative Arts Program. This therapeutic initiative helped 2,700 young patients last year alone, according to its website. Through painting, sculpture, collage — and now, shoe design — the program helps children process their experience and reclaim agency in a place that often leaves them with very little control.
On June 17, the hospital hosted a celebration to mark the launch of the new collection. The vibe wasn’t medical — it was joyful. Tables of patients and families laughed and decorated shoe cutouts. There were high-fives. There were photos. There were kids, like Brianna and Alex, seeing their names and designs celebrated in a way most adults only dream about.
“The partnership between Cook Children’s and Twisted X reaffirms our commitment to providing both patients and families with individualized resources tailored to their health care needs,” said Natalie Houghton, Director of National and Regional Partnerships for Cook Children’s Health Foundation. “We’re proud to come together with Twisted X, who shares this philanthropic focus.”
And here’s the kicker: the shoes aren’t just for patients. They're for anyone who wants to walk with purpose. You can find them in the gift shops at Cook Children’s campuses in Fort Worth and Prosper — or online at twistedx.com/pages/cook-childrens. Every purchase supports the Creative Arts Program, enabling more children to transform their healing process into a canvas for expression.
Brianna’s first sketch may have started in a hospital bed, but what came next was movement. Color. Confidence. And a brand-new reason to believe in the power of little steps.
