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Care You Can Trust: Emerson & Lilly’s Story

For Latisha, osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) has always been a part of life. Diagnosed around age 6 after multiple leg fractures, she knew the challenges that came with the condition. When she became a mother, she was determined to find the best possible care for her children. That search let her to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware – the same place she had come to trust for her own care. Her children, Emerson and Lilly, were both diagnosed with Type 1 OI at birth. “Without the care from Dr. Franzone and the entire OI team, I’m not sure where my kids would be,” Latisha shared. OI, commonly known as brittle bone disease, is a genetic disorder that prevents the body from building strong bones. For Emerson, those fractures started early – he broke his leg three times in just one year after learning to walk. Lilly also faced fractures within months of […]

Kady’s Scoliosis Journey (In Her Own Words)

When I was 6 years old, my mom noticed that my collar bone was higher on one side than the other. Since both my aunt and my grandfather have scoliosis, my mom was familiar with what it looked like. She had contacted a neighbor who was a doctor, and he came to our house to do a regular check to see if I had scoliosis. He said I didn’t have it, but my mom had a gut feeling that something was up, and she took me to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida. My mom and dad found Nemours Children’s when we moved to Lake Nona in 2014. Nemours became our primary care provider, and my siblings and I would see our pediatrician at Nemours. When my mom thought that I might have had scoliosis, things became a bit more serious. My father is a personal injury and medical malpractice attorney. Because […]

Teamwork and Expertise: Karinda’s Story

Diagnosed with microtia at birth, Karinda’s hearing was immediately tested. The results confirmed that she had hearing loss due to bilateral microtia and atresia. Microtia is a congenital condition where the outer part of the ear (the pinna) is smaller than normal and may have an unusual shape. In bilateral cases, both ears are affected. After spending 8 days in the NICU, Karinda was transferred to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware where her family first met the team that would guide them through a long-term care journey. From the start, it has been a collaborative effort among expert Nemours Children’s specialists to provide Karinda with the best possible care. Now 8 years old, the most recent step in Karinda’s treatment has been ear reconstruction surgery. This procedure has brought together Nemours physicians from across the country including Dr. Angelo Leto Barone from Orlando and Dr. Mario Aycart from Delaware. Karinda has […]

Scoliosis Awareness Month: Island’s Story

Born with esophageal atresia type A and a history of chronic pneumonia, Island’s health journey has been far from straightforward. At the age of 9, the diagnosis of thoracogenic scoliosis added another layer of complexity, impeding even the simplest of tasks. He struggled to tie his shoes and often experienced intense back pain while doing everyday things. Sitting in class, walking, and even trying to sleep at night proved difficult. At Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville, Island was surrounded by specialists who treated him with care, skill, and a dedication that went beyond the clinical. His journey began with a comprehensive evaluation by Dr. Kevin Neal, an expert orthopedic surgeon, who diagnosed the severity of his scoliosis and recommended spinal fusion surgery. This procedure, which involves fusing vertebrae together to straighten the spine, was a critical step in managing his condition and improving Island’s quality of life. The care Island received […]

Celebrating Advocacy: Sickle Cell Stories of Strength at Family Advocacy Day 2025

Nemours Children’s Health patients Naheim Smith and Reign Jefferson were both diagnosed with sickle cell disease at a young age. Thanks to treatment at Nemours, Naheim has been cured of sickle cell disease, and Reign is now better able to manage the disease and is thriving.   On June 11 and 12, Naheim and Reign joined the National Office’s Federal Affairs team on Capitol Hill, along with Dr. Stephanie Guarino, a hematologist/oncologist at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, as a part of the Children’s Hospital Association’s annual Family Advocacy Day.    Naheim’s and Nevaeh’s Story   Naheim was diagnosed with sickle cell disease when he was under a year old. During his early childhood, he experienced pain crises and strokes, which led to many hospital visits at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. After one stroke, his doctors discovered he had Moyamoya disease – a rare disorder caused by blocked arteries at the base of the […]

From Patient to Purpose: Isabella’s Story

At just 2 years old, Isabella was diagnosed with necrotizing fasciitis, a rare and life-threatening condition that began in her back and later spread to her right leg. The aggressive nature of the disease required intensive medical intervention. Physicians at multiple hospitals had to perform surgeries to remove infected muscle and tissue, a process that was both physically and emotionally taxing for Isabella and her family. Following the surgeries, Isabella was placed in a medically induced coma for two months to give her body the best chance to heal and fight off the infection. When she finally emerged from the coma, the next phase of her journey began. She was transferred to a third hospital, where she underwent physical rehabilitation and skin grafting to repair the extensive damage to her back and leg. Despite the challenges, Isabella’s resilience and determination shone through, and she made significant progress in her recovery. […]

Headache Awareness Week – Ella’s Story

At 15, Ella Wright had been battling painful headaches for years when she was eventually diagnosed with accommodative infacility. She went through months of eye therapy, and while her eyes began focusing correctly, the headaches still didn’t go away. That’s when her family returned to the doctor this time, they were referred to Nemours Children’s Health in Jacksonville, Florida. Before Nemours, Ella struggled with frequent, debilitating headaches. Her family described her as “relying on over-the-counter medication more than five days a week just to get through the day. After school, she’d go straight to bed, needing a dark, quiet room to cope with the pain.” The constant discomfort affected her mood, her energy, and her ability to enjoy daily life. We live in Georgia and weren’t familiar with Nemours,” her family said. “But everyone there has been wonderful. Dr. Janet Leon, Nemours pediatric neurologist, is outstanding—she’s a great listener, very […]

Care Worth Following: Rylee’s Story

Born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) – a diaphragm condition that has led to asthma, gastroparesis, and scoliosis – 14-year-old Rylee has been in her fair share of doctor’s appointments. Through family moves and changing health systems, one thing has remained constant throughout Rylee’s care: Dr. Joseph Khoury. “We first met Dr. Khoury in Birmingham, AL,” shares Rylee’s mom, Allison. “We’ve followed him to different hospital locations for treatments with scoliosis from her birth defect. Her treatments started when she was 6 months old with Mehta castings for a year and a half and then began providence brace(s) until her bone age stopped growing.” Rylee and her family discovered Nemours Children’s Health, Lakeland when Dr. Khoury began working at the practice. “We followed our wonderful orthopedic specialist to Nemours,” says Allison. At Nemours Children’s, they’ve connected with an expert team of specialists that have become like family. “We have thoroughly […]

Following His Dreams: Kollin’s Journey

At 12 years old, Kollin isn’t letting anything slow him down. A lifelong patient at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, Kollin’s journey to his narcolepsy diagnosis started when he found himself constantly exhausted. “My father has narcolepsy, so when I was tired all the time, my mom requested to have a sleep study done,” Kollin shares. A sleep study, also called a polysomnogram, is an overnight test that helps doctors diagnose sleep disorders, including narcolepsy. During the study, sensors are placed on different parts of the body to monitor breathing, brain activity, heart rate, and movement while a child sleeps. It provides essential information to guide treatment and improve sleep health. “I really don’t like sleep studies because of all the wires and goop in my hair,” shares Kollin. But after his second long sleep study, the results were clear—he had narcolepsy, just like his dad. The diagnosis meant he could […]

Jenna: Thyroid Cancer

“Dr. Gannon and the whole team changed my life … Dr. Berman is incredible at what she does. She saved my life and I’m forever grateful for her.” – Jenna, patient When I was 13 years old, I went for a routine well visit. My doctor was doing an examination on my neck and noticed my thyroid felt enlarged. She sent me to get labs and an ultrasound. My labs confirmed that I had Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Then, we received the results from my ultrasound. It showed that I had two thyroid nodules. I had a small one on my left side, and then a bigger one on my right. The border of the nodule was irregular and calcified. This looked suspicious. I was referred to a Nemours endocrinologist, Dr. Doyle. He told my mom and I that he recommends another ultrasound and to visit another endocrinologist who specializes in treating […]

All About Walking Pneumonia (Mycoplasma Pneumonia) in Kids

Between colds, the flu, and other viruses, lots of kids get sick in the fall. This year it could be due to a lung infection called walking pneumonia that’s becoming more common, especially in young children. It’s also known as mycoplasma pneumonia since it’s often caused by the bacteria mycoplasma pneumoniae. While usually mild, it can still make kids uncomfortable and cause breathing problems. Here’s what you need to know about this rising health issue. What is walking pneumonia? Walking pneumonia is a kind of bacterial infection that affects the lungs. It tends to cause milder symptoms than other forms of pneumonia, so children who have it feel well enough to walk around instead of staying in bed. This is why it’s called “walking pneumonia.” How common is walking pneumonia in kids? Each year, about 2 million people get walking pneumonia. Since spring, the infection has been more common than […]

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