In February, our daughter Annistyn broke her humerus when she fell off a snowmobile in New York. After a visit to a local urgent care and an X-ray, we were referred to Nemours Children’s Health, Lakeland—and from that moment on, everything was handled with such care and compassion. From the very first phone call, Nemours made us feel supported. They confirmed directions, sent all documents ahead of time, and ensured our arrival and appointment were seamless and right on schedule. We were met by smiles and kind staff from the very first interaction to the last. Every person we encountered treated Annistyn like she was their own—with warmth, patience, and expertise. Under the care of Kevin Osborne, PA-C, Annistyn was put in a sling for immobilization. One thing that truly stood out to me as a parent was how they spoke directly to Annistyn about her care. They didn’t just […]

Lyme Disease and Ticks: Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention
Ticks might look like insects, but they’re not. They’re part of the arachnid family, which includes spiders. When a tick bites, it attaches itself to the skin and sucks blood. Most tick bites are harmless and don’t need medical treatment. But some ticks (like the deer tick) can carry harmful germs that cause illnesses like Lyme disease. How can I prevent tick bites and Lyme disease? While enjoying the outdoors, it’s important to remember that there are hundreds of kinds of ticks, and not all ticks carry Lyme disease. Here are some tips to help protect your family from the risk of a tick bite before heading out, and what to do after a day of exploring nature: Ticks removed within 36 hours are less likely to spread diseases. So, if you pluck the tick off right away, your child can’t be infected. Because ticks (especially deer ticks) are tiny, they may be hard to […]