Protected: Our Tourette Syndrome Journey: It’s So Much More Than Just Tics

Like many expectant parents, Arlo’s parents couldn’t wait to find out the sex of their baby. When Carlie was 12 weeks pregnant, they opted to get NIPT bloodwork done to find out as soon as possible. When their blood screening came back, Arlo’s parents were surprised to find out that their baby boy had a 98% chance of having Down Syndrome. “Of course, we were shocked,” says Carlie, “But knowing about our baby’s condition only helped solidify the fact that he was so wanted and so loved—extra chromosome and all.” “From the moment we got the phone call with our diagnosis, through the rest of my pregnancy and now, we have been beyond blessed with amazing doctors, nurses, and therapists,” says Carlie. “The Down Syndrome Clinic at Nemours has been a beautiful addition to Arlo’s village. We feel like they are truly there for us, not as just another patient, […]

You may have seen in the news recently—in stories airing on NBC, and published in The Philadelphia Inquirer[PA1]  and USA Today—, the extraordinary study conducted by researchers at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. The study revealed that at least 10 babies have what doctors believe to be a new syndrome related to exposure to fentanyl in the womb. Erin Wadman, LCGC, Karen Gripp, MD, and Erica Fernandes, DO, along with their colleagues, published their findings in Genetics in Medicine Open. Get to know the women behind this groundbreaking research here:  What inspired you to pursue this research study? Wadman: The opportunity presented itself to me from working in outpatient genetics and the Cleft and Craniofacial clinic. I was noticing a pattern of patients who had similar physical differences but who also had no genetic diagnosis on genetic testing. All these patients had significant exposures to fentanyl during the pregnancy. From there, we knew we were on […]

PJ’s inspiring story sheds light on the impact of bullying and the importance of mental health awareness. Follow his path from a shocking assault to resilience and recovery, guided by dedicated professionals and a loving family.