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While performing a vault in her gymnastics competition, 14-year-old Saylor suffered a serious injury that would flip her world upside down. After completing the vault, Saylor’s ankle was immediately hurt, and she was unable to place any weight on it. With another gymnastics competition quickly approaching, Saylor sought medical attention straight away.  She visited numerous doctors and underwent several MRIs with no progress. During this time, the pain Saylor was experiencing in her foot began to spread to her leg and back. After visiting a local neurologist, Saylor was determined to have Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome (excess and prolonged pain and inflammation that follows an injury). It was then that Saylor was referred to Dr. Santana-Rojas at Nemours Children’s Health. After evaluation from Dr. Santana-Rojas and her team, it was determined that Saylor also had a severe case of Functional Neurologic Disorder. “Functional Neurological Disorder had completely removed me from […]

For children who are navigating serious medical concerns, staying on top of schoolwork can be challenging. That’s why the Hospital School Program at Nemours Children’s Hospital, FL, is dedicated to promoting educational success for children in our care. Our hospital-based teacher provides individualized instruction and school liaison services to support patients’ educational needs during hospitalization and upon return to school. The Hospital School Program is enhanced by our teacher internship program, called PedsAcademy®, for students enrolled at the University of Central Florida (UCF). PedsAcademy, developed in partnership between Nemours Children’s Health and UCF’s School of Teacher Education, is designed to better prepare future educators for teaching children with chronic and complex medical needs. Teacher interns from UCF provide individualized instruction to patients (PK-12) while receiving specialized training about how to support students affected by chronic health conditions. The PedsAcademy program enables Nemours to serve an increased number of patients, including their siblings, […]

After dating for ten years and recently married, Brandi and Brian Jones were ready to have children. They had always dreamed of having twins – hoping for a “one and done” pregnancy – although multiples were not part of their family history. Both knew it wouldn’t be easy.  Brandi had been diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) which could make it challenging to get pregnant. Even with the diagnosis of PCOS, they prayed not only to get pregnant but to get pregnant with twins. To assess her fertility, Brandi’s OB suggested she get an ovulation test. No one was more surprised than Brandi herself when the test revealed her ovulation levels were off the charts.  Her OB confirmed she was pregnant with one baby. The couple was elated that God had answered their prayers. They soon began regular visits with their OB. At a routine ultrasound, two weeks later, Brian and […]

In honor of Doctors’ Day, we’re shining a spotlight on this remarkable team of medical professionals! Dr. Ken Baker and Dr. Bevin Weeks are not only talented doctors, but also a married couple that both work for Nemours Children’s Health. When they were younger, both Dr. Baker and Dr. Weeks had positions working at Yale. While the Pediatric Cardiology Echo Lab and Pediatric Radiology reading room were located along the same hallway, they hadn’t actually met until a mutual colleague decided to introduce them. “Fun fact,” says Dr. Weeks, “This was back in the days when Dr. Moss also worked at Yale and it was his PA who was the mutual colleague!” In late 2019, the couple realized that Pensacola was home for them and made the decision to move back to Pensacola, FL. Dr. Weeks and Dr. Baker knew that they wanted to be part of Nemours and the […]

In celebration of Doctors’ Day, we want to highlight the incredible work of two doctors who not only share a passion for the care of children, but also a deep love for each other. Dr. Mihir Thacker and Dr. Deepika Thacker first met while attending Seth Gordhandas Sunderas Medical College in Mumbai, India. “Mihir was 2 years my senior and had a very serious air about him,” says Dr. Deepika Thacker. “He was very focused and always studying. As I got to know him better, I discovered that he had a very fun side as well and a wicked sense of humor! We were friends before we started dating, and to this date, we remain friends in addition to being married. We love playing board games with the family, taking trips and trying new foods together!” Deepika recalls, when they began dating as teenagers, “He would take me out to […]

This Doctors Day, we are highlighting duos that not only share a passion of caring for children but are also married! Power couple Dr. Loren Berman and Dr. Jonathan Miller are yet another great example of the many spectacular pairings working for Nemours Children’s Health. Jonathan and Loren first met while attending The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore. “We became close when we were Anatomy class partners dissecting a cadaver together… Now here we are 22+ years later, with three kids who are all Nemours patients!” they say. After Loren completed her fellowship in Pediatric Surgery in Chicago, they both were recruited to come to Nemours Children’s in Delaware. This would be Dr. Berman’s first job as an attending surgeon and Dr. Miller was asked to lead the primary care practice in the Green Module. The pair have made impacts here ever since. Both doctors love working […]