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Dr. Monica Barreto highlights the importance of the mind-body connection and the vital role of parents in supporting youth mental health.

Erin’s path in healthcare began as an EMT and Paramedic working for a fire department. However, she had big dreams of becoming a flight RN one day. “While completing school for nursing, I had the opportunity to work as a civilian combat medic in Afghanistan where I was able to provide aid to our soldiers and fly,” shares Erin. “From there, I was able to get a job at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida as a Paramedic in the Clinical Logistics Center until I received my RN license. I then began working in the RN resource pool, allowing me to get experience in all units of the hospital. I developed a passion for pediatric and neonatal cardiac and used that strength and experience to allow me to join the Nemours Transport Team.” Through hard work and determination, Erin found her home at Nemours on the Critical Care and Transport Team where […]

Allen’s brain tumor journey, with support from Nemours Children’s Health in Jacksonville, showcases resilience, comprehensive care, and positivity in adversity.

Melissa knew at a young age that she wanted to be a speech pathologist. When she was young, her grandfather had a stroke which helped influence the path she wanted to eventually take in life. After school, she would often walk to her grandparent’s house to play cards and visit until her Dad could pick her up. Often, after walking to their house she would arrive, and her grandfather was receiving his speech therapy sessions. Watching the therapist work with her grandfather and the care she took looking out for him, she decided she wanted to do the same thing. Melissa says, “Through my time in undergraduate and graduate studies I often found myself drawn to working more with children. I have always loved the energy and spirit that children often had and loved the possibilities of helping them grow and progress in their speech and language skills. I graduated […]

Madison’s journey with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) began at 2 months old. A severe ear infection spiraled into Mastoiditis, leading to urgent surgery and a slew of testing. It was a challenging time for her mother, Jeannine, and their family. They grappled with the possibility of HLH, a blood and immune system disorder that had already touched their lives through Madison’s brother. Jeannine recounts, “Madison’s condition was weighing heavy on our minds that she could have HLH like her brother did.” Having sought care for her son at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, Jeannine turned to the hospital once again, entrusting them with Madison’s care. “We have always felt the doctors and therapists have cared for and loved us truly from their heart,” says Jeannine. “We went to larger hospitals and felt like we were a number there, but not at Nemours.” Madison’s treatment at Nemours Children’s primarily involves outpatient therapy services. […]

For Carly, the journey to a Morquio Type A diagnosis began with uncertainty. As a young child, there were signs that something wasn’t quite right, and her parents embarked on a quest for answers. After a lot of testing and a few misdiagnoses, it wasn’t until Carly was around a year and a half old that a local doctor stumbled upon a small paragraph in a textbook about Morquio Type A, setting the stage for a lifelong medical journey. When her physician, Dr. Kopis from St. Jose Hospital, could no longer practice, Carly’s journey led her to the care of Dr. William Mackenzie at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. With expertise in skeletal dysplasia, Nemours Children’s was the perfect fit for Carly, offering specialized care tailored to her needs. “From the beginning, my parents loved the care I received at Nemours,” says Carly. “My mom immediately transitioned all of my doctors to […]