Guest Contributors Archives

SERVICES & SPECIALTIES

Allison: Tetralogy of Fallot, Hip Dysplasia and Ear Tubes

“Giving back and helping others is one of the best feelings. To know you helped someone when they were feeling scared and alone.” – Allison, Former Patient, Current Nemours Associate I’m Allison and I’m 26 years old and I work in the Nemours Cardiac Center at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware in Wilmington. I was diagnosed at birth with Tetralogy of Fallot with anomalous origin of the anterior descending coronary artery from the right coronary artery. I had my first open heart surgery at 4 days old for the transannular patch to repair the ventricular septal defect (VSD). In all, I had three open heart surgeries (two in 1998 and one 2013), six cardiac catheterizations and two loop recorders (in 2020 and 2023, respectively). I was also diagnosed at birth with hip dysplasia in my left hip, and I wore a Pavlik harness [a shoulder harness that attaches to foot stirrups] […]

Meet Dr. Maria Petrini and Dr. Francisco Vranic

Let us introduce Dr. Maria Petrini and Dr. Francisco Vranic, one of our many pairs of married doctors that work for Nemours Children’s Health! Dr. Petrini and Dr. Vranic met during their first pediatric residency program at a children’s hospital in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Dr. Vranic was a senior resident and Dr. Petrini was an intern. They bonded over their shared passion for pediatric medicine and the joy they found in caring for children. Upon their decision to move to the United States, Dr. Petrini was accepted to train in pediatrics at the Nemours Children’s/Thomas Jefferson University program and she stayed working at Nemours after graduation. A few years later, Dr. Vranic started his second training in pediatrics at the same program and took a position at the Saint Francis Primary Care office after graduation. Today, Dr. Petrini works as a primary care pediatrician at the Rockland Road Primary Care Office (Green Module) […]

SPORTS MEDICINE

Personal Trainers and Athletic Trainers: What is the difference?

Personal TrainersPersonal trainers are found in gyms, health clubs, and even online as fitness influencers. Their goal is to help the general public achieve their fitness goals. Their clients can range anywhere from beginners to body builders, and they usually require a fee. Personal trainers are a great resource for cardio exercises, weightlifting techniques, and nutrition advice. There is no degree required to be a personal trainer. However, many have certifications that allow them to evaluate their clients and recommend exercises and nutrition regimens. While personal trainers are a very helpful asset to a person’s health and wellness, their role differs greatly from athletic trainers. Athletic TrainersAthletic trainers can be found in high schools, colleges, orthopedic offices, physical therapy clinics, hospitals, professional sports teams, military sites, and even in corporate and industrial settings. They provide athletes of all ages with preventative services, emergency care, therapeutic interventions, clinical diagnosis, and injury […]

William’s Journey with Cerebral Palsy (In Mom’s Words)

At 13 months old, William was formally diagnosed with quadriplegic spastic cerebral palsy by the distinguished team at Nemours Children’s Hospital.

L to R, is Katie Boyer; Daniella Gratale, Associate Vice President, Federal Affairs; Dr. Laura Chilcutt, Policy Advisor, External Affairs; Kelly Register, Associate Vice President, Reimbursement and DSS; Dr. Alverson, Dr. Fernandez, and Dr. Heather Fagan, critical care, and graduate medical education lead.

Advocacy is Care – How a Nemours Resident is Making a Difference

Nemours joined the Children’s Hospital Association and children’s hospitals from across the country to advocate on Capitol Hill for continued federal support for the CHGME program.

AGES & STAGES

Wait No More: Nearly All Kids Can Now Get the COVID-19 Vaccine

Many parents are breathing a sigh of relief that they can finally get their babies, toddlers, and preschoolers vaccinated against COVID-19. Two brands of the vaccine have now been authorized for children as young as 6 months old, so the little ones can now join the ranks of people ages 5 and up who have helped protect themselves. So does your young child really need a COVID-19 vaccine? After all, younger children often have milder illness when they get infected. The answer is a resounding “yes,” since many young children have had serious symptoms requiring hospitalization, and some have even died. Small children can even develop long COVID, with symptoms that bother them for a long time. Parents might also wonder why it took so long for the vaccines to be authorized for this age group. It took a long time to get the vaccines authorized for young children because […]

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

An International Search of Hope- Maria’s Story

Contributed by Maria’s dad Shahid. When Maria was 10 months old, we noticed some abnormalities in her chest and back, but we weren’t able to find a hospital or doctor who understood her situation. She was frequently ill with pneumonia and breathing was painful. Her condition eventually worsened. When she was 18 months old, we met a doctor in Peshawar, Pakistan who diagnosed Maria with MPS. It was our first time hearing the word MPS (Mucopolysaccharidosis), so we did online research and reached out to other families. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for rare diseases in Pakistan and there was no family to guide us for diagnosis and treatment. I sent Maria’s bio-samples to India, and Germany where they confirmed that she had MPS, but they were unable to determine her type of MPS. So, I sent her samples to the US and a diagnosis with MPS IV was […]

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Achieving Milestones with a Disability- Emily’s Cerebral Palsy Journey

Contributed by Emily’s mom Elizabeth. Emily is an AMAZING little girl! At 5-years-old, she is comfortable telling people she has a disability and that her muscles work differently than theirs do. Emily was born three months early and diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was about a year and a half old. Both Emily and her identical twin sister, Sarah, were delayed in reaching their milestones, but Emily’s delays were more pronounced. Emily is super determined and does everything she can to keep up with her peers. This requires A LOT of hard work! Emily does about 6-7 hours of therapy a week, a combination of PT, OT, and aqua therapy. Since she was about 3, Emily has received intermittent Botox injections to loosen her muscles and give her some additional flexibility and mobility. For example, she learned to walk with lofstrand crutches within 6 months, a task they rarely teach children her age given […]

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

The Emotional Rollercoaster of a Cleft Lip and Palate Diagnosis: Fred’s Story

It was a wonderful yet traumatic time in our lives. Even with the support and love from our families and friends, we still felt alone and confused. Who could possibly know what it’s like to be told that your beautiful baby boy will be born with a cleft lip and palate? We were referred to Dr. E.J. Caterson, Chief, Plastic Surgery at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. During our first visit, Dr. Caterson shared with us that his passion for craniofacial surgery had been influenced by his youngest son who had been born with a cleft lip. We immediately felt heard and understood on so many levels. His soft-spoken and kind demeanor, along with his genuine concern calmed our fears. His detailed surgical plan inspired confidence. We trusted him. Fred had his first corrective surgery at 4 months. He also had a GPP, which is not done at many institutions. The GPP […]

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Advocating for Maternal and Child Health – Why It’s Essential

About 700 mothers die each year from pregnancy-related causes in this country, with about 60% of these deaths considered to be preventable. Black mothers are 3-4x more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than White women, and are at higher risk of giving birth to pre-term babies. Black babies are 2x more likely to die as infants than White babies. The Nemours National Office is advocating on Capitol Hill to address these disparities to help give all moms and babies the opportunity to be healthy. Along with March of Dimes (MOD), Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, we are partnering on the Hot Topics in Neonatology: 2021 Cindy Pellegrini Maternal & Child Health Advocacy Event. This virtual event honors Cindy Pellegrini who passed away in 2019, leaving behind a legacy as a tireless advocate for maternal and child health. It […]

GUEST CONTRIBUTORS

Ashley’s Epilepsy Story — From Fear to Fearless

It was like any other ordinary day for 13-year-old Ashley. In eighth grade at the time, Ashley, from Washington Township, New Jersey, came home after a long day at school, hoping for a quick nap before heading to youth group that night. She headed to her fridge to grab a drink, and the next thing she remembers is waking up with paramedics surrounding her. “I was placed on oxygen and had an IV in my arm,” says Ashley, now 24. “The only thing that came to my mind was fear.” Ashley learned from doctors at her local hospital that 1 in 26 people may have a seizure within their lifespan, epilepsy related or not. After her electroencephalographs (EEGs) and an electrocardiography (EKG) results came back normal, Ashley and her family waited to see if she had any more seizures to determine if it might be epilepsy. “I had so much […]

COMMUNITY CONNECTION

Nathan’s Story of Determination

This post was written by Nathan’s mom Kim Silpath “It’s not about me anymore, it’s about the other kids”- Nathan Every day, 43 parents have to hear the same words we heard a few years ago, “your child has cancer.” I still remember that moment, and the reaction from my son, Nathan. He was ready to fight it. Not just for himself, but fight and help other children with cancer too. I could not have been more proud. Nathan was an incredible child that had a passion for school, sports, and most importantly helping others. He loved meteorology, biology, hiking, soccer, sled hockey, and football! Nathan’s cancer battle started in 2010 when he was at soccer practice and started mentioning how his leg was bothering him. Nathan noticed a bump on his leg, but like most kids, didn’t think much of it and continued playing soccer. As his pain increased, […]

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