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In April 2024, Logan began experiencing persistent right shoulder pain. What made it particularly confusing was that he hadn’t experienced any recent injuries or trauma. His family, concerned, took him to see his pediatrician, who, after a thorough examination, referred them to a local pediatric orthopedic specialist. Whittney, Logan’s mother, recalls, “When the pain started, Logan was hurting all the time. He kept his arm in a sling for a little over a month, but there was no improvement. He had trouble putting on his own shirt and couldn’t lift a carton of milk. He couldn’t play baseball or do any of the things he enjoyed so it started to affect his mental health.” The local orthopedic specialist was diligent in trying to pinpoint the cause of Logan’s discomfort. Over the course of a month, he ordered a series of lab tests and imaging studies. Despite these efforts, the specialist […]

Adopted from Colombia two years ago, Miguel’s congenital limb deformity had left him unable to stand or walk, relying on his knees and a wheelchair to navigate the world. “We were aware of his congenital limb deformity, but we weren’t exactly sure what that would mean for him in the course of his life,” his mother, Jennifer, shares. Life before treatment was a series of adaptations and challenges. Miguel had developed his own way of navigating the world. He would “walk” and crawl on his knees, using custom knee pads to cushion his movements. “He was amazingly active,” Jennifer shares, “but he did have frequent pain and skin issues from ‘walking’ on his knees.” His inability to stand or reach things independently made everyday activities a constant challenge. His family’s resolve to find a solution grew stronger with each passing day. “Because he also has shortened arms, we realized that […]

When Allison was 21 weeks pregnant, she and her husband, Chris, learned that their son, Jackson, would be born with diastrophic dysplasia, a form of dwarfism. After his birth and spending 37 days in the NICU at their local hospital near their home in Virginia, they began to see specialists for Jackson’s care. “Shortly after learning Jackson’s diagnosis, we connected online with another family whose son also has diastrophic dysplasia,” shares Allison. “They recommended we consult with the skeletal dysplasia team at Nemours Children’s. While Jackson was still in the NICU with feeding issues, we were in contact with Angie Duker, MS, CGC.” In May of 2016, when Jackson was just 3 months old, they made their first visit to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. “As diastrophic dysplasia is not as common as other types of skeletal dysplasia, we were looking to find care from medical professionals with specific and successful experience with the […]

At 17, elite soccer player, Anel, faced a daunting diagnosis of a torn acetabular labrum and femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), threatening his athletic dreams. For Anel, the first signs of trouble appeared during a significant growth spurt. “I initially had pain back in 2022 when I had a growth spurt and never thought anything of it,” Anel shares. Though he dismissed it, the pain persisted, and after months of intermittent issues, his athletic trainer at Jacksonville FC recommended he seek further medical attention. It was then that Anel was referred to Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville. When Anel started receiving treatment from Sports Medicine Director, Dr. Stephanie Pearce and Caitlin Schlosser, MHA, ATC, OTC, they quickly realized the severity of his condition. “They immediately found out the problem with an MRI scan, and we proceeded with a treatment plan,” Anel explains. The first approach was to try a less invasive method, a […]

Megan and Brian were overjoyed when they learned of their pregnancy with Emma. Like many expectant parents, they were filled with excitement and anticipation. However, their journey took an unexpected turn during a routine 24-week OB/GYN visit. Their doctor noticed that Emma’s growth had dropped significantly to the 3rd percentile, a development that immediately raised alarms. “It was recommended we see Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists on account of the high-risk pregnancy,” share Megan and Brian. “After several more visits and an amniocentesis, we learned that Emma had achondroplasia, about one month before she arrived.” Achondroplasia is the most common skeletal dysplasia leading to disproportionate short stature. “We are both average height parents and do not have any family history of achondroplasia, so we did not know a great deal about the condition until we met our sweet Emma,” share Megan and Brian. In Emma’s case, her achondroplasia was caused by a […]

The advanced delivery unit (ADU) at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware recently reached a major milestone — welcoming 300 babies into this world! Expectant parents can take comfort in the comprehensive multidisciplinary care model of the Nemours Advanced Delivery Program, which is designed for babies diagnosed with medical conditions before birth that require a post-delivery intensive care unit stay. This planning ensures that newborns’ medical needs are met, allowing access to nationally renowned pediatric specialists and providing families with necessary support and guidance during a critical time. The story of baby Ricky’s family illustrates the program’s benefits, as they chose to plan his arrival at the Nemours Children’s ADU after he was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect (CHD) before birth. When a Family Learns Their Baby Needs Extra Care Most commonly, families learn their unborn baby will need specialized care during a routine prenatal ultrasound. Ultrasounds during pregnancy are often […]