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Fearing the Worst from a Cleft Lip Diagnosis: Skyler’s Story

Contributed by Skyler’s mom Danielle. At my 20-week ultrasound, I couldn’t wait to learn if I was having a boy or a girl.  It was gender reveal day, but it also turned out to be the day I learned that my little girl, Skyler, would be born with a cleft lip. Before meeting Dr. Edward J. Caterson, a cleft surgeon expert at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware and, his nurse practitioner, Kim Giordano, MSN, CPNP- BC, CORLN, I was so scared, fearing the worst. But as soon as I met them, I felt a huge sense of relief.  Most importantly, Dr. Caterson and Kim were always there for me when I needed them most—to answer my questions or to just reassure me.   Quite surprisingly, when Skyler was born she had no trouble latching on and breast-feeding despite her cleft lip. She has continued to surprise us, with her resiliency after […]

Living a Full Life with Osteogenesis Imperfecta: Adira’s Story

Contributed by Adira’s mom Ashley. The first inkling that something wasn’t right came at my first ultrasound. My baby’s femur was bent at a 90-degree angle when it was supposed to be straight. A subsequent ultrasound showed fractures in her skull and irregular shaped ribs.  I was referred to a large prenatal referral center for an amniocentesis that confirmed a diagnosis of Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI).  Consultations with the prenatal group suggested that this form of OI was very severe and incompatible with life.   I was devastated and searched the internet to find help. Miraculously, I connected with a mother who had been in a similar situation.  She referred me to the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Program at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware.  We met the entire OI team the same day and geneticist, Dr. Michael Bober told us, “I promise you that we will do everything we can for your baby.”  Additional […]

A Heart to Remember: Vea’s Story

For the Tsoflias family, the past year has been a roller coaster of emotion, disbelief, heartbreak and ultimately, hope. It all began when a routine 20-week ultrasound revealed an abnormality. Brittany, an expectant first-time mom, was referred to Nemours Children’s fetal cardiologist, Shubhika Srivastava for a fetal echo and soon learned that her baby had a very rare congenital heart defect called Ebstein’s Anomaly.  The defect is linked to an abnormality in the tricuspid valve, causing it to leak and if left unchecked, would result in heart failure. To correct the defect, surgery would be required.  Knowing that her baby would need highly specialized heart care immediately after birth, Brittany delivered Vea through the Advanced Delivery Program at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. “What an amazing experience. I felt special, says Brittany, because everyone went above and beyond for me.” Recognized as a surgical expert in this type of complex heart […]

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 […]

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

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 […]

Ashley's Epilepsy Story -- From Fear to Fearless

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 […]

Nathan's Story

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, […]

A Local Partnership With Global Impact

How did two children’s healthcare organizations in Jacksonville, Florida care for kids 7,000 miles away? Jonathan Soud was a 12-year-old patient at Wolfson Children’s Hospital and Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville, being treated for leukemia. During his treatments, his doctors and family spent a lot of time talking to him about his interests in travel and other cultures, especially the country of Mongolia. Eric Sandler, MD, is a pediatric hematologist/oncologist at Wolfson Children’s Hospital and chair of the department of pediatrics at Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville. He developed a special bond with Jonathan during treatments, sharing his own fascination with distant lands. Dr. Sandler also discovered that Jonathan had an interest in serving others. “After he passed away, his parents came to me and said they wanted to figure out a way to honor Jonathan’s memory,” said Dr. Sandler. “Since we had had all those conversations regarding Mongolia, his family decided to […]

CHA Family Advocacy Week

Family Advocacy Week: Nemours Patients Share Their Stories

This past year and a half has been tough on all of us, especially our children and youth. For so many, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed life as we know it. But for Nemours patients Kate and Sebastian, the pandemic is just one of many life-changing events they’ve faced. And that’s why they are both sharing their medical journeys to members of Congress during the 2021 Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) “Speak Now for Kids’ Family Advocacy Week,” to increase awareness about the ongoing and essential care provided by children’s hospitals. Kate’s Story When she was just 2 years old, Kate McKinery was diagnosed with optic pathway glioma, a brain tumor that interferes with her optic nerve and impacts her sight. The tumor also causes hormone deficiencies, resulting in abnormal liver function, type 2 diabetes and a full height potential of around 4’2. Kate has undergone multiple procedures, tests and appointments […]

Celebrating Each Moment with Cancer in the Rearview

This blog post is written by Larry, the father of Maddie, a medulloblastoma patient who survived a brain tumor at the age of 2. Larry inspires us by sharing his daughter’s story. “Heroism is endurance for one moment more.”      George F. Kennan In the fall of 2008, at the age of two, our daughter Maddie was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a brain tumor that arises at the base of the brain and often spreads down through the spine via the spinal fluid. Over the course of the next ten months, Maddie underwent multiple brain and spine surgeries and intense chemotherapy protocols at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. After six cycles of chemo treatment, she had made amazing progress, knocking out 90% of her original disease. Because her scans were not completely cancer-free, she then went through an additional six weeks of radiation therapy. Conquering Cancer The effects of radiation on a 3-year-old can […]

Dynamic Dan!

This blog post is written by Amy, the mother of Dan, a mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) patient who passed away in 2016 at the age of 19. Amy is a Nemours nurse and her son’s story inspires us and others every day. When Dan was born in September 1996, we were told he was a healthy baby. He joined his sister, Haley, who was 2 years old and we thought our lives were perfect. We had this sweet little family with a precious little girl and strapping baby boy. We had just moved to a new house, both had good jobs, life was good. As Dan developed, he hit all his milestones except for one; he wasn’t talking by the age of 2. He had about 20 ear infections in his first 2 years of life and the pediatrician thought his lack of language was due to him not hearing well. We went to an ENT at […]

Help for Hungry Children - Summer Food Program and School Meals

Help for Hungry Children – Summer Food Program and School Meals

Summer and fun: two words that go hand-in-hand, especially when you’re talking about kids.  However, summer break looks very different for many children. For millions of children from low-income households across the U.S., summer months mean no access to school meals, which may sometimes be the only nutritious food available. And even more children will have less food on their table this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. For summer 2021 and 2022, the USDA has launched a new summer food program that will help all low-income children of all ages have nutritious meals and snacks. School Meals Help Keep Kids Healthy During the school year, many schools provide students with access to meals through federal school meal programs like the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program. These programs are run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and state agencies, who reimburse schools that provide healthy meals […]

Page 27 of 31

Page 27 of 31

Page 27 of 31