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Patient Stories

Jessica, 12-year-old Billy’s mother, recalls the summer of 2022 when they noticed something unusual during their family getaway. “While on vacation, we discovered he had an anal fistula,” she recounts. In April of the following year, Billy experienced his first flare-up, ultimately leading to a diagnosis of Crohn’s disease. Located in their hometown, Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida became a regular visit for Jessica and Billy. “We have lived in Lake Nona for over 11 years,” says Jessica, so they were already familiar with the Nemours Children’s location. From the moment they stepped through the doors, they were greeted by a team of dedicated professionals led by gastroenterologist Dr. Pablo Palomo. Reflecting on their experiences with the Nemours team, Jessica highlights the genuine care and compassion in each interaction. “Billy’s liked everyone he’s ever interacted with,” says Jessica. “My favorite thing about them is how special they make me feel, even […]

From diagnosis to triumph, Ny’Jour’s complex medical journey involving heterotaxy and heart complexities received compassionate care from Nemours Cardiac and Maternal-Fetal Medicine teams.

Esther’s journey with scoliosis began during a routine check-up in the summer of 2020. Her primary care physician discovered the curvature of her spine during a yearly visit, just as Esther was experiencing a growth spurt. Her provider quickly referred Esther to a specialist at Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville, where an X-ray confirmed the diagnosis. “I went to get X-rays and found out my spine was crooked,” Esther shares. “It was unexpected, but I’m grateful we caught it when we did.” Under the care of orthopedic surgeon Dr. Kevin Neal, Esther embarked on an 18 month journey, closely monitoring the progression of her curve, and exploring treatment options. In the beginning, Esther didn’t experience much pain. However, as the curvature of her spine progressed, approaching 60 degrees, the impact on her daily life became increasingly challenging. “Pain didn’t come until the curve progressed horribly over two years or so, and […]

Under the expert care of our dedicated team in Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, Kalani embarked on a path of treatment for juvenile idiopathic scoliosis and neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) at 6 years old. Her journey began in July 2023 when her mother, Monica, noticed a slight curvature in Kalani’s back. Concerned, they sought answers from orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Lovejoy at Nemours Children’s. “An X-ray confirmed that her back had a curvature and an MRI was ordered out of caution to make sure there was not an underlying issue causing the curve,” shares Monica. “The MRI showed she had lesions/tumors believed to be caused by NF1. Following the MRI results, Dr. Lovejoy referred Kalani to oncology and genetics to confirm the diagnosis and begin treatment. When we had a follow-up with Dr. Lovejoy at the end of October 2023, an X-ray showed the curve in Kalani’s spine had gotten worse […]

At just 21 years old, Sparsh has already achieved what many only dream of, inspiring and touching the hearts of millions across the globe. Born with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a condition making his bones extremely fragile, Sparsh faces unique obstacles in his daily life. Unable to bear weight on his hands and legs, he navigates the world differently than other kids. It was Sparsh’s diagnosis of severe scoliosis at the age of 14 that led him to Nemours Children’s Health. During a routine checkup and X-Rays with his local orthopedic doctor, Dr. Thomas McPartland, the scoliosis was discovered. Conversations about spinal fusion surgery immediately began. “My scoliosis required me to rest often in my wheelchair or on my bed to relieve back pressure,” says Sparsh. “It severely affected my posture, which indirectly hampered the function of vital organs such as my lungs, which are important to my singing career!” Sparsh is […]

For Cameron Thackston, 17, what started as a pain in his foot in early 2023, turned out to be something much more serious. He and his mom, Alma, thought it could’ve been tendonitis, only his condition wasn’t improving. The sharp pains continued to the point where the family was forced to take a trip to the emergency room. After a few rounds of testing Cameron received the news. He was diagnosed with cancer. Mom was devastated. “I went into a panic,” she said. And Cameron?  How did he take the news? He had one simple question for the care team. “Is it curable?” he asked. “Yes,” they said. “Cool,” he replied. With his primary diagnosis being T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, his mom admits she was scared. But the family only had one choice. Fight. After rounds of infusions and oral chemotherapy and hours spent on the Hematology-Oncology Floor at Nemours […]