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Patient Stories

When Valerie was 5 years old, Brant and I noticed her energy and endurance greatly decreasing. She was unable to run for more than a minute or even go on a quarter mile walk without needing breaks and getting winded. Her endurance seemed to take a sharp turn for the worse in the summer later that year. She developed abdominal bloating. Her ability to play outside with her brothers or neighborhood friends was becoming increasingly difficult. She also would become overheated easily; she couldn’t be outside in the summer heat for long at all before needing to go back inside to the AC. Her appetite also started to dwindle. All her symptoms reached a level of concern to the point where we needed to investigate a solution with the help of medical professionals. After lab work with the pediatrician to rule out things like diabetes, celiac, and Crohn’s, they performed […]

During Liane Rensing’s 20-week ultrasound, it was discovered that her baby, Mila, had a cleft lip. This diagnosis expanded when Mila was born with a right-sided incomplete unilateral cleft lip and a complete cleft palate. The first year of her life brought challenges to the Rensing family as they learned to navigate caring for Mila. “We learned how to feed and take care of her with feeding devices like special nipples and bottles,” explains Liane. “We had to figure out how to tape specifically designed appliances to Mila’s nose and forehead to prepare her for her cleft surgeries. Miami felt like our second home since we traveled there for Mila’s numerous surgeries and appointments.” In their pursuit of finding the best care for Mila as she grew older, the Rensing family discovered Nemours Children’s Health. Their first experience with Nemours Children’s was with an audiology test and sleep consultations with […]

On December 24, 2022, our world was shattered when we received the heart-wrenching news that our beloved daughter had been diagnosed with stage 2 lymphoma. The holiday season, meant to be joyous, was clouded with the weight of this devastating revelation. Unable to bring ourselves to share the news on Christmas Eve, it was only two days later, post-Christmas, that we found the courage to inform her about the upcoming scans, setting the stage for a challenging but triumphant journey. The initial discussion with her oncologist became the turning point, revealing both the harsh reality of her condition and the hopeful news that it was treatable. Her strength emerged as a beacon of resilience when confronted with this news. She held back tears and faced the daunting question of how much time she might have left in this world. Jessica shares, “I was disappointed and sad by the news. I was […]

My mom has loved me from the very moment she knew I was in her belly. One day, during a routine ultrasound, her fetal care team found a single-vessel umbilical cord. This was concerning since my right kidney was found to be missing during previous anatomy scans. My mom remembers the sonographer looking concerned, telling her that she’d be right back. The next thing she knew, three physicians including her OB/GYN were in the room looking at the monitor with concerned looks of their own. It was at that time that her doctor shared, “the baby has a hole in her heart.” My mom was quickly referred to a pediatric cardiologist for a fetal echocardiogram and a confirmed diagnosis. Throughout my childhood, I went from doctor to doctor, specialist to specialist, until my family and I fell in love with Nemours Children’s Health, Pensacola. The staff at Nemours have been […]

Nemours Children’s Health came into Brandiel’s life when he was having difficulty hearing. Recommended by his school, the hospital has played a pivotal role in their journey. Yaleitza, his mother, remembers the initial challenges they faced with Brandiel growing up. “It was hard,” she says, “He couldn’t hear. We would have to repeat ourselves multiple times. It was just so hard for him.” “I remember when I first found out about his hearing loss diagnosis, it was very difficult for us,” says Yaleitza. Brandiel was diagnosed as deaf in one of his ears. “But Dr. Pritchett made me feel so comfortable with everything.” After some time working with Dr. Pritchett and the team at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, Brandiel was approved for a cochlear implant. Yaleitza, though a bit nervous at first, was excited for this opportunity. Brandiel underwent a cochlear implant procedure when he was 9 years old. Yaleitza […]

Explore a family’s pediatric cancer journey, centered on son Gavin’s diagnosis of Metastatic Ewing Sarcoma and treatment at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Delaware.