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Patient Stories

At Marcella’s 20-week ultrasound, she learned that her unborn child, Brody, had skeletal dysplasia. This news caused a whirlwind of emotions, but little did she know that this journey would lead her to the incredible team at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, setting them on a path of resilience and discovery. With this news, Marcella dove into gathering information to understand the unique challenges that Brody might face. Although they lived in Wichita, KS, her research led her to the Nemours Children’s Orthopedics team. Brody’s first appointment at Nemours didn’t come until six months, although Marcella was in touch with the skeletal dysplasia team shortly after he was born. She connected with Colleen Ditro, DNP, CPNP who would become an integral part of Brody’s journey. As Brody came into the world, so did a definitive diagnosis of diastrophic dysplasia, a rare genetic condition that causes dwarfism. Their local NICU was ill-equipped to […]

In 2023, Stephanie, a mom and homeschool teacher from Virginia, found herself expecting her fourth child. Little did she know, this journey would lead her family to Nemours Children’s Health, bringing them expert care for her newborn son, Sawyer, who was diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) a condition that affects bone strength. In someone with OI, bones may break (fracture) easily, resulting from minor trauma or no clear cause. Before Sawyer’s arrival, Chris and Stephanie’s life felt complete with their three children: Cassie, Evan, and Eli. While unexpected, the news of a new addition to the family was quickly met with surprise and excitement. The entire family eagerly prepared for their newest member’s arrival. On a whim, Stephanie decided to take advantage of an extra ultrasound through a free service that was offered at her Pregnancy Resource Center. She wanted her other children to be involved and thought this was […]

Yanex’s story began at just nine months old, when his primary care physician noticed something amiss. Keyshla, his mother, recalls that during a routine check-up, she expressed concerns about Yanex’s lack of developmental progress. He wasn’t attempting to sit or crawl, and his movements were limited to lifting his head when placed face down. However, it was Yanex’s head shape that raised the most concern for his doctor. During this check-up, Yanex’s physician ordered an X-ray. That day, the report arrived with a diagnosis of craniosynostosis. Craniosynostosis, a problem where one or more seams between bones in a child’s skull closes too soon, had a significant impact on Yanex’s life prior to treatment. “Yanex only looked comfortable when he was in the car seat, stroller, swing or while being held,” says Keyshla. “He was also exclusively breastfeeding for over a year. Yanex was not independent in the slightest, as if […]

In the world of competitive dance, every movement is crucial. For Kiara “Katie” Rodriguez, her dance journey took an unexpected turn when, at the age of 15, when she began experiencing hip pain. What felt like a pulled muscle led her to Nemours Children’s Health, Celebration, where she met with her pediatrician, Dr. Janette Magarino. “We all agreed it might be a pulled muscle,” says Katie. “So, we were told to rest and ice the area and take an anti-inflammatory. However, being the type to not complain, I would just dance through the pain.” As a dedicated dancer, Katie spends five hours a day, six days a week perfecting her craft. As she continued to dance, the pain got worse. “When I was home, the pain was unbearable and at times would leave me screaming or crying,” says Katie. “I couldn’t deal with the pain so I often would lose […]

Explore the resilience of the human spirit in Chase’s inspiring battle with T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a testament to love, support, and determination.

Follow David’s remarkable journey from a patient with pectus excavatum to a pediatric OR nurse at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Delaware.