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Collaborative Approaches to Obesity and Diabetes Prevention and Care

Aiden was tall, strong and active, and his weight was only slightly above expected for his age. His family had no cause for concern until he developed severe, unexplained abdominal pain at the age of 10. After multiple checkups and tests, Aiden was diagnosed with a metabolic liver condition. As part of his treatment, he enrolled at the Healthy Weight and Wellness Clinic at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, a multidisciplinary clinic dedicated to supporting and guiding families in helping children improve their health and well-being. Now 13, he is proud of the lifestyle changes he’s made working with the clinic. He’s increased his physical activity and added healthy foods to a balanced diet that still includes some teen favorites. “Now, I’ll snack on a salad, and I never thought I would do that,” he said. Aiden and his mother, Jennifer Downey, spoke at a December symposium titled “Obesity and Diabetes […]

5 Tips to Keep Your Family Healthy This Flu Season

It’s that time of year again: flu season. Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to help you and your kids avoid spending the winter feeling terrible and curled up with a box of tissues. Just ask your child to follow these five tips from our medical experts: Wash Your Hands Washing your hands is the single most effective method of preventing respiratory illnesses, including the flu. Keep in mind, when washing your hands, make sure to scrub for at least 20 seconds. (Just tell your kids that’s about the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice.) Always make sure to wash your hands before and after eating food, after contact with frequently touched surfaces, and after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing. If you don’t have access to soap and water, make sure to use hand sanitizer. Cover Your Coughs (and Sneezes) When you cough or sneeze, […]

A mother and son are sitting together in a living room. She is helping him check his blood sugar levels because he is diabetic.

Nemours Researcher Brings Conversation on Diabetes to National Platform

Being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes is often an overwhelming and life changing experience for children and families. Julia Price, PhD, Pediatric Psychologist at Nemours Children’s Health, works to help patients adjust to life with diabetes, using behavioral interventions to help kids and caregivers communicate about managing this complex illness. A major focus of Price’s work is implementation science, which is aimed at making sure that scientific advances ultimately reach the patients and families who most need them. To raise awareness of this work and demonstrate her leadership in this space, on October 11, Price moderated a panel on community participation and partnerships at a workshop held by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. “This workshop offered a unique opportunity to connect with leaders in the fields of implementation science, health equity and community-engaged research, all focused on […]

All About Walking Pneumonia (Mycoplasma Pneumonia) in Kids

Between colds, the flu, and other viruses, lots of kids get sick in the fall. This year it could be due to a lung infection called walking pneumonia that’s becoming more common, especially in young children. It’s also known as mycoplasma pneumonia since it’s often caused by the bacteria mycoplasma pneumoniae. While usually mild, it can still make kids uncomfortable and cause breathing problems. Here’s what you need to know about this rising health issue. What is walking pneumonia? Walking pneumonia is a kind of bacterial infection that affects the lungs. It tends to cause milder symptoms than other forms of pneumonia, so children who have it feel well enough to walk around instead of staying in bed. This is why it’s called “walking pneumonia.” How common is walking pneumonia in kids? Each year, about 2 million people get walking pneumonia. Since spring, the infection has been more common than […]

Angels in Scrubs: Kimberly’s Story

When Kimberly’s son was 4 years old, he ran to answer the phone—his favorite uncle was calling. As he ran into the carpeted family room, he tripped and fell, head-first into the brick fireplace. Kimberly says, “As we know, head lacerations bleed profusely. However, being my first child, having his first major injury, and being pregnant with my second child, I was an absolute mess. My training First Aid Training from being in the fire service went right out the window, as it was now my child injured.” Within all her panic, Kimberly immediately knew the best care for her child and knew exactly where to take him. “Born and raised in Philadelphia and moving to Delaware in my teens, I always heard about Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. ‘Take your child to Nemours Children’s’ ‘Nemours is the best,’ but I never had to go there myself, so I had no […]

18 Years Cancer-Free: Andrew’s Story

When Andrew, now 28, reflects on his journey with Nemours Children’s Health, he describes it as nothing short of miraculous. Diagnosed with hepatoblastoma that had metastasized to his lungs and brain as a child, Andrew’s journey to recovery has been thanks to his expert medical care and unwavering support system. In November 1999, 3-year-old Andrew woke up in the middle of the night complaining of shoulder and abdomen pain. His parents, concerned, took him to the pediatrician in Augusta, Georgia, where appendicitis was initially suspected, and surgery scheduled. However, a perceptive surgeon, recalling a rare medical condition from his studies, insisted on further tests. The results were alarming: Andrew’s cancer markers were sky-high, pointing to a serious diagnosis. The local medical team quickly realized they needed specialized help, so he was transferred to a children’s hospital. The surgeons there reached out to Dr. Adela Casas-Melley, who was working at Nemours […]

Family Advocacy: How Cancer took Cameron to Chords and Capitol Hill

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 […]

Pediatric Cancer Second Opinions

Learn what second opinions are, why they matter, and how to get one for your child’s cancer diagnosis. Trust in expert care at Nemours Children’s Health.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: Charlie’s Story (In Mom’s Words)

In February 2023, we noticed a sore develop on Charlie’s side. But being a normal 3-year-old little boy, we shook it off as a stick poke or a bug bite from playing outside. As time progressed, not only did the sore get bigger, but Charlie started falling asleep on the couch and experiencing fevers of 102-103 degrees. We took Charlie to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida’s Emergency Room in Orlando where the doctors closely examined him before calling in Dr. Alexander, an infectious disease specialist. Dr. Alexander was very kind and helped us think through different ideas of what this could be. They took a biopsy and sent us home on an antibiotic and instructions to follow up with our pediatrician. A week later, there had been no signs of healing. Charlie’s lymph node in his armpit near the wound had become swollen. After following up with his pediatrician two times […]

Page 2 of 12

Page 2 of 12

Page 2 of 12