ARTICLES RELATED TO:
Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley

On the second day after Nello’s birth, a doctor, in the hospital, initially diagnosed him with hemihypertrophy. However, due to additional side effects associated with the condition, we understood that further testing would be necessary to confirm and fully understand his diagnosis. Prior to receiving treatment at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, we found ourselves frequently visiting doctors to rule out potential diagnoses and ultimately determine the full scope of his medical condition. We discovered Nemours Children’s because someone recommended Dr. Thacker, an orthopedic doctor, and we made an appointment immediately. For 14 years, Dr. Thacker has been our trusted physician. His charismatic personality, exceptional bedside manner, and genuine empathy create a uniquely comforting patient experience. During appointments, I never feel rushed; instead, he makes me feel like the most important patient of the day. Our first visit to Nemours immediately impressed us with its efficient and organized environment. The clinicians […]

At 17 years old, Haley is already a seasoned competitor on the golf course, but her path to success hasn’t been without challenges. Diagnosed with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis at age 12, Haley’s journey brought her to Nemours Children’s Health, Winter Garden, where she found the care and support she needed to thrive. It all started in 6th grade when Haley’s trainer noticed that one side of her back was higher than the other during a routine assessment at a sports-specific gym. A visit to her pediatrician and an X-ray confirmed a 34-degree curve in her spine. Initially, treatment included wearing a nighttime back brace from 6th to 9th grade, but the curve progressed to 52 degrees over the next two years, requiring spinal fusion surgery. By the time she started high school, Haley started experiencing back pain, which impacted her sleep and daily life—and, more importantly, her golf game. “The […]

Learn how the team at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, helped Dawson and his family navigate the challenges of a rare spinal tumor.

15-year-old Mackenzie has always been active, with a passion for playing sports. But after a snowboarding accident in 2023 resulted in a meniscus tear in her left knee, she had to take a step back from her favorite activities. After the accident, a local doctor recommended surgery and Mackenzie’s primary care physician referred her to Dr. Su, a sports medicine surgeon at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. “Dr. Su is hands down the best!” shares her mother, Teena. “He explained everything so that both Mackenzie and I could understand.” With Dr. Su’s guidance, Mackenzie underwent meniscus repair surgery for her left knee. But just as she was beginning to recover, life threw another curveball—a second injury, this time to her right knee. Knowing exactly where to turn, Teena says they didn’t hesitate to reach out to Dr. Su again. Through both surgeries, Mackenzie found the support she needed at Nemours Children’s, […]

When Marissa noticed her 5-year-old son, Brooks, limping in late 2023, she didn’t think too much of it at first. His pediatrician assumed it might be “growing pains,” but when the pain persisted into the new year, Marissa’s concern grew. After a pediatrician visit in January 2024, Marissa’s intuition led her to push for an X-ray. Having experienced Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease as a child herself, she recognized the signs. Still, his doctors had reassured Marissa it wasn’t genetic. That same day, an X-ray confirmed Brooks had Perthes in his right hip, a disease that changes the hip joint and the way bone grows at the top of the thighbone. “I was seen at Nemours as a child and had amazing care, so I immediately knew we wanted to take him there,” says Marissa. A few days later, Brooks had an appointment with Dr. Mihir Thacker, an orthopedic specialist at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. […]

16-year-old Lucy McCloskey knows what it takes to persevere. As a two-sport varsity high school athlete, she never imagined an injury would turn her world upside down. But after a serious fall during a home game, Lucy was diagnosed with an avulsion fracture of the ischial tuberosity, a painful upper leg injury that left her bedridden, unable to attend school, and struggling to perform even basic tasks like walking or sitting. “It was the worst pain of my life,” Lucy recalls. But thanks to a timely referral from a teammate’s mom, Kelly Quaile, Lucy found herself under the expert care of Dr. Brett Shannon and physical therapist Jeffery Ruth at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. Lucy’s treatment journey began with Dr. Shannon, who took the time to understand her concerns as an athlete. “He explained all the steps to surgery and even made non-invasive routes available,” Lucy says, appreciating the way […]