This article originally appeared in STAT on December 15, 2016. When 6-month-old Asher Camp was diagnosed with type 1 spinal muscular atrophy, a leading genetic cause of infant mortality, his family measured his life in days, not years. They dreaded the future, wondering how much time they would have with their beautiful baby boy. Parents of children with type 1 spinal muscular atrophy aren’t guaranteed to see their baby’s first steps, first day at school, or other treasured milestones that make up a child’s life. Instead, they watch anxiously as developmental milestones are missed, as common colds require trips to the emergency room, and as hope fades for reaching the day when a cure becomes available. Asher got lucky. He was able to take advantage of a life-changing opportunity, the kind that needs to be available to all children. Just a month after Asher’s parents, Amanda and Jeremy Camp of Lakeland, […]

The holidays are supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but for many of us, they can be challenging. Family conflicts, strained budgets, and physical exhaustion can all put a damper on holiday cheer. Here are a few tips to help avoid these pitfalls, and keep your family happy and healthy this season. 1. Spend quality time together as a family. Quality family time increases children’s social skills, sense of self-worth, and improves family relationships. So use the holidays as an opportunity for your family to spend positive time together. Try doing fun activities like baking, decorating, or playing games. You could try an activity that you’ve never attempted before, perhaps like sewing or embroidering – check out these machine embroidery designs, there could be something that inspires you or scratches your creative itch. It’s a great activity to get to grips with alone or with others! […]

The hustle and bustle of the holidays is fully upon us. The family gatherings, the dinner parties, the shopping, the gifts, the … trash! Have you ever noticed how your trash cans are overflowing in the days following your holiday get-togethers? While there’s no need to radically change your holiday traditions, there are simple things you and your family can do to create eco-friendly holidays. You can “green” up your holidays and – bonus – save some green too! 1. Choose eco-friendly gifts. While out shopping for family and friends, why not shop with the environment in mind? Look for items made from recycled materials like glass, metal, plastic, or paper. Or give gifts that get used up, like soap, food, or candles. You can also give gifts that help people cut down on waste. Reusable grocery or produce bags and refillable water bottles come in a large variety of […]

There’s no getting around it: Screens are everywhere. Take a look around next time you’re at a restaurant, coffee shop, on the bus, at the park, or even in your own home. How many people — adults and kids — have their eyes on a screen instead of on the world around them? Of course there is a time and place for screen time. But as the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) announces new recommendations for children’s media use, it’s a good reminder for all of us to get our own media use in check. New AAP Recommendations for Screen Time For children younger than 18 months Avoid use of screen media altogether, except for “video chatting” (e.g., letting Grandma and Grandpa see or talk to your little one). For children 18 to 24 months of age If you want to introduce digital media during this age, choose high-quality programming and watch […]

“No pain, no gain.” “Walk it off.” “He has a high tolerance for pain.” I’ve heard each one of these quotes and more during my many years as a pediatric orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine. Many of them are actively detrimental to the health of your child, not just at that moment but when they grow into a professional athlete as well. As you already know sports injuries can be life-changing, that’s why many professional athletes take out long term disability insurance in case they are left permanently out of action. Would you be willing to put your child at risk of permanent injury because of a few false preconceived notions you can easily avoid? The answer should always be “no”. How many sports injury myths do you believe to be true? Here’s a list of the most popular things I hear regarding preventing and dealing with sports injuries, […]

It’s no secret that traditional holiday recipes contain high amounts of saturated fat, salt and sugar — three ingredients that can be harmful to our health when consumed in excess. These are also ingredients that can be easily substituted with healthier alternatives. Try some healthy holiday makeovers by using the following ingredient swaps to improve the nutritional quality of your favorite holiday meals, snacks and desserts. Saturated Fat Use low-fat or skim milk in place of whole milk or heavy cream. Choose baking, grilling or steaming as your cooking method instead of frying. Use equal parts of applesauce (no sugar added) instead of butter in baking. Use Greek yogurt to replace or decrease the amount of oil, butter, mayonnaise, sour cream, heavy cream and buttermilk. Use vegetable oils, such as olive or canola oil, in place of butter for a healthier fat source. Salt Choose low-sodium, reduced-sodium or no-salt-added products such as […]