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As a parent, it’s natural to have concerns about your child’s development, and conditions like lip and tongue ties can be confusing, especially with the images they evoke of a tongue-tied baby. Anywhere from 1% to 11% of newborns have signs of tongue tie, or ankyloglossia (ang-kuh-low-GLOSS-ee-uh), according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Lip and tongue ties aren’t cause for a lot of worry on their own, but they can affect feeding, speech, and oral health, or even be indicators of related conditions. Here are some other common questions about lip and tongue ties, including how to recognize the signs, their potential impact, and what to consider when making treatment decisions. What Are Lip and Tongue Ties?  Which Parts of the Mouth Are Affected? How Do I Know If It’s a Lip or Tongue Tie? Identifying lip and tongue ties can be challenging. Tied tongue in newborns is often […]

12-year-old Mia was enjoying an afternoon at a friend’s birthday party when in a matter of moments, the day took an unexpected turn. When reaching down to pet the friend’s dog, it became startled and bit Mia in the face. The bite tore off most of her left nostril and left a puncture in her cheek. Immediately, Mia was taken to the emergency room where doctors moved quickly to treat her injuries. It became clear that Mia would need reconstructive surgery. Determined to find expert surgeons for Mia’s procedure, her parents turned to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. “Living close by we had always heard that the best pediatric care is at Nemours,” shares her mother, Courtney. “We knew for something this serious we needed the best hospital.” At their first appointment with Dr. Mario Aycart and the plastic surgery team at Nemours Children’s, it was explained to Mia’s family that […]

When Blake was just 2 years old, her mom, Kimberly, noticed she was experiencing back pain. “Blake was crying in her car seat and reaching for her back,” Kimberly recalls. Concerned, they decided to seek medical help. An MRI of Blake’s spine revealed a Chiari malformation and two Tarlov cysts, conditions that would significantly impact her life. As Blake continued to grow, simple activities like sitting or standing were sources of pain, making it difficult for her to enjoy the things most children take for granted. At school, she had to use a special chair and cushion to alleviate some of the discomfort. Family life was also affected, as long car trips were out of the question due to the intense pain Blake experienced. Now 13 years old, Blake has been a Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware patient nearly all her life, receiving care from the orthopedics, neurology, and neurosurgery departments. […]

What began as an upset stomach evolved into a journey with Crohn’s Disease for Nemours Children’s patient, Alejandra. “It all started with an upset stomach that continued over time, immediately after eating, at the age of 8,” shares Alejandra. The persistent discomfort became a daily challenge that began to affect her quality of life. “Physical activities also had to be reduced, including physical education (PE), as performance declined considerably. Psychological aspects also erupted, with certain levels of anxiety.” From the moment they walked through the doors of Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, Alejandra and her family found themselves in capable hands, guided by a team of dedicated specialists. After the family’s recent move from Miami, they were diligent in their search for the best possible care for Alejandra. Their research led them to Dr. Pablo Palomo and the gastroenterology team at Nemours. The journey to a diagnosis was not straightforward. It […]

Alex, a strong, brave, and smart patient with a passion for swimming, soccer, surfing, and music, has been on a long and challenging journey to find a solution for his sleep apnea. Living with Down syndrome, Alex’s struggle with sleep has been particularly difficult, often leaving him tired and unable to function well at school. Despite trying various treatments, including a surgery in October, Alex and his family were still searching for a breakthrough. That’s when Dr. Santino Cervantes, pediatric otolaryngologist at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, recommended the Inspire implant—a groundbreaking treatment to help Down syndrome children with refractory severe sleep apnea. Alex, almost 14, became the first patient at the hospital to receive this innovative implant. The Inspire implant is a device designed to assist with sleep apnea. When activated, the implant enhances the user’s breathing during sleep by giving gentle pulses to the airway muscles to keep the […]

Nico’s cardiac journey began before he was born. Going into her pregnancy with Nico, Sierra shared her concern about a family history of heart defects with her midwife. This led to a referral to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida. At 17 weeks, Dr. Claudia Taboada, a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist, suspected a complex congenital heart defect during an ultrasound. Later, at 22 weeks, a fetal echo confirmed that Nico had the same defect as his father: Dextro-Transposition of the Great Arteries (D-TGA). A congenital heart defect where the aorta and pulmonary artery are switched, resulting in abnormal blood flow and oxygenation. “Once we found out that Nico had D-TGA, we were told that he would have to have open heart surgery and it would have to be done in Orlando, which is about 6 hours away from home,” shares Sierra. “Preparing for the relocation and his birth/surgery was stressful, but we […]