ARTICLES RELATED TO:
Orthopedics

When Logan was born at just 31 weeks, his parents knew his journey would be anything but typical. After a complicated pregnancy and an early arrival, Logan faced significant medical challenges from the very start. Diagnosed with Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL) and later with Cerebral Palsy and Autism, his early years were filled with therapies, surgeries, and specialists as his family sought the best possible care. Melissa, Logan’s mom, was determined to give her son every opportunity to thrive. From traveling to St. Louis for eye surgery and Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR) to consulting with a CP specialist in Texas, their family left no stone unturned. But when Logan was 8 years old and they were faced with the decision of hip surgery, their search led them to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, and Dr. Wade Shrader. The decision to pursue an osteotomy was not an easy one. “We consulted with numerous […]

Six-year-old Mia is a vibrant, outgoing little girl who lights up every room she enters. Born with several rare and complex medical conditions, Mia has already undergone more surgeries than many will face in a lifetime. Her resilience, boundless energy, love for singing and dancing, and dreams of becoming a nurse (or the next Taylor Swift!) inspire everyone around her. Mia’s medical journey began the day she was born, bringing with it a unique set of challenges. Diagnosed with Pierre Robin Sequence, complete tracheal rings, infantile scoliosis, hip dysplasia, ulnar dysplasia, an ectopic pelvic kidney, and clubfeet, Mia quickly showed she was ready to tackle whatever came her way. “Mia was immediately transported to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware from our local hospital right after she was born,” shares her mother, Janelle. “She was in the NICU for 65 days. I drove back and forth, from Wildwood NJ to Wilmington DE, […]

Brooke knows firsthand the challenges of living with back pain. As a dedicated gymnast, she had always been active and driven, but last fall, her world shifted when lingering pain from a back injury turned into something much more debilitating. “My back pain heavily influenced my everyday life,” Brooke shared. “I had to quit gymnastics and was in pain all the time. I couldn’t go an hour without some sort of pain or ache throughout my back.” The search for answers was anything but easy. From August to November, Brooke and her family visited multiple doctors, only to leave each appointment without a diagnosis. Their frustration continued until September, when they found Dr. Shah at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. “He immediately knew what was wrong and how to address it,” shares Brooke. “No other doctor had been able to at that point.” Dr. Shah diagnosed Brooke with spondylolysis, a condition […]

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 […]

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, […]