ARTICLES RELATED TO:
Orthopedics

Diagnosed with hemihypertrophy and leg length discrepancy at just 9 months old, Jeffrey has undergone a complex medical journey, spanning over a decade. His family chose Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware after researching top children’s hospitals near their home in Lehigh Valley, PA. His family was particularly drawn to Dr. Reid Nichols, who would become Jeffrey’s doctor for the next 11 years. Throughout his life, Jeffrey’s treatments have been multifaceted and challenging. Jeffrey underwent several procedures, including an iliotibial fasciotomy/tenotomy, femur shaft osteotomy, and the implantation of a Precice lengthening device, as well as hemiephysiodesis of the distal femur. These interventions were crucial in addressing his leg length discrepancy and associated complications. His mother Amber shares, “We are blessed that Dr. Nichols has been his doctor for 11 years and giving us the best treatment. Her upbeat outlook and confidence in her work gave us the motivation we needed to continue […]

Braulin’s family found out about their son’s diagnosis during Gissette’s pregnancy. Gissette noticed that her local doctor was sending her to do more sonograms and measurements than she had for her previous pregnancies, making Gissette nervous. It was during this time that her care team informed her that Braulin was diagnosed with dwarfism. After receiving the diagnosis, Gissette decided to explore new care options with experts that specialized in dwarfism. “In my country, the Dominican Republic, there wasn’t much information about how to treat or care for a child with dwarfism,” shares Gissette. “I had a lot of questions but no answers. This is when my journey of looking for answers on the internet started.” Through her research, Gissette was able to connect with other parents navigating dwarfism and Little People of America. Once Braulin was born, Gissette took several trips to the United States with Braulin to receive specialized […]

12-year-old Karlee was riding her bike with her brother and cousin when a sudden mishap sent her tumbling to the ground, her left wrist bearing the brunt of the fall. The impact was immediate, and the pain was intense. “When I fell, I landed on my left wrist and felt a sharp pain in my arm,” Karlee recalls. After the accident, a trusted family member recommended they see Dr. John Lovejoy at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida. “All of my doctors and nurses at Nemours were really nice and made sure I was comfortable,” Karlee shares. From the moment she arrived, the team at Nemours took a compassionate approach, ensuring that Karlee felt at ease and understood every step of the process. “Dr. Lovejoy helped me understand what bones I broke and how they planned to fix them,” Karlee says. The detailed breakdown of her injuries and the treatment plan provided […]

Peter, a child with Down syndrome adopted from Hong Kong at the age of 3, has faced numerous health challenges throughout his life. His journey, including multiple surgeries and comprehensive care, is a testament to the importance of dedicated medical support. Peter’s health issues were first identified when his parents noticed he wasn’t thriving. After consulting several specialists, a podiatrist with training at Nemours Children’s referred them to Nemours Children’s Health. After several tests, Peter received a critical diagnosis: his C1-C2 vertebrae were not fused, posing a significant risk to his spinal cord. In September 2017, Peter underwent a lifesaving C1-C2 fusion surgery performed by Dr. William Mackenzie and Dr. Jeffrey Campbell at Nemours. Following the surgery, Peter showed remarkable improvements in various areas, including potty training, communication, and education. However, his journey was far from over as Peter was still experiencing complications with his foot. Further examinations with Dr. […]

During an annual scoliosis screening at Sayuri’s middle school, one of the nurses noticed something unusual about her back. “I remember the nurse checking my back and pointing out that I twisted more to one side, and there was asymmetry with one side rising higher than the other,” Sayuri shares. “She told me that the case is most likely mild or moderate, as the condition was common and those of a higher severity were rare. I was sent home with a letter to my parents to get my back checked.” Sayuri’s initial X-rays confirmed the nurse’s suspicions. “When I got my x-rays done, I was told that I had moderate scoliosis, with a recommendation for a back brace to keep the curve from progressing,” says Sayuri. The diagnosis of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, characterized by a severe S curve, meant that her life would require some adjustments. As Sayuri grew older, […]

As a young athlete, Erin had faced her share of injuries, requiring her to go through physical therapy (PT) several times. These transformative experiences that ignited a passion within her. “The care I received sparked a desire to help others regain their ability to participate in the sports and activities they love,” Erin reflects. Initially, she envisioned a career focused on pediatric rehabilitation, driven by her understanding of the challenges young athletes face. However, during her physical therapy schooling, a neurology rotation at the MS Comprehensive Care Center exposed her to world of neurologic rehabilitation.” I was drawn to the complexity and challenge of working with the neurologic population and discovered a passion for adaptive equipment,” says Erin. After graduating, Erin gained valuable experience in both acute care and outpatient settings. Her skills and knowledge grew with each patient she treated. A few years into her career, she was encouraged […]