ARTICLES RELATED TO:
Orthopedics

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, […]

From the day he was born, Elijah has been surrounded by a team of experts at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, who are dedicated to helping him reach his full potential. Born with several medical complexities, Elijah has met each challenge head-on, making remarkable strides every step of the way. “Nemours has always given Elijah a head start with all his goals,” shares his mom, Priscilla. “He’s been with them since day one.” Priscilla first discovered Nemours Children’s when her oldest son, Elias, needed sleep studies for asthma. The exceptional care Elias received made Nemours an easy choice for Elijah’s treatment. Throughout Elijah’s journey, Nemours has remained a constant source of support. Over the years, Elijah’s care has involved many specialists, including neonatologist Dr. Caroline Chua, who cared for him during his early days in the NICU, and plastic surgeon Dr. Brian Kellogg, who has been instrumental in addressing Elijah’s unique […]

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. […]