ARTICLES RELATED TO:
Orthopedics

At the age of 13, Zoe received a diagnosis of scoliosis during a routine check-up at her primary care physician’s office. A noticeable hump in her shoulder raised concerns, prompting a referral to Nemours Children’s Health at Lakeland Regional Health. There, X-rays revealed severe scoliosis. The results were sent to Dr. Joseph Khoury‘s office, and an appointment with him was quickly scheduled. Before receiving treatment at Nemours, Zoe’s scoliosis had a great impact on her life. It affected her self-esteem, as the curve in her back and waist made her feel uncomfortable in her own skin. She expressed that her clothes didn’t fit right, and she often experienced discomfort while sleeping. The path to Nemours for Zoe and her family was driven by both trust and research. Zoe’s primary care physician recommended Dr. Khoury, who was known for his successful treatments of scoliosis. Furthermore, a family friend who worked at […]

At Marcella’s 20-week ultrasound, she learned that her unborn child, Brody, had skeletal dysplasia. This news caused a whirlwind of emotions, but little did she know that this journey would lead her to the incredible team at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, setting them on a path of resilience and discovery. With this news, Marcella dove into gathering information to understand the unique challenges that Brody might face. Although they lived in Wichita, KS, her research led her to the Nemours Children’s Orthopedics team. Brody’s first appointment at Nemours didn’t come until six months, although Marcella was in touch with the skeletal dysplasia team shortly after he was born. She connected with Colleen Ditro, DNP, CPNP who would become an integral part of Brody’s journey. As Brody came into the world, so did a definitive diagnosis of diastrophic dysplasia, a rare genetic condition that causes dwarfism. Their local NICU was ill-equipped to […]

In 2023, Stephanie, a mom and homeschool teacher from Virginia, found herself expecting her fourth child. Little did she know, this journey would lead her family to Nemours Children’s Health, bringing them expert care for her newborn son, Sawyer, who was diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) a condition that affects bone strength. In someone with OI, bones may break (fracture) easily, resulting from minor trauma or no clear cause. Before Sawyer’s arrival, Chris and Stephanie’s life felt complete with their three children: Cassie, Evan, and Eli. While unexpected, the news of a new addition to the family was quickly met with surprise and excitement. The entire family eagerly prepared for their newest member’s arrival. On a whim, Stephanie decided to take advantage of an extra ultrasound through a free service that was offered at her Pregnancy Resource Center. She wanted her other children to be involved and thought this was […]

In the world of competitive dance, every movement is crucial. For Kiara “Katie” Rodriguez, her dance journey took an unexpected turn when, at the age of 15, when she began experiencing hip pain. What felt like a pulled muscle led her to Nemours Children’s Health, Celebration, where she met with her pediatrician, Dr. Janette Magarino. “We all agreed it might be a pulled muscle,” says Katie. “So, we were told to rest and ice the area and take an anti-inflammatory. However, being the type to not complain, I would just dance through the pain.” As a dedicated dancer, Katie spends five hours a day, six days a week perfecting her craft. As she continued to dance, the pain got worse. “When I was home, the pain was unbearable and at times would leave me screaming or crying,” says Katie. “I couldn’t deal with the pain so I often would lose […]

As an infant, I had gross motor delays. I did not sit up until I was a year old or walk until I was two years. I was placed in a developmental preschool in my township in Maple Shade, New Jersey. When I was four years old, the physical therapist through that program felt that I needed a hip X-ray, as she thought I might have hip dysplasia. It was recommended that I be taken to Dr. Bowen at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. Dr. Bowen diagnosed me with Bilateral Congenital Hip Dysplasia. Because my Hip Dysplasia diagnosis was caught so much later in life (normally diagnosed in infancy), I had to have multiple surgeries, when I was around four and eight years old, to reconstruct my hip sockets. I was in a body cast after each set of surgeries. Later, when I was 14 years old, I developed […]

Follow the remarkable story of Mason, a brave 5-year-old born with diastrophic dysplasia, as his family finds hope and specialized care at Nemours.