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Jason’s story began with a seemingly innocent complaint, ear pain. Concerned for her son, Andrea Salicia vividly remembers the moment she first suspected something was wrong with her son Jason. While feeding him, she noticed that he was twitching, and it didn’t appear to be normal newborn behavior. A few days later, in a terrifying incident, Jason began gasping for air during a feeding, followed by a more severe twitch. Panicked, Salicia rushed him to the Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida emergency room. It was there that a nurse informed her that Jason’s “twitches” were actually seizures, prompting further investigation. This nurse also thought that he might have a condition called DiGeorge syndrome but didn’t want to say anything until it was confirmed. The medical team then performed a spinal tap and various tests, which led to a diagnosis of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, also known as 22q or DiGeorge syndrome, at […]

Shawn and Tammy Rolquin are a remarkable couple who share a dedication to making a difference in the lives of children and families. Tammy, a Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) Registered Nurse, and Shawn, the Manager of the Critical Care Transport Team and Transfer Center, both work for Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida. While they may have distinct roles within Nemours, the pair occasionally find their paths crossing. The surgical department where Tammy works overlooks the helicopter pad and ambulance bay, offering her an exciting viewing point. “When the timing is perfectly aligned for the both of us,” Tammy says, “I can watch Shawn take off or land in the helicopter. We get to exchange a quick wave and a smile. We are both usually quite busy, but this small occasional moment is very impactful and special for us.” Shawn and Tammy met in college through a mutual friend. “His truck broke […]

Join Gianna’s inspiring journey from a mysterious illness to a leukemia diagnosis, her tailored treatment at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware.

Para leer este blog en español, haz clic aquí! It all began when Arianna was just one year old. We noticed that one of her eyes was red and had a strange white spot in her pupil. Worried, we took her to her pediatrician, who immediately sensed that something was not right. We were referred to an ophthalmologist and then to a hospital, where she was diagnosed with a large mass in her eye. This mass was pushing her eye outward, so an emergency surgery was performed that same day to remove it. The surgery was successful, or so we thought. However, a few days later, the pathology results delivered the most devastating news: the mass was malignant. It was cancer. Arianna began chemotherapy treatment, going through six exhausting sessions. After that, she was discharged, but unfortunately, proper follow-up was not done to evaluate her other eye. Three years later, […]

Sigue la inspiradora historia de Arianna en su travesía con el retinoblastoma bilateral y desafíos auditivos, mientras mantiene su espíritu inquebrantable.

Jason’s story began with a seemingly innocent complaint, ear pain. Concerned for her son, Andrea promptly scheduled an appointment with their Nemours Children’s Health primary care pediatrician, Dr. John Clore. Initially, the diagnosis appeared to be a mild outer ear infection. However, later that day Jason began vomiting consistently. The family returned to Dr. Clore’s office, who advised them to seek emergency care at our hospital. Little did they know that this visit would mark the start of a challenging journey. Jason was tested for various illnesses, including strep, flu, and COVID-19, but all the results came back negative. It wasn’t until they reached the emergency room at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida that the real diagnosis was discovered – strep A in Jason’s bloodstream. Jason developed a rare complication from his infection of severely increased intracranial pressure. This led to constant excruciating head pain and double vision. He was at significant […]