Surgery Archives - Nemours Blog | Expert Advice on Children’s Health & Wellness

ARTICLES RELATED TO:
Surgery

A New Chapter in Sleep: Alex’s Story

Alex, a strong, brave, and smart patient with a passion for swimming, soccer, surfing, and music, has been on a long and challenging journey to find a solution for his sleep apnea. Living with Down syndrome, Alex’s struggle with sleep has been particularly difficult, often leaving him tired and unable to function well at school. Despite trying various treatments, including a surgery in October, Alex and his family were still searching for a breakthrough. That’s when Dr. Santino Cervantes, pediatric otolaryngologist at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, recommended the Inspire implant—a groundbreaking treatment to help Down syndrome children with refractory severe sleep apnea. Alex, almost 14, became the first patient at the hospital to receive this innovative implant. The Inspire implant is a device designed to assist with sleep apnea. When activated, the implant enhances the user’s breathing during sleep by giving gentle pulses to the airway muscles to keep the […]

Cleft And Craniofacial Awareness Month: Lex’s Story

When Lex was just a baby, his pediatrician noticed something was off about the shape of his head, leading to a diagnosis of craniosynostosis, a condition where the skull’s sutures fuse prematurely. Craniosynostosis is when one or more seams between bones in a child’s skull close too soon. When this happens, the skull can’t grow properly and develops a different shape. Despite facing multiple surgeries and challenges, Lex and his family have found unwavering support and care at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida. Through it all, Lex has shown incredible resilience.  “His pediatrician noticed that his head shape was not normal and immediately referred us to Nemours,” shares Lex’s mother, Courtney. At Nemours Children’s the medical team conducted a series of tests and scans. In addition to the craniosynostosis, Lex was also found to have elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure, pituitary gland shrinkage, and a host of symptoms, including severe headaches […]

Advocacy and Expertise: Hudson’s Story

Hudson’s persistent symptoms of pain, feeding difficulties, and faltering growth left his mother, Heather, and her husband, searching for an explanation. Hudson’s condition had taken a toll on the family’s daily life. Heather shares, “Hudson would cry and be unsettled for numerous hours in a day. He would throw up his formula, and we had tried seven different types, hoping one would make a difference.” The constant vomiting made it nearly impossible to leave the house, and Heather had to resign from her 18-year career in Special Education to focus on her son’s care. Every day was a struggle, but Heather’s unwavering dedication and advocacy for her son never wavered. Determined to find answers, Heather and her husband reached out to multiple healthcare providers. It wasn’t until a CT scan at 6 months revealed brain swelling due to severe malnutrition that the true extent of Hudson’s condition became clear. “Prior […]

National Cleft & Craniofacial Awareness Month: Dylan’s Story

Born with a unilateral cleft lip and palate, Dylan’s journey has been marked by numerous surgeries and dedicated medical care. But it’s also a story of staying positive and forming lasting connections. A cleft of the lip or palate happens when a baby is born with an opening in the upper lip or the roof of the mouth (the palate). A cleft happens when parts of the lip and/or palate do not fuse together completely. For Dylan, this diagnosis has always been a part of his life. “I can’t really remember much from before then,” he reflects. “I always had the cleft lip and palate, and as a child, I thought it was normal. Every kid went through it.” When Dylan was around 5 years old, his family moved from California to Delaware. This relocation marked the beginning of his long-term relationship with Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. “My mother had to […]

CMV Awareness Month: Nicolas’s Story

At a New Year’s Eve party, Nicolas’s parents noticed something was off when he didn’t react to the loud fireworks. This moment was a turning point, leading to a diagnosis that would change their lives. This incident prompted Nicolas’s family to seek further medical attention for their son. As they delved deeper into Nicolas’s symptoms, it became clear that something more significant was at play. The diagnosis, which came when Nicolas was just two years old, revealed a complex set of challenges: deafness in both ears, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), autism, mixed receptive-expressive language disorder, and global developmental delay. Each of these conditions brought its own set of hurdles, but the impact on communication was particularly clear. The symptoms of congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection can vary. Most babies infected before birth show no symptoms after delivery, but they are at risk for hearing, vision, neurological, and developmental problems. Even babies without clear […]

Uniquely His Own: Bodhi’s Story

From the moment he was born, Bodhi’s life has been full of determination and discovery. Shortly after his birth, he didn’t pass his newborn hearing screening. At just one month old, Bodhi was diagnosed as profoundly deaf in both ears. What came next was a journey of learning, adjusting, and celebrating milestones big and small. In the words of his mom, Tabitha, discover Bodhi’s story: Bodhi is a twin, and prior to receiving treatment at Nemours Children’s Ear, Hearing and Communication Center for cochlear implants and speech therapy, he felt out of the loop – different, and somewhat isolated in his own silent world. Since being referred to Nemours Children’s by our primary care physician, Bodhi can now hear and articulate his needs and desires. His life has completely opened up! He loves music and loves to dance to his favorite songs. He gets to talk to his brother, his […]

Care You Can Trust: Joey’s Story

An exciting birthday party took an unexpected turn when a playful game of tag ended in a traumatic injury. During the celebration, 6-year-old Joey was bitten on the face by a dog, an incident that quickly changed the tone of the day. Thankfully, his parents didn’t have to think twice about where to turn. As longtime patients of Nemours Children’s, they took their son to the place they’ve trusted for years. “We instantly knew we were in the best of hands considering the situation we were facing,” shares Joey’s mom, Shae. “Joey was in incredible pain, and his right lip was in a horrible condition. We were unsure of the severity of his situation, but we knew Nemours would be able to help him and provide him with trusted care. This was proven true upon our arrival.” “The care offered to Joey and the whole family was immediate and genuine,” […]

Rocco’s Journey with Nemours Children’s (In Mom’s Words)

We were at our favorite skate park with friends when my son, Rocco, fell off his skateboard and hurt his leg. We headed straight to the ER, where we found out that Rocco had a closed triplane fracture of his right ankle. While in the ER, they also noticed his blood pressure was high. My first thought was, ‘He just broke his ankle, of course it’s high.’ But the nurse insisted that we make a follow-up appointment with his pediatrician. After a few days of Rocco being home, we checked his blood pressure, and it was still very high. So, we made an appointment with the pediatrician. Rocco’s father was 13 years old when he went into kidney failure. Because of this family history, I asked them to do a full kidney workup on Rocco. A day later, we received a phone call asking us to go to our local […]

Associate Highlight: Yeraldi Geronimo, CCC-SLP, BE

Yeraldi is more than just a speech-language pathologist, she’s a key part in helping children communicate with confidence. As a member of the plastic surgery department at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, Yeraldi works closely with children with cleft lip and palate, craniofacial conditions, and other diagnosis that affect communication. “I have always known that I wanted to work with children,” shares Yeraldi. “My interest in the field was sparked when my mother introduced me to a friend who worked as a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP). After observing her work one day, I was immediately captivated by the profession. What resonated most with me was witnessing the profound impact of effective communication and the ability to help children find their voice.” One of her favorite aspects of working at Nemours Children’s is the culture of teamwork. “I feel incredibly fortunate to work alongside such a talented, supportive, and intelligent group of professionals,” […]

A Path to Better Hearing: Yara’s Story

When Yara was born, her family received news that they hadn’t anticipated – she didn’t pass her newborn hearing screening. While she was a happy baby who responded to sounds and hit developmental milestones, follow-up tests eventually confirmed that she had mild hearing loss. “At first, I had so many questions and concerns about her future – how this might affect her education, her ability to grow into adulthood with this diagnosis,” Yara’s mother, Ashley shares. “But as a family, we knew we would navigate this challenge together.” After receiving a referral from their pediatrician, Yara’s family turned to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida for answers. It was when they met Dr. Morgan Wilcox, pediatric audiologist, that they finally felt they fully understood Yara’s diagnosis. “We immediately felt at ease with Dr. Wilcox and her comforting and reassuring approach,” says Ashley. “She explained everything clearly, answered all our questions, and helped […]

Navigating Vocal Cord Dysfunction: Emma’s Story

At 13 years old, Emma keeps a packed schedule. She’s a multi-sport athlete, playing field hockey and lacrosse and running track. All sports that require endurance, strength, and, of course, strong breathing. But in the summer of 2024, during a track meet, Emma found herself struggling to catch her breath. Emma had experienced breathing issues before and had even been treated for asthma as a child. But this time, things felt different. So, her family turned to a place they knew and trusted: Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. “We’ve been going to Nemours Children’s since Emma was little,” says her mom, Melissa. “Even though we don’t live super close, we’ve always been happy with the care we’ve received there. We continue to go back when we need care beyond what our family doctor can provide.” Emma first saw the pulmonology team at Nemours, but after a thorough evaluation, they suggested the […]

Donate Life Month: Piper’s Story

When Piper was just a year old, her parents, Chris and Erin, noticed something unusual—she woke up one morning with a puffy face. Concerned, they took her to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, where doctors quickly determined there was a kidney issue. What followed was a long and complex journey to find the right diagnosis. After weeks of testing, Dr. Tapia identified Piper’s condition as Denys-Drash Syndrome—a rare and serious kidney disorder with only about 250 known cases worldwide. For the next seven months, Piper underwent treatment, but as her disease progressed, her family faced a difficult decision. To prevent the development of Wilms tumor—an almost certain outcome of Denys-Drash—it was decided Piper’s kidney would be removed under the care of Dr. Stephen Dunn. By December, she received a life-changing gift: a kidney transplant from her dad, Chris. “Dr. Dunn is a gift from God,” says Chris. “He gave our daughter […]

Page 1 of 4

Page 1 of 4

Page 1 of 4