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PATIENT STORIES

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 […]

PATIENT STORIES

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 […]

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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 […]

PATIENT STORIES

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,” […]

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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 […]

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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,” […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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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 […]

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From Trauma to Triumph: Briar’s Story

10-year-old Briar is no stranger to adventure. An active and energetic boy, he loved riding his mini bike—until a life-changing accident on September 18, 2024, left him with serious injuries. While riding, Briar was hit by a car, suffering fractures to his leg, both hands, clavicle, and skull, as well as trauma to his leg and chest. He was stabilized at the scene and airlifted to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, where a team of experts was ready to provide the care he needed. Briar’s injuries required immediate attention. Upon arrival at Nemours Children’s, he was rushed into surgery to repair his leg and chest. His care team, including Dr. Duke (Trauma surgery), Dr. Trionfo (Orthopedic surgery), Bernadette Fulweiler, APN (Wound Care), and Dr. Haas (Rehab Medicine), worked together to ensure he had the best possible outcome. Katie, Briar’s mom, recalls the overwhelming emotions of that day. “When we landed at Nemours, I […]

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Finding Support at Nemours Children’s: Zoey’s Story

At 19 years old, Zoey is pursuing her dream of becoming a hairstylist while managing a complex medical condition. For the past seven years, she has dealt with frequent bathroom trips, urinary retention, and persistent pelvic pain—challenges that have impacted her daily life. But through it all, she has found expert care and unwavering support at Nemours Children’s Health. Zoey’s symptoms began when she was just 13. She noticed she was using the restroom 15-30 times a day, with nights just as difficult. Despite constantly feeling like she needed to use the restroom, she was often unable to release urine. The discomfort affected her ability to focus in school, spend time with friends, and simply go about her day. “This condition has taken over the way I live,” Zoey shared. Zoey’s search for answers led her to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, where she was connected with Dr. Hagerty, a urologist […]

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Celebrating Rare Disease Day: Mia’s Story

Six-year-old Mia is a vibrant, outgoing little girl who lights up every room she enters. Born with several rare and complex medical conditions, Mia has already undergone more surgeries than many will face in a lifetime. Her resilience, boundless energy, love for singing and dancing, and dreams of becoming a nurse (or the next Taylor Swift!) inspire everyone around her. Mia’s medical journey began the day she was born, bringing with it a unique set of challenges. Diagnosed with Pierre Robin Sequence, complete tracheal rings, infantile scoliosis, hip dysplasia, ulnar dysplasia, an ectopic pelvic kidney, and clubfeet, Mia quickly showed she was ready to tackle whatever came her way. “Mia was immediately transported to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware from our local hospital right after she was born,” shares her mother, Janelle. “She was in the NICU for 65 days. I drove back and forth, from Wildwood NJ to Wilmington DE, […]

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