ARTICLES RELATED TO:
Nemours Children’s Hospital

At just four years old, Avyn was diagnosed with a severe 60º curvature of Early Onset Scoliosis. Her local physicians recommended Mehta casting, prompting her family to begin searching for the best pediatric orthopedic specialists in the nation. Their search led them to Dr. Joseph Khoury in Florida and Dr. Alec Stall in Texas. The decision to choose between these two esteemed doctors wasn’t easy, but ultimately, Avyn’s family placed their trust in Dr. Khoury at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida. “Avyn has been extremely resilient throughout her scoliosis journey,” says her mother, Sarah. Thanks to her treatments, Avyn’s curve progression slowed, allowing her to maintain her normal life, participating in athletics and daily activities with minimal discomfort. However, as she grew older, her family knew she would need a spinal fusion surgery at age 10. “We discovered Nemours when Dr. Khoury transferred from Shriners Tampa to Nemours Children’s,” says Sarah. […]

Celebrate Nicole Fonseca, RN, whose journey from PICU clerk to registered nurse at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware.

Brittany and John found themselves navigating uncharted waters when their son, Elias, was diagnosed with rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata (RCDP) type 1. RCDP is a rare skeletal dysplasia that affects the body’s ability to produce plasmalogens which are essential for cell structure and nervous system function. Their journey began with the unexpected—low amniotic fluid during Brittany’s induction with Elias at 37 weeks. What followed were suspicions of cerebral palsy, only to discover skeletal differences and cataracts as well. It wasn’t until Elias was ten months old that the diagnosis of RCDP was confirmed. Before Nemours Children’s Health, life for Brittany and John was a whirlwind of uncertainties and challenges. “Our main struggle before diagnosis & coming Nemours was feeding issues,” share Brittany and John. “First, we didn’t realize Elias had a rare form of dwarfism, so we weren’t sure why he wasn’t gaining weight. Second, he developed a bottle aversion at […]

Meet Megan Nelson, a passionate Speech Language Pathologist at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida. Megan’s journey into her career began with a personal connection close to her heart – her cousin Katie, born with CHARGE syndrome and hearing loss. Inspired by the transformative care Katie received, Megan felt compelled to follow a similar path, ultimately becoming a Listening and Spoken Language Specialist, Certified Auditory Verbal Therapist. “I knew I was destined to help other children and their families,” Megan reflects on her decision to pursue this career. “In watching Katie learn to listen and speak, the impact that Katie’s Auditory Verbal Therapist made on her and my family was especially meaningful.” “When I saw the posting for a Speech Language Pathologist for the Nemours Children’s Cochlear Implant team, I knew it was the best fit and applied immediately,” Megan shares. Since then, she has thrived in her role as Lead Auditory […]

Erin’s path in healthcare began as an EMT and Paramedic working for a fire department. However, she had big dreams of becoming a flight RN one day. “While completing school for nursing, I had the opportunity to work as a civilian combat medic in Afghanistan where I was able to provide aid to our soldiers and fly,” shares Erin. “From there, I was able to get a job at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida as a Paramedic in the Clinical Logistics Center until I received my RN license. I then began working in the RN resource pool, allowing me to get experience in all units of the hospital. I developed a passion for pediatric and neonatal cardiac and used that strength and experience to allow me to join the Nemours Transport Team.” Through hard work and determination, Erin found her home at Nemours on the Critical Care and Transport Team where […]

Madison’s journey with Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) began at 2 months old. A severe ear infection spiraled into Mastoiditis, leading to urgent surgery and a slew of testing. It was a challenging time for her mother, Jeannine, and their family. They grappled with the possibility of HLH, a blood and immune system disorder that had already touched their lives through Madison’s brother. Jeannine recounts, “Madison’s condition was weighing heavy on our minds that she could have HLH like her brother did.” Having sought care for her son at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, Jeannine turned to the hospital once again, entrusting them with Madison’s care. “We have always felt the doctors and therapists have cared for and loved us truly from their heart,” says Jeannine. “We went to larger hospitals and felt like we were a number there, but not at Nemours.” Madison’s treatment at Nemours Children’s primarily involves outpatient therapy services. […]