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occupational therapy

At Nemours Children’s Health, we are so proud of our occupational therapy teams, who are dedicated to helping children reach their highest level of independence and function. One of those standout professionals is Charlie Cericola, a Certified Hand Therapist and Occupational Therapist on our Outpatient Therapy Services team at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware. Charlie’s path to occupational therapy at Nemours Children’s started with an interest in the human hand! “I am fascinated by the form and function of the human hand,” shares Charlie. “I’m an occupational therapist by training and I spent many years working in a teaching hospital in Bronx, NY. That position afforded me the opportunity to rotate through the various therapy settings and I soon discovered that loved working in outpatient hand therapy. At that time, I was also working through early intervention, treating children in some underserved areas in south Bronx and Queens. Becoming a hand […]

For 10-year-old Taylor, every step of her journey has been guided by determination, expert care, and a team that feels more like family. Diagnosed at birth with fibular hemimelia, proximal femoral focal deficiency (PFFD), clubfoot, and leg length discrepancy, she has faced challenges with mobility from an early age. But with the right medical team by her side, Taylor is making incredible strides toward walking on two evenly balanced feet. Taylor’s family had long placed their trust in Dr. Shawn Standard, a highly respected specialist in limb lengthening and reconstruction. So when Dr. Standard moved his practice to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida, in fall 2024, Taylor’s family didn’t hesitate to follow. Under the care of Dr. Standard, Taylor has undergone a series of treatments designed to improve her mobility and function, including super ankle surgery, external and internal fixators for limb lengthening, ankle fusion, and the placement of 8 plates. […]

When Julieta was just 1 month old, she was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 1 (SMA Type 1). SMA is a rare genetic condition that causes muscle weakness and atrophy, significantly impacting Julieta’s ability to walk, sit up, and control her head movements. It also affected her ability to speak and eat. Julieta’s mother, Melissa, recalls the initial shock and heartbreak that accompanied the diagnosis: “After I got the call with her results, I was told by five neurologists that she was not going to make it past 1 year of age. Obviously, this put me in a sad and grieving mental state. We as a family were devastated.” Shortly after receiving her diagnosis, Julieta was referred to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida by a neurologist in Miami. “After I visited Nemours and felt finally safe and with big hopes for my daughter, I went back to Dr. Miller in […]

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.

Witness the incredible journey of Connor, a 12-year-old boy with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, as he overcomes challenges, undergoes surgeries, and becomes an ambassador for Brace for the Race and Ninja Warrior Course.

During this Q&A session, Kathleen Miller-Skomorucha, occupational therapist, and Carrie Sewell Roberts, social worker, answer questions about maximizing the potential of your child with cerebral palsy (CP) by working with your care team to set goals. Carrie is a social worker and mom to a 13-year-old daughter with CP. Throughout this discussion, she shares with us different examples of what has worked for her family, but also a plethora of resources families can use for their own means. When you’re thinking about setting goals for your child’s future, an important first step is to set a framework. For example, there’s a structure called “Person-Centered Future Planning.” She talks about ways families can use resources like the ones below to work with their child and care team to create shared goals. Kathleen is an occupational therapist who treats patients with CP. She shares her unique perspective as a therapist, discussing goals for therapy. It’s important […]