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In February, our daughter Annistyn broke her humerus when she fell off a snowmobile in New York. After a visit to a local urgent care and an X-ray, we were referred to Nemours Children’s Health, Lakeland—and from that moment on, everything was handled with such care and compassion. From the very first phone call, Nemours made us feel supported. They confirmed directions, sent all documents ahead of time, and ensured our arrival and appointment were seamless and right on schedule. We were met by smiles and kind staff from the very first interaction to the last. Every person we encountered treated Annistyn like she was their own—with warmth, patience, and expertise. Under the care of Kevin Osborne, PA-C, Annistyn was put in a sling for immobilization. One thing that truly stood out to me as a parent was how they spoke directly to Annistyn about her care. They didn’t just […]

Ticks might look like insects, but they’re not. They’re part of the arachnid family, which includes spiders. When a tick bites, it attaches itself to the skin and sucks blood. Most tick bites are harmless and don’t need medical treatment. But some ticks (like the deer tick) can carry harmful germs that cause illnesses like Lyme disease. How can I prevent tick bites and Lyme disease? While enjoying the outdoors, it’s important to remember that there are hundreds of kinds of ticks, and not all ticks carry Lyme disease. Here are some tips to help protect your family from the risk of a tick bite before heading out, and what to do after a day of exploring nature: Ticks removed within 36 hours are less likely to spread diseases. So, if you pluck the tick off right away, your child can’t be infected. Because ticks (especially deer ticks) are tiny, they may be hard to […]

Shanaya and her family live in Trinidad and Tobago. Around the time she turned 3, they began noticing a delay in her speech. While they pursued testing and therapy in their home country, the results weren’t clear, and they weren’t making progress. As Shanaya grew older, her family noticed she wasn’t engaging with others the way they expected. They found themselves going from appointment to appointment, but still without real answers or solutions. That’s when Rena, Shanaya’s mom, reached out to her sister in law who lives in Lake Nona, Florida. Her sister knew about Nemours Children’s Hospital, Florida and recommended exploring care options in Orlando. That advice – and introduction to the International Medicine Program at Nemours Children’s – set the family on a new path. Through a connection with Jordan Wadi, Nemours International Medicine Manager, the family began coordinating care with the Ear, Hearing and Communications Center. The […]

When doctors delivered the diagnosis of a cleft lip, Jackson’s parents found themselves at the start of a journey they hadn’t anticipated. During Christina’s 20-week anatomy scan, they learned about the condition and immediately began exploring care options to ensure Jackson’s well-being. During this process, Christina’s previous professional background at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware played a significant role in their decision-making. For 10 years, she had dedicated herself to the care and support of families at Nemours Children’s, including three years working in the surgery clinics as a Surgical Medical Assistant and had the privilege of collaborating with the cleft team. Her firsthand experience with the hospital’s expertise and compassionate care gave her a unique perspective. At Nemours, Jackson’s family discovered not just a hospital but a community of care and support. Dr. Mario Aycart, the surgeon responsible for Jackson’s cleft lip repair, was clear and reassuring in his communication. […]

For Latisha, osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) has always been a part of life. Diagnosed around age 6 after multiple leg fractures, she knew the challenges that came with the condition. When she became a mother, she was determined to find the best possible care for her children. That search let her to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware – the same place she had come to trust for her own care. Her children, Emerson and Lilly, were both diagnosed with Type 1 OI at birth. “Without the care from Dr. Franzone and the entire OI team, I’m not sure where my kids would be,” Latisha shared. OI, commonly known as brittle bone disease, is a genetic disorder that prevents the body from building strong bones. For Emerson, those fractures started early – he broke his leg three times in just one year after learning to walk. Lilly also faced fractures within months of […]

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 […]