Archive for Veronica Giarla
Team spirit: How working with an allergy psychologist got Amber back to cheering
A bubbly high schooler with lots of friends and a passion for competitive cheerleading: On the surface, Amber’s life looks perfect. She even knows what she wants to be when she’s older — a cosmetologist, because she wants to help people feel their best through beauty. Her determination to help others is what drove her ... Read More about Team spirit: How working with an allergy psychologist got Amber back to cheering
‘A football game changed my life’: Jamison’s non-directed kidney donation
When recess is your favorite school subject, and you’re so naturally funny that the adults in your life belly laugh after everything you say, you get the title of a “cool kid” — well, at least if you’re Jamison. At 10, Jamison has an easy-going attitude that you wouldn’t expect once you hear he experienced ... Read More about ‘A football game changed my life’: Jamison’s non-directed kidney donation
When to refer a pediatric patient for endometriosis
Endometriosis is a complex disease in which endometrium-like tissue grows in locations such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries, or pelvic tissue, leading to serious pelvic pain and other symptoms. Although there is a common assumption that the disease only affects adults, approximately two-thirds of people with endometriosis report that their symptoms were present before age ... Read More about When to refer a pediatric patient for endometriosis
Are weight-loss medications and surgery right for teens?
Advances in bariatric surgery and weight-loss medications have made weight management accessible to more adults. But are these approaches effective — and safe — for teens, too? Weight-management medications, particularly glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), are the newest tool available to people over age 12 for the treatment of obesity and related conditions. At ... Read More about Are weight-loss medications and surgery right for teens?
Keeping up with the tween skin care trend: What’s in those products?
More teens and tweens are hitting the mall to grab skin-care products they’ve seen on social media — but are these popular ingredients safe for younger skin? We asked Dr. Jennifer Tan and Dr. Jennifer Huang in Boston Children’s Dermatology Program to weigh in on this trend and break down common ingredients. Trends aren’t for ... Read More about Keeping up with the tween skin care trend: What’s in those products?
Catching up with Lucas eight years after his multivisceral transplant
Lucas and his mom, Heather, aren’t shy talking about his health journey and his multivisceral transplant. “If other families can learn something from Lucas’ story, it would be to keep advocating for your child and to trust that gut feeling,” Heather says. “Without organ donors, Lucas would not be here today.” Lucas was born with ... Read More about Catching up with Lucas eight years after his multivisceral transplant
How to make school lunch less scary for “picky eaters”
Lunch boxes with fun designs, giggling friends, lunch trays clattering in the meal line, and sticky hands galore — school lunch time is back. But how do you prepare for it when your child is showing signs of being a “picky eater” — that is, selective about the foods they’re willing to eat and hesitant ... Read More about How to make school lunch less scary for “picky eaters”
Lily’s smile lights up the stage, thanks to orthodontic care
Thirteen-year-old Lily is a fan of the theatre — and she’s no stranger to taking the stage, having already performed in two plays just this past school year. “She’s always the most confident when she’s up on stage with her friends,” says her mom, Jade. Lily’s confidence is something that she recently stepped back into, ... Read More about Lily’s smile lights up the stage, thanks to orthodontic care
First-of-its-kind clinical trial aims to improve outcomes in pediatric transplant patients
For the last 20 years, pediatric kidney transplant patients have been treated with the same immunosuppressive medication combinations and have been monitored using the same tests, without many new treatment options. Unfortunately, unlike their adult counterparts, pediatric transplant recipients have not been included in clinical trials to test newer and promising combinations of medications that ... Read More about First-of-its-kind clinical trial aims to improve outcomes in pediatric transplant patients
How Boston Children’s physicians have teamed up to tackle obesity and food insecurity
When nutritious, high-quality food is not easily accessible, families are often left to purchase what is available — usually, highly processed, nutrient-poor food. Children in these households — who also have food insecurity and various socio-economic stressors — face additional barriers and are at risk for developing chronic diseases, such as obesity. To address such ... Read More about How Boston Children’s physicians have teamed up to tackle obesity and food insecurity