Blog

Helping your child understand puberty

We all remember the changes — and awkwardness — of puberty. But helping your child navigate puberty is a whole different matter. For answers, we turned to Boston Children’s Primary Care Alliance physician Caitlyn Hark, MD, at Framingham Pediatrics, and Frances Grimstad, MD, a pediatric and adolescent gynecologist in the Division of Gynecology at Boston ... Read More

First-of-its-kind pressurization test could improve Ross procedure outcomes

The Ross procedure is a preferred surgery to treat severe aortic valve disease. The procedure replaces the failing valve with a patient’s own pulmonary valve. It’s an effective treatment option, but some patients have had complications. After surgery, the root of their aortic valve — where the valve connects with the heart — enlarges and causes ... Read More

Finding the right team for achondroplasia: Jeremy’s story

As an “older” mom, Erica Johnson was used to undergoing more frequent screenings while pregnant with her second child, Jeremy. But when an ultrasound at 30 weeks revealed that his head appeared to be much larger than his legs, she raised a flag with her local obstetrics team. “They assured me that he’d catch up,” ... Read More

Hard and beautiful at the same time: Five lessons of raising a medically complex child

When they learned they were expecting a baby, Michelle and Stephen Strickland were delighted. The South Carolina couple looked forward to their child’s first words, first steps, and first family vacation. “You have this vision of a perfect life,” says Stephen. But when Aubree was born with a rare and complex condition, the couple entered ... Read More

The ‘Trach Chapter’: Isabella’s journey with bronchopulmonary dysplasia

Isabella’s life has been anything but ordinary. Born at just 27 weeks gestation and weighing only 1 pound, 4 ounces, Isabella has faced uncertainty from the very start. But as her parents, Hrach and Kimberly, will tell you, she’s conquered every challenge life has thrown her way. And in spite of her bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) ... Read More

‘Challenge accepted’: Sophia takes on a brain tumor

In 2023, Sophia Mordini landed the role of a lifetime. A competitive dancer, the 12-year-old would play Clara in her company’s production of “The Nutcracker.” But the performance was bittersweet: Just two weeks after the curtain fell that December, she underwent surgery to remove a very large and complex brain tumor. ‘We knew something was ... Read More

3D imaging could become standard practice in orthopedics. Here’s how.

It took a trained eye to see the abnormality on the patient’s X-ray. There, hidden behind the acetabulum was the shadow of a small bone spur. “At first glance, this looks like a normal, healthy hip,” says Young-Jo Kim, MD, PhD, director of the Child and Young Adult Hip Preservation Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. ... Read More

Promising advances in fetal therapy for vein of Galen malformation

In 2024, Megan Ingram* of California and her husband were preparing for the birth of their third child when a 34-week ultrasound revealed a potential complication. Their obstetrics team suspected a vein of Galen malformation (VOGM) — a rare vascular condition involving significantly elevated blood flow to the head because of direct connections between arteries ... Read More

A true hero’s journey: How a team approach helped Wolfie overcome pancreatitis 

Wolfgang, affectionately known as “Wolfie,” is a bright and energetic 7-year-old with a quick wit and a love for making others smile. He keeps his mom, Cara, his older sister, Cadence, and his dad, Jameson, laughing with his playful humor. Behind the laughter and love, Wolfie and his family have been navigating a difficult medical ... Read More

Four things you should know about MAPCAs treatment

As the first grandchild in her family, Hannah Homan is in demand for frequent visits. She was also the focus of attention last month when she turned 1. It’s been happy times for her parents, Amanda and Brian, but they couldn’t see that far ahead early last year. They had received a worrisome heart diagnosis ... Read More