Blog | Boston Children's Answers

Helping your child understand puberty

Posted on April 6, 2022 by Emily Rizzitano | Health and Parenting

Tags: primary care, primary care alliance, sex education

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

Tagged: primary care, primary care alliance, sex education

‘We’re gonna start over’: Finding the right care for Remi’s aspiration

Posted on August 13, 2026 by Jessica Cerretani | Patient Stories

Tags: aerodigestive, feeding therapy, g tube

At almost 3 years old, Remi is confident, independent, and a bit headstrong. “She wants to do everything on her own,” laughs her mom, Gabrielle. “If we even try to dress her or put on her shoes, she tells us, ‘Only myself’ — she doesn’t want any help.” It’s a determined mindset that Gabrielle and ... Read More

Tagged: aerodigestive, feeding therapy, g tube

How ‘good’ bacteria from fecal transplants reduce peanut allergy

Posted on August 11, 2026 by Vanessa McMains | Research, Therapeutics/Diagnostics/Devices

Tags: allergy, clinical trials, fecal transplant, microbiome

Some 33 million Americans have severe food allergies. Now, researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital may have found a promising solution. In a small clinical trial, Rima Rachid, MD, director of the Food Allergy Program and the Allergen Immunotherapy Program; Talal Chatila, MD, director of translational immunology; and their colleagues found that some participants with peanut ... Read More

Tagged: allergy, clinical trials, fecal transplant, microbiome

Living fully: Kristin’s life with blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome

Posted on August 6, 2026 by Kristin Rotondo | Patient Stories

Tags: anemia, blood, vascular anomalies

More than 25 years ago, I spent 11 hours in surgery while a surgeon removed hundreds of abnormal blood vessels from my body. A lot has happened since. Today, I’m a mom raising two driven kids: a daughter who is a skilled athlete, and a son who’s taking two math classes just for fun. I ... Read More

Tagged: anemia, blood, vascular anomalies

A promising step toward safer, less toxic stem cell transplants

Posted on July 30, 2026 by Vanessa McMains | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: blood disorder, cell therapy, chemotherapy, gene editing, gene therapy, sickle cell disease, stem cell transplant

Stem cell transplantation (also called bone marrow transplantation) and gene therapy are among the most powerful treatment approaches for blood diseases such as sickle cell disease, beta thalassemia, immune deficiencies, and some blood cancers. Replacing or correcting the blood-forming stem cells can offer the possibility of long-lasting benefit or a cure. However, before patients can ... Read More

Tagged: blood disorder, cell therapy, chemotherapy, gene editing, gene therapy, sickle cell disease, stem cell transplant

Accepting kindness and happiness: Ways Spencer’s family navigated his heart transplant

Posted on July 29, 2026 by Albert McKeon | Patient Stories

Tags: cardiac surgery, cardiology, cardiomyopathy, heart, heart center, heart patient, transplant

Spencer Brock and his family recently vacationed in Ireland. They caught up with aunts, uncles, and cousins, and Spencer enjoyed visiting playgrounds, an amusement park, and a zoo. It was a dream-come-true trip in many ways. In October 2024, only six weeks after he was born, Spencer was diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy, a severe disease that ... Read More

Tagged: cardiac surgery, cardiology, cardiomyopathy, heart, heart center, heart patient, transplant

‘Comfortable in my own skin’: Grace thrives after weight loss surgery

Posted on July 27, 2026 by Linsey Covino-Deaso | Patient Stories

Tags: asthma, hypertension, obesity, surgery

Grace Rocha has a favorite fun fact: She had weight loss surgery at 16. And when it comes to sharing her story, she’s an open book. “Why wouldn’t you want to tell people about that?” she asks. Grace credits her parents for her candor: Both have had gastric bypass surgery and have always been open ... Read More

Tagged: asthma, hypertension, obesity, surgery

Testosterone’s role in gut motility could open the door to targeting treatments for IBS and more

Posted on July 23, 2026 by Vanessa McMains | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: gastroenterology, inflammatory bowel disease, microbes, microbiome, research

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other motility disorders can be challenging to treat, with current therapies focused mainly on easing symptoms. Now, recent research led by Meenakshi Rao, MD, PhD, a gastroenterologist in Boston Children’s Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, has identified a remarkable way that gut microbes and sex hormones regulate gut motility. The ... Read More

Tagged: gastroenterology, inflammatory bowel disease, microbes, microbiome, research

How Wyatt became the smallest baby to undergo PDA closure at Boston Children’s

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Katie Paradis | Patient Stories

Tags: cardiology, heart, heart patient, newborn medicine, nicu, prematurity

In June 2023, at 22 weeks pregnant, Madisen went into labor with twins. Her care team in New Hampshire transferred her to a maternal-fetal medicine center in Boston in hopes of delaying delivery, but Gavin and Wyatt arrived within hours. “Things just evolved quickly,” Madisen says. “I delivered Gavin first, and Wyatt about two and ... Read More

Tagged: cardiology, heart, heart patient, newborn medicine, nicu, prematurity

How the stars aligned for CeCe’s spinal cord tumor care

Posted on June 30, 2026 by Jessica Cerretani | Patient Stories

Tags: brain tumor, oncology, surgery

Last spring, 6-year-old CeCe was on vacation in Florida when she told her parents, Mike and Mary, that her neck hurt. After the family returned home to the Chicago area, her neck pain persisted despite Tylenol and rest — and she developed another concerning symptom. “We noticed that she wasn’t using her right hand to ... Read More

Tagged: brain tumor, oncology, surgery

Thriving — not just surviving — as an adult with esophageal atresia

Posted on June 15, 2026 by Jessica Cerretani | Patient Stories

Tags: Esophageal and Airway Treatment Center, esophageal atresia, second opinion, surgery

Willa Barnett has a story to tell — and it’s a big one. At 26, she’s experienced a slew of serious health challenges since she was born with VACTERL association. In this group of growth anomalies, certain parts of the body don’t form properly during fetal development. This can lead to problems with the vertebrae, ... Read More

Tagged: Esophageal and Airway Treatment Center, esophageal atresia, second opinion, surgery