Blog

Helping your child understand puberty

Posted on by | Health and Parenting
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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
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Curbing blood cancers by teaching immune cells to kill mutant stem cells

Posted on by | Basic/Translational, Research
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Blood stem cells, which give rise to all of our blood cell types, undergo a quality assurance process after they’re born. As the lab of Leonard Zon, MD, director of the Stem Cell Research program at Boston Children’s, has documented, immune cells known as macrophages interact with each newly born cell. They engulf and eat ... Read More
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After a severe case of myelitis, ‘rockstar’ Maxwell is on the move

Posted on by | Patient Stories
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When Maxwell Lazarz’s mother, Jennifer, tells him he’s a rockstar, he just laughs and asks her what that means. But as this joyful almost-3-year-old zips around in his motorized wheelchair, cracking jokes and blowing bubbles, it’s clear that his mom is right. In fact, Maxwell has been defying expectations ever since he was diagnosed with ... Read More
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Making a change: After a second opinion for spina bifida care, Sydney is thriving

Posted on by | Patient Stories
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At almost 10 years old, Sydney MacKay is sassy, spunky, and wants to be as independent as possible. Because she was born with spina bifida, part of that desire for independence means being more involved in her own care. Although Sydney underwent a surgical procedure a few years ago aimed at helping foster that independence, ... Read More
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Full-family support sees Hannah and her parents through AVM surgery

Posted on by | Patient Stories
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Nine-year-old Hannah from Vermont is passionate about skiing; not much keeps her off the slopes. In fact, not much slows her down or dampens her energy, period. So, when she experienced a ruptured arteriovenous malformation (AVM) last spring, she wasn’t sidelined long. Her parents, Katie and Rich, credit Hannah’s remarkable recovery to her vivacious spirit ... Read More
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In cases of pediatric cervical spine instability, two attending surgeons are better than one

Posted on by | Clinical, Research
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Cervical spine instability (caused by congenital deformity, trauma, or a tumor) can affect children in a number of ways: from chronic headaches to bowel dysfunction to severe mobility limitations. In many cases, misaligned vertebrae compress the spinal cord and surrounding nerves, causing neurological issues, which, if left untreated, can lead to long-term disability. Common indications ... Read More
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Will people accept a fentanyl vaccine? Interviews draw thoughtful responses

Posted on by | Clinical, Research
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In 2022, more than 100,000 people died from opioid overdoses in the U.S., according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Roughly three quarters of these deaths involved fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid. Fentanyl-related deaths have spiked over the past decade, many of them occurring in people with no known history of opioid use ... Read More
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All in it for Hudson: A family’s shared path with cavernous malformations

Posted on by | Patient Stories
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Three-year-old Hudson loves trucks and PAW Patrol. He’s a delightful blend of sweet, fun, and feisty, and — after a seizure on New Year’s Day led to an extended stay at Boston Children’s Hospital — he’s an inspiration to his parents, Gabrielle and Matthew. To Matthew specifically, Hudson provides a new look at his own ... Read More
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When community is as important as the science: Olúmídé Fagboyegun

Posted on by | People, Research
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In his short, prolific neuroscience career, Olúmídé Fagboyegun has always sought community. It’s served him well, from his years at community college in Maryland to his PhD work in the Stevens Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital. Landing in Maryland from his native Nigeria at age 15, Fagboyegun found he had to repeat part of high ... Read More
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New insight into the effects of PPIs in children

Posted on by | Research
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Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are frequently prescribed to suppress stomach acid in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Prescribing rates of PPIs in children have risen more than 500 percent in the past two decades, despite growing concerns about their risks: Previous research has linked their use to an increased risk of various pulmonary and gastrointestinal ... Read More
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