Blog

Born with congenital scoliosis, Thelma looks to the future

Posted on by | Patient Stories
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Sixteen-year-old Thelma Alemnji probably enjoys student life more than most high school juniors. After all, up until last year, activities like drama club, debate club, and student government were out of reach. Born with severe congenital scoliosis and thoracic insufficiency syndrome, Thelma’s childhood and early adolescence were marked by regular hospital visits and frequent surgeries: ... Read More
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‘We’re going to Boston’: Why Aydan’s family temporarily relocated for craniopharyngioma care

Posted on by | Patient Stories
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One evening in October 2022, 2-year-old Aydan Arguello arrived at Boston Children’s Hospital. It wasn’t a routine visit, but instead the final stop in an urgent journey from his home in South Florida. Months earlier, the toddler had been diagnosed and treated for a large brain tumor — but it was a related concern that led ... 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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