Blog | Page 2 of 158 | Boston Children's Answers

‘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

Hope in a new home: A family’s journey with HHT

Posted on June 11, 2026 by Linsey Covino-Deaso | Patient Stories

Tags: arteriovenous malformation, cerebrovascular surgery and interventions center, genetics and genomics, hematology, imaging, neurosurgery, pulmonology

When Yeiden Pérez Camacho imagines the future, he sees himself on a basketball court. At 13, he’s already an award-winning athlete in several sports, including basketball, volleyball, tennis, and table tennis. His 8-year-old sister, Adienee “Adi” Pérez Camacho, is a budding gymnast who loves cooking and crafting with her family. Yeiden and Adi grew up ... Read More

Tagged: arteriovenous malformation, cerebrovascular surgery and interventions center, genetics and genomics, hematology, imaging, neurosurgery, pulmonology

Rh alloimmunization: A family’s experience across two pregnancies

Posted on June 9, 2026 by Staff Writer | Patient Stories

Tags: anemia, Fetal Care and Surgery Center, fetal medicine

After her second child was born 14 years ago, Erin was convinced she’d never have another baby. Not because of her age or because she didn’t want to grow her family, but because of the painful prenatal experience that had stayed with her for years. Erin had developed alloimmunization, a condition in which the immune ... Read More

Tagged: anemia, Fetal Care and Surgery Center, fetal medicine

The only way through it: How Sebastian learned to manage chronic pain

Posted on June 8, 2026 by Jessica Cerretani | Patient Stories

Tags: pain

Sebastian Sachs is passionate about theater production and team sports, two unrelated activities that have a lot in common. Both require a dedicated group of people working toward one common goal — something that could also be said about Sebastian’s experience learning how to manage chronic pain. “It felt like I was on a medical ... Read More

Tagged: pain

Beyond average-based medicine: HIE as a blueprint for data-informed care

Posted on June 5, 2026 by Katie Paradis | Data Science, Research

Tags: neuroscience, newborn medicine

Historically, outcome prediction in medicine has followed a familiar formula: run a clinical trial, publish the results, guide care based on averages. The model has served for decades, despite its limits. In neonatal care, where decisions can carry lifelong consequences, averages are often insufficient. That’s why Ellen Grant, MD, MSc, director of the Fetal Neonatal ... Read More

Tagged: neuroscience, newborn medicine

Stay chill, show up, move forward: Nolan’s journey with ITP

Posted on June 2, 2026 by Linsey Covino-Deaso | Patient Stories

Tags: blood disorder, eosinophilic esophagitis

At 18 years old, Nolan Ryan is an all-around athlete. Between basketball, football, and lacrosse, sports have shaped his daily life for years. He’s a true team player who shows up to every game with humility and dedication, whether he’s on the field or sitting on the sidelines. Like most student-athletes, Nolan had to balance ... Read More

Tagged: blood disorder, eosinophilic esophagitis