Blog | Page 28 of 158 | Boston Children's Answers

All in the family: One family’s shared link to epilepsy and fight for answers

Posted on November 28, 2023 by Katie Paradis | Patient Stories

One of the wonders of parenthood is seeing the traits you pass along to your kids, like your eyes or your laugh. For the Anderson family, however, one shared trait is more complex: a mutation in the NPRL3 gene that leads to epilepsy. It took four generations to uncover the family’s genetic link to the ... Read More

Tagged: brain health, epilepsy, seizures

Lessons from Emma: Mom shares how RNS has changed their lives

Posted on November 27, 2023 by Katie Paradis | Patient Stories

Tags: brain health, epilepsy, neuroscience, second opinion, seizures, stroke

Emma’s journey with the Epilepsy Center at Boston Children’s Hospital began three years ago when she came to Boston Children’s with her parents for help managing her seizures. In Boston, Emma, Lynda, and Danny found answers to their questions, a (temporary) new home, and hope for Emma’s future as she embarked on responsive neurostimulation (RNS) ... Read More

Tagged: brain health, epilepsy, neuroscience, second opinion, seizures, stroke

From ECMO to an active childhood: Nolan’s journey with congenital diaphragmatic hernia

Posted on November 20, 2023 by Jessica Cerretani | Patient Stories

Tags: congenital diaphragmatic hernia, Fetal Care and Surgery Center, MFCC, surgery

Nolan Griffin knows how to use a stethoscope and rarely enters Boston Children’s Hospital without his medical kit. But Nolan isn’t a doctor — at least not yet. For now, the busy 2-year-old is a patient in the hospital’s Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Center, where he’s been receiving care since before he was born. Although Nolan’s ... Read More

Tagged: congenital diaphragmatic hernia, Fetal Care and Surgery Center, MFCC, surgery

Timing is everything: How circadian rhythms influence our brains

Posted on November 17, 2023 by Nancy Fliesler | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: neuroscience, tuberous sclerosis

Why are we mentally sharper at certain times of day? A study led by Jonathan Lipton MD, PhD, at Boston Children’s Hospital spells out the relationship between circadian rhythms — the body’s natural day/night cycles — and the brain connections known as synapses. The work is the first to provide a cellular and molecular explanation ... Read More

Tagged: neuroscience, tuberous sclerosis

What you should know about hemangiomas, according to a pediatric dermatologist

Posted on November 13, 2023 by Veronica Giarla | Health and Parenting

Tags: hemangioma, vascular anomalies

When parents discover that their infant has a hemangioma, a lot of questions usually follow. To find answers for the most common questions and share some important facts about the condition, we spoke with Dr. Marilyn Liang, co-director of the Vascular Anomalies Center (VAC) and an attending physician in the Dermatology Program at Boston Children’s ... Read More

Tagged: hemangioma, vascular anomalies

Don’t forget the cheese, please! Rachel’s EoE journey

Posted on November 10, 2023 by Veronica Giarla | Patient Stories

Tags: autism, autism spectrum disorder, diet, eosinophilic esophagitis, gastroenterology, reflux

Like many teens, Rachel loves cheese and other dairy foods. “Cheese sticks, yogurt, and especially pizza,” Chellie, her mom, shares. Rachel agrees: She would eat cheese every day if she could. Up until this past spring, Rachel, who also has autism spectrum disorder, was unable to enjoy her favorite foods due to incredible pain in ... Read More

Tagged: autism, autism spectrum disorder, diet, eosinophilic esophagitis, gastroenterology, reflux

Naloxone on demand: Shining a light to reverse opioid overdose

Posted on November 9, 2023 by Nancy Fliesler | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: drug development, drug safety, opioids, substance abuse

Overdose deaths from fentanyl and other opioids are at record highs in the U.S. Naloxone, if delivered soon after an overdose, is proven to be life-saving. It binds to the same brain receptors that opioids use, thereby blocking opioids’ effects. A naloxone nasal spray (Narcan) is now available over the counter, but there are still problems ... Read More

Tagged: drug development, drug safety, opioids, substance abuse

How genetic testing helped Wilson help other infants with epilepsy

Posted on November 8, 2023 by Katie Paradis | Patient Stories, Research

Tags: epilepsy, polymicrogyria, seizures

In August 2021, after months of anticipating their son’s arrival, Emily and Nick felt as ready as they’d ever be to become parents. Happy and excited to finally have Wilson in their arms, they brought him home a few days after delivery. Just over 24 hours later, though, they found themselves back in a hospital ... Read More

Tagged: epilepsy, polymicrogyria, seizures

Finding a treatment option for tear duct obstruction that works for children

Posted on November 7, 2023 by Albert McKeon | Clinical, Research

Tags: ophthalmology, research, surgery

Congenital tear duct obstruction (a blocked tear duct) is the most common cause of excessive tearing in infants and young children. Fortunately, most children require minimal treatment, but those with persistent symptoms can have a procedure to clear the blockage either in a clinician’s office without anesthesia or in a surgical setting with anesthesia. Few ... Read More

Tagged: ophthalmology, research, surgery

How one diagnosis brought together three best friends: Allyson, Maddy, and Caiya’s journey with pancreatitis

Posted on November 3, 2023 by Veronica Giarla | Patient Stories

Tags: gastroenterology, pancreatic disorders

Allyson, Maddy, and Caiya are your typical tween best friends — sharing inside jokes and constantly chatting about everything and anything. “They’re always on FaceTime talking and laughing,” shares Kim, Maddy’s mom. “They just love each other.” You’d never guess that these three girls didn’t meet at recess, but rather through Dr. Amit Grover, director ... Read More

Tagged: gastroenterology, pancreatic disorders