Blog

Finding a way to help newborns who can’t immediately have heart treatment

Newborns with complex congenital heart defects (CHD) and pulmonary overcirculation often need treatment as soon as possible. Unfortunately, some of these children are not in good enough health to withstand surgery. To address this challenge, Boston Children’s heart specialists leaned into technological innovation, their experience, and a perseverance that would ultimately confirm their belief that even the ... Read More

Taming vaccine data: Joann Arce, PhD

Part of an ongoing series profiling researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital. Joann Arce, PhD, is a data tamer — corralling and wrangling vast quantities of data to extract insights on how our immune systems react to vaccines and infections. Her work is paving a path toward smarter, more potent vaccines. As lead of data management ... Read More

Overcoming microtia, atresia, and speech challenges: Braelyn’s story

Eight-year-old Braelyn is a sweet, confident kid who loves everyone, dotes on her little sister Kamryn, does well in school, and never stops moving. Her parents, Danielle and Joseph, are incredibly grateful to see their daughter happy and thriving, especially after the long road it took to get here, including pharyngeal flap surgery and ear ... Read More

Virtual visits give Weston time to grow and thrive

For many kids and parents, staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic was a challenge. But for Weston Mahady and his family, social distancing was just what the doctor ordered. The slowed-down pace, time spent together — and access to virtual appointments with Boston Children’s specialists — allowed Weston to make developmental strides that once hadn’t ... Read More

A family’s search for answers and hope for PACS1 syndrome

Alya, 9, was about three weeks old when her mother, Taruna, noticed movements and behaviors she was concerned might be seizures. What followed were multiple hospitals, multiple tests, and eventually a diagnosis of PACS1 syndrome. This rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder can lead to intellectual disabilities and delays and currently has no cure. “We were told to ... Read More

Female athletes and sports injuries: Psychology matters

If the goal of sports medicine is to promote sports participation, the state of an injured athlete’s musculoskeletal system is part of a larger puzzle. In fact, a growing body of research suggests that psychological factors also play a significant part in how athletes recover and if they return to sports. Consider anterior cruciate ligament ... Read More

Diving into summer: What to know about water safety

The sun is back, the temperatures are rising, and that means more of us will be heading towards the water to cool off. Whether your family is going to a pool, beach, lake, or pond, knowing how to keep your children safe when splashing in the water should be top of mind. We recently spoke ... Read More

One day on the field, admitted to the ICU the next: Rob’s liver transplant journey

When you’re a teen, it’s not very common to worry about what’s going on inside your body — especially not about potential organ failure. For Rob, now 14 years old, that happened in the blink of an eye. One day, he was scoring goals in soccer and hanging out with his friends. But in just ... Read More

Lifechanging surgery brings Ann-Raleigh relief from VUR — and some new ‘besties’

When Ann-Raleigh Murthy travels to Boston from her home in Louisiana, she has a list of “must-dos.” Among the highlights: Ride the swan boats in the Public Garden, swing by her favorite chocolate shop, go shopping — and visit with Dr. Carlos Estrada, Boston Children’s urologist-in-chief. Dr. Estrada, along with neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Warf, “are two ... Read More