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New year, new face, same spirit: Zoey’s journey with encephalocele and cleft lip care

Posted on by | Patient Stories
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Seven-year-old Zoey loves school, her friends, and everything unicorn. She’s outgoing and happy and has an eye for looking her best. “She loves getting her nails done,” says her mother, Shana. “She’s straight diva.” Talking with Zoey and her mom, you can’t help but be inspired by their positive spirit, care toward others, and general ... Read More
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Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of hope

Posted on by and | Our Community, People
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Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stood for many things: justice, non-violence, hope. Even in the face of violent resistance, his belief in a better future inspired a movement that led to the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. How does Dr. King’s message of hope ... Read More
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Walter’s world: ‘Warrior’ toddler doesn’t let a brain tumor stop him

Posted on by | Patient Stories
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When Walter Merck attempts an obstacle course at his physical therapy appointment, “he just does what he wants,” laughs his mother, Amber. “It’s Walter’s world; we just live in it.” Like many 2-year-olds, Walter can be stubborn — but in his case, it may be a stubbornness born of necessity. Since infancy, he’s been overcoming ... Read More
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A path forward for genetic testing in unexplained epilepsy

Posted on by | Clinical Care, Specialty Care
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The number of genes implicated in epilepsy has grown rapidly in the past decade. This raises questions about what tests to offer to people with unexplained epilepsy and whether those tests would yield actionable information. Now, practice guidelines developed by genetic counselors at Boston Children’s Hospital offer a way forward. In the first systematic evidence ... Read More
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A heart valve that grows along with a child could reduce invasive surgeries

Posted on by | Clinical, Research
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Clinical trials have started for the first prosthetic pulmonary valve replacement that is specifically designed for pediatric patients and can expand over time inside a child’s anatomy.  Instead of having invasive replacement surgeries every few years, as is the practice now, a child can have the valve fitted to their individual body size and, if ... Read More
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Research 2022: Tackling disease in new ways

Posted on by | Research
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Researchers across Boston Children’s spent 2022 imagining new solutions to old challenges in health and medicine, opening the door to brand-new treatments. Here are a few areas where research is poised to make a difference in children’s — and even adults’ — lives. Rethinking disease through genetics Genetic sequencing is becoming a fundamental tool for discovering ... Read More
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New Year’s resolutions and kids: what to know

Posted on by | Health and Parenting
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With a new year upon us, we’re once again bombarded with messages about getting healthier, skinnier, and more disciplined come January 1. We couldn’t help but wonder what this means for kids, so we turned to Andrew Richards, a psychologist with Boston Children’s Martha Eliot Center, for answers. Are New Year’s resolutions a good idea ... Read More
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Weathering the storm of Apert syndrome: João’s story

Posted on by | Patient Stories
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After a “perfect” pregnancy in 2017, Natalia and Igor of Brazil were excited to meet their third child. They were shocked when João was whisked away moments after delivery. “Up until the day before he was born, everything seemed very normal,” says Natalia. “But once he arrived, we could see immediately that something was wrong: ... Read More
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How a leukemia hijacks the genes needed by blood stem cells

Posted on by | Basic/Translational, Research
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As a child, Lynn Aureli didn’t know that a particular genetic change contributed to her acute myeloid leukemia (AML) — an alteration that eventually would help explain the cancer’s lack of response to chemotherapy. Nor was she aware that her cancer had hijacked the genetic mechanism for maintaining the stem cells that form blood, like ... Read More
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‘Life-changing’ appointment helps Georgia cope with motility issues

Posted on by | Patient Stories
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Five-year-old Georgia MacAloney loves dancing, cheerleading, and riding her bike. “She’s just a happy, regular kid,” says her mother, Justine. “You would never know what she’s been through just by looking at her.” Yet just a few years ago, the family had put life on hold due to Georgia’s illness. “We didn’t plan trips and ... Read More
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