Blog

Finding specialized care for short bowel syndrome: Meet Makai

Posted on by | Patient Stories
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Eric Maldonado was picking up some groceries one day last fall when he saw a familiar face: The woman, a nurse in his local hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), had helped care for his son Makai earlier that year. “She asked how he was doing, because she remembered that he had been an angry ... Read More
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Building a better bladder: Reconstructive urologic surgery helps Mikey thrive

Posted on by | Patient Stories
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When Mikey Tibbetts’ parents, Johanna and Matt, take him trick-or-treating, the process can last for hours. “He knows everyone and wants to stop and talk,” laughs Johanna. “We call him the mayor.” Indeed, the “super-smart” 9-year-old has even memorized the entire map of his hometown in southeastern Massachusetts. Mikey’s popularity extends to Boston Children’s Hospital, ... Read More
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Charting a new path for pediatric thyroid cancer treatment

Posted on by | Clinical, Research
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Thyroid cancer is the most common type of endocrine cancer in children. Because it is bilateral — affecting both sides (lobes) of the thyroid — in more than one third of pediatric patients, initial treatment typically involves a total thyroidectomy, the surgical removal of the entire thyroid gland. However, removal of only the affected lobe — a lobectomy ... Read More
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A respiratory model of COVID-19, made from patients’ own cells

Posted on by | Basic/Translational, Research
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What happens in our respiratory tract once COVID-19 invades? A three-dimensional airway model, made from patient-derived stem cells, could provide answers about the initial stages of infection. The model not only replicates the infection process, but can be used to test potential antiviral drugs. Ruby Wang, MD, attending physician in Boston Children’s Division of Pulmonary ... Read More
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Letters to our younger selves: Dr. Tyonne Hinson

Posted on by | Our Community, People
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Black History Month celebrates the achievements of Black Americans in U.S. history. Originally established in February 1926, the event recognizes those who have inspired positive change through advocacy, community building, and professional success. In honor of Black History Month and this year’s theme of Black health and wellness, we are featuring a few of the ... Read More
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Fancy footwork: Two figure skating experts on injury prevention

Posted on by | Clinical Care, Specialty Care
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Amazing costumes, breathtaking artistry, and outstanding athleticism. No wonder figure skating is a Winter Olympics must for millions of people. With the 2022 games fast approaching, Dr. Ellen Geminiani of Boston Children’s Sports Medicine Division has some insights for aspiring athletes watching these spectacles on ice. “I hope young skaters will think about how much ... Read More
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Shaping our intestinal microbiome: What makes certain microbes more ‘fit’?

Posted on by | Basic/Translational, Research
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We now know the microbes that live in our intestines — often called our microbiome — influence our health in many ways. The balance among competing microbial species is believed to contribute to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), immune disorders, food allergy, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and more. The sugars in our diets, in turn, influence that ... Read More
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Cannabis edibles: Keep kids safe from adult ‘treats’

Posted on by | Health and Parenting
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Candy and chips aren’t necessarily for kids anymore. These days, a chocolate bar, gummy, or bag of cheesy treats may contain a very adult ingredient: cannabis (also known as marijuana). As more states legalize marijuana for medical and recreational use, more of these potent treats are finding their ways into children’s mouths. While older kids ... Read More
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Open-label placebo offers new treatment for disorders of gut-brain interaction in children

Posted on by | Research
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Pain-predominant disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBIs) in children — such as functional abdominal pain (FAP) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) — can lead to disabling symptoms, poor quality of life, and high use of health care resources. While optimal treatment for these conditions remains elusive, we know that this patient population tends to have high ... Read More
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How to help young kids cope when a parent has to isolate

Posted on by | Health and Parenting
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Parents: If you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 and need to isolate or quarantine, you understandably may have questions and concerns about what this means for your family. On top of coordinating logistics around work, child care, and safety measures, you may be worried about the psychological impact separation will have on your child. For children ... Read More
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