Blog | Page 83 of 159 | Boston Children's Answers

The brightest rainbow follows the darkest storm: Our PVS journey

Posted on February 22, 2021 by Doug Lake | Patient Stories

Tags: cardiac research, heart, heart center, heart patient, pulmonary vein stenosis

Caroline is our rainbow baby, born after the loss of another child, the light and color arising after a storm passes. A rainbow baby lifts a family in desperate need of lifting. It is a beautiful thing that I hope you never experience. Caroline was born on Dec. 10, 2015. Just three months later, my ... Read More

Tagged: cardiac research, heart, heart center, heart patient, pulmonary vein stenosis

It’s American Heart Month: Test your knowledge of congenital heart defects

Posted on February 18, 2021 by Ellen Greenlaw | Health and Parenting

Tags: cardiac surgery, congenital heart defect, heart, heart center

Each year, about 1 percent of all babies are born with a congenital heart defect (CHD). This makes CHDs the most common type of birth defect in the United States. But how much do you know about congenital heart defects? Test your knowledge by taking our True/False quiz. True or False? A congenital heart defect ... Read More

Tagged: cardiac surgery, congenital heart defect, heart, heart center

Beating the odds and neuromuscular scoliosis: Colin’s story

Posted on February 17, 2021 by Joanne Barker | Patient Stories

Tags: critical care, orthopedics, scoliosis, spine division, surgery

Colin Newton has a way of surprising people. Born with a rare neuromuscular disorder, he spent the first three months of his life in the intensive care unit (ICU) struggling to breathe. Two and a half years later, and eight months after he underwent spinal surgery for neuromuscular scoliosis, Colin went skiing for the first ... Read More

Tagged: critical care, orthopedics, scoliosis, spine division, surgery

HPV vaccine: What families should know

Posted on February 15, 2021 by Emily Rizzitano | Health and Parenting

Tags: cancer, infectious diseases, primary care, primary care alliance, vaccines

Nearly 42 million Americans are currently infected with human papillomavirus (HPV), and most adults will be infected at least once in their lives. For most, HPV goes away on its own. If it doesn’t, it can lead to certain cancers. HPV can be transmitted sexually or by nonpenetrative skin-to-skin contact. Often, HPV does not have signs or symptoms, ... Read More

Tagged: cancer, infectious diseases, primary care, primary care alliance, vaccines

The COVID-19 vaccine: Why some people of color hesitate

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Joanne Barker | Our Community

Tags: coronavirus, health equity, vaccines

The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially hard on people of color. In addition to higher rates of infection, serious illness, and death, many Black and Latino communities have experienced profound economic hardship and increased anxiety and depression during the pandemic. Against this backdrop, the COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna might seem like great ... Read More

Tagged: coronavirus, health equity, vaccines

Two new approaches to identifying conduction tissue

Posted on February 12, 2021 by Ellen Greenlaw | Clinical Care, Specialty Care

Tags: biventricular repair, cardiac research, cardiac surgery, electrophysiology

Conduction cells in the heart are responsible for initiating contraction of the heart muscle. The inability to properly identify the location of conduction tissue in patients with congenital heart defects during heart surgery can lead to post-operative conduction abnormalities such as heart block or conduction delays. This necessitates the need for pacemakers, which leads to ... Read More

Tagged: biventricular repair, cardiac research, cardiac surgery, electrophysiology

How do patients with cystic fibrosis respond to COVID-19? An ‘airway in a dish’ may give answers

Posted on February 11, 2021 by Nancy Fliesler | Basic/Translational, Research

Tags: asthma, coronavirus, cystic fibrosis, organoids, pulmonology, stem cells, tissue engineering

So far, based on clinical data, patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) don’t appear to be especially susceptible to COVID-19. And when they do get infected, they don’t seem to get sicker. But Ruobing (Ruby) Wang, MD, who cares for patients with CF in the Division of Pulmonary Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital, thinks there is ... Read More

Tagged: asthma, coronavirus, cystic fibrosis, organoids, pulmonology, stem cells, tissue engineering

Treating vascular rings: Sisters travel more than 3,000 miles for care

Posted on February 9, 2021 by Jessica Cerretani | Patient Stories

Tags: Esophageal and Airway Treatment Center, heart, heart center, heart patient, MFCC, surgery, vascular rings

Nicky Dickerhoff is no stranger to caring for children: Not only is she a neonatal nurse practitioner, but she and her husband, Jake, have eight kids themselves. “We’re experienced parents,” she laughs. So when their daughter Harper briefly stopped breathing at just 3 weeks old, Nicky was skeptical at the initial diagnosis of reflux. Repeated ... Read More

Tagged: Esophageal and Airway Treatment Center, heart, heart center, heart patient, MFCC, surgery, vascular rings

Surgery during COVID-19: Answers for parents

Posted on February 9, 2021 by Joanne Barker | Health and Parenting

Tags: coronavirus, hand and upper extremity, orthopedics, surgery, urology

Any time a child needs surgery, safety is a natural concern. With COVID-19, many parents are feeling more concerned than ever. “As a parent myself, one of the scariest things about this pandemic is that you’re often having to make decisions based on incomplete information, says Dr. Prathima Nandivada, an attending surgeon in the Department ... Read More

Tagged: coronavirus, hand and upper extremity, orthopedics, surgery, urology

Getting COVID-19 vaccines to medically fragile children

Posted on February 8, 2021 by Nancy Fliesler | Health and Parenting

Tags: cancer, complex care, coronavirus, diabetes, immune disorders, kidney failure, neurology, pulmonology, sickle cell disease, vaccines

As COVID-19 vaccines slowly roll out, should children who need complex care or have serious medical conditions be vaccinated? We asked experts around Boston Children’s Hospital, and their resounding answer is: Yes, if they are age 16 or older. Boston Children’s is actively planning to make vaccination happen for as many patients as possible, as ... Read More

Tagged: cancer, complex care, coronavirus, diabetes, immune disorders, kidney failure, neurology, pulmonology, sickle cell disease, vaccines