Understanding ARFID: Finding specialized care for Thomas
On a late summer day last year, Thomas Donovan took the elevator to the eleventh floor of Boston Children’s Hospital. Although he liked the fresh air and view of the city, they weren’t his main motivations for visiting the rooftop garden. Instead, Thomas was there to capture a wild Pokémon. And he wasn’t just playing ... Read More about Understanding ARFID: Finding specialized care for Thomas
Finding specialized care for short bowel syndrome: Meet Makai
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 about Finding specialized care for short bowel syndrome: Meet Makai
Building a better bladder: Reconstructive urologic surgery helps Mikey thrive
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 about Building a better bladder: Reconstructive urologic surgery helps Mikey thrive
Innovative POEM procedure gives Emma an option for achalasia
Like a lot of teenagers, Emma Reiner loves pizza — so it shouldn’t have been a surprise when she recently enjoyed four slices in one sitting. But for Emma, the meal was an accomplishment. For more than a year, she had felt nauseous after taking just a few bites of food. “It felt like the ... Read More about Innovative POEM procedure gives Emma an option for achalasia
For Echo, treatment for midaortic syndrome was ‘MAGIC’
Most 7-year-olds don’t have high blood pressure, let alone blood pressure that hovers around 180/110 mm Hg. (“Normal” blood pressure for kids that age ranges between 95/60 and 110/73 mm Hg.) At first Echo Roney’s parents thought her rising blood pressure might be linked to her diagnosis of a genetic condition called neurofibromatosis 1. But ... Read More about For Echo, treatment for midaortic syndrome was ‘MAGIC’
Kira’s story: how a diagnosis of fatty liver disease nourished a lasting lifestyle change
Kira’s journey with fatty liver disease began about six years ago, when imaging for other medical reasons showed areas of concern with her liver. Fatty liver disease occurs when excess fat is stored in the liver; it can lead to progressive liver disease and is the most common pediatric liver disease in the country. The ... Read More about Kira’s story: how a diagnosis of fatty liver disease nourished a lasting lifestyle change
Saving baby Marcela: A mother’s mission to finally hold her daughter
The translations of this page are translated from English into another language using Google Translate, a third party tool. Please note that such translations from the English language version may contain errors and/or inaccuracies as a result of the translation. Boston Children’s Hospital disclaims all liability for any errors or inaccuracies that may result from ... Read More about Saving baby Marcela: A mother’s mission to finally hold her daughter
Making food fun: Jacob’s journey with feeding difficulties
Most parents might discourage their child from playing with their food. But for Lorraine Scanlon, getting her son Jacob to have fun at the table is all part of taking the pressure out of eating. In fact, it’s an approach recommended by his health care team. Jacob, now 8, has had feeding challenges since he ... Read More about Making food fun: Jacob’s journey with feeding difficulties
Care for post-COVID symptoms helps get figure skater back in the rink
Drew Kenney is no stranger to the ice. As a local and national competitive figure skater, the 16-year-old executes double salchows, double flips, and axels with ease. So when she began to feel winded — and then started falling — at the rink last fall, she knew something was wrong. “At first we thought she ... Read More about Care for post-COVID symptoms helps get figure skater back in the rink
Like father, like daughter: Finding care for cavernous malformations
After Charlotte Miller underwent neurosurgery, her parents, Daniel and Eliza were a little nervous to tell her that part of her head had been shaved. But the spunky 5-year-old wasn’t fazed. Instead, she pointed to her father’s head and laughed, “Now I’m going bald like you, Daddy!” A sense of humor isn’t all Charlotte and ... Read More about Like father, like daughter: Finding care for cavernous malformations