Finally getting answers about Jack’s reflux
Katie Accardi isn’t a first-time parent. As mom to 4-year-old Harper, she’s familiar with typical baby behavior, like crying and mild fussiness. In fact, she’s even experienced in caring for a sick child: Harper, who has been treated for bronchomalacia, subglottic stenosis, and other conditions, has been a patient at Boston Children’s Hospital since she ... Read More about Finally getting answers about Jack’s reflux
How I was inspired to become a nurse
On October 17, 2011, I woke up with a headache so severe I could not go to school. Even at age 13, I knew this type of pain was not normal, even though I had been having headaches for more than a year. Before I knew it, I was being rushed by ambulance to Boston ... Read More about How I was inspired to become a nurse
A twinkle in his eye: Nurse Michael Felber
After 17-year-old Nicholas Peters had spinal fusion surgery, his nurse, Michael Felber, became an essential person in his recovery. Nicholas has a range of neurological, endocrinological, behavioral, and orthopedic issues as a result of Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic condition. His condition, months of pain leading up to the surgery, and the hectic hospital environment made Nicholas prone ... Read More about A twinkle in his eye: Nurse Michael Felber
A note for my nurse
In honor of Nurses’ Week, we asked a few of our patients and their families to share what their favorite nurse means to them. Jack — Leah Frain, FNP “Leah is a kind and beautiful lady. She helps kids stop getting sick. I like giving her hugs. And kisses, too! My favorite memory of Leah ... Read More about A note for my nurse
Life after stroke: Rebecca’s fierce determination
Last July, Rebecca Gold’s parents, Karen and Adam, had just dropped her off at sleepaway camp in Pennsylvania. They hadn’t even completed the drive back to Connecticut when they received a frightening call: Their 12-year-old daughter had collapsed to the floor, vomiting and unable to move her limbs. She was now at a nearby children’s ... Read More about Life after stroke: Rebecca’s fierce determination
More than a cough: Advocating for Jack
By the time he was 2 years old, Jack Baker had made some 20 trips to the emergency department and had been hospitalized about 10 times. For much of his young life, the little boy had struggled with a cough that his parents, Katie and Rick, could only describe as a barking, seal-like noise. He ... Read More about More than a cough: Advocating for Jack
Nick: Overcoming his fears to make a difference for others
People decide to participate in a clinical trial for lots of reasons. For 14-year-old Nick Brown, it came down to wanting to make a difference in the world. Diagnosed with autism at age 5, Nick has had a lifelong aversion to hospitals, and especially to needles. Yet, when his parents told him about a new ... Read More about Nick: Overcoming his fears to make a difference for others
Worth the fight: Finding care for short bowel syndrome
When Hannah Lillie meets someone new, she’s likely to smile and blow them a big kiss. The friendly, wide-eyed toddler loves being the center of attention — but when she was just 3 weeks old, she and her parents, Layne and Ryan, found themselves in the middle of a medical whirlwind they could never have ... Read More about Worth the fight: Finding care for short bowel syndrome
Gracie’s complex spine
Halloween 2018 was no ordinary ghouls’ day for Gracie Neef. She and both her parents dressed up as the witches from “Hocus Pocus.” To Gracie’s delight, her father’s costume included a long, blonde wig. Even more unusual, Gracie was an inpatient at Boston Children’s Hospital. “The fact that Gracie was going to spend Halloween in ... Read More about Gracie’s complex spine
A gymnast gets her spring back
In order to master the pirouette, Mikayla Comeiro drew on many of the strengths she’d developed as a competitive gymnast: hours of practice, determination and physical stamina. To perform a pirouette, the gymnast swings herself into a handstand on the uneven bars and walks her hands around in a circle, rotating her entire body while ... Read More about A gymnast gets her spring back