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# Boston Children's Answers

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## Posts

- [Blog](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/blog/)
- [Promising advances in fetal therapy for vein of Galen malformation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/vogm-fetal-therapy/) - In 2024, Megan Ingram* of California and her husband were preparing for the birth of their third child when a 34-week ultrasound revealed a potential complication. Their obstetrics team suspected a vein of Galen malformation (VOGM) — a rare vascular condition involving significantly elevated blood flow to the head because of direct connections between arteries
- [Treating MAPCAs with unifocalization surgery and cardiology care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/treating-mapcas-and-tetralogy-of-fallot/) - Children born with a rare form of tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) face a challenging type of congenital heart disease. Known as ToF with pulmonary atresia and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs), the condition often requires a child to have many operations and cardiology procedures to restore blood flow to the lungs and protect their heart from damage. But a team
- [A true hero's journey: How a team approach helped Wolfie overcome pancreatitis ](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pediatric-pancreatitis/) - Wolfgang, affectionately known as “Wolfie,” is a bright and energetic 7-year-old with a quick wit and a love for making others smile. He keeps his mom, Cara, his older sister, Cadence, and his dad, Jameson, laughing with his playful humor. Behind the laughter and love, Wolfie and his family have been navigating a difficult medical
- [Cannabis edibles: Keep kids safe from adult 'treats'](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cannabis-edibles-kids/) - 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
- [The journey to a treatment for hereditary spastic paraplegia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/hereditary-spastic-paraplegia-treatment/) - In 2016, Darius Ebrahimi-Fakhari, MD, PhD, then a neurology fellow at Boston Children’s Hospital, met two little girls with spasticity and decreased muscle tone in their legs, which affected their walking. Both girls, Robbie Edwards and Molly Duffy, had been diagnosed with hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), which comprises a group of more than 80 genetic
- [Four things you should know about MAPCAs treatment](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/what-to-know-about-mapcas-treatment/) - As the first grandchild in her family, Hannah Homan is in demand for frequent visits. She was also the focus of attention last month when she turned 1. It’s been happy times for her parents, Amanda and Brian, but they couldn’t see that far ahead early last year. They had received a worrisome heart diagnosis
- ['Huggable,' a social robot for kids, eases hospital stress](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/huggable-social-robot-trial/) - Children confined to the hospital often feel lonely, bored, or scared, and must cope with pain and homesickness. They may not fully understand why they are there or what will happen next. Hours can feel like days. That’s where a robotic teddy bear called Huggable could come in, suggests a new study published today in
- [Simulation-based training program improves evaluation of undescended testicles](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/undescended-testicles-manikin/) - Could a lifelike manikin torso help improve pediatricians’ understanding of undescended testicles? That’s the hope of Eric Bortnick, MD, a fellow in Boston Children’s Department of Urology whose new simulation- and video-based educational tool aims to improve the diagnosis and management of this condition. Also known as cryptorchidism, undescended testicles are common congenital anomalies in
- [Optimizing care for bronchopulmonary dysplasia, infant by infant](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/bronchopulmonary-dysplasia-custom-care/) - Preterm newborns with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) can require ongoing mechanical ventilation to support their lungs. But babies with BPD aren't just newborns with underdeveloped lungs. Each has a unique presentation. And every part of their care is important, with the ultimate goal of enabling them to grow, develop, and go home to their families. The
- [From frustration to confidence: Training helps parents replace their baby’s NG tube](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ng-tube-training/) - When the parents of 10-month-old Miles Couture were first told he would need a nasogastric (NG) tube to receive his nutrition, “it was heartbreaking,” says his mom, Catherine. Miles, who was born at just 26 weeks, had struggled with being able to feed on his own. But he seemed to be taking more by mouth.
- [Surgical 3-D printing: 300 prints, 16 specialties and counting](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/simpeds-surgical-planning/) - 3-D printing is rapidly becoming a part of surgical planning. Since July 2013, Boston Children’s Hospital’s 3-D printing service, part of the Simulator Program, has received about 200 requests from 16 departments around the hospital. It’s generated a total of about 300 prints, most of them replicating parts of the body to be operated on. Most
- [GALLERY: Custom-built ‘trainers’ help clinicians master procedures](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/trainers-simpeds/) - Walking into the SIMPeds Engineering Studio, a few blocks from Boston Children’s Hospital, the first thing you notice is body parts — high-fidelity replicas of human anatomy in various sizes. Some are in a glass display case, while others are laid out in various states of assembly, from a lone finger to the complete abdominal cavity of
- [How to have surgery and help others at the same time](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/have-surgery-help-others/) - Ryan Zanchi and his parents didn’t hesitate when invited to participate in research about spinal surgery. Ryan was diagnosed with idiopathic scoliosis at the age of 13 and had surgery two years later. Now his spine is straighter, and his contributions to science will help other patients for years to come. “Ryan’s surgery went so
- [Nurses find simulation to be a core component of daily care delivery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/nurses-simulation/) - Complex patients, new technology, a demanding health care environment. These factors and more underscore the growing importance of simulation as a key component of nurses’ education and training. At Boston Children’s Hospital, nurses use simulation to hone skills, refine experience, improve interprofessional communication, and expand competence and confidence. Simulation is a core component of their
- [Boston Children’s Simulator Program steps up during COVID-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/simpeds-covid-19/) - In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals scrambled to adapt and prepare. Amid the chaos, the Boston Children’s Hospital Simulator Program, SIMPeds, sprang into action. SIMPeds is a world leader in running live simulations of care scenarios, allowing health care providers to rehearse tough or unanticipated situations in advance. Its SIMEngineering division is
- [‘Zero place for mistakes’: Taking fetal surgery to the next level with simulation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/fetal-surgery-simulation/) - The highly complex interventions involved in fetal surgery require exceptional skill, training, and experience. Beyond the procedures themselves, these surgical scenarios depend on the ability of team members to work in concert. It’s a seamless collaboration that’s even more crucial when two patients — the pregnant person and fetus — are involved. When the Fetal
- [The hidden burden of solitude: How social withdrawal influences the adolescent brain](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/social-withdrawal-reshapes-adolescent-brain/) - Adolescence is a period of social reorientation: a shift from a world centered on parents and family to one shaped by peers, schools, and broader networks. This expansion is critical for healthy development, but it also heightens susceptibility to social stressors. For some, those stressors trigger social withdrawal, a pull toward solitude that may alter
- [A case for Kennedy — and for rapid genomic testing in every NICU](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/rapid-genomic-testing-in-every-nicu/) - Kennedy was born in August 2025 after what her parents, John and Diana, describe as an uneventful pregnancy. Soon after delivery, though, she struggled to breathe and feed. What followed was a series of hospital stays, a complex diagnosis, and a glimpse into how rapid genomic testing can deliver answers that guide critical decisions and
- [Knowing what life is worth: I am an adult heart patient and much more](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/adult-congenital-heart-care/) - Most of the children showed off a favorite toy. Some brought items that were meaningful to their family or culture. When I got to the front of my kindergarten class, my hands were empty. “My show-and-tell is…me,” I exclaimed as I pulled up my shirt and bared my chest to an audience of shocked five-year-olds
- [A toast to BRD4: How acidity changes the immune response](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/acidity-changes-immune-response/) - It started with wine. Or more precisely, a conversation about it. "My colleagues and I were talking about how some people think drinking wine may be anti-inflammatory,” recalls Xu Zhou, PhD, from the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition at Boston Children’s Hospital. “There's no scientific ground for that, but we know wine is acidic.”
- [A safe, pain-specific anesthetic shows preclinical promise](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pain-specific-anesthesia/) - All current local anesthetics block sensory signals — pain — but they also interrupt motor signals, which can be problematic. For example, too much epidural anesthesia can prevent mothers in labor from being able to push. Prolonged local anesthesia after orthopedic surgery can leave patients unable to participate in rehab. Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital
- [The right decision at the right time: Choosing pediatric thyroidectomy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pediatric-thyroidectomy/) - In some ways, siblings Adelaide and Declan couldn’t be more different. Nine-year-old Adelaide is creative, artistic, and nurturing. Declan, 7, is “our little athlete,” says his father, Todd. “Soccer, baseball — he’s always all in.” But the two also have something big in common: they share a rare genetic condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia, type 2.
- [After surgeries to treat HLHS, Carter is healthy and happy at home in Florida](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/hlhs-treatment-for-children/) - Carter Miller loves action. The 4-year-old Florida resident enjoys riding on golf carts and flying high on swing sets. It’s the kind of fun that make his parents, Andrea and Bo, appreciate where the family is now. Nearly five years ago, they were worried after a prenatal diagnosis showed Carter would be born with a
- [A unique marker for pericytes could help forge a new path for pulmonary hypertension care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pericytes-marker/) - Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare condition that’s difficult to treat. The hallmarks of the disease — narrowing of the arterioles and capillaries that deliver blood to the lungs — force the heart to work harder. In severe cases, PAH can lead to heart failure. Pericytes support capillary function and may play a role
- [Clara now runs, dances, and sings along to Taylor Swift thanks to a new life-changing heart surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/reverse-one-and-a-half-ventricular-repair/) - The time had finally come. Only two weeks after a transformative heart operation at Boston Children’s, 11-year-old Clara Portnoy stood in a sprinter’s starting position on an open stretch of grass during her school’s field day. Surrounded by classmates and teachers, she was ready to go. Born with a condition in which the structures on
- [Help your child manage anxiety about school violence](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tips-for-managing-anxiety-about-school-violence/) - With news of school shootings and other violence often reaching children, parents sometimes grapple with how to help their child cope with fear and stress. We asked Erica Lee, PhD, a psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Boston Children’s, to offer suggestions on how you can ensure your child feels safe and comfortable going to
- [New research shows caregiver instability affects development](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/new-research-caregiver-instability/) - According to some estimates, more than 100 million children around the world experience separations from their caregiver every year. Previous research — much of it derived from the long-running Bucharest Early Intervention Project (BEIP), which followed Romanian orphans from infancy to age 22 — suggests that caregiver disruptions like separations or changes in placement can
- [‘We never stopped believing’: Benny’s journey with liver cancer](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/benny-liver-cancer/) - Earlier this year, 12-year-old Benny helped his dad, Ben, build a deck around his family’s pool. Moving boards, handing each other tools — DIY projects are a rite of passage for many kids and their parents. But the experience was even more meaningful for Benny and Ben. “I got to enjoy that kind of father-son moment
- [Going for gold starts with breakfast: Nutrition advice for athletes](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/nutrition-gold/) - As they speed-climb 49-foot walls or spring across narrow balance beams, athletes rely on nutrition to provide the energy they need to achieve their dreams. Sports dietitian Laura Moretti Reece offers all athletes this simple nutrition advice: 1. Eat enough. Food is fuel, says Reece of Boston Children's Female Athlete Program. Athletes need fuel for
- [The surprising energy demands of marathon training](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/marathon-training-nutrition/) - Training for a marathon? Are you eating enough to help your body recover from one long training run and gear up for the next one? A surprising number of marathon runners don’t. In a study of athletes training for the Boston Marathon, more than two in five women and almost one in five men regularly
- [Choosing fetoscopic spina bifida care for Hadley](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/fetoscopic-spina-bifida-care-hadley/) - When Katie and Derek learned in 2024 that their daughter Hadley would be born with spina bifida, they quickly set out to find the best care available. And as so often happens in parenting, their most important decision was to trust their instincts. Doing so led them to be among the first in New England
- [Adam takes a pause from his active life for non-ossifying fibroma](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/adam-non-ossifying-fibroma/) - Adam was 11 in early 2024 when he and his bike slid under a downed tree. Such events aren’t unusual for Adam, who finds plenty of opportunities to test the limits of gravity near his home in Southern Maine. “Adam is the epitome of activity,” says his mother, Jessica. After the bike incident, however, he
- [New research paves the way to a better understanding of telomeres](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/new-research-telomeres/) - Much the way the caps on the ends of a shoelace prevent it from fraying, telomeres — regions of repetitive DNA sequences and a protein structure — protect the tips of chromosomes from damage. Every time our cells divide, telomeres lose a bit of that DNA. Eventually, telomeres become so short that they can no
- [Conduction tissue mapping is shown to significantly reduce heart block](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/conduction-tissue-mapping/) - New research by Boston Children’s validates an innovative approach to mapping the heart’s invisible conduction tissue during surgery. Using a catheter to map unseen conduction tissue drastically reduces heart block during biventricular repair surgeries for several heart conditions. Conduction tissue was identified in 96 percent of patients who were mapped. Only 4 of 25 patients
- [AI-designed proteins open doors to new immunotherapies](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/notch-signaling/) - Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly helping drive advances in science and medicine — including cellular signaling. In a recent study, published in Cell, a team of Boston Children’s researchers used groundbreaking AI-based protein design technologies to generate large numbers of immune cells — specifically T cells — in the laboratory and to enhance immune responses
- [Advancing global health: Using AI to detect heart disease in children](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ai-in-cardiology/) - In many low- and middle-income countries, pediatric cardiologists can’t help children with congenital heart conditions because of a critical hurdle. They don’t have easy access to advanced diagnostic technology. Children in many countries are not receiving proper heart care because they’re not being diagnosed. AI-powered electrocardiogram (AI-ECG) models could give cardiologists in these countries the
- [Study highlights the severity of acute necrotizing encephalopathy in kids with the flu](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ane-flu/) - For most children, influenza (flu) usually means unpleasant symptoms like a fever, sore throat, and achy muscles. But for a small subset of kids, the flu can trigger a rare but serious complication called influenza-associated acute necrotizing encephalopathy (ANE). This form of brain inflammation typically occurs in response to a virus — such as those
- [A world of difference: Why Noah traveled from Florida for multiple sclerosis care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/noah-multiple-sclerosis/) - When Noah started having headaches four years ago, his mom, Jonda, initially wondered if it was a classic kid ruse. “I thought maybe he was trying to get out of doing chores,” she remembers. But when the headaches got worse and even his eyes hurt, she brought him to their local emergency room in Florida.
- [With a dose of health equity, brachial plexus study enrolls more patients](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/health-equity-brachial-plexus/) - What drives a parent to say yes or no to enrolling their child in research? When a surprisingly high percent of patient families said no to participating in a study of brachial plexus birth injury, orthopedic surgeon Andrea Bauer, MD, and her team decided to find out why. Along the way, they became versed in
- [Hope in sight for autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA)](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/adoa/) - Autosomal dominant optic atrophy (ADOA), the most common genetic optic neuropathy, is an insidious disease. It often presents slowly during childhood by way of blurry vision, trouble reading or focusing, and sometimes only as a failed vision test. But behind these subtle signs lies progressive, irreversible vision loss in both eyes caused by deterioration of
- [The dopamine reset: Restoring what’s missing in AADC deficiency](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/dopamine-reset-aadc/) - In March 2023, a young girl came to Boston Children’s Hospital unable to hold up her head — one striking symptom of aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency. This rare neurological disorder prevents the brain from producing dopamine and serotonin — essential chemicals for controlling movement, mood, and basic body functions. Without them, children experience
- [Athletes and fatigue: Why am I so tired?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/athletes-fatigue/) - Working out can boost physical and mental energy. Yet sometimes, athletes feel more fatigued than energized. "Feeling tired after a tough workout or bad night’s sleep is normal and temporary," says Nicole Farnsworth, clinical nutrition specialist in the Sports Medicine Division at Boston Children's Hospital. “Fatigue is a problem when it interferes with an athlete’s
- [Going back to school with a chronic condition](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/back-to-school-chronic-condition/) - Going back to school can be a time of excitement for many families: Your kids are looking forward to reconnecting with their friends — and you’re looking forward to watching them learn and grow. But for caregivers of children and teens with chronic or complex conditions, preparing for a new school year involves much more
- [Ski and snowboard safety: Helmet guide](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ski-snowboard-helmet-guide/) - They’re large and they mess up your hair. Nonetheless, more than 80 percent of skiers and snowboarders wore helmets during the 2017-2018 season. The rise in helmet use is welcome news for specialists in sports medicine and traumatic brain injury prevention, says Jessie Oldham, a postdoctoral researcher who focuses on sport-related concussion. Oldham recently shared
- [An unbreakable bond: Brothers turn medical complexities into superpowers](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/medical-complexities/) - “Look! Is that one JetBlue? I think that one’s Delta!” Running through the grass, climbing on the jungle gym, and watching planes take off and land at nearby Logan Airport: Castle Island in South Boston is Patrick and Teddy’s happy place. The brothers, ages 4 and 3 respectively, are almost as obsessed with airplanes as
- [Five running exercises you can do at home](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/exercises-prevent-running-injuries/) - Unlike a lot of athletes, runners haven't had to take time off during COVID-19. In fact, a lot of athletes have been running until they can safely return to their sports of choice. Whether you're a new or seasoned runner, strength training is an important way to reduce your risk of injury. These five running
- [New research sheds light on the genetic roots of amblyopia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/new-research-sheds-light-on-the-genetic-roots-of-amblyopia/) - For decades, amblyopia has been considered a disorder primarily caused by abnormal visual experiences early in life. But new research from Mary Whitman, MD, PhD, pediatric ophthalmologist in the Department of Ophthalmology at Boston Children’s Hospital, and her colleagues suggests the story is more complicated. "There may be underlying neurodevelopmental differences in children with amblyopia
- [Team spirit: How working with an allergy psychologist got Amber back to cheering](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/allergy-psychology-arfid/) - A bubbly high schooler with lots of friends and a passion for competitive cheerleading: On the surface, Amber’s life looks perfect. She even knows what she wants to be when she’s older — a cosmetologist, because she wants to help people feel their best through beauty. Her determination to help others is what drove her
- [Parsing the promise of inosine for neurogenic bladder](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/inosine-bladder/) - Spinal cord damage — whether from traumatic injury or conditions such as spina bifida — can have a profound impact on bladder function. This can result in neurogenic bladder, a problem in which damage to the nerves involved in urination leads to a loss of bladder control. Neurogenic bladder is currently managed with medication, Botox
- [New genetic insights could change how we treat, and talk about, polycystic ovary syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/rethinking-polycystic-ovary-syndrome/) - Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has long been viewed as a hormonal disorder affecting women of reproductive age. However, ongoing research led by Jia Zhu, MD, attending physician in the Division of Endocrinology, and her colleagues is changing that. Their most recent findings indicate that PCOS is part of a broader metabolic and reproductive disorder that
- [Past patient outcomes could help single-ventricle surgery decisions](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/surgery-outcomes-for-single-ventricle-heart-defects/) - When considering whether a child who has a single-ventricle heart defect would benefit more from biventricular repair or the Fontan procedure, heart specialists have lacked a key tool to guide them: data that shows possible long-term health risks of each surgical option. But Boston Children’s heart specialists — who perform biventricular repair more often than any other pediatric hospital —
- [Which pain medication is right for your child? What a pediatrician wants parents to know](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pain-medication/) - There’s no shortage of safe and effective pain medications for children. Acetaminophen (commonly known as Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) are the most common over-the-counter options, but how do you know which one is best to use when? “Each pain medication has its own benefits and risks,” says Dr. Susan Harp, a
- [Ask a sports medicine specialist: Why are ACL tears so common among female athletes?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/acl-female-athletes/) - When an athlete is sprinting after an opponent who suddenly stops or changes direction, their anterior cruciate ligaments (ACLs) make it possible for them to continue their pursuit. This much talked-about ligament is the reason athletes can pivot, cut, jump, and land. “The ACL is one of the main stabilizing ligaments in the knee,” explains
- [After a severe case of myelitis, ‘rockstar’ Maxwell is on the move](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/maxwell-myelitis/) - When Maxwell Lazarz’s mother, Jennifer, tells him he’s a rockstar, he just laughs and asks her what that means. But as this joyful almost-3-year-old zips around in his motorized wheelchair, cracking jokes and blowing bubbles, it’s clear that his mom is right. In fact, Maxwell has been defying expectations ever since he was diagnosed with
- [‘A lot better now’: Andrew’s recovery from Rocky Mountain spotted fever and a stroke](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/andrew-rmsf/) - When Andrew was bitten by a tick in 2021, he and his parents could hardly have imagined that just a month later, he would be coping with a series of health problems that would culminate in a stroke. Andrew, then 7, didn’t even realize he’d been bitten until he began to feel sick with a
- [‘They never stopped trying to figure out what was happening’: RyennAnne’s encephalitis journey](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/herpes-simplex-encephalitis/) - When 5-year-old RyennAnne Hurst developed a bad sore throat last summer, her doctor thought she might have strep and prescribed her antibiotics. But two weeks later, she wasn’t feeling any better. In fact, she was lethargic and her head hurt. “She told us it felt like something was smashing into the right side of her
- [No limitations: How Flora found answers for MOG antibody disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/flora-mog-antibody-disease/) - Flora Ringler’s fifth birthday didn’t turn out as she had hoped. She and her family were vacationing in New Hampshire last year when she started feeling tired. But she wasn’t just worn out from celebrating: She also developed a bad headache and started throwing up. Concerned, her mom, Maureen, contacted a pediatrician, who thought she
- [Navigating school with a neuroimmune condition](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/neuroimmune-education/) - Fifteen-year-old Sarah had been challenging her dad to card games all week — and on Saturday, she finally beat him. It might seem like just good-natured competition to most people. But for Sarah, it was a much greater accomplishment: The teenager was coping with the lasting cognitive effects of autoimmune encephalitis and had struggled with
- [“Princess June” reigns supreme over Rasmussen syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/june-rasmussen-syndrome/) - What do you call a “girly” 5-year-old who adores dolls and frilly nightgowns? If you’re one of June Pelletier’s nurses at Boston Children’s Hospital, the answer is “Princess June,” of course. While Her Highness would much prefer to reign over her parents and three siblings at home in Connecticut, she’s no stranger to the hospital.
- [Knowledge is empowerment: The 2019 Female Athlete Conference](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/2019-female-athlete-conference-highlights/) - School was out for the summer at Babson College, but on June 4, Sorenson Auditorium was filled with over 400 people as Dr. Kathryn Ackerman kicked off the fourth biennial Female Athlete Conference. The one-of-a-kind conference, hosted by the Female Athlete Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, drew attendees from as close as Boston and as
- [Four ways to support your teen's mental health](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/teen-mental-health/) - Being a teen is hard enough, but with the current adolescent mental health crisis, parents should know about the psychosocial challenges — from stress to suicidal thoughts — teens face nowadays. We spoke with Nanci Ginty Butler, LICSW, director of Mental Health Services in the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Boston Children’s
- [When athletes push too hard: How to screen and when to refer](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/female-athletes-refer/) - With the rise in the number and competitiveness of female athletes, overtraining has become a serious health risk for many young women. Whether it comes from a coach, parent, teammate, or the athlete herself, the pressure to perform drives many young athletes to practice unsafe behaviors in an effort to boost performance. Instead of building
- [Study links urinary incontinence in female athletes to low energy availability](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/urinary-incontinence-female-athletes/) - Urinary incontinence (UI) is a common experience for female athletes that can significantly impact their enjoyment of and participation in sports. Previous studies have shown that female athletes who experience urinary incontinence are more likely to drop out of their sports. Noting a large number of female athletes presenting with urinary incontinence, physicians in the
- [Forging a path back to school after orthopedic trauma](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ortho-trauma-school/) - Orthopedic trauma can force children to miss school, sometimes for an extended period. But even when patients have regained enough mobility to return to school, their schools aren’t always equipped to welcome them back. “Trauma is different from many other orthopedic conditions because it’s so unexpected,” says Kristin Livingston, MD, director of the Orthopedic Trauma
- [A partner through amniotic band syndrome: Jace’s story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/amniotic-band-syndrome-jace/) - Jace is a happy, energetic 9-month-old whose big brown eyes light up a room. He’s adored by his parents, Kait and Evan, who not only delight in being first-time parents but are also incredibly appreciative of the care that helped save their son. It was care that took a village, Kait and Evan say —
- [For Ana Sofia: How one mom found prenatal care for fetal pleural effusion](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pleural-effusion/) - Alexandra is the first to admit she asks a lot of questions and needs to know details. “I’m curious about everything, and I want to know everything,” she says. “I do my research. I’m a pretty resourceful person.” It’s something she says can be off-putting to some people, but it’s also what saved her daughter’s
- [Tough cookie: Steroid therapy helps Alessandra thrive with Diamond-Blackfan anemia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/alessandra-diamond-blackfan-anemia/) - Two-year-old Alessandra is many things. She’s sweet, happy, curious, and, according to her parents, Ralph and Irma, a budding food critic. “She’s a food snob!” Ralph says, laughing. “She recognizes the expensive pasta, the homemade versus store-bought food.” But above all, Alessandra is resilient, and her parents have known that from the very start: At
- [Jackie’s dreams of playing professional soccer back on track after ACL surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/jackie-acl-tear/) - From her dorm in Newcastle, England, Jackie Zapata can hear fans roaring in the soccer stadium a few blocks away. Soccer is a major pastime in her adopted home. “The city gets amped up anytime there’s a game,” she says. “It’s a huge part of the culture here.” This enthusiasm makes Newcastle a good place
- [Thanks to Carter and his family, people are talking about spastic paraplegia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/carter-spastic-paraplegia/) - Nine-year-old Carter may be the most devoted — and popular — sports fan in his Connecticut town. “He loves all sports,” says his mother, Natalie. Whenever one of Carter’s buddies has a game, Natalie’s phone lights up with texts asking if he can attend. As his friends play, Carter cheers and gives high fives from his
- [Unveiling the hidden impact of moyamoya disease: Brain injury without symptoms](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/moyamoya-without-symptoms/) - Moyamoya disease — a rare, progressive condition that narrows the brain’s blood vessels — leads to an increased risk of stroke and other neurological conditions. Doctors treating children with moyamoya often face difficult decisions about treatment, notably deciding whether to perform revascularization, a surgery to bypass the narrowed blood vessels and restore blood flow. A
- [“A setback for a comeback”: Brody perseveres with Paget-Schroetter Syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/brody-perseveres-with-paget-schroetter-syndrome/) - Baseball has been part of Brody Walsh’s story from the very start. Now 19 and a college sophomore, Brody pitches for the Thomas College Terriers baseball team. But his path to this point has not been easy, to say the least: Just two years ago, a serious medical condition threatened his pitching career. Faced with
- [“Observe. Be open.”: How Boston Children’s nurses are changing the future of global health](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/boston-childrens-nurses-are-changing-the-future-of-global-health/) - Ashley Birch, MSN, CPNP, a Boston Children’s pediatric nurse practitioner and Global Nursing fellow, didn’t expect a trash bag to become a critical tool in her global health toolkit. In a hospital in Uganda, caring for a baby with spina bifida, Ashley improvised and created a protective covering over a wound using what she thought
- [Fuel to be faster: Studying the effects of low energy availability at the Boston Marathon](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/low-energy-availability-boston-marathon/) - Like many sports medicine specialists, Kristin Whitney, MD, MA, suspected that many of the issues she treats in runners — bone stress injuries, anemia, decreased response to training, and reduced endurance to name a few — stemmed from insufficient nutrition. Runners with indicators of low energy availability had slower finish times and more medical encounters.
- [Five things to know before getting an online second opinion for your child](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/online-second-opinion/) - Whether you want to confirm your child’s diagnosis or treatment plan, another set of expert eyes can give you confidence that they’re receiving the best care. At Boston Children’s Hospital, the process is simple: Although in-person second opinions are also an option, you can request an online second opinion from the comfort of your home
- [The exciting life of Jack, the first successful fetal cardiac intervention patient](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/the-exciting-life-of-jack-the-first-successful-fetal-cardiac-intervention-patient/) - Jack Miller sometimes reaches out to his cardiologist, Dr. Wayne Tworetzky, with updates on his life. Recently, their conversations centered around Jack pushing himself while training to be a police officer. The physical endurance Jack needed for training was another example of how the fetal cardiac intervention that Dr. Tworetzky and the specialists of the Fetal Cardiology Program performed on
- [Mark's winning pass with cochlear implants](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/mark-football-cochlear-implants/) - Mark Bradshaw wanted to break out of his parents’ protective shell — as many teens do when they start pushing for more independence. Mark’s parents, however, hesitated. The issue? Mark, who is 15 and has had cochlear implants since early childhood, wanted to play tackle football. Access to sound and language Mark was diagnosed with
- [A new druggable cancer target: RNA-binding proteins on the cell surface](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/aml-cancer-target-npm1/) - In 2021, research led by Ryan Flynn, MD, PhD, and his mentor, Nobel laureate Carolyn Bertozzi, PhD, opened a new chapter in biology, characterizing a new kind of player on the cell surface: glycoRNAs. Extending this discovery recently in Cell, Flynn and colleagues showed that glycoRNAs form highly organized clusters with RNA-binding proteins on the
- [How hearing aids opened up a world of sound for Harry](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/harry-hearing-aids/) - Maybe it’s unusual to bring a musical instrument to an audiology appointment, but that didn’t stop Harry King. When he picked up his new hearing aids from Boston Children’s Hospital, he brought his ukulele. After a procedure to drain fluid from his middle ears the year before, Harry had become obsessed with sounds of all
- [Learning to speak with the help of a bone-anchored hearing system: Owen’s story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/bone-anchored-hearing-owen/) - Why does 4-year-old Owen love Ghost Spider? For one thing, her suit has purple highlights. For another, her hand forms the sign for ‘I love you’ whenever she casts a web. These reasons say a lot about Owen: a loving kid who knows American Sign Language (ASL) and whose favorite color is purple. For several
- [‘Empowered to be there for Teagan’: New parents learn about hearing loss](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/teagan-hearing-aids/) - Teagan O’Brien is a bright, spunky 4-year-old who loves reading, dancing, and playing outdoors. Her parents, Kim and Donnie, are firefighters who throw themselves into any new situation. Since they adopted Teagan three-and-a-half years ago, they’ve thrown themselves into supporting her with help from her team at Boston Children’s Hospital. Teagan was already a patient
- [A different kind of hearing: Caleb’s cochlear implant](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/caleb-cochlear-implant/) - Caleb recently told his mother, “I think I’m going to write my own stories.” This news didn’t surprise his parents, Wendy and Chris. For several years, 8-year-old Caleb has filled notebook after notebook with pictures and stories. His stack of favorite books includes Boxcar Children and The Chronicles of Narnia. But given some of his
- [How I hear you: Isabelle’s cochlear implant story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/isabelle-cochlear-implant/) - Isabelle is a thriving AP student, hockey player, and online gamer who listens to music and communicates with the help of cochlear implants. When people ask about the devices behind her ears, she responds, “They’re my ears. That’s how I hear you.” Fourteen years ago, when Vicki and Jason learned one of their newborn twins
- [Are cochlear implants an option for my child?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cochlear-implants-questions-answers/) - By providing access to sound, cochlear implants have made it possible for children with severe to profound hearing loss to communicate through speech. The devices transmit signals from external processors to the brain via units implanted underneath the skin and small wires connected to the inner ear. “Cochlear implants can be life changing for a
- [Forecasting the future for childhood cancer survivors](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/childhood-cancer-survivors-outcomes/) - Children are much more likely to survive cancer today than 50 years ago. Unfortunately, as adults, many of them develop cardiovascular disease, secondary cancers, or both, believed to result from the toxic effects of chemotherapy and radiation. But the full risk picture for survivors hasn’t been clear. “Patients want to know how long they’ll live
- [Understanding and treating Mason's congenital nevus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/birthmark-surgery/) - Kim and Ryan noticed their son’s birthmark almost immediately after he was born. They knew birthmarks were common, but Mason’s was different — it covered a large portion of his right leg and calf. Their doctor classified it as a giant congenital melanocytic nevus and suggested they monitor it closely, but that didn’t answer all
- [Unique data revealed just when Mickey's heart doctors could operate](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pressure-volume-loops-assess-cc-tga-surgeries/) - When Mikolaj “Mickey” Karski’s family traveled from Poland to Boston to get him heart care, they weren’t thinking about pressure-volume (PV) loops. His parents simply wanted him to receive treatment for a complex condition that he couldn’t get back home. Little did they know the mathematical computational power of those PV loops would play a
- [Genomic sequencing transforms a life: Asa’s story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/diarrhea-genetics-asa/) - Asa Cibelli feels like he’s been reborn. The straight-A middle schooler plays basketball and football, does jiu jitsu, is learning guitar, and can solve a Rubik’s cube in 40 seconds flat. But he once wondered if he’d ever feel better. From birth, Asa experienced chronic abdominal pain and severe diarrhea. The many doctors he saw
- [Genetic causes of congenital diarrhea and enteropathy come into focus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/genetics-congenital-diarrhea-enteropathy/) - Congenital diarrheas and enteropathies are rare and devastating for infants and children. Treatments have consisted mainly of fluid and nutritional management. But in recent years, targeted dietary and drug therapies have emerged based on genetic discoveries. Now, research led by Boston Children’s Hospital, The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, and UCLA takes a major
- [Finding a possible genetic treatment for rare arrhythmias](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/genetic-treatment-for-rare-arrhythmias/) - Variants in a gene that plays a key role in heart function can cause potentially life-threatening arrhythmia syndromes known as calmodulinopathy. Calmodulinopathy is rare and causes arrhythmias that are poorly treated by current options. Boston Children’s cardiologist William Pu, MD, believes he has found a promising custom genetic treatment: antisense oligonucleotides that deplete the disease-causing gene product.
- [Injected microbubbles could be a safe way to deliver emergency oxygen](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/injected-microbubbles-could-be-a-safe-way-to-deliver-emergency-oxygen/) - For years, researchers and clinicians have been trying to find a way to rapidly deliver oxygen to patients when traditional means of oxygenation are difficult or ineffective during critical moments of cardiac or respiratory arrest. Sometimes, hypoxemia caused by airway obstruction or lung disease can be so severe that methods to boost low-oxygen levels (including
- [Could the falcine sinus hold the key to vein of Galen outcomes?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/falcine-sinus-vein-of-galen-outcomes/) - A Boston Children’s Hospital study uncovers how fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be a game-changer in predicting outcomes for infants born with vein of Galen malformations (VOGMs). The study, just published in Stroke, focused on the width of the falcine sinus (FS) — the fetal structure that channels blood from the malformation back to
- ['A football game changed my life': Jamison's non-directed kidney donation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pediatric-non-directed-kidney-donation/) - When recess is your favorite school subject, and you’re so naturally funny that the adults in your life belly laugh after everything you say, you get the title of a “cool kid” — well, at least if you’re Jamison. At 10, Jamison has an easy-going attitude that you wouldn’t expect once you hear he experienced
- [The thalamus: A potential therapeutic target for neurodevelopmental disorders](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/thalamus-neurodevelopmental/) - Years ago, as a neurology resident, Chinfei Chen, MD, PhD, cared for a 20-year-old woman who had experienced a very small stroke, affecting only the thalamus. “It was so tiny that she wouldn’t have noticed any symptoms had the stroke been in any other area of the brain,” says Chen, who is now an investigator
- [Using her voice: After tracheomalacia treatment, Claire keeps her eye on the ball](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/claire-tracheomalacia/) - Claire Kantany is only 10, but she knows what she wants to do when she grows up — in fact, she’s already doing it. Combining an interest in acting with her family’s love of football, she has her mind set on a career in sportscasting. Not only is she reporting on local games from the sidelines,
- [Pediatric high-grade gliomas: Research reveals effective targeting with avapritinib](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pediatric-high-grade-glioma/) - Pediatric high-grade gliomas, particularly H3K27M diffuse midline gliomas (DMG), are aggressive malignant brain tumors with a poor prognosis. Previous research suggests that platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA) appears to play a multifaceted role in the pathogenesis of both adult and pediatric high-grade gliomas. Not only are genetic alterations of PDGFRA common in patients with
- [Partnering diet and intestinal microbes to protect against GI disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/diet-microbiome-gi-disea/) - Despite being an everyday necessity, nutrition is something of a black box. We know that many plant-based foods are good for us, but we don’t always know why. Our intestinal microbiome, which helps break down these foods once we consume them, is another black box. What role do our gut bacteria play? Seth Rakoff-Nahoum, MD,
- [A better treatment for endometriosis could lie in migraine medications](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/endometriosis-biology/) - Endometriosis is a common, mysterious, often painful condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, forming lesions in locations such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and pelvis. These lesions can cause severe pain during periods, heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic or abdominal pain, and sometimes painful bowel movements and urination. Existing
- ['What I want you to know about endometriosis': Iva's story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/what-i-want-you-to-know-about-endometriosis-ivas-story/) - Growing up, I heard stories about how everyone’s first period is usually no big deal. The cramps, the fatigue, the cravings—just uncomfortable to most. But my first period at age 11 brought excruciating pain that caused me to double over and wonder if I was the only one who experienced this. I had “the talk”
- [When to refer a pediatric patient for endometriosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/when-to-refer-a-pediatric-patient-for-endometriosis/) - Endometriosis is a complex disease in which endometrium-like tissue grows in locations such as the fallopian tubes, ovaries, or pelvic tissue, leading to serious pelvic pain and other symptoms. Although there is a common assumption that the disease only affects adults, approximately two-thirds of people with endometriosis report that their symptoms were present before age
- [Are weight-loss medications and surgery right for teens?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/teen-weight-loss-surgery-and-medications/) - Advances in bariatric surgery and weight-loss medications have made weight management accessible to more adults. But are these approaches effective — and safe — for teens, too? Weight-management medications, particularly glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), are the newest tool available to people over age 12 for the treatment of obesity and related conditions. At
- [What orthopedic trauma surgeons wish more parents knew about lawnmower injuries](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/orthopedic-trauma-lawnmower-injury/) - Summer is full of delights: lemonade, ice cream, and fresh-cut grass to name a few. Unfortunately, the warmer months can also come with a type of injury that takes many families by surprise. Mowing the lawn may seem perfectly normal and safe. However, the blades that cut the grass can also do serious damage to
- [Keeping up with the tween skin care trend: What's in those products?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tween-skin-care-ingredients-information/) - More teens and tweens are hitting the mall to grab skin-care products they’ve seen on social media — but are these popular ingredients safe for younger skin? We asked Dr. Jennifer Tan and Dr. Jennifer Huang in Boston Children’s Dermatology Program to weigh in on this trend and break down common ingredients. Trends aren’t for
- [After two ACL tears, a skier reconnects with her body and her sport](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/acl-tears-sophia/) - The memory remains vivid in Sophia’s mind. Racing down a slalom course at top speed, she hit a patch of bad snow. “The next thing I knew, I was launched up in the air. My legs were above me and I lost sight of my right leg. I felt my right knee twist and I
- [Pirate puzzles and peekaboo: Beckett's brachial plexus birth injury story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/beckett-brachial-plexus/) - Beckett Stone-Lyman is an adorable, fun 2-year-old who loves to run, sprint, and climb. If he’s not charging around the playground, he’s probably doing a pirate puzzle. Or maybe he’s staring at his fingers as he wiggles them, amazed that his right hand can now do many of the same things as his left. Thanks
- [Modeling urinary tract disorders on a chip: Zohreh Izadifar](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/organ-chips-urinary-tract-disorders/) - When a new tissue sample arrives from the Department of Urology, the Boston Children’s Hospital lab of Zohreh Izadifar, PhD springs into action. The tissue, from a child with urinary tract pathology, is whisked into the tissue culture room. Under a hood, lab members Dasvit Shetty, PhD, and Gretchen Carpenter, MSc, carefully isolate the cells
- [MRI could reduce the mystery of brachial plexus injuries in infants](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/brachial-plexus-injuries-mri/) - About one in 1,000 children are born with brachial plexus birth injury (BPBI), upper extremity weakness or paralysis resulting from trauma to the brachial plexus nerves during childbirth. Most children with BPBI recover with observation and minimally invasive care, but about 30 percent have injuries severe enough to lead to long-term impairment. Thanks to recent
- [Addressing food insecurity and nutrition challenges in pediatric type 1 diabetes care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/addressing-gaps-in-pediatric-type-1-diabetes-care/) - Managing type 1 diabetes can be overwhelming for children and families. As children learn to live with the disease, many cut back on visits to their nutritionists. Others face barriers like food insecurity that make it difficult to maintain a balanced diet. And without the proper professional support and access to healthy foods, children’s overall
- [A surprising link between Crohn’s disease and the Epstein-Barr virus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/crohns-epstein-barr/) - Crohn’s disease, a debilitating inflammatory bowel disease, has many known contributing factors, including bacterial changes in the microbiome that foster an inflammatory environment. Now, for the first time, Crohn’s disease been tied to a virus — specifically, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), best known for causing infectious mononucleosis (mono). Researchers had already observed increased levels of EBV
- [A surgeon's last-minute trip to Sri Lanka reduces children's wait for needed heart repair](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/congenital-heart-defect-repair/) - Last year, Dr. Christopher Baird got an offer he couldn’t refuse — something that happens often as he travels the world to demonstrate the heart surgery techniques he has learned and developed at Boston Children’s Hospital. At a heart surgery symposium in India, Dr. Baird had just performed a complex type of aortic valve reconstruction
- [A fall from a swing uncovers a rare cervical spine condition: Charlotte's story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cervical-spine-charlotte/) - If it were any other year, Charlotte Gillis would have celebrated her 10th birthday in mid-July with a big party. But in June 2024, a fall from a swing had left her temporarily paralyzed. Though her mobility returned within a few hours, she was still in a neck brace, still wobbly on her feet, and
- [The polio outbreak of 1955: Lessons from an epidemic](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/polio-outbreak-1955/) - “This is going to be a tough year.” Claire McCarthy was a young physical therapist in early March 1955 when orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Grice, made this observation. At the time, Boston Children’s Hospital was the receiving center for adults and children with polio in New England. The hospital typically saw an upsurge in cases
- [Status epilepticus: What’s changed, what to know, and a global perspective](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/status-epilepticus-guidelines/) - Status epilepticus, or a prolonged seizure lasting more than five minutes, is a rare complication of epilepsy and a medical emergency that can occur even in people without a diagnosis of epilepsy. If not treated quickly, it can cause brain damage, lifelong complications, and even death. “A prolonged seizure is a race against time to
- [A new tool could exponentially expand our understanding of bacteria](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/bacteria-merfish/) - How do bacteria — harmless ones living in our bodies, or those that cause disease — organize their activities? A new study, combining powerful genomic-scale microscopy with a technical innovation, captured which genes bacteria turn on in different situations and in different spatial environments. The technology, described January 23 in Science, promises to take the
- [Phenylketonuria: Giving treatment a second chance](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pku-phenylketonuria-second-chance/) - Phenylketonuria (PKU) was once a common cause of intellectual disability. Children born with this metabolic condition lack phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH), the enzyme needed to break down the amino acid phenylalanine (phe). Instead, phe builds up to levels harmful to the brain. PKU was the original condition tested for when newborn screening was piloted in Massachusetts
- [Could peripheral neuropathy be stopped before it starts?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/peripheral-neuropathy/) - An increase in high-fat, high-fructose foods in people’s diets has contributed to a dramatic increase in type 2 diabetes. This, in turn, has led to an increase in peripheral neuropathy — nerve damage, typically in the hands and feet — that causes weakness, loss of sensation and, in some, a stabbing, burning, or tingling pain.
- [Every heart has a story. See how we care for them all.](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/celebrating-heart-care/) - It’s easy to think of the heart as a common denominator — everyone has one — but no two hearts are alike. Every heart is different. Every heart has a story. For many children and adults, that story includes coming to Boston Children’s for specialized heart care. Some were born with complex congenital heart defects, while
- [It's all in the PV loops: New analytical model could improve circulation assessments before heart surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pv-loops-assess-cc-tga-surgery-plans/) - The double-switch operation corrects the congenital reversal of the heart’s ventricles and its two main arteries. It’s a practical way of putting the ventricles into the position they belong so that children with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CC-TGA) can benefit from enhanced circulation. Surgery, though, doesn’t come without risks. Some children’s left ventricles —
- [Tips for teething: How to enjoy your child's big moment](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tips-for-teething/) - The emergence of a baby’s primary teeth (their baby teeth) is a joyful milestone for parents but it can also be an uncomfortable time for the infant. Their gums can swell and feel tender, possibly making them feel irritable and causing them to lose sleep. Boston Children’s Department of Dentistry shared advice on what you should expect
- [Jack had a first-of-its-kind surgery with the aim of making it his last](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/aortic-valve-replacement/) - Jack Mangan loves fire trucks. He also loves monster trucks. So you can imagine his excitement about those two things being mashed up as a toy: a fire truck on top of a monster truck. The 4-year-old has an extensive collection of miniature hybrid monster trucks — one has a shark on top; another Scooby-Doo
- [A heavy-medaled gymnast and his close call with leg-length discrepancy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gymnast-leg-length-discrepancy/) - Ask 15-year-old Kaleb what he likes about gymnastics and with a sly smile, he’ll say, “flipping around.” That’s Kaleb: understated, funny. But watch him in action, and you’ll see a focused gymnast who earned two medals in the 2024 Men’s Eastern National Championships. He probably won’t mention that two years ago, a surgeon told his
- [Modifying macrophages in the lung could head off pulmonary hypertension](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/lung-macrophages-pulmonary-hypertension/) - In the 1980s, when Stella Kourembanas, MD, began her career in neonatology, she cared for newborns with pulmonary hypertension, a disease that results in abnormally high blood pressure in the lung arteries and can lead to heart failure. Since then, treatments like inhaled nitric oxide, new vasodilators, new modalities of mechanical ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane
- [Unstoppable: Flatfoot correction helps Jacob take control](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/flexible-flatfoot-correction-jacob/) - The first time Dr. Susan Mahan examined Jacob’s feet, she pressed on a tender spot near one of his arches. “You see that?” Jacob’s mother, Lucie, remembers her saying. “That bone isn’t supposed to be there.” Jacob was 13 and had spent a frustrating year trying to figure out why basketball, his greatest source of
- [A minimally invasive surgical option for children with flexible flatfoot](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/flexible-flatfoot-surgery/) - Most children with flexible flatfoot, a common condition in which arches do not develop in the feet, don’t need surgery, or any medical intervention at all. The few who do need surgery typically face a complicated procedure and a long recovery. Children in many parts of Europe, however, have another option. A minimally invasive procedure,
- [Innovative flatfoot surgery releases Quinn's inner athlete](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/innovative-flatfoot-surgery-quinn/) - By the time he was 10, Quinn’s parents had tried almost everything. Dawn would sometimes massage his feet to relieve the pain and tightness caused by flexible flatfoot, a condition in which a child has very little or no arch in their feet. Joseph did physical therapy exercises with him at night. But despite their
- [Novel procedure may bridge the treatment gap for symptomatic flexible flatfoot](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/flatfoot-research/) - Most children develop arches in their feet by early adolescence. About 20 percent, however, have pes planovalgus (PPV), also known as flexible flatfoot. Most children with PPV can participate in sports and other activities without issue, but others have ongoing pain in their feet that limit function and activities. Until recently in the U.S., children
- [Bringing order to disorder: Jhullian Alston, PhD](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/probing-disordered-proteins-jhullian-alston-phd/) - Proteins typically fold into orderly, predictable three-dimensional structures that dictate how they will interact with other molecules. Jhulian Alston, PhD, is drawn to intrinsically disordered proteins, whose key feature is a lack of structure. They are difficult to study and far less explored. “They’re floppy, they don’t have specific folds, they can’t slot into each
- [My son is a NICU GraD: Here’s what I’ve learned](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/nicu-grads/) - My husband and I aren’t first-time parents, but when our twins were born nine weeks early a year ago, everything we thought we knew went out the window. The thing is, it wasn’t Cal and Theo’s early arrival that was the biggest shock; it was the challenges that came afterward. Life with newborns and a
- [Could we cure or prevent food allergy by targeting an intestinal protein?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/relm-beta-food-allergy/) - When is food simply nourishing and enjoyable, and when does it provoke an allergic reaction? The answer appears to lie in the balance of microbes that live in our intestine — and a specific protein secreted by intestinal goblet cells that influences that balance. Excess amounts of this protein, RELMß, change the profile of intestinal
- [Crossing the ocean: Kathryn learns how to manage chronic pain](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/kathryn-crps-chronic-pain/) - When Kathryn Chechile, 11, “graduated” from Boston Children’s Pediatric Pain and Rehabilitation Center (PPRC) last year, she painted a tile to hang on the wall of the Center’s space. It’s a fun ritual for patients who complete the intensive day program aimed at helping kids manage chronic pain. Kathryn’s design features a girl looking out
- [From swallowing troubles to doughnuts: How vascular ring treatment helped Everly](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/vascular-ring-care-for-children/) - By the time she was a year old, Everly Parisee was frequently wheezing. Then she had trouble swallowing foods. Her parents sought help from local pediatricians and specialists, who, in turn, couldn’t pinpoint a diagnosis. It turns out Everly had a type of vascular ring — a rare congenital defect that can constrict critical parts of the
- [Mapping cells to create targeted treatments for interstitial lung disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gene-mapping-interstitial-lung-diseases/) - John Kennedy, MD, MSc, remembers the relative simplicity of his first genetic mapping project. In a Harvard Medical School lab, he helped map a gene for the neurological disease mucolipidosis type IV in less than a year. “I was fresh out of college. I thought with the global momentum of the Human Genome Project, we were going to
- [After complex heart surgery, Yah’ir is all smiles](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/congenital-heart-defect/) - Christina Moreland and Jimmy Austin want their 6-month-old son, Yah’ir, to have a bright future, one where he can pursue all of his dreams. “He can do whatever he wants to do,” Christina says. There’s just one caveat, an understandable one considering that Yah’ir is recovering from complex heart surgery. “As long as he doesn’t
- [Blood across our lifetimes: An age-specific ‘atlas’ tells a dynamic story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/blood-atlas/) - The stem cells that form our blood, also known as hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), are with us throughout our lives. A new study reveals how HSCs ramp up and pivot their activities depending on the body’s needs at the time, from before we’re born until old age. Researchers at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders
- [A small act of kindness: Blood donations get Sadie off the sidelines after her aplastic anemia diagnosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sadie-aplastic-anemia/) - In March of 2024, Sadie’s life was interrupted. A busy high school senior with classes to attend, soccer matches to play, and a much-anticipated trip to France on the horizon, Sadie was very active and felt generally healthy. But when a follow-up appointment at her pediatrician’s office led to an urgent referral to Boston Children’s
- [Blood donations help Kit manage Diamond-Blackfan anemia — so she can dance, sing, and enjoy life](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/diamond-blackfan-anemia/) - Every month, Kit Murdoch needs a blood transfusion to stay alive. The 2-year-old has Diamond-Blackfan anemia, a rare genetic blood disorder that, if untreated, prevents blood from delivering oxygen through the body. While it has been a devastating diagnosis for Kit’s parents, they’re grateful for the specialized care she receives and are constantly amazed that people
- [Faced with a rare type of liver cancer, Ramie focuses on the positive](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ramie-liver-cancer/) - When Ramie Darling learned that his liver cancer had recurred, he thought for a while and then simply said, “OK.” Asked by his parents if he understood the situation, he replied, “I know I need more treatment. But whenever there’s a ‘down’ in life, I just think of the ‘ups.’” It’s an attitude that has
- [AI-enabled medical devices are burgeoning, but many haven’t been tested in children](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ai-medical-devices-children/) - Medical devices that incorporate artificial intelligence and machine learning are proliferating. In 2013, the FDA approved fewer than 10 such devices; by 2023, this number had grown to nearly 250. Devices include software to help interpret radiology images, wearable devices that monitor the heart and flag risks, and devices that analyze brain signals for potential
- [Years of experience support the safe use of fine-needle aspiration for pediatric thyroid nodules](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/thyroid-nodules-fna/) - Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) has long been used as a safe and effective way to evaluate thyroid nodules in adults, usually without sedation. Less is known about the safety and tolerability of FNA in children, although small studies suggest that the approach can be performed without sedation and with minimal complications. Now, a report by
- [A sickle cell first: Base editing, a new form of gene therapy, leaves Branden feeling ‘more than fine’](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sickle-cell-base-editing/) - Though he doesn’t remember it, Branden Baptiste had his first sickle cell crisis at age 2. Through elementary school, he was in and out of the hospital with pain episodes, not knowing why. As he got older, he learned he had sickle cell disease. His red blood cells were forming sickle shapes and getting stuck
- [Eight years of preparation for a surgical first: a partial heart transplant](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/new-aortic-valve-treatment/) - Boston Children’s cardiac surgeons have an overriding goal for each patient: If possible, repair their congenital heart defect (CHD) — rather than replace any native heart tissue. Preserving heart tissue often leads to a speedier and more complete recovery and longer-lasting cardiac function. Sometimes, though, a patient’s valve tissue is beyond repair and a bioprosthetic or mechanical replacement valve
- [Changing lives through genetics: The Children’s Rare Disease Collaborative](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/childrens-rare-disease-collaborative/) - A 14-year-old girl was having back pain after a car accident and visited an orthopedic clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital. In the course of her care, she joined the Children’s Rare Disease Collaborative (CRDC), a hospital-wide effort to enroll children and adults with rare diseases in genetic studies. Genetic testing revealed that both she and
- [Model enables study of age-specific responses to COVID mRNA vaccines in a dish](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/model-covid-mrna-vaccine-responses/) - mRNA vaccines clearly saved lives during the COVID-19 pandemic, but several studies suggest that older people had a somewhat reduced immune response to the vaccines when compared with younger adults. Why? Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital, led by Byron Brook, PhD, David Dowling, PhD, and Ofer Levy, MD, PhD, found some answers — while providing
- [Could a pill treat sickle cell disease?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sickle-cell-drug/) - The new gene therapies for sickle cell disease — including the gene-editing treatment Casgevy, based on research at Boston Children’s Hospital — have been game-changing for the patients who have received them. But Stuart Orkin, MD, the Boston Children’s hematologist whose work led the way to Casgevy, wants to go even further. “The editing therapy
- [Emergency department or urgent clinic? Understanding your options if your child is injured](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ortho-injury-urgent/) - Having an active or adventurous child often means comforting them when they come home with bumps or bruises. But when an injury is more serious, parents don’t always know where to seek the right level of care. The injury may look serious, but a trip to the emergency department may seem over the top —
- [Then and now: Catching up with some of our short bowel syndrome kids](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/long-term-short-bowel-car/) - Also known as “short gut,” short bowel syndrome is a life-threatening condition in which a lack of functioning intestine can make it difficult to absorb the nutrients needed to survive and thrive. Thanks to advances in medical and surgical treatments — many of which have been made by the team in Boston Children’s Center for Advanced
- ["Seeing" the unseen: A way to pinpoint elusive cardiac conduction tissue](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/surgeons-have-refined-approach-to-detecting-cardiac-conduction-tissue/) - When patients with congenital heart issues have an operation, surgeons have to proceed with an “eye of faith” as they work around conduction tissue — a network of cells and electrical signals that control the beating of a heart. Not visible to the naked eye, conduction systems vary person to person, but they’re particularly difficult
- [From ICU patient to nursing student: Atiana’s heart journey](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/atianas-heart-journey/) - Atiana Lancaster was 13 and playing the last few games of lacrosse season in 2015 when she started having unusual — and worrying — symptoms. “I had horrible headaches, tiredness, chest pain, and trouble breathing, so I had to keep going off the field when I was playing,” she says. “At the time, I thought
- [A universal gene therapy for Diamond-Blackfan anemia is poised for clinical testing](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/universal-gene-therapy-diamond-blackfan-anemia/) - Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA), first described at Boston Children’s Hospital in 1938, is a rare blood disorder in which the bone marrow cannot make mature, functioning red blood cells. Children with this life-threatening anemia have few treatment options. A small handful with a well-matched donor can be cured with bone marrow transplant, but most rely on
- [Clubfoot bracing for an active boy: Finn’s story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/clubfoot-bracing-finn/) - When Finn Beaulieu learned how to say elephant, he ran around the house repeating the word at least 20 times. When asked to rate his activity level, his mother Carolyn says, “He’s 2½, I would say his activity level is high.” Finn’s joy of movement can make it challenging for his parents to put him
- [Diving deep on epilepsy genetics](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/epilepsy-genetics/) - When child neurologist Annapurna Poduri, MD, MPH finished her clinical epilepsy fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital in 2004, she was struck to find that the genetic understanding of epilepsy had changed little in the decade since she started medical school. Many questions were unanswered — and some weren’t yet being asked. Existing treatments were still
- [Relationship talks: Staying together through a child's illness](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/relationship-child-illness/) - Among the many stresses of having an ill or injured child, parents often feel a strain on their marriage. Whenever she can, clinical social worker Katherine Preston, LICSW, reassures families that a child’s illness does not automatically spell the end of the parents’ relationship. Based on studies of families facing childhood cancer and diabetes, Preston
- [After hip dysplasia, Emma smashes her cast](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/hip-dysplasia-emma/) - When she could walk again, Emma Wilkinson and her parents threw a big party. Diagnosed with hip dysplasia at the age of 4, Emma had spent 10 weeks in a spica cast that made almost all physical activity impossible. Now, baseball bat in hand, she took aim at a piñata replica of her cast while
- [Skin organoid could guide new treatments for skin conditions, hair loss](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/skin-organoid/) - What does it take to build healthy skin? Two research groups converged on this question from different angles. They've now produced the most detailed view to date of the cell types and cell collaborations that go into creating our body’s largest organ. Several years ago, Karl Koehler, PhD, and colleagues at Boston Children’s Hospital used
- [Gait analysis gives runners a window into their form](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/running-gait-analysis/) - Why can some runners compete in marathon after marathon while others get injured? The answer often lies in the runner’s form. According to Dr. Kristin Whitney, co-director of the Injured Runners Clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital, many runners aren’t aware of subtleties like how hard their feet hit the ground or the angle of their
- [Making pediatric health equity research truly equitable: An EDI review process](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/health-equity-research-review/) - A burgeoning number of studies are examining pediatric health equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). But if not done right, health equity research can do a disservice, perpetuating biases and wrong assumptions that actually exacerbate inequities. To guide EDI-related studies, the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Boston Children’s Hospital (through Tina Young Poussaint, MD, and Susan
- [For Fiadh: Pushing the envelope to treat drug-resistant epilepsy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/fiadh-stereoeeg/) - Fiadh is a bubbly and empathetic 4-year-old. And if you ask her parents, Elaine and Dario, she’s also mischievous and wild. “She knows when she shouldn’t be doing something,” Elaine says. “Then she gives you a look, giggles, and does it anyway.” Fiadh’s tenacity likely comes from her mother, which is a good thing. After
- [Mutations during prenatal development may contribute to schizophrenia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/schizophrenia-somatic-mutations/) - Schizophrenia is known to have a genetic component, and variants in 10 genes have been identified as markedly increasing schizophrenia risk. But together, these genes account for under 5 percent of cases. Now, a pilot study in the journal Science suggests another important contributor to schizophrenia: distinctive patterns of non-inherited (somatic) mutations. These mutations appear
- [Relative energy deficiency in sport (REDs): When athletes run on empty](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/relative-energy-deficiency-red-s/) - The strength, skill, and speed of Olympic athletes help the rest of us understand human potential in a new light. But athletic glory can come at a high price. The quest to be the best can drive some athletes into punishing training routines, denying themselves of food and other basic needs. Whether training for the
- [Female athletes and sports injuries: Psychology matters](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/female-athletes-sports-injuries-psychology/) - If the goal of sports medicine is to promote sports participation, the state of an injured athlete’s musculoskeletal system is part of a larger puzzle. In fact, a growing body of research suggests that psychological factors also play a significant part in how athletes recover and if they return to sports. Consider anterior cruciate ligament
- [Not just a physical thing: The psychology of sports injuries and recovery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/psychology-sports-injury-recovery/) - “Nobody plays sports expecting to get injured, but unfortunately, injuries are part of sports,” says Melissa Christino, MD. As a surgeon in the Sports Medicine Division at Boston Children’s Hospital, Christino helps athletes recover from sports injuries, some of which keep her patients on the sidelines for weeks or months at a time. An athlete's
- [Keeping sports fun: Preventing burnout in young athletes](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/preventing-burnout-young-athletes/) - It’s easy to tell when a kid loves sports: Maybe they practice drills in the driveway until it’s dark and cold. Or they wake up excited on practice days and talk about practice at dinner. Even kids who keep their feelings under wraps may let their enthusiasm show in their laser focus. When the whistle
- [When athletes have bad days: Tips for athletes and parents](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/athletes-bad-day/) - No matter how hard they work, every athlete has bad days. Whether it’s a stumble, fumble, or outright loss, disappointment is a reality of sports. “No one likes the feeling of failing,” says Kelsey Griffith, mental skills specialist at The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention. “But experiencing those emotions is part of the athletic
- [Cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy: How the Cooksons dodged a devastating disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cerebral-adrenoleukodystrophy-cooksons/) - Heather Cookson believes that if she hadn’t insisted her son Ricky get a brain MRI to investigate his frequent headaches, neither he nor his younger brother Jerry would be walking or living full lives today. “I just wanted peace of mind,” she says. “Ricky got the MRI, and that’s when the lesion was found.” The
- [Gene therapy for adrenoleukodystrophy: Studies find both risks and benefits](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/adrenoleukodystrophy-gene-therapy-studies/) - Cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (CALD), portrayed in the film Lorenzo’s Oil, is a devastating disorder caused by a mutation on the X chromosome. Boys with CALD progressively lose their neurologic function and, if untreated, eventually become non-responsive. Most pass away within 10 years of diagnosis. Until recently, the only treatment for CALD was a blood (hematopoietic) stem
- [PICU Up! Program aims to increase mobility in ICUs](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/picu-up-program-icu/) - For decades, clinicians believed the most appropriate care for critically ill pediatric patients was sedation and rest. But in recent years, the tides have changed. Studies in adults have shown that sedation and immobility lead to increased mortality and morbidity, longer stays in the intensive care unit (ICU), increased risk of ICU delirium, and a
- [Brachial plexus birth injury: Harper’s right arm](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/brachial-plexus-birth-injury-harper/) - When Harper Jane Stalker was born with a limp, unmoving right arm in 2016, her parents had never heard of brachial plexus birth injury. Their situation was not unusual. Although this type of nerve injury is relatively common, most parents haven’t heard the term and don’t know what it is. “In the beginning, we were
- [Breaking new ground in cerebral cavernous malformation research](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cavmal-research/) - Children with cavernous malformations face unique treatment challenges due to factors such as the malformation’s location, size, risk of bleeding, and the complexities of pediatric tissue development. To address these issues effectively, advanced diagnostics and precise interventions are essential. This is why Ed Smith, MD, and the team at the Cerebrovascular Surgery and Interventions Center
- [Griffin's return to the slopes and sea after kneecap dislocation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/griffin-surfing-snowboardkneecap-dislocation/) - Whether cruising down a snowy trail or catching a wave, 18-year-old Griffin Srokose loves the adrenaline and freedom he feels when snowboarding and surfing. He used to enjoy lacrosse as well, but after dislocating his left kneecap during a game at the age of 14, his kneecap continued to pop out of place. By the
- [First-of-their-kind findings turn conventional wisdom about diffuse hemispheric glioma on its head](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/dhg/) - Diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3G34-mutant (DHG-H3G34) is a type of high-grade glioma that typically affects adolescents and young adults. The lack of targeted treatments contributes to a very poor prognosis for patients with these malignant brain tumors. But what if some of what we thought we knew about DHG-H3G34 turned out to be wrong? That’s the
- [Delving into the causes of attention deficits: Childhood adversity, lost sleep, and dopamine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/attention-deficits-adversity-sleep/) - New research on the effects of adversity in childhood ties together stress, sleep loss, and attention deficits later in life. It also uncovers some of the underlying brain biology and potential treatment approaches — while revealing a puzzling sex-specific effect. The lab of Takao Hensch, PhD, has long studied time windows during development — commonly
- [Kiersten finds new purpose after care for life-threatening cardiomyopathy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/kiersten-arrhythmogenic-cardiomyopathy/) - Being just three miles away from her cardiac care team at Boston Children’s makes all the difference in the world to New Jersey native Kiersten Rock-Torcivia as she starts her sophomore year at Boston College. She is now closer to the specialists who help her manage a rare and life-threatening cardiomyopathy. Kiersten initially believed she
- [A family’s search for answers and hope for PACS1 syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pacs1-syndrome/) - Alya, 9, was about three weeks old when her mother, Taruna, noticed movements and behaviors she was concerned might be seizures. What followed were multiple hospitals, multiple tests, and eventually a diagnosis of PACS1 syndrome. This rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder can lead to intellectual disabilities and delays and currently has no cure. “We were told to
- [Catching up with Lucas eight years after his multivisceral transplant](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/lucas-multivisceral-transplant/) - Lucas and his mom, Heather, aren’t shy talking about his health journey and his multivisceral transplant. “If other families can learn something from Lucas’ story, it would be to keep advocating for your child and to trust that gut feeling,” Heather says. “Without organ donors, Lucas would not be here today.” Lucas was born with
- [Helping manage ‘sensitive issues’: How our psychosocial team helps kids with urologic concerns](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/psychosocial-urology/) - In Boston Children’s Department of Urology, urologists, pediatricians, and nurses aren’t the only ones who care for kids and their families. Psychologists, social workers, and child life specialists all work together to help children manage urologic conditions. We sat down with members of the department’s psychosocial team to learn more. Why did you choose to
- [Shoring up heart muscle's mini 'managers' to treat heart failure](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/heart-dyads-gene-therapy/) - Our heart muscle is studded with tiny dyads, intricately designed structures that manage incoming electrical signals and calcium release to coordinate our heartbeats. Could gene therapy help maintain dyads’ structure and boost the function of failing hearts? A new study suggests it can. “We know that in heart failure from many causes, dyads become disorganized,” says
- [Pushing the envelope for Eoin: Our family’s experience with esophageal atresia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/eoin-esophageal-atresia/) - When I recently brought my son, Eoin, to Boston Children’s for an appointment, we ran into Dr. Farokh Demehri on the bridge from the parking garage. We smiled, laughed, and talked about how nice it was to see each other. It was a simple meeting, but one I had dreamed about for so long: I
- [After surgery for heart condition tetralogy of Fallot, James is all joy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tetralogy-of-fallot-surgery/) - Warriors come in all shapes and sizes. Some even smile. In the Irvine family, the lead warrior is a happy one: 6-month-old James, whose cheeriness hides the difficult medical journey he had in the first few months of life. “I have been told by many people that James is an inspiration,” says his mom, Heidi.
- [Rowan the Remarkable: Defying the odds with CPAM](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/rowan-cpam/) - This is the story of a baby named Rowan and his remarkable journey of beating the odds after doctors discovered a potentially fatal mass on his lung in utero. This is also the story of his mother, Casey, who fought for him every step of the way, and the medical professionals whose collaboration and planning
- [From ECMO to an active childhood: Nolan’s journey with congenital diaphragmatic hernia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/nolan-cdh/) - Nolan Griffin knows how to use a stethoscope and rarely enters Boston Children’s Hospital without his medical kit. But Nolan isn’t a doctor ­— at least not yet. For now, the busy 2-year-old is a patient in the hospital’s Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Center, where he’s been receiving care since before he was born. An unexpected
- [‘A picture-perfect life’: Makayla is thriving with OEIS syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/makayla-oeis/) - On a sunny day this spring, Makayla Brisson was on a mission: to find the two bunny rabbit sculptures in the rooftop garden of Boston Children’s Hale Family Building. As much fun as she was having, Makayla was distracted: She was anxiously waiting for her best friend, Aubree. And as Aubree and her parents entered
- [The sooner the better: An argument for fetal MRI before 16 weeks](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/early-fetal-mri/) - To date, fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been limited to the mid-second or the third trimester of pregnancy. This timing has been based on the belief that MRIs performed too early couldn’t produce diagnostic images because of the small fetal size and normal fetal motion. In addition, although practice guidelines indicate that first-trimester imaging
- [Years in the making: Team performs successful fetal intervention for VOGM](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/vogm-fetal-intervention/) - On an ordinary Wednesday in March, a team of specialists from two institutions made the extraordinary happen: a first-of-its-kind intervention for a rare, life-threatening type of blood vessel anomaly called a vein of Galen malformation (VOGM) — performed in utero. The ultrasound-guided embolization involves deploying tiny metal coils into the affected vein via a microcatheter
- [Maternal-fetal care helps ‘All Smiles Myles’ beat a CPAM](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/myles-cpam/) - Myles Gifford is “fearless and defiant,” says his mother, Katy. “We’ll be in big trouble when he’s a teenager,” she laughs. “But it’s benefited him so far.” In fact, Myles, now more than 18 months old, needed to draw on his perseverant personality almost as soon as he was born. Katy, her husband, Mike, and
- [‘I did it!’ Micah is thriving after maternal-fetal care for a CPAM](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/micah-cpam/) - Dr. Marla Lipsyc-Sharf is no stranger to the field of medicine: As a medical oncology fellow, she’s familiar with the human body and the health challenges that can arise. But it still came as a shock when — 20 weeks into a healthy pregnancy — she and her husband, Jeremiah, learned during an ultrasound that
- [Unstoppable: Cairo’s journey for kidney care began even before birth](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cairo-kidney/) - Like lots of babies, Cairo Carter was born screaming — and his parents were thrilled. “We just wanted him to scream so we knew he could breathe,” explains his mother, Alaila. The family cried tears of joy and relief, but they understood that the moment was just the first step of a long journey. “We
- [Finding comfort and answers for twin-twin transfusion syndrome: Shannon’s story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ttts/) - Shannon’s journey through a challenging pregnancy with TTTS (twin-twin transfusion syndrome) was, as she puts it, an emotional rollercoaster. In addition to the usual first-time parent jitters and the unexpected news of twins, Shannon and Mike navigated the emotional ups and downs of the rare pregnancy complication. TTTS put their twins at severe risk of
- [Guided by her own experience, one mom navigates Stickler syndrome with her children](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sticklersyndrome/) - Aimee is more than just Mum to three-year-old Arwen and one-year-old Cedric; she’s their guide to navigating Stickler syndrome, a genetic connective tissue disorder that can cause an underdeveloped jaw and airway obstruction (collectively known as Robin sequence), as well as cleft palate, vision and hearing difficulties, and other findings. As a carrier herself, Aimee
- [Beyond expectations: Treating Isaac's teratoma through an EXIT procedure](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/exit-procedure-isaac/) - Jennifer worked as a hairdresser until just days before delivering her son, Isaac, last December, even though she had planned to stop a week earlier. Beating expectations must run in the family because Isaac has been doing just that since before he was even born. He has amazed everyone around him with how well he
- [Saving baby Marcela: A mother’s mission to finally hold her daughter](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/saving-baby-marcela/) - After a few follow-up visits, mother and daughter are now back home in Guatemala and have reunited with Edgar and the couple’s 9-year-old daughter, Angela, who made a surprise visit to Boston in the fall to see her baby sister. Now that they’re home, Isabel intends to introduce her daughter to extended family and friends
- [EarlyBird: Addressing dyslexia through game play](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/earlybird-dyslexia/) - Up to 10 percent of the population has dyslexia, yet many children are diagnosed only after struggling with reading for years. The stigma can cause low self-esteem, depression, and antisocial behavior. But imagine we could identify children at risk for dyslexia before they start formal reading instruction, then help them build the skills they need
- [Will early intervention prevent asthma in school-age children?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/preventing-asthma/) - Asthma affects about 1 in 10 children, often sending them to the emergency room or causing them to miss school. Allergic conditions in young children — like food allergies or eczema — are often a precursor. Susceptible children begin producing IgE antibodies, which trigger allergic reactions and spur the “allergic march” toward asthma. IgE antibodies
- [Generations of excellence in surgical care: Dr. Emans and Dr. Hogue](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/emans-hogue-spine-surgeons/) - Some surgeons follow their patients for years, even decades. This is true of Dr. John Emans, who has treated patients with complex spine conditions at Boston Children’s Hospital for more than 40 years. Beloved by patients, he is also widely respected by spine surgeons for his groundbreaking scoliosis research. Dr. Grant Hogue first met Dr.
- [Born with congenital scoliosis, Thelma looks to the future](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/thelma-congenital-scoliosis/) - Sixteen-year-old Thelma Alemnji probably enjoys student life more than most high school juniors. After all, up until last year, activities like drama club, debate club, and student government were out of reach. Born with severe congenital scoliosis and thoracic insufficiency syndrome, Thelma’s childhood and early adolescence were marked by regular hospital visits and frequent surgeries:
- [Un verdadero corazón de oro: El viaje de Jeremiahs hacia un trasplante de corazón](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pediatric-heart-transplant-2/) - Con las sirenas sonando, Angelie y su esposo atravesaron el tráfico a toda velocidad, ansiosos por llegar a tiempo a la ciudad. La escolta policial que tenían delante les despejó el camino, lo que les permitió trasladarse rápidamente al Boston Children's Hospital, donde los esperaba su hijo de 6 años, Jeremiahs, apodado JJ. Si Angelie
- [A true heart of gold: Jeremiahs' heart transplant journey](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pediatric-heart-transplant/) - With sirens wailing, Angelie and her husband sped through traffic, anxious to get to the city in time. The police escort ahead of them cleared the way, allowing for a speedy commute to Boston Children’s Hospital where their 6-year-old son, Jeremiahs — nicknamed JJ — was waiting for them. If Angelie hadn’t waved down the
- [Minimally invasive approaches help ease Sydney's chronic pain](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/minimally-invasive-chronic-pain/) - Sydney Hart wants to reimagine the traditional “handicap” symbol. In her online shop, she offers pins, stickers, and other products that infuse the classic wheelchair silhouette with yin-yang symbols, LGBTQ and transgender flags, and even sassy devil horns. “I hope that having symbols with more character will open up the conversation and humanize people with
- [Interventional techniques help Molly thrive with chronic pain](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/molly-chronic-pain/) - Molly McGowan loves baking, sewing, and taking daily walks in the woods with her goldendoodle, Cooper. But Cooper isn’t just any pet. He’s her service dog and a significant source of support. “I credit him with helping me get up and move every day,” she says. It isn’t always easy. For Molly, pain has been
- [Interventional pain techniques bring Sadie relief](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/interventional-pain-techniques/) - It’s hard for Sadie Doherty and her parents to remember a time when she hasn’t been in pain. Now 17, she had gastrointestinal problems “right off the bat,” says her father, Mike. Testing at Boston Children’s Hospital eventually revealed the presence of eosinophils — white blood cells that can indicate an allergic reaction — in
- [Sweet dreams: A guide to infant sleep](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/infant-sleep/) - While sleep should be peaceful, ensuring your baby is sleeping safely — and soundly — can be stressful. We spoke with Shana Zandman, MD, a pediatrician at Brookline Pediatrics in the Boston Children’s Primary Care Alliance, and Jennifer Gingrasfield, RN, MSN, a pediatric nurse practitioner in the Sleep Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, about creating
- [What to know about Enterovirus D68](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/enterovirus-d68/) - A virus called the Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) is one to look out for — not just seasonally, but year-round — as it can cause serious health risks to children. EV-D68 is just one strain of Enteroviruses, which cause colds, fever, headaches, vomiting, and rashes among other symptoms. Most Enterovirus infections are very common and spread
- [Explaining endometriosis: What parents and teens should know](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/endometriosis/) - People with uteruses know that menstruation can bring cramps, general discomfort, mood swings, and other symptoms each month. But, just how much discomfort and pain is normal during your period? For more insights on severe period pain — and endometriosis in particular — we spoke with Dr. Jessica Shim in the Division of Gynecology and
- [‘We’re going to Boston’: Why Aydan’s family temporarily relocated for craniopharyngioma care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/aydan-craniopharyngioma/) - One evening in October 2022, 2-year-old Aydan Arguello arrived at Boston Children’s Hospital. It wasn’t a routine visit, but instead the final stop in an urgent journey from his home in South Florida. Months earlier, the toddler had been diagnosed and treated for a large brain tumor — but it was a related concern that led
- [Eight tips to get your kids on a good sleep schedule](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sleep-schedule-tips/) - If your kids are staying up past midnight and not getting out of bed until after noon, they are in good company. Since kids have been out of school for the summer and have spent their days and nights with their friends or staying up late to binge a TV show, many are off their
- [Curbing blood cancers by teaching immune cells to kill mutant stem cells](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/blood-cancers-stem-cells-macrophages/) - Blood stem cells, which give rise to all of our blood cell types, undergo a quality assurance process after they’re born. As the lab of Leonard Zon, MD, director of the Stem Cell Research program at Boston Children’s, has documented, immune cells known as macrophages interact with each newly born cell. They engulf and eat
- [Protect your kids from dog bites: Tips from the experts](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/protect-kids-from-dog-bites/) - Protect your kids from dog bits: advice from experts at Boston Children's Department of Plastic Surgery and from the Weston Veterinary Clinic.
- [Full-family support sees Hannah and her parents through AVM surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/hannah-avm/) - Nine-year-old Hannah from Vermont is passionate about skiing; not much keeps her off the slopes. In fact, not much slows her down or dampens her energy, period. So, when she experienced a ruptured arteriovenous malformation (AVM) last spring, she wasn’t sidelined long. Her parents, Katie and Rich, credit Hannah’s remarkable recovery to her vivacious spirit
- [All in it for Hudson: A family’s shared path with cavernous malformations](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/hudson-cav-mal/) - Three-year-old Hudson loves trucks and PAW Patrol. He’s a delightful blend of sweet, fun, and feisty, and — after a seizure on New Year’s Day led to an extended stay at Boston Children’s Hospital — he’s an inspiration to his parents, Gabrielle and Matthew. To Matthew specifically, Hudson provides a new look at his own
- [Answers to six questions about anxiety in children and teens](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/anxiety-children-teens/) - Between school and social demands, lots of children feel stress, but at what point does anxiety cross the line and become a mental health concern? We sat down with Keneisha Sinclair-McBride, PhD, a clinical psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at Boston Children’s Hospital, to better understand what separates serious forms of anxiety from normal worrying,
- [In cases of pediatric cervical spine instability, two attending surgeons are better than one](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/2-surgeons-complex-spine/) - Cervical spine instability (caused by congenital deformity, trauma, or a tumor) can affect children in a number of ways: from chronic headaches to bowel dysfunction to severe mobility limitations. In many cases, misaligned vertebrae compress the spinal cord and surrounding nerves, causing neurological issues, which, if left untreated, can lead to long-term disability. Os odontoideumTraumaDown
- [Making a change: After a second opinion for spina bifida care, Sydney is thriving](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sydney-spina-bifida/) - At almost 10 years old, Sydney MacKay is sassy, spunky, and wants to be as independent as possible. Because she was born with spina bifida, part of that desire for independence means being more involved in her own care. Although Sydney underwent a surgical procedure a few years ago aimed at helping foster that independence,
- [When community is as important as the science: Olúmídé Fagboyegun](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/olumide-fagboyegun/) - In his short, prolific neuroscience career, Olúmídé Fagboyegun has always sought community. It’s served him well, from his years at community college in Maryland to his PhD work in the Stevens Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital. Landing in Maryland from his native Nigeria at age 15, Fagboyegun found he had to repeat part of high
- [Firearm suicides in children and youth: A state-by-state look](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/firearm-suicides/) - At a time when mental health problems are skyrocketing, a new study provides one of the most comprehensive state-by-state accountings to date of firearm suicides in children and youth. The findings, published in JAMA Pediatrics, are eye-opening — but could also help in crafting interventions. Lois Lee, MD, MPH, in the Division of Emergency Medicine
- [Finding epilepsy hotspots before surgery: A faster, non-invasive approach](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/finding-seizure-zones/) - Neurosurgery for patients with drug-resistant epilepsy requires locating the precise brain areas that are generating the seizures. Typically, patients undergo 7 to 10 days of invasive intracranial EEG monitoring, with electrodes surgically implanted inside the brain through one or more skull openings to capture seizure activity as it happens. Eleonora Tamilia, PhD, directs the Epilepsy
- [Immunotherapy for children with primary liver carcinomas: Research offers new hope](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/liver-immunotherapy-2/) - Pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and fibrolamellar carcinoma are rare, aggressive forms of liver cancer that typically affect adolescents and young adults. Although some immunotherapy drugs are approved by the Food and Drug Administration as first-line treatments for HCC in adults, less is known about their effectiveness in treating pediatric liver carcinomas. Now, new research led
- [New insight into the effects of PPIs in children](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ppi-children/) - Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) are frequently prescribed to suppress stomach acid in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Prescribing rates of PPIs in children have risen more than 500 percent in the past two decades, despite growing concerns about their risks: Previous research has linked their use to an increased risk of various pulmonary and gastrointestinal
- [Will people accept a fentanyl vaccine? Interviews draw thoughtful responses](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/fentanyl-vaccine-acceptance/) - In 2022, more than 100,000 people died from opioid overdoses in the U.S., according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Roughly three quarters of these deaths involved fentanyl, a highly potent synthetic opioid. Fentanyl-related deaths have spiked over the past decade, many of them occurring in people with no known history of opioid use
- [How to make school lunch less scary for "picky eaters"](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/how-to-make-school-lunch-less-scary-for-picky-eaters/) - Lunch boxes with fun designs, giggling friends, lunch trays clattering in the meal line, and sticky hands galore — school lunch time is back. But how do you prepare for it when your child is showing signs of being a “picky eater” — that is, selective about the foods they’re willing to eat and hesitant
- [‘Life is so much better now’: Ethan finds treatment for mixed germ cell brain tumor](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ethan-mixed-germ-cell-brain-tumor/) - Ethan Winchenbach was playing with his dogs when he first noticed that something was off. “My vision changed, but only when I looked down,” he remembers. “It was really disorienting.” His mother, Becky, who is a nurse, knew immediately that something wasn’t right. When the symptoms didn’t improve, she made him an appointment with his
- [A new anti-cancer strategy: Overriding tumor edits](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cancer-overriding-tumor-edits/) - Cancers are clever and often find ways to dodge people’s immune systems, making them hard to eradicate. Immunotherapies such as CAR-T cells and checkpoint inhibitors can sharpen the immune system’s attack and cure the cancer. But they don’t work for most solid tumors. We now know that tumors can edit their genes to evade immune
- [Un hito en la Costa Este: El bebé Isaac está evolucionando después de una reparación fetoscópica por minilaparotomía de espina bífida abierta](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/un-hito-en-la-costa-este-el-bebe-isaac-esta-evolucionando-despues-de-una-reparacion-fetoscopica-por-minilaparotomia-de-espina-bifida-abierta/) - Isaac Suardi aún no lo sabe, pero ya ha hecho historia. Recién nacido en julio, es el primer bebé en la Costa Este en someterse a una reparación quirúrgica fetoscópica por minilaparotomía de un defecto del tubo neural (DTN) mientras aún está en el útero de su madre. “Sinceramente, no pensamos demasiado en eso”, admite
- [Baby Isaac is thriving after an East Coast first for a neural tube defect](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/isaac-fetal-ntd-repair/) - Isaac Suardi doesn’t know it yet, but he’s already made history. Just born in July, he’s the first baby on the East Coast to undergo mini-laparotomy fetoscopic surgical repair of a neural tube defect (NTD) while still in his mother’s womb. “Honestly, we didn’t think too much about that,” admits his father, Chris. “We knew
- [Lily’s smile lights up the stage, thanks to orthodontic care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/lilys-smile-lights-up-the-stage-thanks-to-orthodontic-care/) - Thirteen-year-old Lily is a fan of the theatre — and she’s no stranger to taking the stage, having already performed in two plays just this past school year. “She’s always the most confident when she’s up on stage with her friends,” says her mom, Jade. Lily’s confidence is something that she recently stepped back into,
- [Humble cells in a little-known organ manage brain inflammation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/choroid-plexus-epithelial-cells/) - Deep in the brain, sheets of tissue known as the choroid plexus produce cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and act as a protective barrier between the brain and CSF. But the lab of Maria Lehtinen, PhD, at Boston Children’s Hospital has shown that the little-known choroid plexus does much more. For example, it secretes factors that promote
- [Finding ways to reduce the financial and social costs of pacemakers](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/reducing-the-need-for-pacemakers/) - As the number of complex heart operations has increased over the years, so have cases of postoperative heart block, a form of arrhythmia that often requires a pacemaker and more surgery. Heart block occurs when unseen conduction tissue — the cells and electrical signals that control the beating of a heart — is injured. It is a
- [It takes a village and the world: Tariq’s care for Tourette syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tariq-tourette-syndrome/) - When your child is sick but you can’t figure out the cause or how to fix it, it can leave you feeling helpless and frustrated. It can also test how far you’ll go for answers. Just ask Salem of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), who moved with his family to Boston so his son Tariq
- [Lessons from Emma: Mom shares how RNS has changed their lives](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/rns-emma/) - Emma’s journey with the Epilepsy Center at Boston Children’s Hospital began three years ago when she came to Boston Children’s with her parents for help managing her seizures. In Boston, Emma, Lynda, and Danny found answers to their questions, a (temporary) new home, and hope for Emma’s future as she embarked on responsive neurostimulation (RNS)
- [Writing the book on infantile spasms: Charlotte’s story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/infantile-spasms-charlotte/) - When Charlotte, 3, developed infantile spasms last year, her parents, Kate and Brett, entered a world they didn’t know how to navigate. Inspired by their daughter and the care she received at the Epilepsy Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, they set out to help other families facing similar experiences. Nervous parent instincts prove right “I
- [All in the family: One family’s shared link to epilepsy and fight for answers](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/family-epilepsy/) - One of the wonders of parenthood is seeing the traits you pass along to your kids, like your eyes or your laugh. For the Anderson family, however, one shared trait is more complex: a mutation in the NPRL3 gene that leads to epilepsy. It took four generations to uncover the family’s genetic link to the
- [Homecoming: Jack’s complex care brings a family back to Massachusetts](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/jack-complex-care/) - Georgia and her husband, Keith, moved to North Carolina from Massachusetts in 2015 with a dream of building a house and starting a family. Their plans changed, however, when their son Jack was born in 2017 with severe health complications, including a rare and severe form of childhood epilepsy called Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and a rare
- [New year, new face, same spirit: Zoey’s journey with encephalocele and cleft lip care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/zoeys-journey/) - 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
- [Weathering the storm of Apert syndrome: João’s story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/joao-apert-syndrome/) - 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:
- [Pieces at work: Luca’s experience with Apert syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/luca-apert/) - Luca Paolacci, 24, is pursuing his bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. It's a serendipitous major given that it studies how pieces come together to create specific force and movement, and Luca's personal story is a study of the opposite: how creating separation can build strength, movement, and dexterity. "It has always fascinated me how tiny
- [A model patient: Alexia’s triumph over moyamoya disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/alexia-moyamoya-disease/) - If you’re lucky enough to get time on Alexia’s packed schedule, you’re in the company of a motivated and ambitious young woman who — in the face of a scary diagnosis — shows others they can do anything they put their mind to. From subtle symptoms to diagnosis Alexia’s fight against moyamoya disease, a rare
- [Changing the world: Baby Denver leads the way after first-of-its-kind procedure for VOGM](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/denver-vogm/) - Denver Coleman is less than 2 months old, but she’s already helped blaze a trail for other children and families, a feat she accomplished before she was even born. Denver, who was diagnosed with a vein of Galen malformation — a type of rare blood vessel abnormality inside the brain — in utero, is the
- [A seat at the table: One family's story of finding advanced care for hydrocephalus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/stella-hydrocephalus/) - To her parents, everything about 6-month-old Stella is a miracle. Rose and Vlad were ecstatic to learn they were expecting a baby after Rose was diagnosed with uterine fibroids. When Stella arrived months early, they were astounded by her ability to keep growing stronger. And when her doctors discovered a buildup of cerebral spinal fluid
- [Care for a prince: One family’s inspiring journey for encephalocele repair](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/prince-encephalocele/) - To hear Peter and Eunice of Kenya tell the story of their son, Prince, is to hear about the power of hope, the best of humanity, and the interconnectivity that makes the world a small place after all. Hope in the hopeless In March 2022, Eunice was about five months into her pregnancy when a
- [A cerebral palsy journey lands in Boston: Ashlyn’s hip surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cerebral-palsy-hip-surgery-ashlyn/) - Eleven-year-old Ashlyn’s parents describe her as spicy, strong willed, and determined. Those qualities have served her well through a medical journey that started soon after she was born with cerebral palsy (CP). Ashlyn has had multiple operations to manage the symptoms of CP, but when it came to the question of hip surgery, her parents
- [Defying the odds: Cruise’s triumph against cavernous malformations and debilitating headaches](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cruises-triumph-cavernous-malformation/) - As a toddler, Cruise — now 13 — faced a rare cancer diagnosis that came with an 11 percent chance of survival. But with his trademark resilience and strength of spirit, Cruise defied the daunting odds and beat his cancer. The battle left its mark though — in the form of cavernous malformations in his
- [After surgery for a brain tumor, Jenny is moving ahead — and giving back](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/jenny-glioma/) - “It might sound weird,” says Jenny Eckert, “but I’m very grateful that I got hit in the face with a soccer ball.” A year and a half ago, Jenny, then 9, was playing soccer when she accidentally took a hit to the head — twice. Concerned about a possible concussion, her parents, Vanessa and Scott, brought
- [Keeping pace: ‘Superhero’ Zachary hasn’t let a brain tumor break his stride](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/zachary-brain-tumor/) - Zachary Sonnek, 11, loves being active, whether that means running or playing baseball, golf, or hockey. “He’s always been ‘go, go, go,’” says his mother, Nicole. So two years ago, when he told his parents he occasionally had trouble breathing, they initially thought he just needed to pace himself. Although he had a clean bill
- [Varsity blues: How AVM radiation therapy got Greta back to sports](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/varsity-avm/) - Want to find Greta? Try the hockey rink, or softball field, or volleyball court. Where won’t you find her? Sitting on the sidelines — at least not anymore. After a tough year receiving treatment at Boston Children’s Hospital for a tangled cluster of blood vessels in her brain, known as an arteriovenous malformation (AVM), Greta’s
- [Celebrating the unexpected, Miley’s family navigates Apert syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/miley-apert-syndrome/) - Miley is the first girl born into her family in almost a generation. Hearing the delivery team announce, “It’s a girl,” is a moment her mom, Nicole, and her dad, Mike, will always remember. “We just cried,” says Nicole. “I’ll never forget that moment.” But what they also discovered at delivery was something else they
- [August 2024 coloring pages](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/august-2024-coloring-pages/) - Gear up for a new school year with our August coloring pages! MAC_31109_ColoringPages_Back_To_School-1Download MAC_31109_ColoringPages_Back_To_School-2Download MAC_31109_ColoringPages_Back_To_School-3Download Images: Adobe Stock/Illustration: David Chrisom Get more coloring pages, news, and tips for your family from our weekly newsletter. Sign up now!
- [Creating the next generation of mRNA vaccines](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/mrna-vaccine-adjuvant/) - During the COVID-19 pandemic, mRNA vaccines came to the rescue, developed in record time and saving lives worldwide. Researchers in the Precision Vaccines Program at Boston Children’s Hospital have developed two novel technologies that could make these and future mRNA vaccines more potent and longer-lasting — at smaller doses and with fewer side effects. The
- [July 2024 coloring pages](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/july-2024-coloring-pages/) - Celebrate summer and the Olympics with our latest coloring pages! MAC_30808_ColoringPages_Summer_Olympic-3-1Download MAC_30808_ColoringPages_Summer_Olympic-1Download MAC_30808_ColoringPages_Summer_Olympic-2Download Images: Adobe Stock/Illustration: David Chrisom Get more coloring pages, news, and tips for your family from our weekly newsletter. Sign up now!
- [HPV vaccine: What families should know](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/hpv-vaccine/) - 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,
- [Tracking influenza in its first battleground: The nose](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/influenza-nose/) - The answer to curbing influenza could be right under our noses — or, more accurately, inside them. New research maps happenings in the nose during the course of influenza in exquisite detail, and could potentially lead to new targets and more effective nasal flu vaccines. The nose is often the gateway to respiratory infections, where
- [We didn't give up hope: Emily's fighting chance with her lung transplant](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/emilys-miracle-lung-transplant/) - Emily lights up every room she’s in with her giggles and confidence — not to mention her sparkly painted nails and glittery makeup. At 6 years old, she’s able to win people over with her bright smile and electric personality. All this is made possible because Emily was given the gift of life — an
- [Here's how genetic vision testing can help your family](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/improving-eye-disease-diagnosis-and-treatment/) - At least 600 of the roughly 20,000 genes in the human body are needed for normal eyesight. Changes in those genes can lead to many eye conditions, including glaucoma, cataracts, and inherited retinal disorders. If your child has an inherited retinal disorder, they might benefit from genetic testing. It can help determine a diagnosis and how their
- [A deeper understanding of inflammatory pain could reveal new solutions](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/inflammatory-pain/) - Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen are the main go-to for inflammatory pain caused by wounds, infection, sunburn, arthritis, and other triggers. NSAIDs work pretty well, but chronic use can cause side effects, and they aren’t equally effective for all sources of pain. Could we identify a more effective, safer analgesic that doesn't involve
- [The power of a second opinion for Merritt's spina bifida care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/merritt-spina-bifida/) - In March 2020 — at the height of the COVID-19 lockdown — Jenna, Brian, and their 2-year-old daughter Merritt were practically the only passengers on their flight from Charlotte to Boston. Waiting for them in Massachusetts were Dr. Benjamin Warf, Dr. Carlos Estrada, and other experts from the Spina Bifida and Spinal Cord Conditions Center
- [From ‘hit to vial’: Discovery and optimization of a promising vaccine adjuvant](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/promising-vaccine-adjuvant/) - Many vaccines are only partially effective, have waning efficacy, or do not work well in the very young or the very old. For more than a decade, Ofer Levy, MD, PhD, and David Dowling, PhD, in the Precision Vaccines Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, have tried improving vaccines by adding compounds known as adjuvants to
- [No labels or limits with Apert syndrome: A letter to parents](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/apert-syndrome-isabelle/) - Dear parents, If you’re reading this, your child might have been recently diagnosed with Apert syndrome and you don’t know what comes next with this rare genetic disorder that causes fusion of your child’s skull, hands, and foot bones. Or maybe you’ve been in the Apert world for a while and are looking for people
- [From injury to backflips: A path to recovery for gymnasts](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/return-to-gymnastics-protocols-upper-extremity/) - Gymnasts can create the illusion that gravity doesn’t exist. As they spring from one acrobatic skill into the next, they leave spectators little time to consider the strain they’re putting on their wrists, elbows, and shoulders. Nonetheless, a single back handspring exerts force equal to two to four times an athlete’s weight on their upper
- [Boosting vaccines for the elderly with 'hyperactivators'](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/boosting-vaccines-elderly-hyperactivators/) - As we age our immune systems start to flag, leaving us more susceptible to cancer and infections — and less responsive to vaccines and cancer immunotherapies. Going to the heart of the problem, Jonathan Kagan, PhD, a researcher in immunology at Boston Children’s Hospital, has identified a way to rejuvenate the elderly immune system. His
- [Making genome sequencing a first-line test in rare disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/genome-sequencing-first-test-rare-disease/) - Children with rare diseases often undergo years of medical visits and genetic testing before they get a diagnosis. Over the past few years, clinics have started to embrace exome sequencing as a first genetic test, skipping time-consuming testing of individual genes and gene panels and getting to a diagnosis faster. But exome sequencing doesn’t always
- [The gut-brain connection: A new approach to OCD and tic disorders?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ocd-microbiome/) - It’s natural for young children to use routines to help them navigate the world and for older children and teens to zero in on interests and hobbies. But if they veer into disruptive, unwanted obsessions or thoughts or the need to perform compulsive rituals, they may have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We know that OCD is
- [Ted Williams, chocolate milkshakes, and a pioneering heart team: What Bruce remembers about his heart surgery 65 years later](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/remembering-heart-surgery/) - Bruce Chansky was the star of his neighborhood after he had heart surgery at Boston Children’s. It was 1959, a time when a child having heart surgery wasn’t common — it was newsworthy. Eleven-year-old Bruce was featured in his hometown newspaper, which only furthered his celebrity in Beverly, Massachusetts. Friends, neighbors, and strangers all wanted
- [Two rising stars in kidney genetics: Nina Mann and Amar Majmundar](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/rising-stars-kidney-genetics/) - A healthy, functional kidney must maintain a delicate balance of water, nutrients, and electrolytes so it can properly filter the blood and produce urine. That often makes caring for patients with kidney disease an exercise in chemistry and mathematics — an aspect of nephrology that attracted two young physician-scientists. Coming from different paths, Nina Mann,
- [Mitochondrial transfer restores heart muscle — but how?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/mitochondrial-transfer/) - Transferring mitochondria from a patient’s healthy skeletal muscle to damaged, ischemic heart tissue has been shown to restore heart muscle, increase energy production, and improve ventricular function. After pioneering preclinical work by James McCully, PhD, at Boston Children’s Hospital about a decade ago, cardiac surgeons led by Sitaram Emani, MD, have been testing it as
- [Chronic headaches: Five things families should know](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/chronic-headaches-five-things-families-should-know/) - You might think of headaches as an adult problem, but they can affect children and teens, too. In fact, about 20 percent of school-aged kids are prone to headaches, according to the National Headache Foundation. A smaller number of those kids experience chronic headaches, which are defined as headaches that occur 15 or more days
- [Chronic headaches in kids: How a psychologist can help your child cope](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/headache-psychologist/) - For many young people, the pain of chronic daily headaches can be compounded by the concern that providers aren’t taking them seriously. Defined as headaches that occur at least 15 days per month for six months or more, chronic daily headaches can be so difficult to manage that some patients may feel that their pain
- [‘Supported and heard’: Harven gets care for an anorectal malformation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/harven-anorectal-malformation/) - Like lots of 3-year-olds, Harven Gifford has a great imagination. Lately, he’s taken to roaring loudly and pretending that he’s a lion. But it wasn’t long ago that his parents, Heather and Brian, had to be Harven’s voice, when an unexpected health concern turned them into strong advocates for their son. Although Harven’s delivery went
- [Healing the heart, mind, and spirit](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/healing-the-heart-mind-and-spirit/) - For most of her life, Siena Tancredi worried about her heart beating too fast. She has long QT syndrome, an inherited condition that affects the heart’s electrical rhythm and can cause fast, erratic heartbeats. From the time she was diagnosed at age 10 and into adulthood, she avoided any situation that would potentially cause her heart
- [Helping Jasmine manage Sturge-Weber syndrome before symptoms start](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/jasmine-sturge-weber-syndrome/) - Sturge-Weber syndrome is a rare neurovascular disorder that increases the risk of seizures in infants due to abnormal blood vessel development in the brain. Almost 90 percent of children with Sturge-Weber experience their first seizure before age 2, which makes proactive, seizure-preventive care important in minimizing the risk of long-term brain injury. Finding such care,
- [Can we prevent seizures in Sturge-Weber syndrome?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/preventing-seizures-sturge-weber-syndrome/) - Port wine stains — capillary malformations on the skin — are the most visible manifestation of Sturge-Weber syndrome. However, up to 60 percent of babies with birthmarks in high-risk locations (forehead and upper eyelid) also have capillary malformations in their brain. Of these, 75 to 90 percent will experience a seizure before the age of 2,
- [Reversing the trend: Easing the mental health boarding crisis in emergency rooms](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/mental-health-boarding-emergency-room/) - Anxiety, depression, and suicide attempts have been rising over the past decade, especially among teens, often landing them in emergency departments (EDs). Due to a nationwide shortage of beds in psychiatric treatment programs, virtually all pediatric hospitals are having to keep patients in the ED and on inpatient medical and surgical floors — sometimes for
- [Study suggests hypoxia overexpression causes pericytes to contribute to pulmonary hypertension](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pericytes-and-vascular-remodeling/) - Pericytes, the multifunctional cells that work within the walls of capillaries, have been a subject of focus in the study of vascular development, cerebral blood flow, cancer, and neurodevelopment diseases. But pericytes hadn’t been truly studied for their potential role in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) until they landed under the microscopes of Boston Children’s researchers. They recently
- [Brain wiring predicted adolescents’ emotional health during COVID](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/brain-wiring-covid/) - The COVID-19 pandemic was emotionally devastating for many adolescents, disrupting their schooling and social/emotional development. Drawing on national data, a large study finds that how adolescents’ brains were wired — before COVID-19 — predicted their stress, negative emotions, and overall mental health during the height of the pandemic, making them more vulnerable or more resilient.
- [Constant improvements make the Ross procedure a safe aortic valve replacement option](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ross-procedure-safely-replaces-aortic-valves/) - Cardiac surgeons understand that innovation isn’t always about invention. Improving something can be just as transformative. So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Boston Children’s cardiac surgery team is seeing lasting positive outcomes in patients after making adjustments over the years to the Ross procedure, a last-option treatment for aortic valve disease that hasn’t always been accepted by
- [Research aims to pinpoint genetic connection between autism and heart disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/autism-and-heart-disease-genetic-connection/) - Cardiology and neurodevelopmental researchers have more questions than answers about the possible genetic links between congenital heart disease (CHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A study that’s underway at Boston Children’s aims to pin down those elusive answers by taking a close look at the genetics of children with neurodevelopment and cardiovascular conditions. The researchers want to see
- [Finding a treatment option for tear duct obstruction that works for children](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/parents-could-choose-eye-treatment-option/) - Congenital tear duct obstruction (a blocked tear duct) is the most common cause of excessive tearing in infants and young children. Fortunately, most children require minimal treatment, but those with persistent symptoms can have a procedure to clear the blockage either in a clinician’s office without anesthesia or in a surgical setting with anesthesia. Few
- [New hospital discharge practices could improve health of infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/treating-bronchopulmonary-dysplasia/) - The chronic lung disease bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) affects a significant number of infants who were born early and have underdeveloped lungs. They typically require lengthy specialized care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) before they can go home with their families. But getting home doesn’t mean health risks are behind them. Their parents are suddenly their
- [Researchers identify genes that could affect children's bone growth](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/genes-affecting-bone-growth/) - Many children anticipate reaching the next number on a measuring stick as they chart their growth. But measurements can be frustrating or stressful for children who have skeletal disorders that prevent bones from growing. Researchers used genome-wide association studies and CRISPR gene editing to see if alterations to cartilage cells, which are known as chondrocytes,
- [Ductus arteriosus stenting could help severely ill infants with pulmonary arterial hypertension](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/stenting-for-pulmonary-hypertension/) - Treatment for infants who have severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is sometimes limited. Because they haven’t physically matured, a procedure could increase the risk of serious complications, including failure of the heart’s right ventricle. A Boston Children’s Department of Cardiology study found an interventional therapy that’s potentially safe and suitable for those critically ill small infants: the placement of
- [Genetic variants are found in two types of strabismus, sparking hope for future treatment](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/esotropia-and-exotropia-research/) - Determining how genetics contribute to common forms of strabismus has been a challenge for researchers. Small discoveries are considered meaningful progress. Boston Children’s researchers believe they’ve helped move the needle. They discovered that two types of strabismus — esotropia and exotropia — may have shared genetic risk factors. Duplications on the second, fourth, and tenth chromosomes that
- [Could SIDS be caused by unrecognized brain infections?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sids-brain-infections/) - Some infants who pass away from sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) are known to have had acute minor infections. Could these have played a role in their death? Using next-generation molecular tools, a new study provides evidence that undiagnosed inflammation and occult infection can contribute to SIDS and the brainstem pathology seen in some infants.
- [May 2024 coloring pages](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/may-2024-coloring-pages/) - Don't let this month’s coloring pages "bug" you! MAC_30438_ColoringPages_May_Bugs_Flowers_Horiz-1Download MAC_30438_ColoringPages_May_Bugs_Flowers_Horiz-2Download MAC_30438_ColoringPages_May_Bugs_Flowers_Horiz-3Download Images: Adobe Stock/Illustration: David Chrisom Get more coloring pages, news, and tips for your family from our weekly newsletter. Sign up now!
- [Whether she's embracing school, sports, or music, Lindsey shows how Williams syndrome can be managed](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/managing-williams-syndrome/) - One of the first things Lindsey Franco will tell you is, “I like being me. I like being happy.” The 19-year-old has a lot to be happy about. She attends a post-high school transition program that helps young adults expand their social and life skills. There, she does all the things she enjoys, including playing
- [Nurse-led innovations: A virtual-nursing pilot helps nurses thrive](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/virtual-nursing/) - It was night shift on the 9E Inpatient Medical Unit and Marisol Hernandez, BSN, RN, CPN, was helping another nurse review her patient assignments. With about 85 percent of their patients admitted from the emergency department (ED), nurses on the unit at Boston Children’s Hospital often don’t know how many patients will be admitted during
- [First-of-its-kind clinical trial aims to improve outcomes in pediatric transplant patients](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pediatric-kidney-transplant-clinical-trial/) - For the last 20 years, pediatric kidney transplant patients have been treated with the same immunosuppressive medication combinations and have been monitored using the same tests, without many new treatment options. Unfortunately, unlike their adult counterparts, pediatric transplant recipients have not been included in clinical trials to test newer and promising combinations of medications that
- [In a thriving gene therapy program, nursing leadership is the driving force](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/nursing-gene-therapy-program/) - Gene therapy was made possible by decades of technological advances. But to execute gene therapy at scale? That would not be possible without the foresight, organization, and innovation of nursing leadership at Boston Children’s Hospital. The gene therapy implementation framework they have built has become a gold standard for the field. Founded in 2010, the
- [Beating the odds and neuromuscular scoliosis: Colin’s story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/infantile-scoliosis-colin/) - 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
- [Optimal care, lower costs: Examining the benefits of out-of-network care for pediatric moyamoya](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/out-of-network-moyamoya/) - Moyamoya disease is a rare condition that affects the blood vessels in the brain, especially in children. Narrowing and blockage of vessels significantly increases the risk of stroke and requires surgical revascularization for treatment. Although research shows that outcomes of revascularization are better at high-volume centers, insurers often hesitate to approve out-of-network care. However, a
- [Making autism evaluations accessible: Boston Children's tests virtual options](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/making-autism-evaluations-accessible/) - At this time the virtual autism diagnosis program is only available to internal Boston Children's Hospital primary care patients who receive care at the Children's Hospital Primary Care Center or at Boston Children's at Martha Eliot. Many obstacles can delay a diagnosis of autism in children, including language barriers, waiting lists for evaluation, and access
- [Lucas receives gene therapy for DMD and finds his super muscles](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/dmd-gene-therapy-lucas/) - Lucas Toro has a lot in common with Gekko, the cartoon character from PJ Masks. They’re both “little guys” whose strength surprises people. And they both use their muscles for good. Getting strong is a new feeling for Lucas — one he’s using to blaze new trails for other kids. In September 2023, he became
- [‘Part of the process’: How a second opinion helped Wynn take control of bladder function](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/wynn-urodynamics/) - Wynton “Wynn” Smith-Webb is “the most inquisitive kid you’ll ever meet,” laughs his mother, Amber. At just 3 years old, he’s intrigued by science, nature, travel, and even medicine. It’s a mindset he might have picked up from Amber, a professor who says she lives “knee-deep” in data every day. So when Wynn recently began
- [Fancy footwork: Two figure skating experts on injury prevention](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/figure-skating-injuries/) - Amazing costumes, breathtaking artistry, and outstanding athleticism. No wonder figure skating is a Winter Olympics must-watch 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
- [‘The reason I became a nurse’: Maeve’s memories of laryngeal cleft repair](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/maeve-laryngeal-cleft/) - Being a gastroenterology nurse is more than a profession for Maeve Lee. When she cares for patients with feeding tubes, she’s also paying it forward. More than two decades ago, Maeve experienced many of the same challenges her patients face today. Medical mystery At first, Maeve seemed like a perfectly healthy newborn, but then she
- [Three ways to ensure your child has the proper asthma medication](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/proper-asthma-medication/) - Children who have asthma should always have access to medication. But a manufacturer’s decision to stop producing a popular asthma drug has many families scrambling to find alternative medications that are covered by health insurance. Prescriptions sometimes change for families because a medication is discontinued or there are coverage changes by health insurers and pharmacies,
- [How Boston Children's physicians have teamed up to tackle obesity and food insecurity](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tackling-obesity-and-food-insecurity/) - When nutritious, high-quality food is not easily accessible, families are often left to purchase what is available — usually, highly processed, nutrient-poor food. Children in these households — who also have food insecurity and various socio-economic stressors — face additional barriers and are at risk for developing chronic diseases, such as obesity. To address such
- [Medical care for youth with neurodevelopmental disabilities: A call for change](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/medical-care-neurodevelopmental-disabilities/) - According to national data, one in six children has a neurodevelopmental disability (NDD) such as autism, intellectual disability, or ADHD. Their medical care is often inadequate, sometimes leaving conditions untreated and neglecting preventive care — with poorer outcomes as the result. Clinicians may not take time to communicate with children, teens, and young adults with
- [Muriel's story: Choosing life after loss](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/muriels-bariatric-surgery/) - I was with my mom when she had a heart attack. I was only 3 years old, but I remember her falling down and the EMTs arriving and later being told she had passed away. As I got older, I understood that my mom’s weight and health habits caused her heart disease and ultimately her
- [Q and A: What you need to know about ticks and Lyme disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/lyme-disease/) - With summer on the way, you and your family will probably be spending more time outdoors. You may be taking walks, playing in your yard or a park, biking, or camping. But before you head outside, it’s important to take precautions to reduce your children’s risk for a common tick borne illness, Lyme disease. Dr. Rebekka
- [Mending injured hearts: Lessons from newborns?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/heart-regeneration/) - When the heart is injured, as in a myocardial infarction, the damaged heart muscle cannot regenerate — instead, scar tissue forms. Cardiomyocytes, the heart muscle cells that generate contractile force, are lost for good. Yet, in mouse models, the hearts of newborns regenerate readily after injury. How are newborn hearts able to recover? What are
- [Questions to ask about your child’s orthopedic care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/orthopedic-questions/) - Maybe your child has an orthopedic injury and needs surgery, or maybe they need to be treated with a different method. Either way, asking questions can help you understand their doctor’s recommendations and how to prepare for whatever comes next. “Families often find themselves unprepared for their child’s mobility limitations as they heal from surgery
- [Building better antibodies, curbing autoimmunity: New insights on B cells](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/antibodies-b-cells/) - When we’re vaccinated or exposed to an infection, our B cells spring into action, churning out antibodies that are increasingly potent, specific, and protective. This happens through an iterative process known as affinity maturation. Two labs at Boston Children’s Hospital have come up with different ways to enhance affinity maturation and help B cells make
- [An act of kindness — Raul and Larry's journey to a non-directed transplant donation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/raul-and-larrys-non-directed-transplant-donation/) - Acts of kindness can come in many forms, like volunteering or donating to a charity of choice. At 52, Larry loves giving back to his local community in Vermont, which is why he works in law enforcement. However, he has taken these thoughtful acts of kindness to another level — he’s donated one of his
- [BRD7 research points to alternative insulin signaling pathway](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/brd7-insulin-signaling-pathway/) - Bromodomain-containing protein 7 (BRD7) was initially identified as a tumor suppressor, but further research has shown it has a broader role in other cellular processes, including the remodeling of chromosomes and cell cycle progression. Now, Boston Children’s Division of Endocrinology researchers have discovered another purpose for BRD7: It seems to be involved in an alternative insulin signaling
- [A journey through the intestine during colitis, cell by cell](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/colitis-intestine/) - Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), causing devastating abdominal pain, persistent diarrhea, and rectal bleeding, is hard to control with current treatments. Children often experience malnutrition and impaired growth. To get a better handle on IBD, researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital decided to eavesdrop on happenings in the colon. In the first
- [Social and emotional health in high school](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/high-school-emotional-health/) - Sarauna Moore has a unique perspective on students’ emotional and behavioral health. As part of the Boston Children’s Hospital Neighborhood Partnerships team, she is a fixture at Boston Arts Academy (BAA), a public high school for the visual and performing arts. When in-person classes resumed in 2021 after a year of remote learning, she noticed
- [The people and advancements behind 75 years of Boston Children's Cardiology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/seven-decades-of-cardiology/) - Boston Children’s Department of Cardiology has more than 100 pediatric and adult cardiologists, over 40 clinical fellows learning the routines of heart care in a major hospital, 12 echocardiogram rooms dedicated to testing the function of a child’s heart, and five labs equipped to perform advanced catheterization procedures. Many other numbers could highlight the dedication that the
- [Unraveling the mystery of Rylan’s respiratory problems](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/rylan-laryngeal-cleft/) - Rylan is Destinee Davidson’s second child, but in some ways, he feels like her first. “Our older son, Bryce, has always been healthy,” she explains. “With Rylan, I feel like a first-time mom because everything is so new.” Rylan has been keeping Destinee and her husband, Bradford, on their toes since the day he was
- [Treating vascular rings: Sisters travel more than 3,000 miles for care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/vascular-rings-sisters/) - 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
- [After a marathon year, let’s make organ donation part of our new normal](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cora-transplant/) - Six years ago, an organ donor saved my daughter’s life. Cora was born with a congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), which was fatal if not treated. After more than four years living with HLHS — and six open-heart surgeries — Cora’s only chance of survival was a heart transplant. On the
- ['They just cared about Levi': Finding answers for a complex vascular ring](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/finding-answers-for-a-complex-vascular-ring/) - The first sign that Levi Blair Winkler would no longer have problems swallowing was when, only three days after a complex surgery, he wolfed down four chicken nuggets and an apple. Just as encouraging for his parents, Rachel and Gabe, was that he stopped talking about the bug in his throat. That’s how Levi often
- [With support for genetic condition trisomy 18, Brooklyn ‘tells her own story’](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cardiovascular-support-for-trisomy-18/) - Erin and Tim Haggan quickly realized they would always be seeking answers after learning the child they were expecting had trisomy 18. It is a life-threatening chromosomal condition, and only about 10 percent of children live beyond their first year. Those who survive grow slowly and often have congenital heart defects (CHD) and other organ anomalies. The couple
- [After vascular ring surgery, playing and eating are a breeze for Louis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/vascular-ring-surgery/) - You can’t blame 10-year-old Louis McFaye for eating three hot dogs really fast. Until last summer, he struggled to eat even a single hot dog cut into tiny pieces. That’s because he had a vascular ring, an abnormal formation of the aorta — the body’s largest blood vessel — that compressed his esophagus and trachea. Throughout
- [Chloe navigates Marfan syndrome with a positive attitude — and a responsive care team](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cardiovascular-genetics-2/) - Chloe Burian has always defied expectations. Despite surgeries and other treatments for several conditions that stem from the genetic disorder Marfan syndrome, the 12-year-old remains upbeat. “Nothing bothers her,” says Chloe’s mom, Audrey. “She goes through life with a smile.” Still, there were moments of doubt along the way, especially when Audrey and her husband, Rudy,
- [Treatment for a complex congenital heart defect gives Alyvia 'endless energy'](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/treatment-for-a-complex-congenital-heart-defect-gives-alyvia-endless-energy/) - She may be just 3 years old, but Alyvia Parker is already making a difference for other kids with congenital heart defects (CHD). This month, she was a guest of honor at Gulfport City Hall, where, thanks to her and her mom’s advocacy, their hometown lawmakers proclaimed it Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week. The two also
- [Experience and innovation create a safer type of heart surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/experience-and-innovation-create-a-safer-type-of-heart-surgery/) - The Eureka moment came the day before heart surgery. Easton Schlein wasn’t an ideal candidate for a full-scale surgical repair of an underdeveloped left ventricle. But his cardiac surgeons weren’t satisfied that they instead had to use the Fontan procedure, the only other option for that condition, but one associated with long-term liver complications. Reviewing
- [A 'super' new heart surgery for a super kid](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/left-sided-heart/) - When you’re the first person in the world to undergo a new type of heart surgery, you don’t have to use the procedure’s clinical name. You can give it any name you want, even your own. That’s what 7-year-old Easton Schlein’s family has done. While his Boston Children’s cardiac surgery team calls the groundbreaking procedure a “reverse
- [Sports injuries: Why ignoring pain is bad for athletes](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sports-injuries-pain/) - “No guts, no glory.” “No pain, no gain.” “Rub some dirt in it.” Sports clichés like these encourage young athletes to push themselves even when their bodies tell them to stop. But sucking it up increases a player's risk of injury. If he could, Dr. Mininder Kocher, chief of the Sports Medicine Division, would erase
- [Exploring brain operations: Making decisions, snapping to attention, and forming memories](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/brain-operations/) - How do our brains snap to attention and orient us to the outside world — like when we’re sound asleep and the smoke alarm goes off? And when different choices confront us, how does our brain make decisions? Two groups of researchers at Boston Children’s explored these all-important brain operations. The first study, published February
- [‘Everything fell into place’: Innovative POEM procedure lets Peyton eat without pain](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/peyton-poem/) - Peyton Reed, 14, is a typical teenage boy: He enjoys tennis, video games — and food. So when eating became so painful for him that he started losing weight, his parents knew it was time to get him help. The problem began gradually enough five years ago, with bouts of what seemed liked heartburn. Because
- [In the genetics of congenital heart disease, noncoding DNA fills in some blanks](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/congenital-heart-disease-noncoding-dna/) - Researchers have been chipping away at the genetic causes of congenital heart disease (CHD) for a couple of decades. About 45 percent of cases of CHD have an identifiable cause, including chromosomal abnormalities, genetic variants affecting protein-coding genes, and environmental factors. What about the rest of the cases of CHD? Noncoding DNA elements have long
- [A lifetime of treatment inspires Ruth to advocate care for others](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/adult-congenital-heart/) - Ruth Ngwaro offers guidance to children who have heart disease. Perhaps her most useful bit of advice is telling them to not look too far ahead in their lifelong journeys and instead focus on what they can do each day. She would know: Throughout childhood and well into adulthood, Ruth was in and out of
- [Helping aspiring clinicians understand a virtual heart before they work with a real one](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/virtual-reality-for-the-heart/) - Jonathan Awori, MD, MS, MFA, isn’t embarrassed to say it took him a long time to completely understand the intricate workings of the heart. He says he isn’t alone; many aspiring doctors and nurses don’t immediately grasp the heart’s complexity from two-dimensional textbooks or even 3D-printed models. Now that he’s a pediatric cardiology fellow at
- [Twenty years after a groundbreaking biventricular repair, Faith gives back by helping children with CHD](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/biventricular-repair/) - Faith Brackett doesn’t remember every detail of the time she was among the first children to have a new life-saving heart surgery. She was 7, after all, when she had a biventricular repair — a procedure that creates two functioning ventricles in a heart relying on just one. But she does remember how the surgery finally gave
- [Fetal treatment for vein of Galen malformations](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/fetal-treatment-vein-of-galen-malformations/) - Vein of Galen malformations (VOGMs) are rare, life-threatening vascular malformations that often cause heart failure in neonates. The preferred postnatal treatment for VOGM is transarterial embolization [1]. Although often diagnosed in utero, currently no in utero treatments exist. The Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) at Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham & Women’s Hospital have agreed that
- [Machine learning algorithm could offer urologists a “crystal ball” for predicting VUR](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/vur-machine-learning/) - Hydronephrosis is a common congenital anomaly that’s increasingly identified during prenatal ultrasound. Although ultrasound is also the first-line test to screen for hydronephrosis in infants, it is poor at determining dilating vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), one cause of hydronephrosis. A voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) can better characterize VUR but is more invasive and costlier. But what if
- [Tracking the elusive genes that cause strabismus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tracking-strabismus-genes/) - Strabismus is a common condition in which the eyes do not align properly, turning inward, outward, upward or downward. Two to four percent of children have some form of it. Some cases can be treated with glasses or eye patching; other cases require eye muscle surgery. But the treatments don’t address the root causes of strabismus, which
- [Exposing a tumor's antigens to enhance immunotherapy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cancer-immunotherapy-prosaposin/) - Successful immunotherapy for cancer involves activating a person’s own T cells to attack the tumor. But some tumors have a trick: They hide themselves from the immune system by preventing their antigens from being displayed, a necessary step in activating T cells. In new work published in Science, researchers in the Program in Cellular and
- [Microvillus inclusion disease: From organoids to new treatments](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/microvillus-inclusion-disease-organoids/) - Microvillus inclusion disease (MVID) is a rare type of congenital enteropathy in infants that causes devastating diarrhea and an inability to absorb food. Infants can lose liters of fluid a day, become severely dehydrated, and stop growing. There is no specific treatment. “Until about 10 years ago, 50 percent of kids with MVID would die
- [Wanting to give back, four heart patients now work as heart pros](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/four-heart-patients-now-work-as-heart-pros/) - They belong to a unique group. As children, they needed surgery to repair congenital heart conditions. Rather than being afraid, they instead were curious about the science behind their treatment. What they learned motivated them to discover more and ultimately pursue careers in medicine. Now healthy adults and working for the Benderson Family Heart Center at Boston
- [New possibilities: How Caden learned to manage chronic pain — and found an unexpected path](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/caden-chronic-pain/) - In October 2020, Caden Deutsch started feeling sick. Although the 17-year-old had been coping with juvenile idiopathic arthritis since he was in sixth grade, this was different. By the following year, what had begun as brief episodes of gastrointestinal discomfort had progressed to constant, excruciating pain. “I’d been living with chronic joint pain for years,
- [Unraveling the secret to attention, one brain cell at a time: Brielle Ferguson, PhD](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/brielle-ferguson/) - In college, Dr. Brielle Ferguson was initially drawn to psychology. Witnessing the impact of schizophrenia on a family member, she was surprised how little was known about the condition. She majored in cognitive science, but she wanted to go deeper and understand what happens in the brain. Taking a required course in neuroscience, she thought,
- [Combining CAR-T cells and inhibitor drugs for high-risk neuroblastoma](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/car-t-neuroblastoma/) - Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy is a potent emerging weapon against cancer, altering patients’ T cells so they can better find and destroy tumor cells. But CAR-T cell therapy doesn’t work well in every cancer — including many cases of neuroblastoma, a cancer that begins in young children’s nerve tissue and can metastasize to
- [When diagnosis is just the first step: The Brain Gene Registry](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/brain-gene-registry/) - Through advances in genetic sequencing, many children with rare, unidentified neurodevelopmental disorders are finally having their mysteries solved. But are they? “Once families receive results of genetic testing, that’s just the beginning of a new journey,” says Maya Chopra, MBBS, FRACP, an investigator with the Rosamund Stone Zander Translational Neuroscience Center at Boston Children’s Hospital.
- [One day closer: Second opinion for urologic pain changes Iker’s life at last](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/iker-urinary-blockage/) - Like many kids, Iker Guzman enjoys playing with LEGO toys. But there was nothing lighthearted about the day a few years ago when he used the tiny bricks to spell out one word on the floor: HELP. It was a message his parents, Elsa and David, had already taken to heart. For years, they had
- [Revisiting race and ethnicity in clinical guidelines](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/clinical-guidelines-race-ethnicity/) - Health care institutions often rely on clinical pathways in assessing patients and making decisions about their care. Some of these care algorithms incorporate race, ethnicity, or ancestry as factors in decision making. But is this helpful or harmful? And is there solid evidence to justify treating people of different racial or ethnic backgrounds differently? Robert
- [Helping clinicians embrace family-centered rounds](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/family-centered-rounds/) - If you’ve ever been hospitalized, you may have experienced this: groups of doctors coming in and talking about you like you’re not there or addressing you in a perfunctory manner, using medical jargon you don’t understand. Peggy Markle was taken aback when her son was hospitalized for a not-yet-defined condition in Washington and his care
- [Engineered cartilage could turn the tide for patients with osteoarthritis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/engineered-cartilage-research/) - About one in seven adults live with degenerative joint disease, also known as osteoarthritis (OA). In recent years, as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and other joint injuries have become more common among adolescent athletes, a growing number of 20- and 30-somethings have joined the ranks of aging baby boomers living with chronic OA pain.
- [Reconstructing a chest wall, one virtual step at a time](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/perfecting-chest-wall-surgery/) - It takes a village of clinicians and engineers to reconstruct a chest wall. It also takes a lot of 3D modeling. A young girl needed to have her chest wall restructured to stop life-threatening airway obstruction. To ensure the complicated operation would be efficient, Emily Eickhoff, a Boston Children’s biomedical engineer, partnered with a team
- [A global take on rare disease research: Maya Chopra, MBBS, FRACP](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/maya-chopra-rare-disease/) - Several years ago, while working as a clinical geneticist at the Imagine Institute of Genetic Diseases in Paris, Dr. Maya Chopra saw a child with unexplained intellectual disability, a cleft palate, distinctive facial features, and an inability to speak. Through a genetic analysis, she and her colleagues identified a rare variant in one copy of
- [Does cannabis affect surgical outcomes? We need more data.](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cannabis-surgical-outcomes-documentation/) - After alcohol, marijuana is the most commonly used recreational substance among U.S. adults and adolescents. Up to 22 million Americans 12 or older use cannabis. In a 2022 survey by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 0.7 percent of 8th graders, 2.1 percent of 10th graders, and 6.3 percent of 12th graders reported using marijuana
- [Could a GI bug's toxin curb hard-to-treat breast cancer?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/c-difficile-breast-cancer/) - Clostridium difficile can cause devastating inflammatory gastrointestinal infections, with much of the damage inflicted by a toxin the bug produces. But research from Boston Children’s Hospital suggests that the same toxin could also be a useful tool for curbing highly aggressive triple-negative breast cancers that don’t respond to chemotherapy. Min Dong, PhD, in the Department
- [Nanobodies from alpacas could steer immune attacks on influenza](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/influenza-alpacas/) - While conventional flu vaccines are designed to anticipate the influenza strains projected to dominate in the next flu season, they’re only partially effective. And while antiviral drugs are available to treat active flu cases, the body quickly clears them, requiring high, frequent doses. Coupling one existing flu drug with a special ingredient from alpacas, the
- [From aerospace to the OR: 3D modeling improves surgical planning by revealing details of patients' hearts](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/3d-modeling-heart-surgery/) - One of the most important tools for complex heart surgeries at Boston Children’s isn’t even in the operating room. For years, heart surgeons couldn’t see the complete extent of a patient’s condition until a procedure started, forcing them to rely on experience, diagnostic imaging, and other information to plan surgery. Now, 3D modeling allows them
- [Infantile spasms: Speeding referrals for all infants](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/infantile-spasms-equity/) - Infantile epileptic spasms syndrome (IESS), often called infantile spasms, is the most common form of epilepsy seen during infancy. Prompt diagnosis and referral to a neurologist are essential. Infantile spasms can present subtly, and research indicates that diagnosis is often delayed. Additionally, infants are especially likely to experience delays in referral to a neurologist if
- [New leads for spinal cord injury: Mapping spinal-projecting neurons in the brain](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/spinal-projecting-neurons/) - Only a fraction of people who sustain a spinal cord injury fully regain their motor function. While rehabilitation can help, scientists have long looked for ways to regenerate injured nerve fibers — including, at Boston Children’s Hospital, Zhigang He, PhD, BM. As part of a collaborative effort by the BRAIN Initiative Cell Census Network, which
- [Surgery beats sclerotherapy for rectal prolapse in children ages 5 and older](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/rectal-prolapse-surgery/) - Rectal prolapse — the protrusion of the lining of a child’s rectum through the anal sphincter — can occur for many reasons. In the pediatric population, it most commonly occurs in children under 4 years old but can affect older children as well. Children with colorectal and pelvic malformations tend to be at increased risk
- [Generations of excellence in caring for childhood bone cancers: Dr. Gebhardt and Dr. Anderson](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gebhardt-anderson-bone-cancer/) - When Dr. Mark Gebhardt was a surgical resident at Boston Children’s Hospital in the early ’80s, doctors were just starting to use chemotherapy to treat bone cancers like osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma. Boston Children's and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute were among the first places to offer this treatment. They were also among the first to
- [The best decision: Triplet Jayden is thriving after CDH repair](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/jayden-cdh/) - Jayden is barely a year old, but he’s already been through more ups and downs than some adults. Born at just 27 weeks — along with his brothers Jacob and Jamari — he’s overcome tremendous odds, not just as a triplet and preemie, but because he was born with a serious condition called congenital diaphragmatic
- [My story of bouncing back from osteochondritis dissecans](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/osteochondritis-dissecans-jace/) - Injuries suck — no better way of putting it. The physical pain is terrible on its own, but emotionally they can hurt even more. The frustration that comes with something that is out of your control is like nothing else. It makes you realize how much you take your health for granted until you lose
- [Entry door for deadly C. difficile toxin suggests new mode of protection](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/new-target-for-clostridium-difficile/) - Clostridium difficile, also called “C. diff,” tops the CDC’s list of urgent drug-resistant threats. Marked by severe diarrhea and intestinal inflammation, C. diff has become a leading cause of death from gastrointestinal illness, causing half a million infections a year in the U.S. alone. C. diff flourishes best in hospitals and long-term care facilities where people are on
- [Predicting brace adherence could change the game in scoliosis treatment](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/scoliosis-brace-research/) - When it comes to preventing scoliosis progression, is it possible to make bracing more effective? For decades, spine specialists focused on improving the braces themselves, making them lighter, less obtrusive, and easier to put on and take off. (The Boston Brace, developed at Boston Children’s Hospital in the early 1970s, is one example.) Patients who
- [December 2023 coloring pages](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/december-2023-coloring-pages/) - Keep kids busy during the winter holidays with this month's coloring pages, brought to you by Boston Children's. MAC_29558_ColoringPages_Dec_Winter_Horiz-1Download MAC_29558_ColoringPages_Dec_Winter_Horiz-2Download MAC_29558_ColoringPages_Dec_Winter_Vert-1Download MAC_29558_ColoringPages_Dec_Winter_Vert-2Download
- [Treatment for the vision condition achromatopsia helps Aiden embrace the outdoors](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gene-therapy-for-achromatopsia/) - A lot of things excite 10-year-old Aiden Flaherty: drums, soccer, skiing, video games. But lately, he’s also found joy in a quieter, less active pursuit: watching leaves move on trees. He loves being outdoors during the daytime and taking in all that nature offers. It’s something he only recently could do after receiving retinal gene
- [A state policy made it harder for families to find shelter. Research helped change the policy.](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ed-homelessness-policy/) - Physicians and policy makers usually work in separate worlds: those of medicine and government. But when a change in Massachusetts policy led to an unprecedented increase in the number of homeless families seeking shelter in the emergency department (ED), physicians at Boston Children’s Hospital set out to reverse that policy. What happened next shows that
- [Sickle cell gene therapy and boosting fetal hemoglobin: A 75-year history](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sickle-cell-fetal-hemoglobin-timeline/) - Ed. Note: This post updates an earlier post from 2018. In a landmark decision today, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two gene therapies for sickle cell disease. One of them, Casgevy, has deep scientific roots at Boston Children's Hospital — and is also the first therapy using CRISPR gene editing to gain FDA
- [Having Faith: A novel approach to heart surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/having-faith-a-novel-approach-to-heart-surgery/) - When Rachel and Rudy Fasano of New Haven, Connecticut learned they were having their first baby after three years of trying, they were overjoyed, as were their families. At Rachel’s 15-week ultrasound to learn their baby’s sex, both grandmothers were also in tow, eager to hear the news. But the visit delivered some unexpected results.
- [Zaire’s superpowered heart: 'I am Iron Man'](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/zaires-superpowered-heart-i-am-iron-man/) - What do a 4-year-old from Brockton, Massachusetts and Marvel’s superhero Iron Man have in common? A lot more than you might think. Iron Man faces a heart injury that nearly kills him, but creates a suit of armor that protects his heart and gives him superpowers. Zaire was born with scimitar syndrome, a rare condition
- [After four unsuccessful heart surgeries, Nicholas finds hope](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/heart-surgery-hope/) - When Brenna and Lorenzo Degano arrived in Boston with their son, Nicholas, last April, it was with a feeling of restrained hope. After four unsuccessful heart surgeries in California, they were hesitant to put their son through a fifth surgery not knowing if the outcome would be any different. Nicholas was diagnosed at age 7
- [Living a full, active life with long QT syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/living-qt-syndrome/) - My older sister, Tanya, began having periodic fainting episodes when we were teenagers. The doctors were stumped, but my dad was determined to find out what was causing them. He knew it might mean the difference between life or death. Years earlier, my mom had similar fainting spells, which her doctors had said were seizures.
- [My continuing heart journey with Boston Children’s](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/heart-journey-boston-childrens/) - My connection to Boston Children’s Hospital started on a bright and sunny June day in 1979. My parents, who were excitedly anticipating what they assumed would be the uncomplicated birth of their first child, got an unexpected surprise when I was born completely blue (like a Smurf) and had to be rushed to Boston Children’s.
- [Regina's journey with HLHS: Four years later](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/reginas-journey-hlhs/) - Regina was just 25 days old the first time she made the trip from her home in Mexico to Boston. Regina was born with a serious congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), resulting in the underdevelopment of the left side of her heart. Her doctors in Mexico told her parents it was
- [A biventricular repair helps California girl thrive](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/biventricular-repair-california-girl/) - Even before their daughter, Elyse, was born, Amanda and Ian Primavera knew their road would be a little rocky. But they had no idea how hard they’d have to push to get the care they wanted for their daughter. Ultimately, an online support group and a little perseverance helped them find the answers and treatment
- [A sign of Faith in one little girl’s single ventricle journey](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/faith-single-ventricle-journey/) - Nicole and Charlie Parker were no strangers to adoption when they embarked on the journey to bring their daughter Faith home from Langfang, China — they had previously adopted two of their four children. What they were not familiar with was raising a child with a complex congenital heart condition. Faith was born with a
- [After beating the odds, Joey dreams of Hollywood](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/joey-bach/) - Joey Manzo’s biggest dream is to travel to Hollywood to meet Ellen DeGeneres. Given how many dreams he’s already made a reality, it’s likely one day he’ll make that happen too. DiGeorge syndromeDiGeorge syndrome, also called 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, is a genetic condition caused by missing a part of chromosome 22. It can cause a
- [Camp Journey and a horse named Evan build Luca’s confidence](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/camp-journey-cardiac-neurodevelopmental/) - Until this summer, 8-year-old Luca Castellano had never been on a horse. But after participating in Camp Journey, a therapeutic riding camp for kids with congenital heart conditions, he was riding and caring for a horse like a pro. “Luca pretty much fell in love with a horse named Evan,” says his mom, Rebecca. Camp
- [BACH Program: Heart care for patients of all ages](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/bach-program-fran/) - At 73, Fran Sansalone might not seem like a typical Boston Children’s Hospital patient. But she’s one of a growing number of adults who visit the Heart Center regularly. Fran has been a patient in the Boston Adult Congenital Heart (BACH) Program for the past 18 years. Like other adults born with a congenital heart
- [Noah the brave: A cross-country quest for a biventricular repair](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/noah-biventricular-repair/) - If you walked down Binney Street next to Boston Children’s hospital this fall, you might’ve noticed something a bit out of the ordinary. Parked on the sidewalk, just out of the way of passers-by, sat a large RV. On the back of the camper, a large photo of a smiling 5-year-old Noah Alderson told part
- [Ava’s journey with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ava-arrhythmogenic-cardiomyopathy/) - Claire Poole never thought a 10-year-old could have a heart condition. So when her daughter, Ava, slumped against the wall exhausted and complaining of arm pain one Sunday in 2012, Claire assumed she had overextended herself at a sleepover the previous night. “When we got into the car, Ava turned grey and had trouble breathing,”
- [A complex repair for Ruby’s heart](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/complex-repair-heart/) - When Rebecca and Michael Stewart learned their baby would be born with a congenital heart condition, they reacted as any expectant parents would, with shock and fear. But they quickly moved into action, focused on finding the best care for their daughter before her birth. “At about 22 weeks into my pregnancy, Ruby was diagnosed
- [Heart strong: Two families bond over shared challenges](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/two-families-heart-bond/) - Four years ago, Ali Marcus walked through the door of a coffee shop in Connecticut and met the woman who would soon become her close friend, Britt Sheiber. The two were meeting at the suggestion of a mutual friend: Britt had just learned at a prenatal visit that one of her twins would be born
- [Appreciating the small things: A New York family’s journey with CHD](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/family-journey-chd/) - The Harris family of Monroe, New York, are no strangers to congenital heart disease (CHD). Eighteen-year-old Jack Jr. grew up living with CHD, but had always been active. His father, Jack Sr., had also lived an active adulthood, completely unaware of his future CHD diagnosis. When they each found themselves in need of heart surgery,
- [The brightest rainbow follows the darkest storm: Our PVS journey](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/our-pvs-journey/) - 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
- [A repair for Charleston’s complex heart](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/repair-complex-heart/) - Trey and Jandie Steele both work in medical device sales. They have spent lots of time in hospital operating rooms and are comfortable discussing complex medical procedures with doctors and surgeons. And yet, when their second child, Charleston, was diagnosed with a number of congenital heart defects one week after her birth, they felt blindsided
- [From ECMO to star athlete: Kobe’s story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/kobe-myocarditis/) - Kobe Perry is fast. This year, the 12-year-old from New Hampshire placed #2 in the United States in the indoor 60-meter sprint and at #10 in the 200-meter for boys in his age group. “Watching Kobe run now, you would never know that he had a heart condition when he was a toddler and had
- [Along the way to heart surgery, Liam found a name for his new teddy bear](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/surgery-relieves-parents-anxieties-about-infants-heart-defects/) - After a complicated delivery in April 2021, Chelsea Allis had recovered and was finally able to bond with her infant son, Liam. But life became unsettled again only two months later, when a doctor performing a routine checkup on Liam detected a possible heart condition. Then, only a day before seeing a cardiologist to learn
- [From South Africa to Boston: Kyleigh's four-year search for good heart health](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/complex-heart-surgery/) - Kyleigh Kista had three open-heart surgeries in just the first 18 months of her life. But instead of progressing, her health was rapidly deteriorating by the time she reached 3. Her doctors said there was little else they could do, except make her a candidate for a heart and lung transplant. It was shattering news
- [Adjusting to sitosterolemia took time, but Justin is now on a healthy path](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sitosterolemia-care-requires-a-vigilant-diet/) - After Justin Zhao was diagnosed with the rare metabolic disorder sitosterolemia five years ago, the toughest part of treatment was watching his three siblings eat chocolate when he couldn’t. Sitosterolemia is a genetic disease that causes the fatty substances, or lipids, from plant-based foods such as nuts and vegetable oils to build up in the arteries, increasing
- [From Pakistan to Boston: Faiz finally found help for his complex heart condition](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/fighter-faiz-gets-help-for-complex-heart-condition/) - Don’t let his shy smile fool you. In his hometown of Lahore, Pakistan, 6-year-old Muhammad Butt is known by the nickname “Faiz the fighter.” Faiz had long defied the predictions of local doctors who said the heart surgery he needed would be complicated and instead advised his parents to enjoy the time they had with
- [Could ADHD be diagnosed genetically?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/adhd-genetics/) - Despite it being very common, ADHD is often missed until a child reaches age 7 or older. By that time, they have likely been struggling socially and in school. Could early genetic testing be part of the solution? Anne Arnett, PhD, in partnership with Ryan Doan, PhD, at Boston Children’s Hospital, set out to see
- [An off-the-shelf tamponade kit provides surgeons with 'the luxury of time' during a life-threatening emergency](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/button-battery-removal/) - It was a late Friday afternoon in April when the call came: A young boy was being transferred to Boston Children’s emergency department after swallowing a button battery. Although his mother had previously taken him to another local hospital when she noticed he wasn’t eating or drinking much, the battery ingestion had been missed until
- [Ways to keep kids engaged and unplugged during the holidays](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/keeping-kids-engaged/) - The winter holiday break is upon us. This means being away from routines and schedules and more time at home, traveling, or visiting loved ones. Bottom line: families will be spending more time together (again). So, how can we find ways to put down our phones and engage in the yuletide cheer together? Join in
- [What every family should know about RSV](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/respiratory-syncytial-virus/) - To help keep your family safe and informed about respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), we spoke to Dr. Kathleen Conroy, Clinical Chief for Children’s Hospital Primary Care Center (CHPCC). What is RSV and what are the symptoms? RSV is a virus that causes upper and lower respiratory tract infections, most commonly in children and infants; however,
- [What you should know about hemangiomas, according to a pediatric dermatologist](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/what-you-should-know-about-hemangiomas/) - When parents discover that their infant has a hemangioma, a lot of questions usually follow. To find answers for the most common questions and share some important facts about the condition, we spoke with Dr. Marilyn Liang, co-director of the Vascular Anomalies Center (VAC) and an attending physician in the Dermatology Program at Boston Children’s
- [Two for one: It’s safe to get COVID and flu vaccines at the same time](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/two-for-one-its-safe-to-get-covid-and-flu-vaccines-at-the-same-time/) - Your child can greatly reduce the risk of serious illness by receiving COVID and flu vaccines in one sitting — all they have to do is roll up both sleeves. Now, getting a shot in each arm might give your child pause, but two infectious disease specialists at Boston Children’s Hospital say that a double inoculation
- [Five things to know about the flu](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/five-flu-facts/) - It’s flu season again. In fact, about half of every year, from September to March, is “flu season.” Despite the fact that we spend half of our lives in flu season, there are lots of misconceptions about this common and sometimes deadly virus. Here are five important facts about the flu that not everyone knows: 1. You
- [Timing is everything: How circadian rhythms influence our brains](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/circadian-rhythms-synapses/) - Why are we mentally sharper at certain times of day? A study led by Jonathan Lipton MD, PhD, at Boston Children’s Hospital spells out the relationship between circadian rhythms — the body’s natural day/night cycles — and the brain connections known as synapses. The work is the first to provide a cellular and molecular explanation
- [Naloxone on demand: Shining a light to reverse opioid overdose](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/naloxone-on-demand/) - Overdose deaths from fentanyl and other opioids are at record highs in the U.S. Naloxone, if delivered soon after an overdose, is proven to be life-saving. It binds to the same brain receptors that opioids use, thereby blocking opioids’ effects. A naloxone nasal spray (Narcan) is now available over the counter, but there are still problems
- [Sickle cell gene therapy to boost fetal hemoglobin: A 70-year timeline of discovery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sickle-cell-gene-therapy-bcl11a-timeline/) - Boston Children’s Hospital is now enrolling patients age 3 to 35 in a clinical trial of gene therapy for sickle cell disease. Based on technology developed in its own labs, it differs from other gene therapy approaches by having a two-pronged action. It represses production of the mutated beta hemoglobin that causes red blood cells to
- [Don't forget the cheese, please! Rachel's EoE journey](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pediatric-eosinophilic-esophagitis/) - Like many teens, Rachel loves cheese and other dairy foods. “Cheese sticks, yogurt, and especially pizza,” Chellie, her mom, shares. Rachel agrees: She would eat cheese every day if she could. Up until this past spring, Rachel, who also has autism spectrum disorder, was unable to enjoy her favorite foods due to incredible pain in
- [How genetic testing helped Wilson help other infants with epilepsy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/genetic-testing-wilson/) - In August 2021, after months of anticipating their son’s arrival, Emily and Nick felt as ready as they’d ever be to become parents. Happy and excited to finally have Wilson in their arms, they brought him home a few days after delivery. Just over 24 hours later, though, they found themselves back in a hospital
- [Conquering a rare metabolic condition: A family, a pediatrician, and two labs join forces](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ssadh-deficiency/) - As a newborn, Sam Hoffman never cried or made a sound. His mother, Carolyn, often had to wake him up to feed him. He missed many of his infant milestones. At one visit, his pediatrician tapped his leg and couldn’t get a reflex. A urine test found extremely high levels of 4-hydrobutyric acid or GHB
- [November 2023 coloring pages](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/coloring-pages-november/) - Motivate your young athlete with month's coloring pages, brought to you by Boston Children’s. MAC_29327_ColoringPages_November_Sports_HorizDownload MAC_29327_ColoringPages_November_Sportst_Vert-1Download MAC_29327_ColoringPages_November_Sportst_Vert-2Download MAC_29327_ColoringPages_November_Sportst_Vert-3Download
- [How one diagnosis brought together three best friends: Allyson, Maddy, and Caiya's journey with pancreatitis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/journey-with-pancreatitis/) - Allyson, Maddy, and Caiya are your typical tween best friends — sharing inside jokes and constantly chatting about everything and anything. “They’re always on FaceTime talking and laughing,” shares Kim, Maddy’s mom. “They just love each other.” You’d never guess that these three girls didn’t meet at recess, but rather through Dr. Amit Grover, director
- [Gold particles and light could melt venous malformations away](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/venous-malformations-nanoparticles/) - Venous malformations — tissues made up largely of abnormally shaped veins — are often difficult to treat, especially when located in sensitive areas like the eyes, face, and genitourinary organs. In the worst cases, the lesions are disfiguring and can crush or obstruct surrounding tissues, cause bleeding and clotting, interfere with breathing or vision, or
- [Broken signals: Things you may not know about nerve injury](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/nerve-injury/) - When Dr. Andrea Bauer talks about nerve injuries, she talks about phone cords. A damaged phone cord transmits staticky or broken sounds, or no sound at all. Similarly, peripheral nerve injuries (injuries that affect the arms, hands, legs, and feet) disrupt signals to and from the brain, causing numbness, loss of sensation, and lost function.
- [October 2023 coloring pages](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/october-2023-coloring-pages/) - Celebrate the joys of the fall season with this month's coloring pages, brought to you by Boston Children's. CONS_29229_ColoringSheetDownload MAC_29210_ColoringPages_Bullying_October_HorizDownload MAC_29210_ColoringPages_Bullying_October_Vert-1Download MAC_29210_ColoringPages_Bullying_October_Vert-2Download MAC_29210_ColoringPages_Bullying_October_Vert-3Download Images: Adobe Stock/Illustration: David Chrisom Get more coloring pages, news, and tips for your family from our weekly newsletter. Sign up now!
- [A new approach to C. diff? Targeting the inflammation, not the bacteria](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/c-diff-inflammation/) - Clostridium difficile (C. diff) intestinal infections can cause severe, debilitating diarrhea in patients who are hospitalized or on immunosuppressive therapies. The infections can be very hard to eradicate, roaring back when patients try to taper their antibiotics. Many people wind up on antibiotics for months and can become resistant to three or more of them.
- [Bringing equity to genomic sequencing in newborns: BabySeq 2.0](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/babyseq-2/) - Today, nearly 900 disorders caused by a single gene are known to be treatable. Yet the recommended “heel stick” testing for newborns only covers about 60 inherited, treatable disorders, and many individual states screen for fewer. What if newborns could instead have their entire genome sequenced at birth, with the results shared and acted on
- [Getting a little help from a game show host: How Steve Harvey became Panos' personal tooth fairy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/autism-spectrum-disorder/) - 11-year-old Panos loves to smile and sing — but getting him to show his teeth to a dentist hasn’t always been easy. When he visited a dentist near his home for his first cleaning, the experience was a tough one. “He was overwhelmed by the new environment and refused to open his mouth,” explains his
- [Many childhood injuries are preventable if you know the risks](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/childhood-injury-prevention/) - As the seasons change, Dr. Lois Lee can predict that certain types of injuries will appear in the Emergency Department at Boston Children’s Hospital. “Some things happen every year,” she says. In the cold months, for instance, children come in with head and neck injuries and broken bones, from winter sport accidents. In warmer weather,
- [What your family should know about orthodontic care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/considerations-for-orthodontic-care/) - By now, your family might know what to expect at a dentist’s office. It’s a familiar routine that includes an examination, a cleaning, and (just maybe) treatment for a cavity. An orthodontic appointment is much like a trip to the dentist, according to Dr. Megan McDougall, a Boston Children’s orthodontist. If your child’s first orthodontist appointment is
- [Cavities are no trick: How to balance Halloween candy with healthy teeth](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cavities-are-no-trick-how-to-balance-halloween-candy-with-healthy-teeth/) - Believe it or not, dentists don’t dislike Halloween. They don’t secretly wish for kids to not eat candy. What dentists do want is for children to avoid certain ultra-sugary sweets and to practice moderation when munching through the contents of their trick-or-treat bags. “It’s important for kids to have fun,” says Matthew Harper, DDS, an associate
- [Could we intervene in Huntington's disease before symptoms appear?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/huntingtons-disease/) - Huntington’s disease is the most common single-gene neurodegenerative disorder and is characterized by motor and cognitive deficits and psychiatric symptoms. Work led by Beth Stevens, PhD, and Dan Wilton, PhD, in the Department of Neurology at Boston Children’s Hospital, now shows that the disease process begins well before symptoms appear. That raises the possibility of
- [EEG markers in early life could help predict and diagnose anxiety](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/eeg-markers-anxiety/) - Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem among children and adolescents and are a risk factor for adult disorders. Stress is a big factor — at home, at school, and from external factors like COVID-19 and climate change. But some children may be innately more susceptible to anxiety. New research at Boston Children’s
- [Why parents really need to talk to their children about the news](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/talk-to-children-about-news/) - These are strange, anxiety-provoking times. That’s true no matter where one lives or where one sits on the political spectrum — for all of us, it’s upsetting and confusing. If it feels that way for adults, just imagine what it’s like for children who catch snatches of information and conversations they don’t really understand. That’s
- [Samantha's story: 'I was bullied by a classmate'](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/bullied-samanthas-story/) - During the fifth grade when Samantha was 10 years old, she was bullied by a male classmate. She remembers walking through the halls of her elementary school and hearing the bully call out these words: “Why are you on this earth? You don’t deserve to be alive.” The bullying followed her every day. “I didn’t want to
- [Toddlers diagnosed with autism should be reevaluated over time](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/autism-reevaluation/) - Parents whose child has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may feel it’s a lifelong label. But a new study offers hope: It found that 37 percent of children diagnosed as toddlers no longer met criteria for autism when they reached early school age. Findings were published October 2 in JAMA Pediatrics. Study leader
- [From Florida to Boston and back again: Reagan's liver transplant journey](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/reagans-liver-transplant-journey/) - Reagan, 18, is gearing up for her freshman year of college this fall, and she has a solid idea about her future career. “I hope to become a transplant nurse or a child life specialist,” she shares with a smile. Her inspiration to enter this field of medicine comes from her experiences with the care
- [How to help your child make and rekindle friendships at any age](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/friendships/) - Childhood friendships are key for mental and physical health. But friends come and go as a child ages, as they keep some longstanding relationships, makes new ones, and lose some. No matter the age and circumstance, friendships help children develop social and emotional skills, feel a sense of belonging, and decrease stress. “Our earliest friendships
- [It's American Heart Month: Test your knowledge of congenital heart defects](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/its-american-heart-month-test-your-knowledge-of-congenital-heart-defects/) - 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
- [Letters from the heart: “Life will be better”](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/congenital-heart-disease-letters/) - Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) have much to think about as they undergo tests, try medications, and face possible surgery. These adults know what that’s like. To celebrate National Heart Month, here are their words of encouragement. Frank Collins, 63 I loved basketball as a kid, but when I played I would get tired
- [Expanding on a lifetime of heart care: The BACH Program](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/lifetime-heart-care-bach-program/) - As more patients born with congenital heart disease (CHD) live well into adulthood and older age, there is an increasing demand for clinicians who understand their complex and unique needs. Since its inception more than 25 years ago, the Boston Adult Congenital Heart (BACH) Program has been a leader in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD)
- [Is it “good” or “bad” for your child? Removing morality from eating](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/removing-morality-from-eating/) - Teaching our children to eat well is not a simple task — but perhaps that’s because we are looking at it from the wrong angle. Often, we focus on statistics about obesity or eating disorders rather than fostering a positive relationship with food. However, it’s crucial that families understand the seriousness surrounding disordered eating so
- [The clot thickens: Kellie Machlus, PhD](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/platelets-kellie-machlus/) - Part of an ongoing series profiling researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital. Platelets are the bandages of our blood, forming clots when we sustain an injury. Yet little is known about how they’re made, and there are no drugs that can immediately and directly trigger their production. Boston Children’s Hospital researcher Kellie Machlus, PhD, (@theclotthickens) couldn’t
- [From pain to purpose: An update on Dylan’s traumatic brain injury](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/dylan-traumatic-brain-injury/) - We first introduced you to Dylan four years ago, when a traumatic brain injury led him to the Department of Neurosurgery for care and instilled in him a love of medicine. We caught up with the college senior this summer to see where life has taken him since he started an internship with the team
- [‘It’s worth it’: Dianna finds support in managing her chronic pain](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/young-adult-chronic-pain/) - For Dianna Aguiar, 18, playing tennis, practicing yoga, and going for walks with her dog aren’t just fun ways to stay active. They’re powerful proof of how far she’s come in her journey with chronic pain. Although Dianna has had juvenile arthritis since she was a child, she began experiencing new back and hip pain
- [Girls and women in sports win the medal of lifelong health](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/female-athletes-qol/) - Title IX, the law that prohibits sports discrimination on the basis of sex, has transformed sports for girls and women. Before its passage in 1972, only 295,000 female athletes participated in U.S. high school sports. Today that number is 3.2 million. In that same period, the number of female college athletes swelled from 30,000 to
- [Sports medicine helps keep athletes in the game](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/what-is-sports-medicine/) - Sports medicine specialist Dr. William Meehan sees a lot of sports injuries: everything from tennis elbow to concussions to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. But when he talks about sports, he typically leads with how sports benefit young athletes. “There’s so much publicity about injuries and risk,” says Dr. Meehan, a physician in the Sports
- [Sports medicine for single-sport athletes](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/overtraining-single-sport-athletes/) - As youth sports have become more structured and focused on results, sports medicine specialists have seen a growing number of sports injuries in younger patients. Is early sports specialization to blame? “Specializing in a single sport is not necessarily a cause for concern,” says Andrea Stracciolini, MD, director of Medical Sports Medicine at Boston Children’s
- [Healthy behaviors may counteract the long-term effects of concussions](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/concussion-long-term-health/) - When it comes to football, concussion, and long-term health, many people have already made up their minds: They believe that repeat concussions condemn athletes to a future of mental illness and cognitive decline. Such beliefs instill fear and helplessness in many professional athletes and their families. “There’s a thought that former NFL players are all
- [Calm through the storm: Connor's ulcerative colitis journey](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/calm-through-the-storm-connors-ulcerative-colitis-journey/) - When you meet Connor today, he’s a confident 13-year-old who is incredibly laid back when he speaks about his complex medical condition. This school year, he plans on playing basketball and running track. “I like hanging out with my friends and traveling — now I can do all these things without being in pain.” However,
- [This two-handed robot goes deep into the brain](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/neurosurgical-robot/) - Robots have become common partners in the OR, enabling surgeons to operate through small incisions and manipulate tools endoscopically, avoiding invasive open surgery. But in neurosurgery, robots’ capabilities have been more limited. While they can assist with relatively simple procedures like inserting an electrode, more invasive and complex operations like removing a tumor still require
- [Returning to the stage after cubital tunnel syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/bruno-cubital-tunnel-syndrome/) - Bruno Silva can’t imagine his life without music. He has been playing bass guitar since he was 12 years old and performs at least once a week, often more. Born in Japan to Brazilian parents, Bruno has lived and performed in England, Brazil, Spain and the United States. He started out playing along to bands
- [Bullying at all ages: How to spot the signs and support your child](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/bullying/) - According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, nearly a quarter of students ages 12 to 18 reported being bullied at school in 2019. But bullying can happen almost anywhere — through exclusive group-texts, the creation of hurtful memes, “Finstagrams” (fake Instagram accounts sometimes used for harassment), and more classic offline methods parents themselves may
- [Cerebral palsy hasn’t stopped Irvin from living large](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cerebral-palsy-irvin-mascot-living-large/) - Irvin, now 18, became fascinated with sports mascots when he was a little kid. What did they do, and could he do that too? Anytime he had an appointment at the Cerebral Palsy and Spasticity Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, he and his mother would stop by Fenway Park to visit Wally, mascot of the
- [Jenna’s comeback from PAO surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/jenna-pao-surgery/) - By the time Jenna was 14, her off-and-on hip pain had become an always-on issue. The accomplished soccer player and runner from Southern California had experienced intermittent pain since she was 12. She tried physical therapy to ease the hip pain, but it only got worse as she competed at higher levels. Over time, her
- [The key to preventing shin splints may be underfoot](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/shin-splints-foot-strength/) - Medial tibial stress syndrome, also known as shin splints, is a common and often recurring injury among adolescent runners. Recovery can involve weeks of downtime and sports modifications. Even then, many athletes experience chronic pain. Despite the prevalence and impact of the condition, sports medicine experts have yet to reach consensus about the cause. Theories
- [Making immunotherapy safe for AML](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/aml-immunotherapy/) - Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the second most common leukemia in children, is hard to treat and has a five-year survival rate of just 65 to 70 percent, according to the American Cancer Society. While immunotherapies like monoclonal antibodies or CAR T-cell therapy are effective for certain blood cancers, they have not been possible in AML
- [Uncertainty surrounds ACL treatment decisions in young athletes. It shouldn’t.](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/acl-surgery-young-athletes/) - It’s an injury once seen mainly in adults, yet it’s become increasingly common in younger patients. From 2000 to 2020, the number of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in children and adolescents increased between three- and five-fold. For young athletes, an ACL tear spells six to nine months of downtime, heightened risk for secondary ACL
- [Hurdles in health care: Navigating insurance approvals](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/insurance-denials-and-approvals/) - If you’ve ever struggled with your patient’s insurance company when it came to getting their prescription filled, you’re not alone. For patients with chronic conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), newer drugs like biologics can be very effective — but also very expensive. As a result, many insurance companies have limited access to these medications
- [Arthritis drug reduces rates of acute graft-vs-host disease after bone marrow transplant](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gvhd-abatacept/) - The immune-suppressing drug abatacept, currently used for rheumatoid arthritis, could make bone marrow transplant safer, report researchers at the Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. The phase 2 randomized, multi-center clinical trial, the largest to date, appears in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Abatacept (brand name ORENCIA) reduced rates of severe, acute graft-versus-host disease
- [Surviving stem cell transplant: New hope when the donor isn’t a full match](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/abatacept-transplant/) - To see Tara Daniels today, with a corporate job in marketing and about to close on a house, you’d never know what she’s been through, how thrilled she is to be alive. This month marks five years since she received a high-risk bone marrow transplant for a life-threatening blood cancer. Tara woke up feeling sick
- [Finding ways to give thanks for the gift of life](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/giving-thanks-transplant/) - The holiday season is a time for families to count their blessings. But for Elizabeth Molina-Cordero, the meaning of this time of year — and the gratitude she feels — goes much deeper and lasts throughout the year. Five years ago, her son Julian, who is now 7 years old, received the ultimate gift of life
- [Looking for clues to improve the life of a transplanted organ](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/transplant-survival-and-urine-biomarkers/) - The Transplant Research Program (TxRP) at Boston Children’s Hospital is the only pediatric transplantation research program in the U.S committed to better understanding the molecular basis for organ rejection after transplantation in children. Within the last year, members of the TxRP have initiated a new initiative to extend the longevity of transplanted organs and to
- [Embracing the benefits of virtual visits during the COVID-19 pandemic](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/benefits-of-telehealth-visits/) - Sheltering at home during the coronavirus doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice high-quality health care. Many families are finding that a lot of services they used to travel into Boston for are now available from the comfort of home using our expanded telehealth capacity. This is allowing parents and kids to manage chronic conditions, or
- [Beating the odds with biliary atresia: Sarah’s story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sarah-biliary-atresia/) - Five-year-old Sarah Sirpenski loves watching TV shows about baking and is eager to try her hand at it herself. She likes to spend time in her family’s kitchen, measuring out imaginary cups of sugar and other ingredients, say her parents, Kate and Dan. One of her doctors even calls her “corn muffin” — although that
- [One-time treatment could block a deadly form of graft-versus-host disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gvhd-notch/) - Even when a bone marrow transplant cures leukemia or lymphoma, patients can still pass away from graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), in which T cells in the donor graft attack the recipient’s own tissues. Leslie Kean, MD, PhD, director of stem cell transplant at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, has long sought to prevent this
- [One athlete, two hip surgeries, three Ironmans](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/hip-impingement-ironman/) - Trevor Spence grew up playing just about every sport he could. When he was 3, he laced up his first pair of hockey skates. When he was 10, he medaled in the Junior Olympics 1500-meter Track and Field event. Throughout middle and high school, he travelled to tournaments for hockey, lacrosse, and soccer. “I did
- [Pioneering trial offers hope for late treatment of ‘lazy eye’](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/amblyopia-research/) - In children with amblyopia or “lazy eye,” one eye is weaker than the other for any of a number of reasons. It may not focus as well, it may be misaligned due to strabismus, or its vision may be obstructed by a cataract or a droopy eyelid. As a result, the brain starts to favor
- [September 2023 coloring pages](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/september-2023-coloring-pages/) - Get your family excited about healthy food with this month's coloring pages, brought to you by Boston Children's. ColoringSheet_RabbitGardenDownload ColoringSheet_GuineapigFruitVegDownload Images: Adobe Stock/Illustration: Patrick Bibbins Get more coloring pages, news, and tips for your family from our weekly newsletter. Sign up now!
- [‘Another level of care’: Second opinion solves Joey’s rare urologic condition](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/joey-megaureter/) - When Max and Shana arrived at Boston Children’s Hospital last year with their young son, Joey, their care team “made us feel a lot less special,” says Max. “And that was a great thing.” Joey was born with megacystic-megaureter syndrome, a urinary tract anomaly that is caused by high-grade vesicoureteral reflux, or the backward flow
- [Family first: Nolan and Uncle Jon's living donor kidney transplant](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/living-donor-kidney-transplant/) - Nolan and his uncle Jon are both tall and blonde, but they now have something more in common: The two have an unbreakable bond, thanks to a selfless —and lucky — gift that changed Nolan’s life forever. The first year after Nolan was born, his primary care physician ran some blood work to try to
- [Rapid DNA sequencing yields timely answers for infant epilepsy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/epilepsy-whole-genome-sequencing/) - Treating children with epilepsy has traditionally been a matter of trial and error, trying different drugs one after the other. In the one-third of patients for whom the drugs do not work and seizures continue, doctors consider brain surgery — if it can be done safely. Early in her career, Ann Poduri, MD, MPH, who
- [August 2023 coloring pages](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/august-2023-coloring-pages/) - Help get your kids excited for the new school year with this month's coloring pages, brought to you by Boston Children's! MAC_28887_ColoringPages_Back_to_School_BlackboardDownload MAC_28887_ColoringPages_Back_to_School_KidsDownload MAC_28887_ColoringPages_Back_to_School_RocketDownload Images: Adobe Stock/Illustration: David Chrisom Get more coloring pages, news, and tips for your family from our weekly newsletter. Sign up now!
- [Living his best life: Caring for Christian](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/christian-short-bowel/) - Christian Jaspersen was wet, muddy — and having the time of his life. After an ATV ride around his family’s rural Oklahoma farm with their grandfather, he and his two older brothers plopped themselves into a nearby mud puddle, playing with toy trucks and getting wonderfully messy. “For a while, we didn’t know if Christian
- [Could the right dietary fat help boost platelet counts?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/platelet-counts-diet/) - Aside from transfusions, there currently is no way to boost people’s platelet counts, leaving them at risk for uncontrolled bleeding. Could something as simple as a dietary change raise platelet counts in people with low levels, such as cancer patients receiving chemotherapy? New science out of the lab suggests that the answer might be yes.
- [All eyes on retinoblastoma: How Lyla and her mom are helping change lives](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/lyla-retinoblastoma/) - Meghan Landry firmly believes that art saved her daughter Lyla’s life. Now, she hopes to leverage the power of creativity to help support other kids like Lyla, who was diagnosed with retinoblastoma at 18 months old. Meghan, who lived in Florida at the time, was waiting with Lyla for a routine pediatrician appointment when she
- [MIS-C's long-term effects on mental and neurologic health](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/mis-c-mental-neurologic-health/) - Children and adolescents who have had multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) after exposure to COVID-19 are recommended to have follow-up heart function testing. A new study from Boston Children’s Hospital suggests they should also be monitored for long-term neurologic and psychosocial complications. “If parents are noticing changes in their child’s behavior or functioning, it
- [Bedside tech predicts newborns' outcomes after therapeutic hypothermia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/hypoxic-ischemic-encephalopathy/) - Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation around birth, is a common cause of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit. Therapeutic hypothermia is now becoming the standard treatment to minimize brain injury; cooling the newborn’s head or whole body for three days slows cellular metabolism and allows brain cells to avoid and
- [Five ways to help manage your child's asthma this school year](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/managing-asthma/) - While fall is a time of considerable change for children — a new school year with new challenges — it can also be especially difficult for those with asthma. Between viruses, allergies, and colder air, asthma triggers increase for many children in the fall. Late summer is an ideal time to ensure your child is
- [Studies pinpoint risk factors for complications of pediatric intestinal failure](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/intestinal-failure-research/) - Pediatric intestinal failure occurs when patients lack the amount of intestine necessary for growth and development. As advances in treatment have led to better survival rates for children with short bowel syndrome and other forms of intestinal failure, the team at Boston Children’s Center for Advanced Intestinal Rehabilitation (CAIR) is studying factors that affect quality
- [Motor neurons made from patients' cells reveal possible ALS drugs and targets](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/als-drugs/) - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe, fatal neurodegenerative disorder causing loss of motor neurons and voluntary muscle action. While mouse studies have identified potential treatments, these drugs have typically done very poorly in human trials. “One of the most difficult challenges in drug discovery is identifying a target that has a key role in
- [Help your child prevent myopia with two simple steps](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ways-to-prevent-myopia/) - Myopia — also known as nearsightedness, or the inability to see things far away — is becoming more prevalent in children. Although myopia can be triggered by genetics, it can also develop because of environmental factors such as limited time spent outdoors and increased time indoors doing activities such as activities on electronics. Dr. Kimberley Chan, an optometrist
- [New online peritoneal dialysis simulator gives the power of education to patients](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/peritoneal-dialysis-online-simulator/) - For years, patients who need peritoneal dialysis, a form of home-based treatment for kidney disease, have had to educate themselves about the approach. “Many families have never heard of peritoneal dialysis prior to their child’s diagnosis,” shares Dr. Deborah Stein, a nephrologist in the Division of Nephrology at Boston Children’s Hospital. The idea of peritoneal
- [After retinoblastoma, Finn 'keeps on showing us what he can do'](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/after-retinoblastoma-finn-keeps-showing-us-what-he-can-do/) - Six-year-old Finn Carlson “isn’t afraid of anything,” says his mother, Shannon. Whether he’s playing with firetrucks, chasing after his twin, Mack, or riding the tractor on his grandparents’ dairy farm, he’s always up for an adventure. His fearless, free-spirited attitude is even more impressive considering the challenges he’s faced. Born at just 24 weeks, Finn
- [All together: Siblings both overcome retinoblastoma](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/retinoblastoma-siblings/) - In some ways, PJ and Jovi Fisher couldn’t be more different. PJ, 9, is quiet, laidback, and loves playing Minecraft and other video games. Younger sister Jovi, 8, is outgoing and obsessed with all things Harry Potter. But there are similarities, too: Both are tall, both enjoy playing soccer — and both were diagnosed with
- [DADA2: Working together to unpack a rare mystery illness](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/dada2/) - When Vanessa was a few months old, a mysterious red, bumpy rash appeared on her arms and legs. It would go away when she was sick with a virus, then come back. Although the rash disappeared for good just before she turned 2, Vanessa became anemic and increasingly fatigued. “She was fading away, losing weight,
- [Emmie's journey with type 1 diabetes and celiac disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/type-one-diabetes-celiac-disease/) - Emmie knows more about her own medical history than most children her age. Her journey to finding answers started when she was just 4 years old. She woke up one day looking “like I ate a bunch of blueberries or blackberries — my lips were turning blue,” explains Emmie, now 7. Her mom, Amanda, wasted
- [Which children in status epilepticus are most at risk?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/status-epilpeticus-2/) - Status epilepticus, a prolonged, potentially life-threatening seizure, is epilepsy’s most severe manifestation. Patients known to have refractory status epilepticus are more likely to need ICU care if initial treatment is delayed. But what about the broader population of children who come to the emergency room in status epilepticus? Are there any early indicators to predict
- [Get a jump on potential eye conditions by having your child regularly tested](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/importance-of-eye-exams-for-children/) - It can be surprising to learn your child has an eye condition. Children don’t always outwardly show symptoms of nearsightedness, a lazy eye, or another vision problem. That’s because children are adaptive. If one of their eyes doesn’t function well, they learn to adjust with the other one, according to Dr. Ryan Gise, an ophthalmologist in
- [Zika study reveals how infection can cause microcephaly](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/microcephaly-zika/) - Prenatal exposure to viruses capable of infecting the fetal brain, particularly in the first trimester, can cause a range of developmental defects in the baby. The Zika epidemic in Brazil during 2015-2016 posed an extreme case, causing hundreds of babies to be born with microcephaly, or an abnormally small head. Although cases have waned significantly,
- [Breaking records and setting goals: Grant charts his own course with Bockenheimer syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/bockenheimer-syndrome/) - Grant Pierce has his sights on premed when he arrives at the University of Illinois this fall. He hopes to become a reconstructive surgeon and help people with injured or ill limbs enhance their mobility. Grant’s field of study is a personal one, as he’s spent his life in and out of the hospital receiving
- [How Josie’s bad day turned into a campaign to help kids with scoliosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/josie-scoliosis-brace/) - Josephine DeFilippi (Josie) describes the day of her scoliosis diagnosis as the hardest day of her life. Right when she was looking forward to middle school, ten-year-old Josie was shocked to learn she had a condition she’d never even heard of before. On that same day, however, an unexpected gift from someone she’d never met
- [Beyond COVID-19: Why kids need other vaccines, too](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/vaccines-to-prevent-diseases/) - As you consider immunizing your child, it’s natural to have questions about the safety and effectiveness of vaccines. But the detection of polio in New York illustrates how diseases that were once thought to have been eradicated can reemerge when vaccination efforts lag. While COVID-19 vaccines have understandably drawn attention during recent years, it’s important to remember
- [Tackling an aggressive, treatment-resistant lymphoma where it lives](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/anaplastic-large-cell-lymphom/) - Anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is the most common aggressive lymphoma in children. Chemotherapy and radiation fail to cure about 30 percent of cases. When tumors are driven by the oncogene ALK — which is the case for the majority of children — kinase inhibitor drugs like crizotinib are very effective
- [Perfecting the craft of modeling disease in stem cells: Dosh Whye](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/dosh-whye/) - Part of an ongoing series profiling researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dosh Whye has always wanted to make peoples’ lives better, but he never imagined that tending to stem cells in a lab seven days a week would be the way he would do it. Now, as an assistant director of the Human Neuron Core
- [Rising global temperatures tied to rising antibiotic resistance](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/temperatures-antibiotic-resistance/) - A new data analysis suggests that two rising public health threats — climate change and antibiotic resistance — are related. The study, spanning 2000 to 2016, doesn’t establish cause and effect. But its findings, in the journal Eurosurveillance, suggest that rising global temperatures could be helping to fuel increases in antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Countries with warmer
- [July 2023 coloring pages](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/july-2023-coloring-pages/) - Chase away rainy-day boredom with this month's coloring pages, brought to you by Boston Children's! Coloring_Summer_BeachDownload Coloring_Summer_BikeDownload Coloring_Summer_InsectsDownload Images: Adobe Stock/Illustration: David Chrisom Get more coloring pages, news, and tips for your family from our weekly newsletter. Sign up now!
- [From bench to bedside: A promising option for unremitting ulcerative colitis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ulcerative-colitis-il-2/) - Many existing treatments for inflammatory bowel disease, like Remicade® and Humira®, work by blocking inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukins IL-12 and IL-23, which are over-produced in autoimmune disease. But few patients with ulcerative colitis get complete relief from these drugs. A small but promising open-label clinical trial, published recently in
- [Not just another patient: Care for midaortic syndrome that’s ‘handcrafted’ for Iris](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/iris-midaortic/) - This past July, Iris Huot, her older sister, Audrey, and their parents, Jessica and Austin, gathered around their dining room table. To an outsider, it might seem like an ordinary dinner, but for the Huots, it was a moment of perspective — and gratitude. “It was the first time in eight weeks that we had
- [Seeking a path forward for custom genetic treatments](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/custom-genetic-treatments/) - In 2018, at age 7, Mila Makovec became the world’s first person to be treated with a drug made just for her. Languishing from Batten disease, a rare, fatal neurodegenerative disorder, she received an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) drug designed to silence her genetic mutation, injected into the fluid around her spine through a lumbar puncture.
- [From medical first to marathon finisher: Corey's ACL story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/acl-medical-first-runs-marathon/) - Corey Peak’s role as a “medical first” began on a ski slope in 2015 when he tore his anterior collateral ligament (ACL). He remembers falling and hearing two pops. “One side was my binding releasing. The other side, I later realized, was my ACL tearing.” Thirty days after his accident, Corey would become the first
- [Thinking – and operating – outside the box: Bypassing Saoirse’s aneurysm](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/aneurysm-bypass/) - Saoirse just turned 3. There was a big to-do for her birthday, complete with family flying to Massachusetts from Ireland for the occasion. The celebration was big because Saoirse has a lot to celebrate. About six months ago, doctors discovered an unstable aneurysm in her brain, and within days she underwent surgery to treat the
- [How transnasal endoscopy got Jamie back on the golf course](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/transnasal-endoscopy/) - Jamie is like most 15-year-olds — he goes to school, hangs out with his friends, and still makes time to get outside to play some golf and baseball. However, when Jamie was having bouts of throwing up and getting food stuck in his throat, he and his mom, Tricia, knew it wasn’t just a case
- [Biko’s legacy: Mom honors her son through water safety awareness](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/biko-water-safety/) - Biko Mangcu was “a big bright light,” says his mother, Sipho. Everyone in his Cambridge, Massachusetts, neighborhood knew him. His big brown eyes and wide smile were featured in advertising that still adorns toy packaging. At school, his teachers and classmates called him “the mayor.” “He was so full of love and joy,” says Sipho.
- [Finding a way to help newborns who can't immediately have heart treatment](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pulmonary-help-for-newborns/) - Newborns with complex congenital heart defects (CHD) and pulmonary overcirculation often need treatment as soon as possible. Unfortunately, some of these children are not in good enough health to withstand surgery. To address this challenge, Boston Children’s heart specialists leaned into technological innovation, their experience, and a perseverance that would ultimately confirm their belief that even the
- [Facial weakness: A dark matter detective story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/facial-weakness-noncoding-mutations/) - Elizabeth Engle, MD, has devoted her career to finding genetic and developmental causes for disorders of eye, eyelid, and facial movement. From common conditions like strabismus to very rare disorders, these conditions can impact a person’s appearance and impair social communication, making it hard to shift one’s eyes up, down, or sideways or adjust facial expressions. Each
- [The Beauty of the Brain](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/neuroscience-image/) - Every year, the Harvard Brain Science Initiative sponsors its Beauty of the Brain contest. This year, two Boston Children’s Hospital images are among the six winners drawn from a pool of forty submissions. Above, Mary Whitman, MD, PhD, and Jess Bell, from the laboratory of Elizabeth Engle, MD, developed this image of a developing mouse
- [Virtual visits give Weston time to grow and thrive](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/weston-telehealth/) - For many kids and parents, staying home during the COVID-19 pandemic was a challenge. But for Weston Mahady and his family, social distancing was just what the doctor ordered. The slowed-down pace, time spent together — and access to virtual appointments with Boston Children’s specialists — allowed Weston to make developmental strides that once hadn’t
- [Taming vaccine data: Joann Arce, PhD](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/taming-vaccine-data-joann-arce-phd/) - Part of an ongoing series profiling researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital. Joann Arce, PhD, is a data tamer — corralling and wrangling vast quantities of data to extract insights on how our immune systems react to vaccines and infections. Her work is paving a path toward smarter, more potent vaccines. As lead of data management
- [Overcoming microtia, atresia, and speech challenges: Braelyn’s story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/microtia-atresia/) - Eight-year-old Braelyn is a sweet, confident kid who loves everyone, dotes on her little sister Kamryn, does well in school, and never stops moving. Her parents, Danielle and Joseph, are incredibly grateful to see their daughter happy and thriving, especially after the long road it took to get here, including pharyngeal flap surgery and ear
- [100 years after the advent of TB vaccines, formulations vary widely](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/bcg-tuberculosis-vaccine/) - Each year, more than 100 million newborns around the world receive vaccinations against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, or TB, which infects about one-quarter of the world’s population. Facilities across the world produce several different formulations of these vaccines, known as Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccines. These are given interchangeably, yet new research from the Precision Vaccines Program at
- [Keeping kids safe this summer](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tips-for-summer-safety/) - Make sure your child remains safe both outside and indoors throughout the summer months by following these summer safety tips from Boston Children's.
- [Diving into summer: What to know about water safety](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/drowning-prevention-tips/) - The sun is back, the temperatures are rising, and that means more of us will be heading towards the water to cool off. Whether your family is going to a pool, beach, lake, or pond, knowing how to keep your children safe when splashing in the water should be top of mind. We recently spoke
- [One day on the field, admitted to the ICU the next: Rob's liver transplant journey](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/wilson-disease/) - When you’re a teen, it’s not very common to worry about what’s going on inside your body — especially not about potential organ failure. For Rob, now 14 years old, that happened in the blink of an eye. One day, he was scoring goals in soccer and hanging out with his friends. But in just
- [Playing the long game: An exciting discovery in telomere disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/telomere-disease/) - Each time our cells divide, the protective caps that keep our chromosomes from fraying, called telomeres, lose a bit of their DNA. Telomeres shorten steadily as we age, but in certain medical conditions like dyskeratosis congenita, the process is accelerated. “Your telomeres determine your lifeline; how long they are determines how old your body is,”
- [A drug treatment for telomere diseases?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/telomere-diseases-drug-treatment/) - For years, Donna Martin carried a piece of scrap paper with the words “dyskeratosis congenita,” which she believed might explain her son Brad’s sudden, mysterious affliction. A routine blood test had revealed Brad’s bone marrow was failing, unable to keep up with his need for healthy blood cells. His condition, Donna knew, would worsen over
- [Not all heroes wear capes: Taking on dyskeratosis congenita](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/dyskeratosis-congenita/) - When Mason Langlais argues with his sister, Jillian, he regularly repeats a mantra. “I'm the rare one,” he says. “So, you can't treat me like this.” “Rare” and “one in a million” — those are just a few of the words his mom, Jenn, uses to describe her 7-year-old self-proclaimed super hero. It’s how she
- [Robotics, spinal fusion, and the quest for 100 percent accuracy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/robotic-guidance-spinal-fusion/) - In any spinal fusion surgery, accurate screw placement is a top priority, and for good reason. Incorrectly positioned screws are the number one cause of surgical complications and revision surgeries according to the Scoliosis Research Society. While the vast majority of malpositioned screws — between four and 15 percent of all screws placed — do not
- [No backing down: Sophia takes on a rare form of liver cancer](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sophia-liver-cancer/) - Sophia LaBorde is headstrong and “doesn’t back down,” says her mother, Alicia. So last year when Sophia had some gastrointestinal discomfort and a low appetite, she asked her parents to bring her to her local pediatrician. And when test after test ruled out more common culprits — lactose intolerance, heartburn, even thyroid disease — she
- [Lacrosse, cerebral palsy, and leadership: Luke’s story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cerebral-palsy-lacrosse/) - When he returned to lacrosse after surgery on his left leg, Luke Kilfoyle wasn’t nervous. In the five and a half months since his surgery, he’d worn a cast, gone to school in a wheelchair, used a walker, then a cane and ankle-foot orthosis (AFO). He’d spent hours in physical therapy and the gym. By
- [Immune biomarkers predicted COVID-19 severity and could help in future pandemics](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-biomarkers/) - Why did some people fall critically ill from COVID-19 and others not? In May 2020, as COVID-19 swept the world, Boston Children’s Hospital helped launch a national, NIAID-funded study called IMPACC (IMmunoPhenotyping Assessment in a COVID-19 Cohort). Taking a “systems immunology” approach, the goal was to document the virus’s impact on the immune system in
- [Advancing mother-child health globally: Grace Chan MD, MPH, PhD](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/maternal-child-health-grace-chan/) - First in an ongoing series profiling researchers at Boston Children's Hospital. Globally, five million children die annually before the age of 5. Forty percent of these deaths are in the first month — and many are preventable. Grace Chan, MD, MPH, PhD, finds these numbers unacceptable. They contrast starkly with U.S. medicine, including at Boston
- [Let them play: Why free play is crucial for kids](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/free-play-kids/) - As the school season winds down, you may be wondering how to keep your kids busy if they’re home all day. Consider letting them play. Free play is any type of unstructured play that is directed by the child. It helps children develop their imaginations while experiencing and exploring the world around them. Samantha Swankowski,
- [Lifechanging surgery brings Ann-Raleigh relief from VUR — and some new ‘besties’](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ann-vur/) - When Ann-Raleigh Murthy travels to Boston from her home in Louisiana, she has a list of “must-dos.” Among the highlights: Ride the swan boats in the Public Garden, swing by her favorite chocolate shop, go shopping — and visit with Dr. Carlos Estrada, Boston Children’s urologist-in-chief. Dr. Estrada, along with neurosurgeon Dr. Benjamin Warf, “are two
- [Trial for severe asthma targets a mutation common in children of color](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/duplimab-asthma/) - Children and adults of color have higher rates of asthma than white people, as well as more hospitalizations and deaths. There are many reasons for this disparity, including more exposure to allergens and pollutants and differences in asthma care. One difference, however, is genetic. A mutation that causes severe, hard-to-treat asthma, in the gene ILR4,
- [Inspired by her daughter, one mom helps families navigate complex epilepsy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/lennox-gastaut/) - Colleen Gagnon felt something wasn’t right soon after her daughter Niamh was born but tried to convince herself she was just overthinking. Fighting her instincts as a nurse and second-time mom, Colleen tried to link the dimple in Niamh’s forehead and darting eye movements to her being born six weeks early. But an eye doctor’s
- [Opioid alternative? Taming tetrodotoxin for precise painkilling](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tetrodotoxin-pain/) - Opioids remain a mainstay of treatment for chronic and surgical pain, despite their side effects and risk for addiction and overdose. While conventional local anesthetics block pain very effectively, they wear off quickly and can affect the heart and brain. Now, a study in rats offers up a possible alternative, involving an otherwise lethal pufferfish
- [Another angle on Alzheimer's: CSF, proteomics, and metabolic enzymes](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/alzheimers-diagnostic-markers/) - Currently there are no objective, easily assessed diagnostic markers for Alzheimer’s disease, and no good therapeutic options. Taking an agnostic approach, proteomics expert Hanno Steen, PhD, and neurobiologist Judith Steen, PhD, who share a lab at Boston Children’s Hospital, teamed up to analyze proteomics data from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that bathes the brain, combining
- [Staff Spotlight: Meet Sue-mei Portugues](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/meet-sue-mei-portugues/) - Sue-mei Portugues is the global patient access manager for the Department of Cardiac Surgery at Boston Children’s Hospital. What’s your role at the hospital? I assist some of the families that come from all over the world for cardiac surgeries throughout the second opinion process. I’m often the first person they connect with when they reach
- [On her own terms: Robot-assisted procedure gives Sage more independence](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sage-spina-bifida/) - At 19, Sage Nault has had multiple surgeries, aimed at addressing challenges related to myelomeningocele, the most severe form of spina bifida. But it’s her most recent operation that might have the greatest impact on her quality of life. Known as a Mitrofanoff appendicovesicostomy and a Malone antegrade continence enema (MACE), the combined procedure has
- [BMI and the adolescent brain: A concerning connection](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/bmi-brain/) - We all know that obesity is a growing epidemic in children and adults. A large national study now finds that preteens carrying excess weight have notable differences in cognitive performance, brain structures, and brain circuitry when compared to preteens with normal body-mass index (BMI). Funded by the National Science Foundation’s Harnessing the Data Revolution initiative,
- [(Virtually) visiting the home to help control childhood asthma](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/controlling-severe-asthma/) - Many children have difficulty taking their asthma medicine on a regular basis. Sometimes it’s a matter of feeling well and deciding not to take the medication; other times, it’s simply forgetting. But some children also don’t know how to properly use an asthma inhaler, or they can’t access their medicine in the first place. A
- [Tiny, shiny, and dangerous: What families should know about button batteries](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/button-battery-safety/) - Button batteries may be bright, shiny, and eye catching, but they also have a dark side — especially for kids. Look around your home and you’ll likely find these small discs hiding in plain sight, where they’re used to power everything from watches and scales to remote controls and toys. When curious children encounter them,
- [Could we make blood anywhere in the body?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/blood-stem-cell-niche/) - Our bodies make blood in a specialized niche — a “nursery” within our bone marrow that nurtures blood stem cells so they can replicate and make different kinds of blood cells. The lab of Leonard Zon, MD, has even shown how blood stem cells, once they settle in the niche, are “cuddled” by nearby cells.
- [A new cancer mechanism: Failed cellular housekeeping](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cancer-rnas/) - Cancer can stem from mutations in many different genes. New research from Boston Children’s Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute pinpoints a gene that, when mutated, causes cancer through a mechanism not before seen: Inability of cells to dispose of their trash, namely defective strands of RNA. This mechanism appears to cut across many different malignancies,
- [Rethinking cerebral arachnoid cysts through genomics](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cerebral-arachnoid-cysts/) - Cerebral arachnoid cysts are the most common mass-occupying brain lesion in humans. Some cause no noticeable symptoms and may just be incidental findings. Others are quite severe, causing hydrocephalus and potentially nerve damage; these clearly require surgery to drain the cyst fluid and relieve pressure on the brain. But a middle ground sits between these
- [Teens aren't small adults: Rethinking surgical treatment of adolescent clavicle fracture](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/adolescent-clavicle-fracture/) - Until about 15 years ago, most clavicle fractures were allowed to heal with minimal medical intervention. That changed after a 2007 study reported better shoulder function after plate-fixation surgery. Although the study participants were adults, the rate of surgical treatment subsequently increased across all age groups. Now, a landmark study at Boston Children’s Hospital demonstrates
- [Making ionocytes: A step toward cell or gene therapy for cystic fibrosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cystic-fibrosis-ionocytes/) - Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators were a breakthrough for cystic fibrosis, improving the movement of chloride and water and moistening mucus secretions. But these drugs are expensive, don’t work in all patients with cystic fibrosis, and have side effects and interactions with other drugs. People who do respond to CFTR modulators must take
- [An unexpected journey reveals a potent way to attack tumors](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/nk-cells-cancer/) - Research on the effects of prenatal exposure to the Zika virus has yielded an unexpected dividend: a potentially promising way to trigger natural killer (NK) cells to fight cancer. NK cells are first-responder immune cells. When enough of their activating receptors are triggered, they mobilize to kill infected, stressed, or cancerous cells at an early
- [Hip pain is different in female dancers: New insights from dynamic ultrasound](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/hip-instability-female-dancers/) - Dancers put unique demands on their hips, achieving extreme ranges of motion that can strain the joints and damage supporting tissues around them. Not surprisingly, hip injuries account for up to 17 percent of injuries in dancers and 27 percent among professional dancers. Microinstability — no small problem for dancers Conditions such as hip dysplasia
- [Concussions: Prevention and recovery for athletes](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/concussions-prevention-recovery/) - Team sports such as soccer, lacrosse, football, and field hockey bring together all the benefits of rigorous exercise and fun with friends. However, participation also comes with the risk of injury. Concussions, a type of traumatic brain injury, are all too common among young athletes. Helmets and mouth guards reduce players' risk of other injuries,
- [A new treatment option for Jeanne’s infantile scoliosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/jeanne-infantile-scoliosis/) - If it hadn’t been for the pandemic, Jeanne McDaniel’s treatment for infantile scoliosis would have started when she was 11 months old. Instead, COVID-19 became the first in a series of events that delayed her treatment — and allowed her scoliosis to progress — for months. When her parents sought a second opinion at Boston
- [A modified brace and a new treatment option for infantile scoliosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/infantile-scoliosis-bracing/) - While bracing is a common treatment for adolescents with moderate idiopathic scoliosis, infantile scoliosis is typically treated with casting. But putting an infant in a cast requires general anesthesia, which carries risks. And children must remain in their casts 24/7, for weeks or months at a stretch. Parents can only give them a full bath
- [Deep plasma proteomics: Back to the future](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/plasma-proteomics/) - Blood plasma is collected from people routinely during clinical care and for research. It is potentially a rich source of protein biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic purposes, for measuring response to treatment, and for revealing disease biology. Yet identifying such biomarkers in plasma with proteomics, our best available tool, has been a challenge: Ninety-nine percent
- [Making history: Gene therapy for CCALD gives Conner a second chance](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/conner-skysona/) - Like a lot of 6-year-olds, Conner Hess finds joy in simple acts: drawing pictures, cuddling his two cats, and playing video games with his father. When his fun times at home in New York are interrupted by trips to Boston Children’s Hospital, he knows it’s to help fix a “boo-boo” in his brain. What he
- [Study shows young adults don't easily transition to self-care of diabetes](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/self-care-of-diabetes/) - Diabetes is challenging to manage at any age, but even more so for young adults who are handling the condition on their own for the first time. They need to transition from pediatric to adult care as smoothly as possible — but a recent study finds this isn’t happening. Research led by Katharine Garvey, MD, MPH,
- [Running the Boston Marathon with a purpose: Ben's liver transplant journey](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pediatric-liver-transplant/) - Ben is no stranger to sports — in fact he’s probably the most excited when he’s able to get on a soccer field or with his team. This April, he’ll be running alongside the Boston Children’s Hospital team at the Boston Marathon! At 18 years old, Ben has already overcome incredible challenges, so taking on
- [‘Sami’s trach helps him breathe’: Living with laryngeal cleft](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/living-with-laryngeal-cleft/) - Today, Sami is a playful toddler with so much energy that his parents need to remind him to take breaks. It’s a big change from just four years ago when he struggled to eat, drink, and breathe before being diagnosed with a laryngeal cleft. Sami’s parents, Ala’a and Mohamad, knew before he was even born
- [Congenital hypothyroidism: New guidance for clinicians](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/hypothyroidism-guidelines/) - Congenital hypothyroidism is usually caused by a baby being born with an absent or underactive thyroid gland. When not treated, it’s one of the most common preventable causes of intellectual disability. Although newborn screening can identify congenital hypothyroidism and lead to prompt treatment, an estimated 70 percent of newborns worldwide are born in regions that
- [A COVID-19 DNA nanoswitch: A new kind of test for a new kind of virus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-dna-nanoswitch/) - When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down research laboratories across the country, several labs at Boston Children’s Hospital geared up, including that of Wesley Wong, PhD. He and his team responded to the threat by developing a new, easy diagnostic test for COVID-19. “Our technology, a DNA nanoswitch, is a new way of probing a test
- [To monitor health, simply trip the 'nanoswitches'](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/to-monitor-health-simply-trip-the-nanoswitches/) - “Nanoswitches” — engineered, shape-changing strands of DNA — could shake up the way we monitor our health, according to new research. Faster, easier, cheaper and more sensitive tests based on these tools — used in the lab or at point of care — could indicate the presence of disease, infection and even genetic variabilities as
- [Going out of the box to tackle pancreatic cancer](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pancreatic-cancer-box/) - Pancreatic cancers are deadly and hard to treat, in part because they are so often detected at an advanced stage; overall five-year survival rates are about 11 percent. Two separate labs at Boston Children’s Hospital took out-of-the-box approaches to this difficult cancer, and both uncovered some very promising leads. Wiping out pancreatic tumors' immune defense
- [Spring into good health: Tips for allergies, poison ivy, and tick bites](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/managing-spring-allergies/) - Spring is here — and so are allergies, poison ivy, and ticks carrying Lyme disease. But that doesn’t mean your family shouldn’t embrace springtime. Here are some tips to help your child best control allergies and avoid (and treat, if necessary) poison ivy and tick bites. Simple steps and home remedies can tame allergies Managing spring allergies doesn’t have
- [How Robin sequence paved a dad’s road to the Boston Marathon: Chad and Izzy’s story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/izzy-and-chad/) - Go to any marathon starting line and you’re bound to find someone who was “never a runner” until something — or someone — motivated them to tie up their laces. Chad Goyette is one such runner. But today, he’s fresh off the Atlanta Marathon and gearing up to run Boston. His inspiration? His daughter, Izzy.
- [Miles for Jack: Robin sequence and the bond between a family and doctor](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/miles-for-jack/) - For runners and non-runners alike, next week’s Boston Marathon is extra special. It marks a beloved tradition for the city, and for many, it’s a chance to once again run for those who can’t and bring awareness to causes worth fighting for. For 6-year-old Jack Ryan, this year’s marathon is a chance to cheer on
- [When even experts can’t figure you out: CNS-restricted HLH](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/familial-hlh-cns/) - At first it seemed like motion sickness when 5-year-old Emily threw up after spinning around outside, or during car rides. No one thought much of it. But gradually, she also developed headaches and stomachaches. Her walking and balance started to falter. She became lethargic, and complained about something in her eye. Her face took on
- [Making an IMPACC: Examining immune responses in people hospitalized with COVID-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-immune-responses/) - We know that the consequences of COVID-19 disease start by infection from a virus. But how does the body react to that viral invasion? To answer that question, Boston Children’s Hospital will play key roles in a nationwide study designed to learn how the immune systems of people hospitalized with COVID-19 respond to the disease
- [Could gene therapy relieve post-hemorrhagic hydrocephalus?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gene-therapy-hydrocephalus/) - Premature infants, especially very low birthweight babies, are at risk for intraventricular hemorrhage. A frequent complication of these brain bleeds is hydrocephalus, an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain ventricles that can gravely disrupt brain development. If hydrocephalus develops, a child may need shunt operations throughout life to manage the fluid buildup. Could
- [A promising target for ALS and other neurodegenerative disorders: Curbing inflammation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gasdermin-als/) - When cells recognize a danger, such as an infection, they activate the innate immune system. Sentinel molecules sound an alarm, recruiting immune cells to take down the threat. In 2016, Judy Lieberman, MD, PhD and her colleagues at Boston Children’s Hospital showed that a protein called gasdermin D initiates a final, decisive step: pyroptosis, a
- [‘The teamwork is outstanding’: A look inside the Colorectal and Pelvic Malformation Center](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/colorectal-female-doctors/) - In honor of Women’s History Month, we sat down with some of the clinicians in Boston Children’s Colorectal and Pelvic Malformation Center (CPMC), one of the only centers of its kind led and staffed primarily by women. Here’s what they had to say about their work, their patients — and their hopes for the future.
- [Pregnant during the COVID-19 outbreak? What you need to know](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/giving-birth-during-covid-19/) - If you’re pregnant and expecting to deliver your baby soon, you may have questions and concerns related to the current COVID-19 outbreak, especially if your child may need additional care after birth. To answer some common questions about what to expect, we spoke with Dr. Louise Wilkins-Haug, director of Maternal Fetal Medicine in the Maternal Fetal
- [When your baby has clubfoot: Answers for expecting parents](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/clubfoot-expecting-parents/) - Treatment for clubfoot usually begins within a few weeks of a child’s birth. With prenatal ultrasound, parents often learn about clubfoot weeks or months before their child’s arrival. Below, Dr. Collin May of the Lower Extremity Program in Boston Children’s Orthopedic Center answers questions about how meeting with an orthopedic specialist can ease expecting parents’
- [Innovative new shunt delivery system holds promise for treatment of fetal urinary tract obstruction](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/fetal-shunt/) - Urinary tract obstruction that occurs in utero can have serious consequences for the fetus. Such obstructions can block the flow of fetal urine, which makes up amniotic fluid. Without adequate levels of amniotic fluid, a fetus may not develop properly, especially in terms of the fetal lungs. Fetal urinary tract obstructions can range from mild
- [Daphne’s story: Lifting the fog on bladder exstrophy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/daphne-bladder-exstrophy/) - The day of their 18-week prenatal appointment was the first day of the most difficult 18 months of Pam and Jon’s life. When the ultrasound technician couldn’t see their baby’s bladder, they were sent home to try again later. They had so many questions, plus a 2-year-old daughter, their careers, and a house to take
- [From Virginia to Boston for a kidney transplant: Joshy’s story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/kidney-transplant-joshy/) - Joshy Buchheit is a lot like most 4-year-old boys. He loves playing in the mud, riding his scooter, and keeping up with his three older brothers, Joseph, Ethan, and Evan. But what sets Joshy apart is that he was born with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and had a kidney transplant when he was just 20
- [Why do so many dementia treatments fail? Questioning mouse models of tau accumulation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/dementia-tau/) - To date, the search for effective treatments for dementia has yielded only disappointments. Many recent drug candidates target the tau protein, which aggregates and forms tangles in patients’ brain tissue and is involved in 75 percent of all dementias. While tau-targeting drugs have looked promising in mouse models, they’ve failed in clinical trials. A recent
- [Female leadership in neonatology: The value of mentorship](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/mentorship-neonatology/) - While the majority of neonatologists are women, women make up a far smaller proportion of neonatologists in leadership positions. A recent national survey led by Kristen Leeman, MD, in the Division of Newborn Medicine at Boston Children’s and Lindsay Johnston, MD, at Yale, finds that many female neonatologists face roadblocks to career development. They often
- [Study seeks to identify household triggers for chronic lung disease in children](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/household-triggers-for-lung-disease/) - Home is where the heart is, but it’s also where air pollutants, allergens, and other irritants can make breathing difficult for children with the chronic lung disease bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). BPD is the most common respiratory disease affecting children who were born prematurely. It leads to impaired lung function and respiratory symptoms similar to those associated
- [Addressing food insecurity: How Boston Children's makes food accessible for patients](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/addressing-food-insecurity/) - Food insecurity is more common than you might think, affecting an estimated 21.1% of Massachusetts households with children in 2023. To add to the stress, families of children with dietary restrictions who face food insecurity are frequently left with limited options to find proper nutrition. One of the biggest hurdles when it comes to addressing
- [Decades in the making: JR’s journey with craniofacial care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/craniosynostosis-care/) - Last fall, JR Foley posted on Facebook to thank members of the Craniofacial Program at Boston Children’s Hospital for seeing him through corrective jaw surgery. The post wasn’t JR’s first note of thanks, and it wasn’t his first surgery, either. JR’s been receiving care at Boston Children’s Hospital for more than 30 years. Treating the
- [Everli: Living her best life after atlantoaxial instability](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/everli-atlantoaxial-instability/) - When they travelled to the orphanage in China in early 2018, Shannon and Matt Gottschalk knew the toddler they hoped to adopt had Down syndrome. They knew she had been abandoned by the side of a highway and delivered to an orphanage by the farmer who’d found her. The couple was surprised, however, that at
- [Gracie’s complex spine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gracies-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
- [Treating brain 'hotspots' and networks to address autism, aggression, and more](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/autism-brain-hotspots/) - What if doctors could break down conditions like autism into their key symptoms, map these symptoms to “hotspots” in the brain, and then treat those areas directly with brain stimulation? If it bears out, such an approach could turn the care of neurologic and developmental disorders on its head, focusing on symptoms that are shared
- [Nerve block and a way out of pain after surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/nerve-block-post-surgery/) - If she hadn’t dislocated her knee severely when she was 13, Paige Thornton probably wouldn’t have such strong feelings about pain. But most teenagers haven’t gone through an experience like hers: two surgeries at a hospital outside of Boston followed by weeks of agonizing pain and a year and half struggling to walk. Blocks use
- [Cracking the code on Kleefstra syndrome: It takes a community](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/kleefstra-syndrome/) - Paul Terry is a staunch advocate for people with rare diseases — but researchers were only able to put a name to his condition five years ago. It was an answer he and his family had long sought. When Paul was a baby, his parents saw that he wasn’t hitting all his milestones. Their pediatrician
- [Families and data scientists build insights on Phelan-McDermid syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/phelan-mcdermid-syndrome-big-data/) - This is the third year that Jacob Works has made the trip down to Boston Children’s Hospital from Maine. With research assistant Haley Medeiros, he looks at pictures, answers questions, manipulates blocks and mimes actions like knocking on a door. His father, Travis, and another research assistant look on through a window. “At first, we
- [Vacuum bell therapy: A nonsurgical option for chest wall depression (pectus excavatum)](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/vacuum-bell-therapy/) - Pectus excavatum is one of the most common chest wall abnormalities, affecting about 1 in 300 children. Physicians at Boston Children’s Hospital helped define early treatments for chest wall problems and continue to develop innovative approaches to pectus excavatum. These innovations include a nonsurgical procedure called vacuum bell therapy. While children with severe pectus excavatum
- [I’ve been there, too: What my baby’s tumor taught me as a NICU nurse](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/nicu-nurse-baby/) - I had a toddler at home when I found out I was pregnant with my twins, Hannah and Sophie. Since I had already had a baby, I thought I knew what to expect during my pregnancy. I also work in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Boston Children’s Hospital, so I thought I was
- [A heart valve that grows along with a child could reduce invasive surgeries](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pulmonary-replacement-valve/) - 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
- [Research offers guidance on genetic testing for cerebral palsy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cerebral-palsy-testing/) - A recent meta-analysis confirms what a small study at Boston Children’s found last year: About 1 in 4 children with cerebral palsy (CP) who had DNA testing had genetic variants likely to have caused or contributed to their condition. With the new data, the researchers have expanded the traditional view of the condition and offer
- [Does thyroid cancer in children behave differently than in adults?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/thyroid-cancer-research/) - Once relatively uncommon, pediatric thyroid cancer is increasing among children and is now the most common type of cancer diagnosed in adolescents. As the oldest program of its kind in the U.S. — and one of the only centers dedicated to pediatric thyroid disease — Boston Children’s Thyroid Center is at the forefront of research on
- [Researchers look for ways to start puberty 'on time'](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/researchers-look-for-ways-to-start-puberty-on-time/) - Children who experience early puberty or delayed puberty may be at risk of having shortened height as adults. They may also feel emotionally unprepared for the changes of puberty, and may feel self-conscious or experience social anxieties as a result. To address this challenge, Boston Children’s researchers are trying to further the study of an important genetic player in
- [Following blood stem cells in the body could yield better, safer treatments](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/blood-stem-cells-live-action/) - Blood stem cells make all the different kinds of blood and immune cells in our body. Scientists have long been trying to make these cells in the lab and use them to make different blood cell types on demand. Mastering these feats could help make bone marrow transplants more efficient and less toxic, and could
- [New research discovery could shorten ICU stays for children with diabetic ketoacidosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/dka-shortening-icu-stays/) - When a child with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) requires intensive care, clinicians often monitor blood ketone levels to determine whether treatment has successfully reversed the abnormal ketone production. Yet, the utility of blood ketone levels to diagnose DKA or determine whether a child’s DKA has resolved have not been rigorously studied. But now, research by Elise Tremblay,
- [Babies and screen time: New research calls for caution](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/screen-time-infants/) - If you’re a parent, you’ve probably been there. You have a baby howling for attention, but you need to cook dinner or get a sibling to take a much-needed nap. Baby TV shows, touch tablets, and digital phone toys can feel like lifesavers in keeping an active infant calm and contained while juggling what life
- [Small samples, big data: A systems-biology look at a newborn's first week of life](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/newborn-biology-big-data/) - The first week of a baby’s life is a time of rapid biological change. The newborn must adapt to living outside the womb, suddenly exposed to new bacteria and viruses. Yet scientists know surprisingly little about these early changes. Reporting in Nature Communications, an international research team provides the most detailed accounting to date of the
- [Personalized care for optic nerve gliomas helps Addison feel like 'the star of the show'](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/addison-optic-nerve-glioma/) - Addison Gould loves visiting with her friend Tom. Every time her family makes the drive to Boston from their home on Cape Cod, the 5-year-old can’t wait to see him. “She runs across the bridge from the parking garage to clinic,” laughs her mother, Jillian. “I’ve never seen a kid so excited to go to
- [Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of hope](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/martin-luther-king-hope/) - 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
- [Walter's world: 'Warrior' toddler doesn't let a brain tumor stop him](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/walter-brain-tumor/) - 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
- [A path forward for genetic testing in unexplained epilepsy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/epilepsy-genetic-testing/) - 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
- [Diving deep: Understanding skeletal conditions with fish models](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/skeletal-conditions-with-fish-models/) - From fragile ice fish deep in the Antarctic Ocean to flying fish gliding above the Caribbean sea, fish have evolved a fascinating variety of skeletal traits. These traits not only help them adapt to their environments, they are also providing genetic insights into rare human skeletal disorders. Fish are not as genetically different from us
- [A clinical trial aims to reduce complications in life-saving lung and heart treatment](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/reducing-complications-in-life-saving-lung-and-heart-treatment/) - Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) can be lifesaving for critically ill children with severe lung and heart failure who are not responsive to conventional treatments. This approach takes over the work of those vital organs, enabling patients to rest and recover. It transfers blood from the body into a pump-and-oxygenator machine, where blood is oxygenated and carbon
- [Matthew, the ‘wee marvel’: One of the first ALD gene therapy recipients](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/first-gene-therapy-ald-recipient/) - When the Elliott brothers are asked how many siblings they have, they always say, “four.” It’s a way of honoring the memory of their eldest brother, Marc, who died in 2010 from adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). ALD is a degenerative condition that destroys the protective sheath surrounding the brain's neurons. Gradually, as the disease progresses, symptoms grow
- [Research 2022: Tackling disease in new ways](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/research-2022-tackling-disease-in-new-ways/) - 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
- [Research opens a window into understanding deadly brain tumors](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/dmg-study/) - Formerly known as diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas, diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) are highly aggressive tumors found in the midline of the brain. Their prognosis is very poor, in part because they don’t respond well to treatments such as chemotherapy and radiation. Now, research by Mariella Filbin, MD, PhD, and others in the Brain Tumor Center
- [New Year’s resolutions and kids: what to know](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/new-years-resolutions/) - 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
- [How a leukemia hijacks the genes needed by blood stem cells](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/acute-myeloid-leukemia/) - 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
- [Superando as dificuldades da síndrome de Apert: a história do João](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sindrome-de-apert/) - Depois de uma gravidez “perfeita” em 2017, os brasileiros Natália e Igor estavam emocionados por conhecer seu terceiro filho. Eles ficaram chocados quando os médicos arrebataram João uns instantes após o parto. “Até o momento em que ele nasceu, tudo parecia muito normal”, afirma Natália. “Mas quando ele chegou, imediatamente percebemos que havia algo errado:
- [Widespread recognition of Juneteenth carries the hope of change](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/widespread-recognition-of-juneteenth-carries-the-hope-of-change/) - For African American and Black employees of Boston Children’s, the mainstream acceptance of Juneteenth is a promising step toward national healing. It was only last year that June 19 — "Juneteenth" for short — became a federal holiday, giving all Americans an opportunity to reflect on the legacy of slavery, the civil rights movement, and race
- [COVID-19 vaccines are now available for kids under 5. Here’s what parents should know.](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-vaccines-under-fiv/) - Children under age 5 can now be vaccinated against COVID-19. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently approved the use of vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna in children ages 6 months and older. We spoke with Dr. Kristin Moffitt, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Boston Children’s, to get answers to your questions.
- [Your child's imaginary friend is more than a good buddy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/support-your-childs-relationship-with-an-imaginary-friend/) - You can’t hear stuffed toys talking. You can't see pretend companions coming to life. But your child probably wouldn’t imagine spending a day without them — and that’s perfectly normal behavior. Boston Children’s child psychologist Keneisha Sinclair-McBride, PhD, offers insight on how imaginary “friends” help your child develop emotionally. Lots of children have imaginary friends Children usually
- ['Life-changing' appointment helps Georgia cope with motility issues](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/georgia-motility/) - 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
- [A new start for gene therapy for 'bubble boy' disease: First U.S.-treated patient doing well](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/a-new-start-for-gene-therapy-for-bubble-boy-disease-first-u-s-treated-patient-d/) - Until this month, Agustín Cáceres’s baptism was the only time his family could come close to him. Everyone had to wear masks, gloves and gowns. After that, he went into isolation, along with his mother Marcela, who came out only for meals. His father Alberto, and his four-year-old brother Jeremías, kept to a separate bedroom.
- [Fetal brain imaging predicts neurodevelopment of babies with congenital heart disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/neurodevelopment-congenital-heart-disease/) - Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) often have neurodevelopmental impairment. Until fairly recently, this was thought to stem from complications of cardiac surgery or reduced oxygen supply to the brain due to the heart defect. Now we know that some babies with CHD have impaired brain development in utero because of low oxygen supply to
- [Old vaccine, new tricks? Unlocking the BCG vaccine's potential](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/bcg-vaccine/) - Could a century-old vaccine offer clues for designing the vaccines of tomorrow? Ofer Levy, MD, PhD, director of the Precision Vaccines Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, wants to find out. One of the world’s oldest and most widely used vaccines, the Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) tuberculosis vaccine may at first seem like an unlikely source of
- [Previous COVID-19 or MIS-C does not protect kids from Omicron](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/omicron/) - You would think that having had COVID-19 once, you’d have antibodies that would protect you against repeat infections. But studies of adults have shown that Omicron doesn’t go by that logic. A new study, led by Dr. Adrienne Randolph of Boston Children’s Hospital and Dr. Surender Khurana of the Food and Drug Administration, confirms that
- [Exploiting a vulnerability in an aggressive leukemia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/mll-b-all/) - Survival has improved greatly in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). But a certain form of ALL that occurs mostly in babies is still very lethal, with a survival rate below 50 percent: B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia with rearrangements of the mixed lineage leukemia gene, or MLL B-ALL. “Something about the biology of this type
- [A potential danger of CRISPR gene editing — and why base editing may be safer](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/crispr-gene-editing/) - Gene therapy using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing is currently in clinical trials around the world for a variety of diseases, including various cancers, blood disorders, and metabolic disorders. It works by making cuts in DNA — both strands of the double helix — to insert or remove genes. But CRISPR carries a potential, previously undiscovered danger,
- [Chasing Rett syndrome biomarkers: Could overnight EEG studies improve care?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/rett-syndrome-biomarkers/) - In Rett syndrome, a genetic condition affecting girls almost exclusively, mutations in the MECP2 gene cause a regression of language and motor skills starting at 12 to 18 months of age. Children then usually stabilize, but how Rett will ultimately affect them is hard to predict. Some girls develop epilepsy; others have no seizures at
- [From Cape Verde for coordinated CDH care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/from-cape-verde-for-coordinated-cdh-care/) - Most parents have never heard of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a rare and potentially life-threatening condition in which a baby is born with a hole in the diaphragm, the muscle that the body uses to breathe. This can cause the intestines and other abdominal organs to move into the chest, which prevents normal lung development.
- [Saif looks ahead to life after spine surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/saif-spine-surgery/) - Saif and his mother, Khawha Abbas, both had questions for Dr. Daniel Hedequist. For the past nine months, the family had lived in Boston while Saif underwent treatment for a severe spinal deformity. They were scheduled return to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that evening, but first, Saif wanted to know if he would be
- [Stem cell transplant leads Ali to remission, and a new home](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/stem-cell-transplant-remission/) - The journey that led Ali Mercy to Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s began in 2010, when Ali was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). At that time, he was treated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where his family lived. Chemotherapy initially put Ali’s ALL into remission, but three years later, it returned — this time having metastasized to
- [Henry's bladder exstrophy journey](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/henrys-bladder-exstrophy-journey/) - Just a few months into his young life, Henry Packer has traveled from the Netherlands to Utah to Massachusetts — and has gone from being a medical mystery to making a best friend with the same rare condition. It’s all part of his ongoing journey with bladder exstrophy, a congenital anomaly in which a baby’s
- [A mother’s quest to find a cure for Shwachman-Diamond syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cure-shwachman-diamond-syndrome/) - Poppy Inez Hawkins is a born entertainer. Her favorite song is "Fire" by Kasabian. She loves kitchen disco. And she can frequently be found staging performances in the Hawkins-family living room at their home in London, England — free tickets provided and clapping encouraged. “She talks to everyone and will tell anyone who wants to
- [Accessing hemophilia care: A tale of two countries](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/hemophilia-tale-of-two-countries/) - When Miguel and Marco Antonio were born in the Philippines, they had a 50 percent chance of having hemophilia, as two of their uncles had the condition. “We were just crossing our fingers that they’d fall in the other 50 percent,” says Jojo, their father. But when Miguel was taking his first steps as
- [A rebirth in Boston: Gene therapy turns 10](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gene-therapy-turns-ten/) - Lea la versión en español. Dec. 17 marks a decade since Agustín Cáceres was “renacido” — reborn. That’s how his parents, Alberto and Marcela, describe the day their son received his new gene. Born in 2010 with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID-X1), Agustín spent the first few months of his life in isolation, at home
- [Pinpointing Karlijn’s seizures: Neurosurgery helps teen get back to her life](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/karlijn-seizures/) - Karlijn Kuiper was visiting her home country of the Netherlands a few years ago when the trouble began. At first, her family noticed she would zone out. “She had these strange spells where she would just stare,” remembers her mother, Marieke. At first, it didn’t occur to Karlijn’s family that they could be seizures. Like
- [Saving Laila: Family travels from Egypt for answers about rare genetic condition](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/laila-trichohepatoenteric/) - When Aya Hendawy got off the plane that had brought her from Egypt to Boston, she didn’t linger in the airport or consider which tourist attractions to visit. Instead, she took a car directly to the Emergency Department at Boston Children’s Hospital, her daughter Laila in tow. “I asked them to please try to save
- [One family, two very different clubfoot experiences](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/mother-daughter-clubfoot/) - Theresah Boateng and her daughter Eno Agyapomaa Agyemang both have strong wills and outgoing personalities. Both were born with a foot deformity called clubfoot, and both received treatment at Boston Children’s Hospital. Yet their experiences differ in many ways. Theresah’s treatment started when she was 15 years old and lasted more than two years. Eno’s
- [From Toronto to Boston: Osteochondritis dissecans, hockey, and hope](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/osteochondritis-dissecans-hockey/) - Hockey is a fast and physical sport. Players need to think and act quickly as their team members, opponents, and the puck zip around the ice. Wherever the puck goes, high-speed collisions often follow. Osteochondritis dissecans is a joint disorder in which a segment of bone and cartilage starts to separate from the rest of
- [Preventing another infant formula crisis: What needs to happen now](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/preventing-formula-shortage/) - The current national shortage of commercial infant formula might seem like it came out of nowhere, but today’s scarcity is an exacerbation of a longer-standing problem. Triggered by supply chain issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation worsened recently. This February, a major manufacturer voluntarily recalled and then ceased production of its powder formula,
- [The infant formula shortage: Your questions, answered](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/formula-shortage/) - By now, you’ve likely heard about the current shortage of commercial infant formula: As of today, more than 40 percent of formulas are out of stock across the U.S. The situation has left families scrambling for solutions — and struggling to make sense of a barrage of misinformation online. To get answers, we spoke with
- [Advocating for herself: Drew takes lymphedema in stride](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/drew-lymphedema/) - Five-year-old Drew Rossi has no problem explaining why she wears a daily compression garment. “I have lymphedema,” she tells anyone who asks about the compression sock on her left leg. “She took this diagnosis and ran with it,” says her father, Don. “She’s already a great advocate.” Don and his wife, Kerri, knew that something
- [Out of balance: How hormones can affect your child’s period](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/teen-hormones/) - If your tween or teen is experiencing irregular periods, they aren’t alone. In the first two years after getting a period, you should expect fluctuation in cycle length and the number of days their period lasts. However, there are period symptoms that go beyond what makes a “normal” irregular period. If your child’s period hasn’t
- [From PediaSure to pizza: Benjamin’s journey with esophageal stricture](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/benjamin-stricture/) - This fall, Benjamin Hawkins and his family visited a local orchard to go apple picking. It’s a beloved tradition for many people, but this visit was extra special for Benjamin: For the first time in his life, he could take a big bite out of the apple he’d just plucked from a tree. In fact,
- [Predicting feeding difficulties in children with esophageal atresia: A proactive approach](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/feeding-strictures/) - Children with esophageal atresia are at risk for developing anastomotic strictures, or areas of esophageal narrowing, following surgical repair. Clinicians have long assumed that such strictures can cause dysphagia and feeding difficulties, but it isn’t clear whether the severity of feeding difficulties is related to the severity of a stricture. Now, findings of a recent
- [AI could change the way we look at hip preservation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ai-hip-preservation/) - Orthopedic surgeons and biomedical engineers are trained to approach adolescent and young adult hip pain from two different perspectives. Surgeons typically look at conditions such as femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) and hip dysplasia from a clinical point of view. Engineers more often focus on the technology angle. These two perspectives have come together at Boston Children’s
- [<strong>Understanding BRUEs: Recent study sheds light</strong>](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/brue-study/) - Brief resolved unexplained events (BRUEs) are episodes marked by concerning changes in breathing, consciousness, muscle tone, and skin color (cyanosis or paleness). They tend to occur in previously healthy infants and send worried parents racing to the emergency department. However, researchers know little about the risk of persistent symptoms after BRUE hospitalizations. To learn more,
- ['Mom, my brain feels better.' One mother’s story of her daughter’s fight with epilepsy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/emilys-fight-epilepsy/) - Liliane has a lot to be grateful for this holiday season. Until just this year, her 16-year-old daughter Emily, who has epilepsy, suffered relentless seizures that left her temporarily unable to speak or stand. The seizures began when Emily was 4, and living her life around them was all she knew. But today, Emily is
- [I-PASS this patient to you: Improved hospital 'handoffs' cut adverse events by almost half](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/i-pass-handoffs/) - About 15 years ago, Boston Children’s Hospital pediatricians Christopher Landrigan, MD, MPH, and Amy Starmer, MD, MPH, observed a weak link in hospital care. Medical residents were rigorously trained to take patient histories with standardized templates and to present cases in a structured format during daily rounds. Yet such structured communication was largely absent at
- ['On fire' with sJIA: When arthritis is much more than joint pain](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sjia-arthritis-mtor-inhibitors/) - Georgia is finally living her best life. Her toddler years were challenging: At 15 months old, a series of high fevers landed her at Boston Children’s Hospital for two weeks. After many rounds of tests looking for infection and a bone marrow biopsy to rule out cancer, she was diagnosed with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis
- [Obesity is increasing people's risk of cancer. Why?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/obesity-cancer/) - Obesity is now a global epidemic, and it is increasing people’s risk for cancer. The National Cancer Institute lists more than a dozen cancers that are associated with overweight and obesity. But how obesity increases cancer risk hasn’t been clear. The lab of Marsha A. Moses, PhD, at Boston Children’s Hospital, now draws a direct
- [How three extraordinary kids inspire their families, one mile at a time](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/liver-transplant-boston-marathon/) - For many people, running the Boston Marathon is a way to challenge themselves. But for three special Boston Children’s Hospital families, the marathon also provides an opportunity to celebrate the journeys of their extraordinary children who have overcome many obstacles to be able to cheer on their parents to the finish line. Meet Natalie, Brigid,
- [Hirschprung's disease won't stop Myles from smiling](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/hirschprungs-disease-diagnosis/) - Looking at Myles today, you'll see a picture-perfect 1-year-old full of smiles and giggles. He babbles like any other baby and has a lot of energy that keeps his parents on their toes. You wouldn’t know that the past 12 months have held a series of surprises for his parents — and life-changing treatment for
- [Rethinking the need for ADOS testing to diagnose autism in young children](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ados-testing/) - The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule, or ADOS testing, was developed in the 1980s as a tool for autism research. Through a series of semi-structured observations, trained evaluators assess children’s communication skills, social interaction, and imaginative use of materials. But over time, the ADOS has come to be considered the gold standard for a clinical diagnosis
- [Foot deformity and amputation: Maria's tough choice](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/amputation-maria/) - Whenever she could, Maria Dupuis found a way to walk. She walked when she had to wear a cast from her chest to her ankles. She walked when the curve in her spine reached 94 degrees. When her right foot pointed up to the sky rather than straight ahead, she walked on her heel. Maria
- [Congenital scoliosis: Maria’s story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/congenital-scoliosis-maria/) - Growing up in a big family helped. When Maria Dupuis came home from the hospital after surgery to correct her scoliosis, her sisters played Subway Surfer with her and her brothers braided her hair. Having so many siblings around to play with probably motivated her to get up and start walking sooner. And when other
- [The threat from mosquito-borne diseases: Forecasting mosquitoes’ global spread](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/forecasting-mosquitoes-global-spread/) - Outbreaks of mosquito-borne illnesses like yellow fever, dengue, Zika and chikungunya are rising around the world. Climate change has created conditions favorable to mosquitoes’ spread, but so have human travel and migration and accelerating urbanization, creating new mini-habitats for mosquitoes. In Nature Microbiology yesterday, a large group of international collaborators combined these factors into prediction models that
- [Could concussion be monitored through urine samples?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/urine-test-concussion/) - Concussion can be frustratingly hard to diagnose and track. The injury doesn’t show up on routine brain scans, and there is no definitive diagnostic test. It’s usually diagnosed based on symptoms and, in athletes, comparison with baseline testing if it was done. But concussion symptoms are non-specific, unreliable, and easily influenced by emotions. “Athletes usually
- [‘Our silver lining’: Mila is thriving after CDH repair](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/mila-cdh/) - For Katie, last St. Patrick’s Day wasn’t an occasion for revelry. Instead, it was the day an ultrasound revealed that their daughter, Mila, would be born with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). In this condition, the diaphragm — the layer of muscle and tissue between the chest and abdominal cavity — forms with a hole
- [Care in the classroom: Children's behavioral health in schools](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/behavioral-health-in-schools/) - If you want to address children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health, go to where the kids are — in schools. This straightforward idea is at the heart of the Boston Children’s Hospital Neighborhood Partnerships (BCHNP). The program and its team of 17 psychologists and social workers bring behavioral health services and training directly to schools,
- [A rare diagnosis: Zoey's new smile](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/zoeys-new-face/) - After her surgery at Boston Children's for a frontal encephalocele and cleft lip, Zoey, a tutu-lover from Mississippi, is home and thriving.
- [Chromosomal testing expands options for exploring causes of SIDS](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sids-chromosomal-testing/) - When an infant or young child dies without explanation, it is not uncommon for parents to blame themselves. In some cases, unfortunately, they may be wrongly investigated by the authorities, even as they yearn for answers themselves. Most often, these answers never come. But research is slowly starting to change that. Increasing evidence suggests that
- [Finding hope in hard times: Max's journey with ulcerative colitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ulcerative-colitis-primary-sclerosing-cholangitis/) - When Rachel’s son, Max, had a string of persistent symptoms that caused him to be in and out of their local pediatrician’s office, Rachel knew something deeper was going on. “He would wake up from a deep sleep with intense abdominal pain, fever, and vomiting, he was very sick.” Their pediatrician thought Max just had
- [Getting a diagnosis of ureteropelvic junction obstruction: Macy's journey](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ureteropelvic-junction-obstruction-diagnosis/) - “It’s ok to be afraid,” says 8-year-old Macy with a strong smile. She would know: She recently experienced a health scare that impacted everything she did, leaving her to feel like she would never get better. While celebrating Hanukkah last year, Macy was playing with her twin sister, Isabel, when she started feeling intense pain
- [An advance for drug-eluting contact lenses: Delivery to the back of the eye](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/drug-eluting-contact-lenses/) - Drug-eluting contact lenses, which gradually release drugs into the eye, offer a promising alternative to daily eye drops, which can be unpleasant and hard for patients to properly administer. In a 2016 pre-clinical study of glaucoma, the engineered lenses lowered eye pressure at least as well as daily eye drops. New work from Massachusetts Eye
- [Drug-eluting contact lens offers hope in glaucoma](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/drug-eluting-contact-lens-offers-hope-in-glaucoma/) - Daily medicated eye drops are the first line of treatment for glaucoma, the leading cause of irreversible blindness. The drops relieve pressure in the eye, a significant risk factor for glaucoma. But they’re not ideal: their delivery is imprecise, they can cause stinging and burning and patients often struggle to administer them. Adherence is poor:
- [Diet, the microbiome, and how insulin resistance causes metabolic syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/metabolic-syndrome-insulin-resistance/) - Up to a third of U.S. adults have metabolic syndrome, a constellation of high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels. Now considered to be epidemic, metabolic syndrome increases people’s risk of diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, as well as kidney and neurodegenerative disease. Metabolic syndrome is
- [Genetic sequencing may open doors for newborns with hypotonia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/hypotonia-genetics/) - When a baby is born with low muscle tone (hypotonia), the future is hard to predict, and families have a lot of questions. How should neonatologists care for these infants? Findings from a recent review could help provide some answers, guide appropriate interventions, and in some cases open the way to custom treatments. Diagnosing a
- [Diversity and inclusion: Lessons from the field](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/lessons-in-diversity/) - Having led workplace diversity and inclusion work for more than a decade, Rich Robles witnessed a dramatic shift in the conversations he was having about the topic two years ago. After the events of 2020 brought national attention to health and justice inequities, questions about why an organization would need a diversity and inclusion strategy
- [The genetics of height: Coming close to cracking the code](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/genetics-height/) - More than 20 years ago, as a pediatric endocrinology fellow at Boston Children’s, Joel Hirschhorn, MD, PhD, saw many children with unusually short stature, and would often tell parents that their child was growing slowly because of genetic factors. But no height-related genes had yet been identified — in fact, scientists believed there were so
- [Bladder surgery after Ewing sarcoma helps Paralympian get back on the slopes](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/thomas-ewing-urology/) - Thomas Walsh’s email signature includes the phrase, “No struggle, no progress.” It’s a motto that Thomas, 27, has lived by since he was a teenager. An avid skier who has been competing since he was just 5 years old, he faced a different kind of opponent when he was diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma at age
- [The secret to safer heart surgery lies in modernizing an old technique](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/the-secret-to-safer-heart-surgery-lies-in-modernizing-an-old-technique/) - Of the many features in the recently-opened Hale Family Building at Boston Children’s, maybe one of the most impactful for patients and clinicians is an innovation that puts a new spin on an old way of conducting perfusion in open-heart surgery. Used in cardiac operating rooms (ORs) until only a few decades ago, wall water systems had
- [What running mistakes lead to injury?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/running-mistakes-injury/) - Running outside is a great opportunity to get some fresh air and, because it requires so little equipment, may be accessible when other forms of exercise are not. At a lecture in February, specialists from the Division of Sports Medicine and The Micheli Center for Sports Injury Prevention described how running form – the way
- [How athletes can stay healthy and injury-free during COVID-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sports-during-covid-19/) - June is normally a time for student athletes to celebrate a long season of training and competition. But athletes are at loose ends this year with the suspension of sports during COVID-19. “For anyone who identifies as an athlete, it’s almost like they’ve lost a part of themselves,” says Kimberly O’Brien, clinical social worker in
- [Could returning to sports after COVID-19 harm kids’ mental health?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/returning-sports-mental-health/) - After a year away from playing, athletes everywhere are excited to jump back into the sports they love. And for the most part, participating in sports is great for kids’ mental health. Yet for some, the demands of training and competition can cause stress and anxiety. While their teammates celebrate their return to play, some
- [Back from the bench: How my AVM was a new beginning](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/davidson-avm/) - It’s crazy how something you once thought was the worst thing that could ever happen to you turns out to be one of the best. My AVM is one of those things. My name is Davidson Jump. I’m from a small town in Ohio where football — high school football especially — is a big
- [A new kidney for Kira](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/kidney-transplant-kira/) - Kira Walker knows how to turn a Zoom call into a party. Soon after her mom starts talking, the 8-year-old appears on the screen in a purple dress worthy of Princess Elsa in Frozen. She loves that movie, plus surprise toys, painting her nails, and her “K for Kira” necklace. “All of this is new,”
- [Solving genetic mysteries – in the NICU and beyond](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/genetic-diagnosis/) - A growing number of children with suspected genetic disorders are having their complete exomes sequenced, since it’s now often faster and cheaper to sequence all the protein-coding genes at once rather than test limited groups of genes. But even after whole-exome sequencing, 70 to 75 percent of children come away without a genetic explanation for
- [Addressing inequities in asthma by focusing on children’s environments](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/asthma-inequities/) - Asthma strikes children in low-income urban areas especially hard, more often sending them to the hospital. For more than 20 years, Dr. Wanda Phipatanakul at Boston Children’s Hospital has been investigating why — and seeking ways to level the playing field. “Children in low-income areas and children of color often aren’t diagnosed early enough with
- [New insight into dietary approaches for epilepsy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/diet-epilepsy/) - Fasting has been believed since ancient times to curb seizures in epilepsy, and small patient studies in the early 1900s have revived the idea. But the reasons have remained mysterious. New research from Boston Children’s helps explain how fasting affects the brain at the molecular level. The findings could lead the way to new approaches
- [Tim Springer: Scientist, entrepreneur, and mentor](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tim-springer-lasker-award/) - As an undergraduate in 1966, immunologist, biochemist, and biophysicist Timothy A. Springer, PhD, looked askance at science. The Vietnam War was going on, and he saw science as a means of making Agent Orange and napalm. Questioning his own Ivy League education, he left Yale to spend a year as a VISTA volunteer on a
- [Drug 'cocktail' could restore vision in optic nerve injury](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/drug-cocktail-vision-optic-nerve-injury/) - When Zhigang He, PhD, started a lab at Boston Children’s Hospital 15 years ago, he hoped to find a way to regenerate nerve fibers in people with spinal cord injury. As a proxy, he studied optic nerve injury, which causes blindness in glaucoma — a condition affecting more than four million Americans — and sometimes
- [DIY pain relief with light-activated local nerve blocks](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pain-light-activated-nerve-blocks/) - You’ve just had a root canal or knee surgery — both situations that will likely require some sort of local pain medication. But instead of taking a systemic narcotic with all its side effects, what if you could medicate only the part of your body that hurts, only when needed and only as much as
- [The art of showing up: Six ways to support a friend who has a child in the hospital](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/showing-up/) - “Let me know if there’s anything I can do.” Nine little words spoken with the best of intentions but aren’t necessarily all that helpful for someone faced with having a child in the hospital. But why? “People really want to do good things,” says Annie Banks, a social worker with the Hale Family Center for
- [Using germs against themselves: How vaccines work](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/how-vaccines-work/) - Germs are all around us. When a germ (in the form of virus or bacteria) enters your body, it tries to make you sick. Some germs cause minor colds, but others can cause serious disease. Fortunately, your immune system is your body’s internal defense system. It protects you by creating immune cells (T cells) and
- [Children with psychotic symptoms may merit genetic testing, finds study](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/early-psychosis-genetics/) - A 6-year-old boy began seeing ghosts, aliens in trees, and colored footprints. More disturbingly, he heard voices coming from the walls and the school intercom telling him to hurt himself and others. Joseph Gonzalez-Heydrich, MD, a psychiatrist at Boston Children’s Hospital, put him on antipsychotic medications at age 9. The frightening hallucinations stopped. While children
- [Early sports specialization: How to support your child](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/early-sports-specialization-parents/) - Early sports specialization — intensive training and competition in a single sport at the expense of other activities — has become the expected norm for many young athletes hoping to excel. While parents and athletes may see specializing as the only way to achieve future athletic glory, getting too serious too early has produced a
- [Standing up to microaggressions: A hospital-wide training](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/microaggressions-training/) - How can a large, teaching hospital address racial bias in the midst of a pandemic? This question came to a head last summer as the country reacted to the death of George Floyd. As a champion for children’s health, and as part of its Declaration on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusivity, Boston Children’s Hospital committed to
- [Preventing 'chemo brain' with antioxidants targeting the spinal fluid](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/preventing-chemo-brain/) - Up to three-quarters of patients receiving cancer chemotherapy suffer from “chemo brain” — a side effect that makes it harder to remember things, maintain attention, and learn new information. When it strikes children, whose brains are still developing, effects are sometimes long lasting, affecting their schoolwork and self-esteem. “One of the most distressing potential side
- [COVID-19 exposed health inequities. These doctors let people know.](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-health-inequities-twitter/) - What’s a doctor to do when social issues make their patients sick? Traditional medicine can treat disease, but most people don’t realize that problems like racism, poverty, poor housing, and food insecurity can put children and families at risk for a wide range of health problems. Driven by concern that communities of color would experience
- [A new view of heart health: Mutations accumulate in the heart starting in childhood](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/heart-mutations/) - Why do so many people get heart disease when they get older? We know that factors like high blood pressure or high cholesterol contribute to heart disease risk, but they don’t explain all cases. A first-of-its-kind study from Boston Children’s Hospital offers a new lens on heart health. It shows that the cells of our
- ['To do what’s best for Marley': One family’s experience with a vein of Galen malformation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/marley_vogm/) - Last summer, Savannah and Brian were eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child. Savannah was scheduled to deliver their daughter Marley in late September, and they couldn’t wait to hold her, feed her, dress her up, and relish in the new-baby joy. But the Georgia couple soon learned that parenthood tends to throw plans
- [The mystery of Jane’s left shoulder: Acute flaccid myelitis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/jane-acute-flaccid-myelitis/) - When 5-year-old Jane Morehead tumbled off her bike in May 2017, it didn’t seem like a big deal. Jane’s dad was with her at the time, and both of them considered the fall a minor one. The whole family was surprised, therefore, when Jane had pain in her left shoulder the next day. At an
- [Acute flaccid myelitis (AFM): What parents need to know](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/acute-flaccid-myelitis/) - If you’re a parent, chances are you’ve heard the recent news reports about acute flaccid myelitis, or AFM. As of September 2022, 13 cases of AFM have been confirmed in the U.S. according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), and experts expect that number could rise. For reasons that are still unclear, outbreaks have
- [Talking with – not at – young people about substance use](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/substance-use-teens/) - Teens and young adults using drugs and alcohol is not new. Neither is the challenge of speaking with them about the dangers and implications. However, what is changing are the substances young people are using and the ways they’re exposed to them. We’re also learning more about how drugs, alcohol, and nicotine affect growing bodies
- [If your baby or toddler needs peritoneal dialysis: Tips for parents](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/peritoneal-dialysis-babies-toddlers/) - Marybeth Bentson and Theresa Pak have helped a lot of families cope with childhood kidney disease. As long-time nurses in the Division of Nephrology at Boston Children’s Hospital, the two have cared for children at every stage of kidney disease, including children on dialysis. Dialysis filters a child’s blood when their kidneys are unable to
- [Remember these seven things before bringing your newborn home from the hospital](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/bringing-newborn-home-alliance/) - Congratulations, you just had a baby! Now what? Whether it’s your first, second, or eighth child, the initial weeks of life with a newborn can be a sleep-deprived blur. Hopefully, your first few days postpartum come with the support of knowledgeable, compassionate nurses and hospital staff. So before being discharged home with your bundle of
- [Save that shot and your child’s teeth: The benefits of mouthguards](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/the-benefits-of-mouthguards/) - Competitive sports can get intense. They can also get physical, with athletes inadvertently colliding and balls moving fast at all kinds of angles. We spoke with Zameera Fida, DMD, an associate in the Department of Dentistry at Boston Children’s Hospital, about the importance of mouthguards and what you should do when not only your child resists but also
- [Childproofing your home: A checklist for parents](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/childproofing-your-home/) - Bumps and bruises are a part of growing up. But serious injuries can cause lasting damage. By making a few adjustments around your house, you can help your child stay safe and healthy at home. We spoke to Dr. Katherine Shearer of Longwood Pediatrics, part of Boston Children’s Primary Care Alliance, about keeping kids safe
- [Gene therapy gets in the ring with another disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gene-therapy-gets-in-the-ring-with-another-disease/) - Seeing that his mother, Kadriye, wasn’t looking, Emir Seyrek got an impish grin on his face, the kind only a two-year-old can have. He quietly dumped his bowl of dry cereal out on his bed and, with another quick look towards his mother, proceeded to pulverize the flakes to dust with his toy truck. The
- [Landmark moment for science as the FDA approves a gene therapy for the first time](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/landmark-moment-for-science-as-the-fda-approves-a-gene-therapy-for-the-first-time/) - Today, the Food and Drug Administration approved a gene therapy known as CAR T-cell therapy that genetically modifies a patient’s own cells to help them combat pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood cancer. It is the first gene therapy to be approved by the FDA. “This represents the progression of the field of gene
- [Reviving fetal hemoglobin in sickle cell disease: First patient is symptom-free](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sickle-cell-gene-therapy-bcl11a-2/) - Manny Johnson of Boston, 21, previously required monthly blood transfusions to keep his severe sickle cell disease under control. After receiving a new gene therapy treatment, he’s been symptom-free for six months. Researchers at the Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center reported Manny’s case Saturday at the American Society of Hematology meeting in San Diego. Manny
- [The space between heartache and happiness: Two sons with adrenoleukodystrophy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/two-sons-ald/) - When Paul and Liliana Rojas talk about their life, they describe it in one of two ways — the way it was before their sons, 10-year-old Brandon and 7-year-old Brian, were diagnosed with ALD, and the way it is after. Their story is one of heartbreak — but also hope, in the form of a
- [Cole: Having a ball after CAR T-cell therapy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cole-car-t-cell-therapy/) - After undergoing a promising new treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), Cole Malone is back to doing what he loves: playing on a flag football team with his twin brother, Michael. Cole and Michael, 14, already know plenty about teamwork. Michael served as a perfect-match donor when Cole had a stem cell transplant at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood
- [Our SCID gene therapy journey](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/scid-gene-therapy-journey/) - In just 18 months, our son Paul Gallagher has been through more than what most people go through in a lifetime. He was born on Nov. 10, 2017, with a tenacious spirit, yet without an immune system — meaning that the simplest infection was difficult to fight and a common cold was life threatening. His
- [After decades of evolution, gene therapy arrives](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gene-therapy-history/) - As early as the 1960s, scientists speculated that DNA sequences could be introduced into patients’ cells to cure genetic disorders. In the early 1980s, David Williams, MD, and David Nathan, MD, at Boston Children’s Hospital published the first paper showing one could use a virus to insert genes into blood-forming stem cells. In 2003, the
- [BCL11A-based gene therapy for sickle cell disease passes key preclinical test](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/bcl11a-gene-therapy-sickle-cell/) - Research going back to the 1980s has shown that sickle cell disease is milder in people whose red blood cells carry a fetal form of hemoglobin. The healthy fetal hemoglobin compensates for the mutated “adult” hemoglobin that makes red blood cells stiffen and assume the classic “sickle” shape. Normally, fetal hemoglobin production tails off after birth, shut
- [Common questions about childhood cancer, answered](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/common-questions-childhood-cancer/) - Childhood cancer is rare, but when it happens, it usually brings up an endless stream of questions for parents. How did this happen? What will life be like for my child? In this episode of "Cancer Mythbusters" from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Dr. Allison O’Neill, clinical director of the Solid Tumor Program at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorder
- [Step by step: What to consider before your child wears a fitness tracker](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/what-to-consider-before-your-child-wears-a-fitness-tracker/) - Energetic children run circles around their parents. Wearable devices can count how many footsteps go into those circles. Depending on the model, fitness trackers can measure the steps a child walks and the miles they bike, all while monitoring their heart rate, body temperature, and other vital signs of health. More importantly, the devices can
- [More than the blues: Navigating postpartum depression](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/navigating-postpartum-depression/) - Whether you’ve given birth to your first child or you’re adding a member to your growing family, childbirth is a profound experience. After that, caring for a newborn is a round-the-clock endeavor — even if you’re prepared. The transition from pregnancy to parenthood is called the postpartum period. For insight on what parents can expect
- [Teething: Which remedies are safe for babies?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/teething-remedies/) - The arrival of your infant’s first tooth is a milestone. But it can also signal the beginning of a trying phase for both of you: teething. Your baby was born with 20 teeth below their gumline. “The timing of teething varies from child to child. “Teeth may begin to erupt anywhere between 4 and 12
- [The dos and don’ts of potty training](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/potty-training/) - Eager as parents may be to start potty training, it can be a period filled with a lot of uncertainty and frustration. For insight on your most pressing potty training questions and effective — and not-so-effective — strategies for helping your child, we spoke with Wanessa Risko, MD, DSc., a pediatrician and founder of Singular
- [Helping your child cope with separation anxiety](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/helping-your-child-with-separation-anxiety/) - When your baby can’t seem to fall asleep in their crib after weeks of trying, or daycare drop-off always sparks a toddler tantrum, your child may be experiencing separation anxiety. “Separation anxiety is very common,” says Angelica Espinosa-Louissaint, MD, a pediatrician and co-founder of Commonwealth Pediatrics in Boston Children's Primary Care Alliance. “It often starts
- [Practice positivity: Navigating body image with your child](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/body-positivity/) - Children receive thousands of messages every day about ‘how the world works’ and the role of kids and adolescents in it. Sometimes they learn things explicitly, but they also receive cues from mass and social media, family and peers. Body image is no exception. In young people, negative messages about bodies and appearances can contribute
- [Helping your child understand puberty](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/understand-puberty/) - We all remember the changes — and awkwardness — of puberty. But helping your child navigate puberty is a whole different matter. For answers, we turned to Boston Children’s Primary Care Alliance physician Caitlyn Hark, MD, at Framingham Pediatrics, and Frances Grimstad, MD, a pediatric and adolescent gynecologist in the Division of Gynecology at Boston
- [Sonny’s story: How an online Apert syndrome community set one family on a path to Boston](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sonny/) - Sonny Daniel has had a busy summer. Between traveling, camp, and time with family and friends, this 4-year-old has constantly been on the go — something his parents, Kellie and Josh, are incredibly grateful for. Their gratitude stems a lot from seeing how far Sonny’s come in his journey with Apert syndrome, a genetic disorder that
- [Powerful new antibody neutralizes all known coronavirus variants](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-neutralizing-antibody/) - As the COVID-19 pandemic wears on, newer variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus have been evolving ways to evade the antibodies we make in response to vaccines or prior infections. As a result, we've seen breakthrough cases, antibody treatments that once worked have also become less effective over time. Scientists have been searching for an antibody
- [How protected am I from COVID-19? A new test could tell you at home](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/rapid-covid-19-antibody-test/) - Say you’re going to a wedding or a concert or are about to leave the country. You’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19, even boosted, but you have an underlying medical condition. You might have a young child who’s received only one vaccine dose. How much protection do you and your family have? Do you need another
- [Lingering health problems in children and youth after COVID-19 and MIS-C](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/lingering-health-problems-covid-19-mis-c/) - More than one in four children and adolescents hospitalized with COVID-19 or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) had persisting health problems two to four months later, finds a study led by Boston Children’s Hospital, one of the largest of its kind to date. Just published in the journal Pediatrics, the study tracked 358 patients
- [Making ready-made CAR T cells for cancer immunotherapy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/car-t-cells/) - In CAR T-cell immunotherapy, T cells from a patient’s own blood are engineered to carry so-called chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) that enable the T cells to attack and kill tumor cells. While CAR-T therapy is a powerful approach for certain leukemias and lymphomas, it’s not available for many patients who need it. It can be
- [Generations of excellence in lower extremity care: Dr. Kasser and Dr. May](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/lower-extremity-kasser-may/) - As an orthopedic surgeon and professor of surgery, Dr. James Kasser has spent several decades sharing his expertise in limb reconstruction with students of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Collin May was one of his students and later joined the surgical team in the Lower Extremity Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. He has spent the past
- [Limb-lengthening surgery: A look at the pros and cons](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/limb-lengthening/) - Limb length discrepancies, a leg or arm that’s shorter than the other, can occur for a number of reasons. A child may be born with a condition that causes one limb to grow more slowly than the other. An arm or leg may stop growing after a complex fracture or a fracture that heals incorrectly.
- [New hope for Caden's leg after accident](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/lawnmower-leg-deformity/) - By the time he was 12, Caden had spent almost half his life struggling to keep up with his peers. When he was 6, a lawnmower accident badly injured his leg. The injury disrupted his growth plate, and was having a significant effect on his growing limb, leading him to have knock-kneed alignment in his right leg.
- [George the unstoppable conquers leg-length discrepancy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/george-leg-length-discrepancy/) - George Davies, a senior at Bancroft School in Worcester, Massachusetts, faces every challenge, every obstacle and every situation with a sense of what’s possible. He rows varsity crew, plays the electric guitar, and after two years of independent research he’s off to Scotland’s University of St. Andrews to study biochemistry. Dr. James Kasser, Boston Children’s
- [Leg lengthening and hip surgeries inspire a career](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/leg-lengthening-and-hip-surgery/) - Lauren Schoeller was in eighth grade when she decided to become an orthopedic surgeon. She had by then had multiple surgeries, many of them scheduled around spring softball season. Now 20 and studying premed at the University of New Hampshire, Lauren has had a total of 18 operations on her leg, hips, foot, and spine.
- [Fingers, shoulders, and everything in between: Three upper extremity surgeons and their relentless quest for solutions](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/upper-extremity/) - It’s 6 a.m. and the surgeons in the Hand and Orthopedic Upper Extremity Program at Boston Children’s Hospital have logged on for their weekly meeting. “We meet first thing every Monday to discuss our complex cases,” says orthopedic surgeon Dr. Carley Vuillermin. “It gives us a chance to talk through treatment options for our patients
- [Making a difference in children's lives: A guide to the 2022 election season](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/voting-2022/) - Voting is your right and your way to make a difference in children's lives. When you cast your vote, you’re letting elected officials know where you stand on issues such as access to health care, behavioral health, and child nutrition programs. In this spirit of civic engagement, Boston Children’s Hospital encourages all eligible citizens to make their voices
- [A new lens on cardiac surgery could help prevent arrhythmia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cardiac-surgeons-look-to-prevent-arrhythmia/) - Sometimes, a change in perspective can lead to a medical breakthrough. A type of microscopy typically used to detect cancer and other diseases has been adapted to reveal the location of unseen conduction tissue around the heart. The Boston Children’s clinician behind this innovation now aims to prove the safety and effectiveness of fiber-optic confocal
- [Keeping up with HIV mutations: Building a nimble vaccine test system](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/nimble-aids-vaccine-test-system/) - An AIDS vaccine able to fight any HIV strain has thus far eluded science. HIV frequently mutates its coat protein, dodging vaccine makers’ efforts to elicit sufficiently broadly neutralizing antibodies. Yet sometimes HIV-infected people can produce such antibodies on their own. This usually requires years of exposure to the virus, allowing the immune system to modify
- [Weight loss: When scientific paradigms collide](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/weight-loss/) - David S. Ludwig, MD, PhD, co-directs the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center at Boston Children’s Hospital. Because conventional thinking usually rests on years (sometimes centuries) of research, scientists are naturally skeptical of radical new ideas. But occasionally, problems with normal science arise, such as a persistent failure to solve important puzzles and anomalies that can’t be
- [A new vaccine formulation could finally protect babies against RSV](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/rsv-vaccine/) - Though often mild, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection can cause babies to be hospitalized with bronchiolitis or pneumonia. Globally, it is the leading cause of death in children under 5. Several vaccines against RSV are being tested in adults. But there has been no progress on an RSV vaccine for children since 1966 — the
- [Bone cancer surgery: A difficult choice](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/bone-cancer-surgery/) - Nolan and Natasha might never have met if they hadn’t been diagnosed with bone cancer. Nolan, 13, is a natural athlete who lives in Maine. Natasha, 11, lives in Rhode Island and loves music and theater. As kids go, the two are pretty different — except for their osteosarcoma diagnoses and the surgery to remove
- [Kids and gum disease: Top six things parents should know](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/kids-and-gum-disease/) - Every kid needs a healthy smile — and strong teeth are just part of the equation. While a cavity affects only the tooth, gum disease can inflame the gums and damage the bones and surrounding tissues of the mouth. Although you might associate gum disease with older people, it can be a problem for children
- [Gene therapy to boost fetal hemoglobin continues to do well in sickle cell trial](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sickle-cell-gene-therapy/) - A pilot gene therapy treatment for sickle cell disease, restoring patients’ ability to make fetal hemoglobin, has produced good results in the first three patients to receive it. Investigators at Boston Children’s Hospital reported the findings of their ongoing clinical trial this week at the American Society of Hematology (ASH) annual meeting. The three adult
- [There's no stopping Jack: His journey with craniosynostosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/craniosynostosis-diagnosis/) - Jack is almost 2 years old and loves to swim, chase his older sister around the house, and just bring lots of laughs to everyone he meets. For such a happy kid, he’s had an uphill battle to get to this point — starting when he was born. “Something wasn’t right with the shape of
- [Why families need routines (even in the summer)](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/routines/) - They say you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. Maybe no one has realized this more over the last few years than children and young people who lost all semblance of normalcy with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even if the benefits of their day-to-day routines were more subliminal in the “before
- [New work transforms our knowledge of how blood is formed](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/blood-origins/) - The origins of our blood may not be quite what we thought. In groundbreaking research, scientists in the Stem Cell Program at Boston Children’s Hospital used cellular “barcoding” techniques in mice to track the development of blood in real time — and found that blood cells originate not from one type of mother cell, but
- [Nurturing strength: Tips for parents of female athletes](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tips-female-athletes-parents/) - The drive to succeed can push female athletes to excel at any cost. Female athlete specialist, Dr. Bridget Quinn, talks about what parents and athletes can do to nurture strong bodies and healthy attitudes that will serve the athletes well now and in the future. What pressures are female athletes under? Today’s young athletes are
- [Escaping the fire: How mental health care providers can fight burnout](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/provider-burnout/) - It might feel like an occupational buzzword lately, but "burnout" is nothing new. It has plagued clinicians and other medical professionals for decades, but the COVID-19 pandemic and intensely spotlighted behavioral health crisis have only fueled the inferno. And maybe no one knows this better than the mental health professionals who have been on the frontline of both battles.
- [Genomic 'fingerprinting' yields better treatments for pediatric solid cancers](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pediatric-solid-tumors/) - Genomic profiling is increasingly used for solid tumors in adults and for pediatric brain tumors and blood cancers, allowing treatments to be matched to patients’ mutations. But for children with solid tumors, genomic fingerprinting has been elusive, because these cancers are so varied and individually so rare. Therapies therefore remain non-specific: chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiation.
- [Summertime Sadness: Helping children manage summer depression](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/summer-depression/) - Summer’s here, which means school is out and the sun is in. It’s everyone’s favorite season. Unless it’s not. Summer can bring with it feelings of depression or anxiety, which can be especially frustrating for young people who may think they’re supposed to unequivocally love this time of year. We spoke with Dr. Deepika Shaligram,
- [Pregnant mothers who get COVID-19 vaccines are also protecting their babies](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-vaccination-pregnancy/) - Recent studies have shown that COVID-19 vaccination is safe for expectant mothers and can protect them against infection, severe illness, and death from COVID-19. We also know that mothers vaccinated during pregnancy pass coronavirus antibodies to their babies. The latest research — drawing on 30 children’s hospitals in 22 states — now confirms that vaccinating
- [Bringing Xavien home: One family’s journey with bronchopulmonary dysplasia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/bringing-xavien-home/) - Xavien Velazquez is getting ready to celebrate his first birthday. It’s a milestone for every child but especially meaningful for this little boy who has spent more than half his life away from home receiving care for bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a chronic lung disease characterized by respiratory distress that is most often seen in newborns
- [Ryker's comeback from osteochondritis dissecans](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/comeback-osteochondritis-dissecans/) - When Ryker Casey takes the field, everything comes down to the strength of his legs and precision of his kick. As a football kicker, he sends the ball deep into the opponent’s end zone at kickoff and earns extra points for his team by sending the ball through the field goal, sometimes from 50 yards
- [Breaking down barriers: How interpreters can enhance patient care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/medical-interpreters/) - Sharing medical concerns with clinicians can be hard for anyone — a challenge that’s amplified in patients when English isn’t their first language. The results are troubling: One recent study by Boston Children’s pediatric hospitalist and researcher Alisa Khan, MD, MPH, found that patients and families who have limited English proficiency are three to five
- [Melatonin for kids: Is it effective? Is it safe?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/melatonin-for-children/) - You’ve heard melatonin — an over-the-counter hormone supplement — can help with insomnia. Perhaps your pediatrician has recommended it. But is it really beneficial, and can your child take it safely? A recent study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) raises some concerns. It found an alarming six-fold increase in the past
- [Getting to the heart of heart muscle function](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/dyads-heart-cmya5/) - Every heart muscle cell, or cardiomyocyte, is studded with tiny, intricate structures called dyads. The dyads are like orchestra conductors: They coordinate incoming electrical signals with release of calcium in the muscle, triggering contraction. When dyads work properly, the different segments of heart muscle contract in unison; when they don’t, heartbeats may be too weak
- [Undescended testicles: Why prompt referral is key](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/undescended-testicles/) - An estimated 3 percent of boys have undescended testicles at birth, making it a common problem encountered by pediatricians and urologists alike. Also known as cryptorchidism, an undescended testicle is one that hasn’t moved into its proper position in the scrotum before birth. Typically, only one testicle is affected, but in some cases, both may
- [Cell therapy for lung disease? Proof-of-concept study shows promise](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cell-therapy-lung-disease/) - Many serious pulmonary diseases, including genetic lung diseases, lack an effective treatment other than the most extreme: lung transplant. A team at Boston Children’s Hospital envisions a much better option: cell therapy, using lung stem cells created from patients’ own cells to repair or replace damaged lung tissue. For patients with genetic lung diseases, the
- [Contributing to every level of care: Our Asian American and Pacific Islander community](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/aapi-contributors-to-care/) - People come to Boston Children’s Hospital to receive care from some of the best clinicians in the world. Yet the safe, nurturing environment that greets patients and families is the work of an extensive team. The Environmental Services team, for instance, works tirelessly to ensure every area of the hospital remains clean and welcoming. The
- [COVID-19’s devastating toll: An increase in adolescent suicides and mental health crises](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/adolescent-suicidality-covid-19/) - The past decade has seen worrisome increases in self-harm, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts among adolescents. Two new studies from Boston Children's Hospital show that the situation became even more acute with the onset of COVID-19. Epidemiologist Maimuna Majumder, PhD, and colleagues at the Computational Health Informatics Program (CHIP) at Boston Children’s partnered with public health
- [Shining a light on the SPF gap: Why sun protection is so important for children of color](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sunscreen/) - With summer just around the corner, it’s important to understand the risks that come along with those long, hot days in the sun. It’s also important to recognize some pretty dangerous misconceptions about sun protection — namely that Black children and other children of color don’t need to worry about skin protection and skin cancers.
- [United in diversity: Our Asian American and Pacific Islander community](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/united-in-diversity-aapi/) - Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders contribute to patient care at Boston Children’s Hospital in virtually every way. Many work directly with patients as doctors, nurses, and pharmacists. Many contribute to care as researchers, lab technicians, and food service workers. Some work behind the scenes in human resources and administration, and some help maintain a safe,
- [Talking to your child about slurs: When words hurt](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/talking-about-slurs/) - Imagine the following scenarios: You’re walking down the street with your teenage son and an adult in a passing car yells a racial slur out the window at you. You’re at your local playground you overhear your daughter direct an anti-gay slur at another child. As a parent, what do you do? “These conversations are
- [A new angle on the cause of Alzheimer’s disease: Accumulating brain mutations](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/alzheimers-mutations/) - Alzheimer’s disease is marked by a loss of functional neurons in the brain. But what causes this loss? A new study reveals that people with Alzheimer’s have an abundance of newly acquired mutations in their neurons — more than people of the same age without Alzheimer’s, and enough to disable genes important to brain function.
- [Kids with special health care needs can take small steps toward dental visits](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/kids-with-special-health-care-needs-can-take-small-steps-toward-dental-visits/) - This is the second of a two-part series offering dental advice to the parents of children with special health care needs. A visit to the dentist can be an overwhelming experience for children with special health care needs. Like many people, they might feel uncomfortable with dental picks and drills. Or, favoring the rhythm of
- [Seeds of hope for Annie: one family’s story of epilepsy care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/hope-for-annie/) - Ten-year-old Annie Dinan experienced her first noticeable seizure just before her fourth birthday while riding in the car with her family. “I had never seen a seizure in my entire life,” her mom, Lindsay, says of witnessing Annie lose then quickly regain consciousness. “But somehow, I knew exactly what it was.” Refusing to settle Following
- [Always an athlete: Drew and Legg-Calve-Perthes disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/perthes-drew/) - When he looks back on the diagnosis that forced him to stop playing sports entirely for more than a year, 11-year-old Drew Coperine is philosophical. “There is a bright side,” he says, “there is an end to it.” But when he first learned that he had Legg-Calve-Perthes disease, a degenerative hip condition, it was hard
- [Drawing on data to revolutionize pediatric urology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/urology-data/) - At first blush, data analytics — sifting through raw data to discover patterns and draw conclusions from them — seems far afield from the practice of pediatric urology. One discipline involves crunching numbers at a computer, while the other involves caring for patients in the clinic or operating room (OR). But for members of Boston
- [Nurses Week 2022: Patients at high risk for adverse events related to sepsis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sepsis-innovation/) - Boston Children’s commitment to exceptional patient care and the best possible outcomes inspires innovation and growth. Both the hospital and its nursing leadership encourage professional development of employees through a variety of research and educational programs. The professional practice of Katie Roy, DNP, RN, CPNP-AC, FNP-BC, nurse practitioner, Medical-Surgical Intensive Care Unit (MSICU), provides a
- [Nurses Week 2022: Leading an enterprise-wide response to COVID-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/paula-conrad-infection-preventionist/) - The Infection Prevention Control (IPC) team at Boston Children’s Hospital plays an important role in the management of all infectious disease events. Its focus is to maintain a safe environment for patients, families, and staff. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the IPC department responded to a novel influenza pandemic and prepared extensively for patients with
- [Nurses Week 2022: Leading the way in advancing nursing documentation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/nursing-documentation/) - Boston Children’s Hospital nurses are dedicated to providing high-quality care to patients and families, which is best accomplished through maximizing time with patients for assessment and direct care. However, studies have shown that the long documentation process in an electronic health record (EHR) too often detracts from direct patient care and is a common barrier
- [Immunotherapy for kids: An option for childhood liver cancer?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/liver-immunotherapy/) - You may have seen ads for immunotherapy drugs, or even know someone whose cancer has been treated with them. These medications, which use a patient’s own immune system to help fight cancer, are increasingly popular for treating solid tumors in adults. However, immunotherapy has been less successful in treating cancer in kids. The reason for
- [Beyond fluid buildup: Rethinking congenital hydrocephalus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/congenital-hydrocephalus/) - Hydrocephalus is classically seen as a plumbing problem, the result of too much cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain or dysregulation of fluid flow. It is usually treated with shunts to drain the CSF, or with ETV/CPC, which makes a small hole to drain the CSF and burns off the choroid plexus tissue that produces
- [Climate and children’s health: A conversation with Dr. Aaron Bernstein](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/climate-and-childrens-health/) - When Boston Children’s Hospital pediatrician Dr. Aaron Bernstein was in medical school, he was told that climate change — an interest of his since 7th grade — belonged in the realm of politics, not medicine. One professor told him flat out, “You’re trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.” But another professor
- [Nutrition equity: How to give nutrition advice to diverse families](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/nutrition-equity/) - If nutrition advice were easy to follow, the number of children with type 2 diabetes and obesity would be going down, not up. But as many pediatricians and nutritionists know, food cravings, picky eaters, and hectic schedules pose serious challenges. Add language barriers, a lack of accessible food choices, or food insecurity to the mix,
- [Targeting treatments for vascular anomalies, courtesy of cancer genetics](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/vascular-anomalies-genetics/) - Vascular anomalies — overgrowths or malformations of the capillaries, veins, arteries, and/or lymphatic vessels — often confound physicians, especially in acute settings. They encompass a diverse group of conditions, all of them rare, and can affect multiple body systems. Many physicians have never encountered vascular anomalies and may be unaware of the risks they sometimes
- [When a critically ill child is homeless](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/homeless-children/) - On a single night in 2020, roughly 172,000 in families with children and 34,000 unaccompanied youth under age 25 were homeless, according to government figures. Many more families are housing insecure amid skyrocketing rents. A large body of research finds that both situations put children at increased risk for health problems. Parents may have
- [Clinical trials in children: Is there racial equity?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/racial-equity-pediatric-trials/) - The treatments and interventions used in medicine are often based on the results of clinical trials. But trials involving adults haven’t always represented the population as a whole, tending to recruit mostly white middle-class people. As a result, it’s not clear how well the findings apply to people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Do
- [At the intersection of research and clinical care: Celebrating our female gastroenterologists](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gi-women/) - In honor of Women’s History Month and National Doctor’s Day, we’re celebrating just a few of the amazing female gastroenterologists at Boston Children’s Hospital. Elizabeth Hait, MD, MPH Clinical director, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Co-Medical director, Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease Program Why did you want to become a physician? In high school, I was
- [How COVID-19 triggers massive inflammation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-inflammation/) - Why do some people with COVID-19 develop severe inflammation, leading to respiratory distress and damage to multiple organs? A new study in the journal Nature provides an explanation: the SARS-CoV-2 virus infects and kills critical immune cells in the blood and lungs, which set off powerful alarm bells as they die. Judy Lieberman, MD, PhD,
- [COVID vaccination in 5- to 11-year-olds: What does the science say?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-vaccination-5-to-11/) - The Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine was approved for children ages 5 to 11 in October, but many parents have been hesitant to get them vaccinated. A national study in The New England Journal of Medicine provides reassuring data, showing that the vaccine strongly protected this age group against severe COVID-19. Dr. Adrienne Randolph at Boston Children’s
- [Solving neurodevelopmental mysteries, one gene, one child at a time](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/neurodevelopmental-genes/) - Suheil Day was born early, at 37 weeks. Aside from a slight head lag and mild muscle weakness, nothing seemed terribly amiss. But as the months progressed, he began having seizures. “At the age of 4 to 5 months, he started waking up screaming and crying excessively, his eyes rolling up into his head,” says
- [Amanda gets the smile she always wanted — just in time for college](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/patient-finds-comprehensive-dental-treatment/) - One of the first things you’ll notice about Amanda Altemus is her big smile. She’s a proud Clemson Tiger and excited to talk about how she is in the university’s post-secondary education program for students with intellectual disabilities. When she’s not studying, she loves rooting for the Clemson football team, watching YouTube videos, and listening
- [Building a bladder-specific Botox](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/botulinum-toxin/) - Botulinum toxins are bacterial neurotoxins that also have a range of therapeutic uses. In urology, injections of these potent substances can relax the bladder muscle, helping treat conditions such as overactive bladder and neurogenic bladder. Of the seven types of botulinum toxin, two have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): botulinum
- [Child access prevention laws spare gun deaths in children](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/child-access-prevention-laws-spare-gun-deaths-in-children/) - Child access prevention (CAP) laws are on the books in half of U.S. states. They are meant to protect children from accessing firearms by holding a parent or guardian responsible for the actions or potential actions a child takes with a firearm. New research from Boston Children's Hospital finds that U.S. states with CAP laws
- [Mouse/human model provides new way to study neuroblastoma](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/neuroblastoma-model/) - Neuroblastoma is a rare childhood cancer affecting about 800 children each year in the United States. Because of its unusual behavior — tumors in infants often disappear spontaneously without treatment while it can be aggressive and fatal in toddlers — studying the disease has been complicated. That may change with a new research tool: a
- [COVID-19 and children: Understanding the science](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-children-science/) - As information on COVID-19 pours in from all kinds of sources, not all of them reliable, we wanted to bring you the facts about how children and teens appear to be responding to the infection. In recent weeks, several highly respected medical journals have published studies and commentaries based on observations in children and teens
- [Mouse model could lead to new treatments for endometriosis pain](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/endometriosis-pain-model/) - There are few effective long-term treatments for endometriosis; even fewer options for relieving the often severe pain associated with the condition, which involves tissue overgrowth outside of the uterus. As a first step toward identifying new pain treatments, researchers in the laboratory of Michael Rogers, PhD, in the Vascular Biology Program at Boston Children’s Hospital,
- [Hydroxychloroquine and COVID-19: What we know so far](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/hydroxychloroquine-covid-19/) - Despite the current hype, infectious disease experts and others are cautious about using chloroquine drugs in the current COVID-19 pandemic. While the urgent need for COVID-19 treatments justifies the rapid pace of trials, several concerns have been raised related to the limitations of studies published so far. The drugs chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine are widely used
- [Disulfiram inhibits inflammatory gatekeeper protein: Could it be helpful in COVID-19?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/disulfiram-sepsis-covid-19/) - Inflammation is the alarm system by which cells first respond to potential danger. But in excess, inflammation can be deadly. In new research from the Program in Cellular and Molecular Medicine (PCCM) at Boston Children’s Hospital, scientists discovered that disulfiram, an FDA-approved drug commonly used for treating alcoholism, blocks a key gatekeeper protein involved in
- [A global view of rheumatic disease during COVID-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-rheumatic-disease/) - COVID-19 is bringing new challenges to many people with underlying rheumatic disease who already are immunocompromised by the very nature of their illnesses or the medications used to treat them. To help manage those uncertainties in the current climate, Boston Children’s Hospital is participating in two surveys: one collecting information from rheumatologists, the other directly
- [Rapid rise in COVID-19 in children: Key takeaways from the AAP report on COVID-19 and kids](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-kids-aap/) - You may have seen the news this week that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and Children’s Hospital Association (CHA) released a new report about a rise in COVID-19 diagnoses in children. The headlines are scary — but are they accurate? We discussed the report with Boston Children’s infectious disease specialist Dr. Richard Malley to understand the
- [How masks protect against COVID-19: Understanding the science](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-mask-science/) - As the number of COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the U.S., including in children, wearing a face covering is more important than ever. We know wearing a mask can get tiresome, but they really are essential. To help understand how face masks can keep you and your child safer, we spoke with Dr. Thomas
- [Global partnership leads to improved treatment for childhood diarrhea](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/zinc-diarrhea-children/) - Diarrheal diseases remain a major childhood health problem in many parts of the world. Each year, they lead to the deaths of more than 500,000 children under age 5 globally. A new large clinical trial based in Tanzania and India, led by investigators at Boston Children’s Hospital, local research universities, and the World Health Organization
- [Pain neurons activate immune cells, opening new treatment possibilities](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/neurons-pain-and-inflammation/) - For a long time, pain and inflammation were thought to be two separate biological responses. But new research by Boston Children’s Hospital and international collaborators suggests that the same sensory neurons that produce pain also trigger inflammation. And they do so by activating cells of the immune system, a relationship never described before. This interaction
- [Bringing Brazilian flair to blended diets: Josue’s g-tube journey](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/josue-blended-2/) - Josue Oliveira loves mealtime. In his large family — he’s the youngest of five kids — that means gathering around the table to enjoy traditional Brazilian dishes full of rice, beans, vegetables, and chicken. For this 4-year-old, though, dinner is a little different. Instead of picking up a fork or spoon, he gets his meals
- [Answers for Isaac: A family’s journey to treat vascular anomalies](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/answers-for-isaac/) - Early on, Jinah and her husband knew their son Isaac was battling something complex, but they couldn’t figure out what it was, even after seeing numerous specialists. Their search for answers spanned the globe and eventually brought them to the Vascular Anomalies Center at Boston Children’s Hospital. It was in Boston that they not only
- [A new symptom of COVID-19 in young children: Croup](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-croup/) - During the Omicron surge, pediatricians and emergency departments (EDs) began noticing something new: a surge in croup among infants and young children. Marked by a distinctive “barking” cough and sometimes noisy, high-pitched intakes of breath, croup can happen when colds and other viral infections cause the voice box, windpipe, and bronchial tubes to become inflamed
- [Using genetics to glimpse newborns' future with congenital heart disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/congenital-heart-disease-genetics/) - Aside from infections, congenital heart disease (CHD) is the leading cause of infant mortality. Informed by babies she sees in the NICU, Sarah Morton, MD, PhD, attending physician in the Division of Newborn Medicine at Boston Children’s, has devoted her career to understanding CHD’s genetic causes. Her findings are shedding light on what parents and
- [Logan shows off ‘big personality’ while overcoming cleft lip and palate](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/logan-shows-off-big-personality-while-overcoming-cleft-lip-and-palate/) - Three-year-old Logan Hatfield doesn’t simply ask to watch “The Lion King.” He lets out a loud roar and follows with a soft “king.” It’s one of the many cherished memories he has created for his parents, Jenna and Brad, and his two older siblings. It’s also a welcomed contrast to the months before and after
- [Genetic risk factors for PCOS act independently of ovarian function](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pcos-connected-to-genetic-factors-outside-of-female-reproductive-system/) - It’s estimated that as many as 10 percent of women have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal condition that produces symptoms such as infertility, irregular menstrual periods, and excessive body hair growth. Women with PCOS are also at increased risk for cardiometabolic dysfunction, as evidenced by insulin resistance and obesity. Yet, despite extensive studies of PCOS,
- [Parents: Start dental care early for children with special health care needs](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/start-dental-care-early-for-children-with-special-health-care-needs/) - This is the first of a two-part series offering dental tips to the parents of children with special health care needs. The texture of a toothbrush’s bristles can be enough to make dental hygiene an uncomfortable undertaking for children with special health care needs. And because children with autism spectrum disorders, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other conditions are
- [Sudden, unexplained child deaths often have a genetic cause](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sudden-child-death-genetics/) - When a baby or toddler dies without warning, parents often blame themselves. A study at Boston Children’s may provide some insight into sudden, unexplained child deaths and perhaps a measure of closure. It suggests that at least 10 percent of children who die suddenly have an undiagnosed genetic condition that caused or contributed to their
- [‘Worth the trip’: Aiden and his family found help for chronic pain in Boston](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/aiden-pprc/) - Aiden Kozak loves playing volleyball — and he’s good at it. He was even recently named one of the top 50 student volleyball players on Long Island. It’s a huge change from four years ago, when walking was so painful that he relied on a wheelchair. That wasn’t always the case. Until he was 12,
- [Real-time genomic surveillance of bacteria could improve antibiotic therapy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/genomic-surveillance-bacteria/) - Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections are increasingly hard to treat, causing more than a million deaths annually around the world. Hospitalized patients with pneumonia, bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, or abdominal infections are especially at risk. Like a game of Whac-A-Mole, bacteria can develop antibiotic resistance mutations within days of starting an antibiotic, only to be replaced
- [Dr. Dennis Spencer: The world needs more diverse doctors](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/dennis-spencer-diverse-doctors/) - If you ask Dr. Dennis Spencer, he’ll tell you one of the best things about practicing medicine is the opportunity to work directly with people and communities. As a physician in Boston Children's Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, he diagnoses and treats children with digestive disorders and educates patients and families about preventive measures
- [To do more for Gwyneth: One family’s journey with Rett syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/more-for-gwyneth/) - When Florida couple Melissa and Nick welcomed their daughters, McKinley and Gwyneth, in October 2017, the first-time parents knew to expect the unexpected with parenthood. Nonetheless, they couldn’t help but envision their daughters’ futures: learning to walk, talk, and drive, then eventually going to college, falling in love, getting married, and having kids. And Melissa
- [It takes a village: The frontlines of the behavioral health crisis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/behavioral-health-2/) - As challenging as navigating the pandemic has been for adults, it has been at least as stressful for children and teens. Yet even before COVID-19 transformed the way we live, kids were coping with mental and behavioral health challenges. In the past decade, children’s trips to emergency departments for mental health disorders rose by some
- [Letters to our younger selves: Joy Gueverra and Heslandia Tavares](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/letters-joy-gueverra-heslandia-tavares/) - Black History Month celebrates the achievements of African Americans in U. S. history. 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
- [Sickle cell disease, gene therapy, and blood cancers: Mysteries remain](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sickle-cell-disease-cancer/) - Gene therapy trials for sickle cell disease have been showing great promise, even offering hope of a cure. But in early 2021, the trials ground to a halt after reports of blood malignancies in two people in a trial sponsored by bluebird bio. Investigations later concluded that the gene therapy delivery vectors were likely not
- [Understanding ARFID: Finding specialized care for Thomas](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/thomas-arfid/) - 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
- [Letters to our younger selves: Ron Wilkinson](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/letters-ron-wilkinson/) - Black History Month celebrates the achievements of African Americans in U. S. history. 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
- [Joining the fight against COVID: Women scientists at Boston Children’s are leading the way](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/women-covid-science/) - When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, many women scientists around Boston Children’s pivoted to studying the new coronavirus and its effects. Today on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, they offer their wisdom and advice on going into science, why they chose to do research on COVID-19, and the challenges they’ve
- [Charting a new path for pediatric thyroid cancer treatment](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/thyroid-cancer-treatment/) - 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
- [Finding specialized care for short bowel syndrome: Meet Makai](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/makai-short-bowel/) - 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
- [Building a better bladder: Reconstructive urologic surgery helps Mikey thrive](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/mikey-bladder/) - 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,
- [Letters to our younger selves: Dr. Tyonne Hinson](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/letters-dr-hinson/) - 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
- [A respiratory model of COVID-19, made from patients’ own cells](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/model-airway-covid-19/) - 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
- [It takes a village: Creating best practices for personalized treatments](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/personalized-drugs/) - In 2019, doctors and scientists at Boston Children’s Hospital announced a medical landmark. In the space of one year, a team led by Timothy Yu, MD, PhD, pinpointed a one-of-a-kind genetic mutation in a girl named Mila with Batten disease, developed a custom drug called milasen to repair the mutation, and treated Mila with it.
- [Shaping our intestinal microbiome: What makes certain microbes more ‘fit’?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/intestinal-microbiome/) - 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
- [Open-label placebo offers new treatment for disorders of gut-brain interaction in children](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/dgbi-placebo/) - 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
- [Outdoors and indoors — How to keep your child active in winter](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/outdoors-and-indoors-how-to-keep-your-child-active-in-winter/) - Don’t let frigid temperatures, snow and ice, and fewer hours of sunlight prevent your child from being active. Instead of giving into the winter blues, embrace the season and ensure that fun physical fitness activities are part of your child’s daily routine. There’s good reason to stay active: “Exercise increases aerobic fitness, strengthens muscles and
- [Can we harness intestinal cells to treat endocrine disorders?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/enteroendocrine-cells/) - Enteroendocrine cells punch above their weight. Comprising just about 1 percent of intestinal cells, they produce, as a group, around 15 different hormones. These not only regulate intestinal function and digestion, but also influence metabolic functions like insulin secretion and appetite regulation. A new technology platform developed at Boston Children’s could set the stage for
- [How to help young kids cope when a parent has to isolate](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/helping-kids-cope/) - 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
- [Rethinking the origins of cerebral palsy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cerebral-palsy-genetic/) - Cerebral palsy (CP) has widely been viewed as the result of perinatal oxygen deprivation or other birth-related factors like prematurity. For many children, this is true. But new work from Boston Children’s finds that up to 1 in 4 have an underlying genetic condition with the potential to change the approach to their care. Findings
- [Can intensive early behavioral therapy help children with Down syndrome?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/down-syndrome-research/) - “It’s like learning a new language. It’s a challenge, but a good challenge,” says Kristala of the new ways she has learned to connect with her 3-year-old son, Ellison, who has Down syndrome. Her favorite part of the Joint-Attention-Symbolic-Play-Engagement-Regulation (JASPER) clinical trial program at Boston Children’s Hospital came during the “Follow His Lead” week. “I
- [Kira’s story: how a diagnosis of fatty liver disease nourished a lasting lifestyle change](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/kiras-story/) - 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
- [Lead exposure remains a problem for some children](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/lead-exposure/) - Lead poisoning has been with us since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. But it wasn’t until the late 1970s that strong laws were passed to reduce lead in the environment. And 40+ years later, a large national study still finds evidence of possibly harmful lead exposure in young children, especially those living in low-income
- [Innovative POEM procedure gives Emma an option for achalasia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/emma-achalasia-poem/) - 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
- [For Echo, treatment for midaortic syndrome was ‘MAGIC’](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/echo-midaortic/) - 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
- [What Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us about leadership](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/martin-luther-king-leadership/) - Among the individuals who have helped shape American history, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. stands out. As one of the key leaders of the civil rights movement, he was instrumental in overturning racist laws that segregated public spaces and treated Black Americans as second-class citizens. After years of marches and sit-ins, after nonviolent
- [Six tips for how families can manage Omicron](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/managing-omicron/) - Omicron, a highly transmissible COVID-19 variant, is straining hospitals, canceling events, and emptying store shelves of test kits. It seems almost inevitable that it will find its way into households. Nearly two years into the pandemic, staying on top of COVID-19 guidance can seem exhausting. But you shouldn’t lose hope. Eventually, we will see the
- [Quarantining and isolating for COVID-19: Answers for families](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-quarantine/) - Someone in your family has tested positive for COVID-19. You know you need to take steps to keep it from spreading — but just what does that involve? Here, we answer common questions about quarantine and isolation, based on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). What is “close contact”? Being
- [When a parent has mental illness, how to support kids](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/parent-mental-illness/) - Between the long hours, many responsibilities, and lack of control, few jobs in our society are as demanding as parenting. If a parent has a mental illness like depression or anxiety, raising kids becomes even more difficult. Many parents live in secrecy, believing that they are the only ones who struggle like they do. But
- [COVID-19 vaccination in 12- to 18-year-olds: What does the science say?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-vaccination-teens/) - With a third “booster” dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine now authorized for children age 12 and older, you may be wondering about the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in teens. With months of experience — and recent research — to draw from, we now have more answers. Several recent studies led or co-led by
- [Answers to your questions about the COVID-19 vaccine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/questions-covid-19-vaccine/) - Update: On May 10, 2021, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted emergency authorization for use of the Pfizer vaccine to prevent COVID-19 in teens between the ages of 12 and 15. This broadens the group of people eligible for the Pfizer vaccine to those ages 12 and older. To help answer the most
- [Bringing genomics to community NICUs](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/genomics-nicu/) - About a year and a half ago, Robert Rothstein, MD, FAAP encountered a baby with a pattern of facial features and clinical findings that suggested a genetic syndrome. The available tests couldn’t pinpoint a diagnosis, and the family wanted a more definitive answer. So Rothstein and his colleagues transferred the newborn from Baystate Medical Center
- [From our labs and clinics: The top 10 COVID-19 science stories of 2021](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-science-2021/) - As COVID-19 waxed, waned, morphed, and waxed again this year, research was taking place throughout Boston Children’s Hospital. Ongoing national studies the hospital is leading or co-leading include Overcoming COVID-19, a CDC-funded study on COVID-19 and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C); IMPACC, examining immune responses in people hospitalized with COVID-19; and MUSIC, studying MISC’s
- [From our labs and clinics: 10 research advances in 2021](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/research-advances-2021/) - Pediatric medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital rests on a strong base of discovery science. But it can take decades for bench discoveries to be validated and replicated in humans and for treatments to be proven safe. When lab discoveries advance on the road to clinical application, it’s cause to celebrate. Here are 10 research success
- [When a friend dies by suicide: Preventing suicide contagion](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/suicide-contagion/) - Suicide can shake an entire community. For some kids, a friend or classmate’s suicide increases the risk that they may resort to the same behavior. This risk, known as suicide contagion, can affect people who lived down the street from the person who died, went to school with them, or simply saw them around town.
- [Gift-wrapping kindness: Helping others can offer children a unique kind of joy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/volunteerism-and-giving-for-kids/) - The holidays are a time for not just receiving gifts but also giving back. It’s the ideal time to teach young children about the importance of helping others and to guide older children toward opportunities that allow them to volunteer and make a difference. “Volunteerism and giving are important traits to learn,” says Miranda Day,
- [Emerging protein-based COVID-19 vaccines could be game-changing](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/protein-based-covid-19-vaccines/) - Current messenger RNA vaccines appear to offer at least some protection against new SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron, especially for people who have received boosters. But manufacturing costs and the need for ultra-cold refrigeration have limited availability of these vaccines in low-and middle-income countries. That's where emerging protein-based COVID-19 vaccines — including two candidates developed at
- [Unwrapping myths for children: How to prepare them for the truth about Santa Claus and other legends](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/how-to-prepare-children-for-the-truth-about-santa-claus-and-other-legends/) - Virginia might have been told, “Yes, there is a Santa Claus” — but someday your child will expect an honest answer about the legitimacy of a bearded, centuries-old deliverer of gifts. This holiday season isn’t just a time for families to come together and celebrate traditions. It’s also a time for children of a certain
- [‘Never stop looking for answers’: Andrea’s journey with dysmotility](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/andrea-dysmotility/) - As a volunteer at Caritas Internationalis, Andrea Hernandez loves helping feed the hungry. Yet, until recently, Andrea herself was unable to eat by mouth, instead relying on a feeding tube for nutrition. Nevertheless, she says that when it comes to her health, “We are fed with hope.” Andrea, now 23, has experienced severe dysmotility problems,
- [Therapy developed at Boston Children’s stops preeclampsia before it starts](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/preeclampsia/) - Preeclampsia occurs in about 3 to 5 percent of all pregnancies. Characterized by very high maternal blood pressure, it can lead to serious, sometimes fatal, complications in both mother and baby. In severe cases, early delivery is often the only effective treatment, usually before the baby’s lungs are fully developed. Researchers within the Division of
- [Making food fun: Jacob’s journey with feeding difficulties](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/jacob-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
- [Care for post-COVID symptoms helps get figure skater back in the rink](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/drew-post-covid/) - 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
- [‘Feeling empowered’: How vaccination helped me care for my family when one son got COVID-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-vaccines-parents/) - In mid-November, I awoke to an email from my children’s school stating that my second grader, Kyle, had been a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19. I wasn’t overly concerned. While this was the first “close contact” email we had received, we had previously been notified that both our children were in
- [Pass the pie and a mask: COVID-19 safety tips for the holidays](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pass-the-pie-and-a-mask-covid-19-safety-tips-for-the-holidays/) - This holiday season will seem different than the last one — but it’s still not the season to blissfully ignore health and safety measures that combat COVID-19. Thanks to the availability of COVID-19 vaccines, families shouldn’t feel obligated to repeat last year’s unprecedented public health guidance to hunker down at home for the holidays. This
- [A new option for teens with painful bunions](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/teens-bunions-surgery/) - Bunions, bumps at the base of the big toes, are probably not at the top of most kids’ list of concerns. Adults, particularly adult women, are far more likely to develop bunions, possibly after years of wearing tight shoes that squeeze their toes. In children and teens who have them, bunions are almost always an
- [Returning to holiday chaos: Preventing anxiety in kids](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/holiday-anxiety/) - After taking last year “off,” many families are preparing to dive back into holiday busyness, and with it, holiday stress. But what has the time away from crowds, travel, and extended family done to kids’ abilities to enjoy the yuletide cheer? Here, psychologist Dr. Lauren DiLullo with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, answers
- [Sound sleep, sound mind: The importance of sleep for preteens’ developing brains](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sleep-brain/) - When your preteen doesn’t get enough sound sleep, some of the signs, like crankiness, are obvious. But some of the effects are more subtle. A large, first-of-its-kind study from Boston Children’s Hospital now shows that too little or poor-quality sleep may prevent the brain from developing strong, efficient connections. “Early adolescence is a critical time
- [Help kids fight the "Selfie Effect" and  build self-esteem instead](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/selfie-effect/) - It may be hard to imagine now, but there was a time not too long ago when social media didn’t exist and we didn’t have cameras on our phones. But today, some of the most widely used social media platforms influence not only how we communicate with the world, but how we think the world
- [Why do some people get severe COVID-19? The nose may know](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-nose/) - The body’s first encounter with SARS-CoV-2, the virus behind COVID-19, happens in the nose and throat, or nasopharynx. A new study in the journal Cell suggests that the first responses in this battleground help determine who will develop severe disease and who will get through with mild or no illness. Building on work published last
- [What makes the Delta variant of COVID-19 so contagious?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/delta-variant-infectivity/) - The Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 has swept the planet, becoming the dominant variant within just a few months. A new study from Boston Children’s Hospital, published in Science, explains why Delta spreads so easily and infects people so quickly. It also suggests a more targeted strategy for developing next-generation COVID-19 vaccines and treatments. Last spring,
- [Boston Children’s post-COVID clinic cares for those with lasting symptoms](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/post-covid-clinic/) - One teenager complains of chronic muscle pain. Another child feels too exhausted to go to school or play sports. Still another can’t shake the feeling of “brain fog” — memory and cognition challenges. Despite their different symptoms, all three patients have one thing in common: They’ve all had COVID-19, and they’re all experiencing lingering symptoms
- [Improving treatment process so kids can return to sports after COVID-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-return-to-sports/) - Children can’t wait for the next game, the next tournament. Sports means many things to them, including an escape from the uncertainty and stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ensuring that kids can return to sports and resume other types of competitive activities after recovering from COVID-19 has become a priority for parents, coaches, and physicians
- [COVID vaccines are here for kids ages 5 to 11. Here’s what families should know.](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-vaccine-kids/) - On November 2, 2021, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) signed off on the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to help prevent COVID-19 in children ages 5 to 11. What does this mean for your child? We’ve got answers. Why is it important to vaccinate kids against COVID-19? Although most children have
- [Preventing leukemia by preventing rogue blood cells from taking over](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/clonal-hematopoiesis/) - As we age, many of us acquire mutations that cause some of our blood stem cells to multiply faster than others, forming their own distinct populations or “clones.” This is known as clonal hematopoiesis. In some cases, a single clone originating from a single genetically altered or mutated stem cell can expand to comprise up
- [New research NETs a fresh angle for treating severe inflammation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/neutrophil-extracellular-traps/) - As we’ve seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, serious infections sometimes trigger an excessive inflammatory reaction that does as much harm — or more — than the infection itself. New research at Boston Children’s Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital suggests a potential way to block this hyperinflammation response by repurposing or modifying an existing drug.
- [The great mask debate: how to deal with bullying over face masks in school](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/mask-bullying-school/) - As the war against COVID-19 rages on, so do the battles about the best ways to stop the spread. And, as some families are finding, these battles include backlash over the decision of whether to send their children to school in masks. “Like many aspects of the pandemic, masks have become a polarizing issue, and
- [Parents can help end bullying by always being open to conversation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/bullying-parenting/) - You just saw your teen get pushed at the bus stop. Or maybe you suspect that bullying is behind your young child’s sudden reluctance to go to school or an extracurricular activity. What you should do next isn’t always an easy decision. No two cases of bullying are ever alike, and there are usually nuances
- [Answers for parents whose baby is born with brachial plexus injury](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/answers-brachial-plexus-injury/) - Between one and three of every 1,000 babies is born with brachial plexus birth injury. The injury, which may be minor or severe, can impair movement and sensation in a baby’s arm. Because brachial plexus injuries take place during birth, usually without warning, the news leaves many new parents at a loss for what to
- [Finding new targets for acute myeloid leukemia in children](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/acute-myeloid-leukemia-dependencies/) - Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the second most common leukemia diagnosed in children. It is hard to treat and can be fatal in some cases. While there have been some recent successes with genetically targeted therapies for adults, AML has different genetic features in children, and care has been slow to advance. “The state of
- [When your child is the bully: Tips for parents](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/parents-of-bullies/) - It’s bad for children’s health, makes headlines, and defies most attempts to prevent it. Bullying has become the “big tobacco” of the 21st century. What can a parent do when their child is engaging in behavior that’s condemned by nearly everyone? We talked with Dr. Peter Raffalli, a neurologist and director of the Bullying and
- ['Human accelerated regions': How they make our brains uniquely human](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/human-accelerated-regions/) - Starting when humans diverged from chimpanzees some 5 to 6 million years ago, we’ve evolved in our uniquely human fashion thanks to changes in our genome. And certain parts of the human genome, known as human accelerated regions or HARs, have evolved especially rapidly. Intriguing new work led by Christopher Walsh, MD, PhD, of Boston
- [Dealing with peer pressure: How to empower your teen](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/navigating-peer-pressure/) - With every coming of age almost inevitably comes changing friendships, relationships, and social pressures. But gone are the days when it was considered best practice to tell young people to ignore their peers’ bad behavior or troubling situations. So what should you do? Here, social worker Nanci Ginty Butler, director of mental health services in
- [Like father, like daughter: Finding care for cavernous malformations](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/charlotte-cavernous-malformation/) - 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
- [Keeping kids emotionally healthy during COVID-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/mental-health-covid-19/) - Children and teens have suffered immensely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Changing school and family routines, isolation at home, illness or loss of a family member, stressed parents, and fear of the virus itself have hit kids hard. And sadly, the pandemic continues with the rise of new COVID-19 variants. Pediatric practices can play a role
- [Losing a parent or caregiver to COVID-19: Advice for families](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/losing-parent-covid-19/) - Ed. note: This story was updated on October 7 with new data on COVID-19 deaths. A recent international study estimated that at least 104,884 U.S. children lost one or both parents to COVID-19. And that was as of April 20, 2021, before the highly contagious Delta variant became widespread. A more detailed study of U.S. deaths
- [BabySee: Mobile app lets you see through an infant’s eyes](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/babysee/) - David Hunter, MD, PhD, chief of Ophthalmology at Boston Children’s Hospital, gets a lot of questions from parents, but the number one question is: “What can my baby see?” That depends. How old is the baby? Five days after birth, she might see something like the image at left; at 3 months, the image at
- [The adolescent mental health crisis: Bolstering primary care capabilities](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/behavioral-health-pediatrics/) - The mental health crisis among children and teens shows no sign of abating, and COVID-19 has clearly made matters worse. A recent study found that suicide attempts and self-harm were among the few indications for hospitalization that didn’t drop during the first waves of the pandemic. On the contrary, the past year has seen a
- [Covid variants 101: What parents should know](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-variants/) - First came Alpha, then Beta. It’s all about Delta right now, but Mu is already making headlines. You almost can’t keep track of COVID-19 variants without a scorecard. And as a parent striving to protect your family, this seemingly endless parade of variants may have you concerned about what’s next. We asked three infectious disease
- [How growing up with sickle cell disease is shaping Nancy’s future](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sickle-cell-disease-nancy/) - Imagine appearing completely healthy while managing a life-threatening condition. Most people who meet Nancy Blankson would never know she has sickle cell disease (SCD). Her symptoms are not easily visible. It’s a challenge she lives with every day along with periodic pain crises, which at times, she says, can be virtually unbearable. Nevertheless, the 20-year-old
- [Low-carb or low-fat? Study pinpoints better diet](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/low-carb-diet/) - Despite the popularity of low-carbohydrate diets, health experts have pushed low-fat diets for the past 50 years, citing saturated fat as the main health risk. As a result, grocery shelves are stocked with low-fat and fat-free foods, many of which are high in processed carbs. Drs. David Ludwig and Cara Ebbeling, who co-direct the New
- [Pleuropulmonary blastoma: Caring for Cal](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pleuropulmonary-blastoma/) - Each time the UPS truck makes its way up Becky Baker’s driveway in Lyons, New York, her 3-year-old grandson, Cal, is certain there’s a package for him. Today, the delivery is in fact for Cal — but not exactly the drivable mini Jeep he was hoping for. “Those are your diapers, buddy,” his grandmother says,
- [Teens, anxiety, and depression: How worried should parents be?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/teens-anxiety-depression/) - Part of the work of being a teenager is making connections outside of the family and becoming attuned to world issues. But add social media, an ongoing pandemic, and academic and extracurricular pressures to the mix, and teens can become vulnerable to mental health issues. “Anxiety and depression are the most common mental health concerns
- [Navigating friendships and vaccines](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/friendships-and-vaccines/) - With kids finally back at school and other activities after more than a year, many families now find themselves facing yet another chapter of the COVID-19 pandemic: contending with those who don’t share their views on getting vaccinated. We spoke with Erica Lee, a psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry at Boston Children’s Hospital, about navigating
- [Surgery during COVID-19: Answers for parents](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/surgery-safety-covid-19-parents/) - 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
- [COVID-19 and surgery: Lessons in safety](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-surgery-safety/) - When Massachusetts recorded its first COVID-19-positive test result in early March 2020, health officials knew little about the virus. They didn’t know, for instance, how it was transmitted or how to protect patients and clinicians during surgical procedures. In the weeks that followed, Boston Children’s Hospital made several difficult but necessary decisions. We cancelled elective
- [A malunion fracture, baseball, and M&M cookies: Tyler’s story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/malunion-tyler/) - Tyler Weygand loves baseball, and he’s good at it. Good enough that few balls ever get past him in the infield. So good that for nearly ten years, his parents and coaches in Saratoga, NY didn’t realize he could not rotate his left arm due to a malunion fracture. A fracture that healed out of
- [A promising new antiseizure drug tailored to newborns](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/neonatal-seizures/) - Neonatal seizures can lead to serious consequences, including significant cognitive and motor disabilities, lifelong epilepsy, and death. They are often highly resistant to treatment, in part because seizures in newborns are fundamentally different from seizures in older children and adults. Yet they are treated in much the same way as older patients, with little change over the decades. Better treatment is
- [Thyroid nodules in children: When to refer](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/thyroid-refer/) - You’re doing a regular well-child check when you think you feel a lump in the front of the neck. Or neck imaging done for some other reason shows a nodule in the thyroid. Could that lump be thyroid cancer? What should your next steps be? A thyroid nodule is a growth that forms within the
- [Back to school in 2021: Three families share their stories](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/back-to-school-2021/) - It’s been a long year-and-a-half for students since schools first shut down due to COVID-19. Thrust into a situation none were prepared for, students, parents, and teachers have struggled emotionally and academically. After a long period of untraditional schooling, what can parents and students expect, and how can they gear up for the coming school
- [In zebrafish, a way to find new cancer therapies, targeting tumor promoters](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/zebrafish-reveal-potential-cancer-treatments/) - The lab of Leonard Zon, MD, has long been interested in making blood stem cells in quantity for therapeutic purposes. To test for their presence in zebrafish, their go-to research model, they turned to the MYB gene, a marker of blood stem cells. To spot the cells, Joseph Mandelbaum, a PhD candidate in the lab, attached a fluorescent
- [A bio-inspired approach to delivering local anesthetics](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/local-anesthetics/) - Site 1 sodium channel blockers such as tetrodotoxin and saxitoxin are small-molecule drugs with powerful local anesthetic properties. They provide pain relief without toxic effects on local nerves and muscles, and are an attractive alternative to opioids. But injected by themselves, the anesthetics can easily float away, causing severe systemic toxicity. Encapsulating these drugs in
- [Is the Delta variant worse for kids? Answers to your questions](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/delta-kids/) - As kids across the country return to in-person school, the COVID-19 pandemic looks a bit different from last year. Children and teens ages 12 and older are now eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, and as a result, some states have relaxed certain public health restrictions, such as mask mandates. Enter the Delta variant. Believed to
- [What to expect from cold and flu season this year](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cold-flu-2021/) - At least fewer people came down with colds and flu in 2020: That’s one of the few positive things we can say about the year of widespread social distancing. Rates of influenza and several other viral infections were historically low, and even the common cold seemed to take the year off from making kids and
- [Sending kids to school with celiac disease: One mom shares her story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/celiac-school-safety/) - As a neonatologist, it’s my job to understand and treat babies who need critical care. But as a mom whose two children live with celiac disease, it’s my job to find people who understand their specific medical needs and will advocate for them as much as possible. That’s why I’m so grateful for the Celiac
- [Bringing the Ozaki procedure to the world to repair children's aortic valves](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ozaki-training/) - Children with aortic stenosis or regurgitation often need surgery to reconstruct or replace the aortic valve. However, existing bioprosthetics can fail over time, and mechanical leaflets and valves require lifelong anticoagulant therapy. Christopher Baird, MD, director of the Congenital Heart Valve Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, saw a promising alternative emerge in adult cardiac surgery: aortic
- [Rapid saliva test detects COVID-19 variants, at home or point of care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-test-variants/) - COVID-19 tests are now widely available, including FDA-approved tests like BinaxNOW that people can do at home. But none of the home tests — or any hospital test — can distinguish between specific SARS-CoV-2 variants. Detecting and tracking variants, essential for public health efforts, requires complete nucleic acid sequencing of the virus. Currently, only specialized
- [A kiss from their sister: A family’s journey with cleft lip care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cleft-lip-repair/) - Kelly and Ben’s experience with cleft lip care at Boston Children’s Hospital spans multiple years and multiple children. Two of their daughters, Molly and Annie — five years apart in age — were born with an incomplete unilateral cleft lip. The couple won’t shy from admitting that receiving the diagnosis doesn’t get easier. “It’s a
- [Taming reentry anxiety: How to prepare kids for a back-to-school like no other](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/back-to-school/) - After more than a year and a half of remote, hybrid, and home-schooling, it’s time to gear up for a return to full-time, in-person school. But for many kids, this “return to normal” comes with a unique set of concerns. Here, Keneisha Sinclair-McBride, a psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, answers questions
- [Growth and Nutrition Program works with schools to support kids with feeding challenges](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/feeding-challenges-school/) - Returning to school doesn’t just mean stocking up on pencils, paper, and new clothes. For some children, going back to school also involves special nutritional needs. Kids with feeding difficulties — as well as those who rely on a feeding tube for nourishment — require care that doesn’t end when the school day begins. The
- [Unpacking the body’s interferon response to COVID-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/interferons-covid-19/) - Interferons are potent natural antivirals, rallying other parts of the immune system to defend against viruses. Some clinical trials have tested interferons as a treatment for COVID-19, but results have been mixed. And the science has been unclear about whether interferons are helpful or harmful. Key takeawayAn early, protective interferon response in the upper respiratory
- [I tried the keto diet to help my epilepsy and it changed my life](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/keto-diet/) - My name is Dennis. I’m 15 years old and live in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Two years ago, I started the keto diet to help my epilepsy and it changed my life. Here’s my story… I was 7 when I was diagnosed with epilepsy. I was too young to know what that really meant or
- [Transitioning to adult care for sickle cell disease: Ariyanna’s journey](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/transition-adult-care-sickle-cell/) - Ariyanna Agnew sits in a waiting room at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). The 22-year-old, who has been a patient of the Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center Sickle Cell Disease Program for more than a decade, is seeing an adult hematologist for the first time. It’s a milestone event that would ordinarily
- [A legend for Zora: How genomic testing provides answers in the face of grief](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/zora-genomic/) - So often after a perinatal loss, parents are left with uncertainty about what caused their baby’s death and the haunting question, “what if.” To help grieving families find answers to these questions, Dr. Monica Wojcik and her colleagues in the Division of Newborn Medicine are conducting genomic autopsies to learn if and what genetic factors
- [Global services: Coordinating care for international families](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/global-international-patient-services/) - In most years, more than 2,500 families living outside of the United States seek care at Boston Children’s Hospital. To help guide the process, the Global Services team — a group of medical and administrative professionals — manages all the details. Their mission is to help coordinate care between families, medical professionals in their home
- [Why do some children get MIS-C after COVID-19? Some early clues](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/mis-c-genetic-variants/) - Several months into the COVID-19 pandemic, a small number of children began to develop a cluster of mysterious symptoms. These included rashes, red eyes, gastrointestinal symptoms and, most worrisome, heart problems. Why does this serious illness, now known as multisystem inflammatory disorder in children (MIS-C), strike some previously healthy children? And who is most at
- [Surgery for Chiari malformation: “I was just happy to have an answer”](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/abby-chiari/) - Abby Buckley loves being active, whether that means hiking, cycling, or playing sports like javelin, shotput, and discus. But in eighth grade, a bad concussion sidelined her — and led to an unexpected diagnosis. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan showed that she didn’t just have a concussion. She also had a Chiari malformation, a
- [Jada’s story: After cloacal exstrophy repair, an unexpected gift](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/jada-cloacal-exstrophy/) - Koda Wilder Ladchuk was born slightly premature, healthy, and happy. But this isn’t just a story about 4-month-old Koda. It’s also a story about his mother, Jada, and an incredible outcome no one could have predicted — not even Jada herself. Jada, now 25, was born with cloacal exstrophy (also known as OEIS syndrome), a
- [RNA-modifying protein offers a possible lead for treating aggressive cancers](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/mettl1-cancer/) - A protein that modifies RNAs, called METTL1, could be a target for treating some aggressive, difficult-to-treat cancers, suggests new research in Molecular Cell. The study provides evidence that blocking METTL1 curbs cancer cells’ ability to grow, selectively killing them, and the researchers believe it could be targeted with drugs. METTL1 and related proteins had previously
- [A taste of childhood: One family’s journey to an IV-free diet](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/short-bowel-syndrome-teduglutide/) - Children with short bowel syndrome often miss out on childhood’s simple and delicious pleasures, like birthday cake, pizza, and ice cream. But Dr. Lissette Jimenez and the team at the Center for Advanced Intestinal Rehabilitation (CAIR) at Boston Children’s Hospital are working to change that. Short bowel syndrome is caused by the loss or lack of function of the small intestine,
- [Risdiplam improves motor function in infants with spinal muscular atrophy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/risdiplam-spinal-muscular-atrophy/) - Until recently, babies and children with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) lacked any type of treatment capable of stopping the neuromuscular disease from progressing. In SMA, damaged motor neurons in the spinal cord fail to correctly send messages to the muscle cells. As a result, infants and children with SMA may not be able to hold
- [Online data mining adds to the picture of vaping-related lung disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/vaping-lung-disease-data-mining/) - Severe lung disease related to vaping has been surging across the U.S., with the eighth death confirmed last week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A brief report in The New England Journal of Medicine suggests that online data-mining tools can supplement traditional public health surveillance and help officials stay ahead of this sudden epidemic.
- [A lot better than surgery: Jesse’s treatment for pectus excavatum](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/jesse-vacuum-bell/) - Like many growing boys, Jesse Zuniga went through a growth spurt when he was 12. Around that time, his pediatrician noticed an indentation in his chest. Neither he nor his mother, Sarah, had heard of pectus excavatum or vacuum bell therapy before. Soon they would be experts in both. Also known as concave chest or
- [Austin’s story: Raising awareness after treatment for pediatric stroke](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/austin-pediatric-stroke/) - In May, 11-year-old Austin Rizzo led the pack in a two-mile road race of his own creation. But the race, named the Banana Split 2-Miler after his favorite fruit, was more than just a fun way to pass time — it was aimed at raising money to support research into pediatric stroke. It's a topic
- [Thickened feeds — but not acid-suppressing medications — help treat laryngomalacia in infants](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/thickened-feeds-laryngomalacia/) - In laryngomalacia, the soft tissues of the larynx fall over the airway opening and partially block it, which can result in stridor, feeding difficulties, and other symptoms. Infants with this condition are frequently treated with acid-suppressing medications, based on the belief that gastroesophageal reflux might worsen the problem. However, there’s little evidence to support the
- [It’s personal: How the Boston Children’s progeria research community brought new life to an old drug](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/progeria-lonafarnib-clinical-trials/) - In late November, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a repurposed cancer drug called lonafarnib to treat Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, better known as progeria — an ultra-rare incurable genetic disease associated with rapid aging. On average, children with progeria die before age 15, usually the result of rapidly accelerated atherosclerosis resulting in heart
- [Taking charge: Emma perseveres with laryngeal cleft](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/taking-charge-emma-perseveres-with-laryngeal-cleft/) - Emma Morris is “a pistol,” says her mother, Sarah. “She’s a spitfire, passionate and caring.” But the 11-year-old gets anxious, too — and for an understandable reason. She’s been in and out of the hospital since she was a newborn. In fact, Sarah estimates that her daughter has spent more than 400 nights at Boston
- [New technique designed specifically for children gives surgeons another moyamoya treatment option](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/moyamoya-surgery/) - Moyamoya is rare blood vessel condition that is a major cause of pediatric stroke. Surgical revascularization can be very effective; however, anterior cerebral territory ischemia can occur after treatment, particularly in children with delayed disease progression. The current surgical treatments for anterior cerebral territory ischemia in pediatric patients are challenging: Complex, high-risk procedures haven’t been
- ["I am a superhero": Joecel and his mom work to address feeding challenges](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/joecel-feeding-challenges/) - Joecel Castillo loves Spiderman, Batman, He-Man — and pancakes. They’re the sorts of favorites that might show up on any 5-year-old’s list, but Joecel isn’t just any 5-year-old. In fact, until recently, pancakes wouldn’t have been among his favorite things. Very few foods would have been. “He wouldn’t even eat his own birthday cake,” says
- [Gene therapy halts progression of cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy in clinical trial](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/adrenoleukodystrophy-gene-therapy/) - Adrenoleukodystrophy — depicted in the 1992 movie “Lorenzo’s Oil” — is a genetic disease that most severely affects boys. Caused by a defective gene on the X chromosome, it triggers a build-up of fatty acids that damage the protective myelin sheaths of the brain’s neurons, leading to cognitive and motor impairment. The most devastating form of the
- [Maisie’s story: Our journey with Apert syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/journey-apert-syndrome/) - Our daughter Maisie is 4 years old. She loves riding her bike, baking, jumping on the trampoline, and keeping up with her older sister, Eliza. She’s also especially skilled at peeling hard boiled eggs. We learned prenatally at 18 weeks that something was going on with Maisie’s development. My doctors suspected craniosynostosis, a condition where the
- [Gene therapy restores hearing in deaf mice](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gene-therapy-restores-hearing-in-deaf-mice/) - More than 70 different genes are known to cause deafness when mutated. Jeffrey Holt, PhD, envisions a day when patients with hearing loss have their genome sequenced and their hearing restored by gene therapy. A proof-of-principle study published today by the journal Science Translational Medicine takes a clear step in that direction, restoring hearing in deaf mice. “Our gene
- [Gene therapy with a new base editing technique restores hearing in mice](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gene-therapy-hearing-loss/) - Using a new genetic engineering technique, known as base editing, researchers from Boston Children’s Hospital and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, have restored hearing in mice with a known recessive genetic mutation. Key takeaways· This is the first example of repairing a recessive gene mutation.· Repairing a single mutation in the Tmc1 gene restored partial hearing in
- [Optimized CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing averts hearing loss in 'Beethoven' mice](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/crispr-hearing-loss/) - Using a novel gene-editing approach, scientists at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School have salvaged hearing in a mouse model of hereditary deafness, with no apparent off-target effects. The system successfully identified a single misspelled “letter” in the defective copy of a gene required for hearing, disabled this aberrant copy, and spared the healthy
- [Yoga program helps children and teens better manage IBD and stress](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/yoga-to-manage-stress-and-ibd/) - In a dimly lit room, about a half dozen teens stand quietly, each trying to balance on one leg. The teacher demonstrates, her other leg bent and knee pointing to the side, forming a flag shape. This could be a typical yoga class being held just about anywhere in the United States. But the room
- [Five lessons learned from our Vaping Service](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/lessons-from-vaping-service/) - Vaping is a public health emergency in the United States. In recent months, over 2,000 people have become sick after using e-cigarettes and dozens have died. Yet despite the dangers involved, the number of young people who vape continues to climb, according to the latest Monitoring the Future study. The Division of Pulmonary Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital
- [Orphan diseases: Bringing academia, industry, and government into the game](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/orphan-diseases-partnerships/) - “If you build it, he will come,” the ghosts of baseball players past tell a farmer in Field of Dreams. But it’s not that easy. To put people in the seats you have to have all of the right pieces: the right team, including players and managers; the right park, one that works for both
- [The surprisingly specific genetics of joint disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/joint-disease-genetics/) - A new study provides unexpected insights into the biology of two common, heritable orthopedic conditions: developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) and knee osteoarthritis (OA). The findings, published July 6 in Nature Communications, show how a gene can have different effects in different parts of the body. They also raise the possibility of preventive measures
- [Trusting their instincts: Gary’s parents find help for immune-mediated hepatitis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gary-liver/) - For Mercedes Hollingsworth and Gary Walker, Jr., trusting their parental instincts helped get their son Gary Walker III — affectionately known as GW — the care he needed. “We knew right away that something wasn’t right,” she says. “He just wasn’t a happy newborn. He looked miserable all the time.” Mercedes, who also has an
- [Botulism toxin X: Time to update the textbooks, thanks to genomic sequencing](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/botulinum-toxin-x-discovered/) - Botulism is a rare, potentially fatal paralyzing illness. It’s the reason we shouldn’t feed infants honey and why we need to take care in consuming home-canned foods: they can potentially contain nerve-damaging toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum. Botulinum toxin is classified as one of the six most dangerous potential bioterrorism agents. There are seven known
- [Finally in the game: Patient in drug trial for PTEN mutation seems to benefit](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/clinical-trial-pten-hamartoma-tumor-syndrome/) - From the time of Preston Hall’s birth at 30 weeks, his parents navigated multiple diagnoses, surgeries and sometimes life-threatening medical issues. At 11 months, Preston underwent skull revision surgery for trigonocephaly (a fusion of the skull bones causing a triangular-shaped forehead). After surgery, his doctors discovered serious airway and gastrointestinal issues that led to his
- [From local teams to elite athletics: Caring for youth athletes with disabilities](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/youth-athletes-disabilities/) - Anna Johannes considers herself lucky. “My swim coaches were oblivious to my disability — in a good way,” says the U.S. Paralympic medalist. Anna, who joined Boston Children’s Hospital as a cause marketing coordinator in 2018, was born with amniotic band syndrome, a condition that led to the loss of her left hand and forearm.
- [Feeding and growth difficulties in children: When to refer](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/feeding-growth-difficulties-children/) - Parents are bombarded with so much online information about the best ways to feed their children the nutrients they need to ensure they grow to the best of their potential. As we know, not everything they read is helpful or even accurate. The best thing you can do for your patient families is regularly plot
- [Matt and Brendan: Post-op pals, for life](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/matt-brendan-roommates/) - Eighteen-year-old Matt Freitas and 16-year-old Brendan Cogavin met as roommates at Boston Children’s Hospital, but that’s just a small part of why they’ve stayed in touch for the six years since. “Their relationship goes beyond knowing each other at their worst,” says Melissa, Matt’s mom. “Brendan is cool, smart, and tries hard at everything he
- [Shooting for the moon: From diagnosis to custom drug, in one year](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/milasen-batten-disease/) - Ed. note: Mila passed away in February 2021, at age 10. The Mila’s Miracle Foundation continues to work to pave a pathway for personalized treatments. The FDA recently released a draft guidance on testing custom antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) in patients. One weekend in January 2017, Timothy Yu, MD, PhD, was relaxing at home when his
- [Two decades of innovation in pulmonary vein stenosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/two-decades-of-innovation-in-pulmonary-vein-stenosis/) - Over the past 20 years, the Pulmonary Vein Stenosis Program at Boston Children’s Hospital has been crafting an innovative strategy in its approach to pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) based on a new way of thinking about this rare and unusual disease. “The breakthrough came in realizing that PVS is not like other types of congenital heart disease,” says cardiologist Kathy
- [A note for my nurse](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/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
- [Talking with your child about suicide](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/talking-child-suicide/) - For three weeks in late spring of 2018, it seemed like suicide dominated the media. On May 18, the second season of the controversial series 13 Reasons Why began airing on Netflix. Eighteen days later, fashion designer Kate Spade died by suicide, followed three days later by celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain. Such news came on the heels
- [Gun violence and children: Why it’s a public health issue](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gun-violence-and-children-why-its-a-public-health-issue/) - “There have been more than 52,000 pediatric firearm deaths in the past 18 years,” says Dr. Eric Fleegler, a pediatric emergency physician at Boston Children’s Hospital as he kicks off his talk. It’s May 3, 2018, and he’s sharing the startling statistic with a rapt audience at the hospital’s Special Grand Rounds on Trauma and Gun
- [Josh finds recipe for success from endocrine-oncology team](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/success-endocrine-oncology-team/) - As a chef in training who dreams of opening his own restaurant, Josh Gartland, 15, knows the importance of a good recipe. When it comes to the genetic disorder known as von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, Josh also knows the value of a good treatment plan, and experts in the Endocrine-Oncology Program at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center
- [ADHD drug class leads to fewer side effects in preschool children](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/preschool-adhd-medications/) - About 2.4 percent of preschool-age children have an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis. For these children, behavioral interventions intended to redirect a child or otherwise replace negative behaviors with positive ones are the first line of treatment. But what if symptoms linger, or are so severe that they interfere with a child’s social, emotional, and educational
- [Solving medical mysteries: The Undiagnosed Disease Network](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/solving-medical-mysteries-the-undiagnosed-disease-network/) - At first, Corrie and Adam Mendes thought their daughter Emmie had an inner ear problem. She was late with several early milestones, including walking, and when she did walk, she often lost her balance. The family pediatrician sent them to a neurologist, who ordered a brain MRI and diagnosed her with pachygyria, a rare condition
- [Poverty predicts worse cancer outcomes, even in children receiving top-tier care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/poverty-child-cancer-outcomes/) - A pair of recent studies suggests that even among patients receiving advanced cancer care, poverty is a predictor of worse outcomes. The disturbing findings raise many questions that follow-up studies are now exploring. Poverty was associated with 3.7-fold higher mortality among children receiving targeted immunotherapy for high-risk neuroblastoma. Household poverty was associated with 28 percent
- [SMART: A new approach to asthma management](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/smart-asthma-inhaler/) - Until recently, the typical approach to asthma involved two inhalers. In its first update since 2007, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program now recommends the use of Single Maintenance and Reliever Therapy (SMART) for selected patients. Rather than an inhaled corticosteroid for daily maintenance and an inhaled bronchodilator for exacerbations, SMART uses the same
- [Another shot for Conner: Getting back in the game after brain surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/answers-childrenshospital-org-conner/) - Watch Conner Hicks coach basketball at Midlakes Middle School in Clifton Springs, New York, and you’ll see a young man with a passion for the game. Talk to the players on his team and you’ll hear about a dedicated and enthusiastic role model. What you probably won’t notice is the 19-year-old’s fight with a brain
- [A surprising diagnosis leads to treatment for Liam’s liver cancer](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/liam-liver-cancer/) - For Liam Dickerson, what started as a simple sick day turned into a journey he never could have expected. In 2018, he wasn’t feeling well and paid a visit to his high school’s nurse. Although he was experiencing chest and under arm pain, the nurse worried that he might have appendicitis and recommended he see
- [Amazing Grace: Toddler receives life-changing care for cloacal anomaly](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/grace-cloacal-anomaly/) - Grace Brown loves playing with her six brothers and sisters, watching educational TV shows, and just being an average toddler. But by some accounts, she shouldn’t be here at all. “We were told before she was even born that she wasn’t likely to survive,” says her mother, K’Shayla. After Grace — and her twin sister,
- [Taking treatment of long-gap esophageal atresia to the next level: Refining innovative techniques](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/esophageal-atresia-surgery/) - The surgeons in the Esophageal and Airway Treatment Center at Boston Children’s Hospital are pioneers in developing and refining innovative surgical approaches to long-gap esophageal atresia, a condition in which a child’s esophagus develops in two separate segments that can’t be easily connected with surgery. Among these techniques are jejunal interposition and the Foker process.
- [Finding a nutrition plan that works for your family](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/alliance-family-nutrition/) - Every day, millions of people follow specialized diets for myriad reasons. These can include religious or ethical beliefs, allergies or sensitivities, or meeting individual health goals. Be it vegetarianism, veganism, gluten-free, paleo, or "clean eating," nutritional lifestyles can be different everywhere. While diets like these and countless others do provide health and wellness benefits, most
- [Taking a targeted approach when leukemia comes back](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/treating-relapsed-all/) - The news that your child has cancer always comes as a shock, but for one cancer, acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), parents can take comfort in the fact that doctors are really good at treating it. The cure rate for ALL has, over the last 40 years, climbed to nearly 90 percent. Less comforting is the fact
- [Drug-testing alternative: a lung on a chip](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/lung-on-a-chip/) - Combining microfabrication techniques from the computer industry with modern tissue engineering, a team at Children’s Hospital Boston and Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering has created a device that mimics the function of a human lung. This living “lung-on-a-chip,” which incorporates human lung and blood-vessel cells, reproduces the all-important interface between the lung’s tiny
- [cTAKES: Turning clinical notes into knowledge](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ctakes-turning-clinical-notes-into-knowledge/) - My mother often says that my handwriting is so bad I should have been a doctor. Luckily, digital systems like electronic medical records (EMRs) and computerized pharmacy ordering systems have largely taken the legibility factor out of medicine, especially when it comes to doctors’ and nurses’ notes. Those notes—attached to millions of patient records—have the
- [Another use for mTOR inhibitors: Preserving vanishing bones in Gorham-Stout syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gorham-stout-sirolimus/) - The mTOR pathway is fundamental to nearly every cell in the body. It drives processes related to cell growth, protein production and metabolism, influencing everything from neurocognition to tumor growth. Because of this broad role, indications for drugs targeting the mTOR pathway are also remarkably broad. Alexander Malloy, 14, is one of the first patients
- [Using newborns’ own umbilical cords as shunts for heart surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/using-newborns-own-umbilical-cords-as-shunts-for-heart-surgery/) - Cardiac surgery is reducing the use of plastic — starting with an operation for newborns who have life-threatening heart disease generally called single ventricle. Single ventricle is so dangerous because it means only one of the heart’s two ventricles can adequately pump blood. Typically, affected infants undergo open-heart surgery to receive a Blalock shunt, which
- [Not home for the holidays?  How you can help inpatient families](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/inpatient-help-holidays/) - There’s nothing like being home for the holidays. But for families with a child in the hospital, being home might be a distant dream. As a friend or family member, you may wonder what you can do to make the holidays a little brighter. For ideas, we turned to those who have been there before
- [How a broken leg and a transatlantic flight led to a deep vein thrombosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/deep-vein-thrombosis/) - Pain was 16-year-old Katerina Dalmanieras’s first warning sign when she returned from a family vacation in August. The high school junior, who fractured her fibula a month earlier, was in a leg brace and on crutches, so she had not moved during the seven-hour transatlantic flight. “When I got home from the airport, my leg
- [EEE: A worried parent's questions, answered](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/eee-questions-answered/) - In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, the last thing we want to think about is another virus. But now that summer is upon us, so are mosquitoes. And with mosquitoes comes the risk of eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), a rare but deadly virus. Last fall in Massachusetts, there were 12 confirmed cases of EEE,
- [Restoring muscle function in a rare, devastating disease: Part 1](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/myotubular-myopathyrestoring-muscle-function-in-a-rare-devastating-disease-part-1/) - Part 1 of a two-part series. (Read part 2.) Sixth-grader William Ward cruises the hallways at school with a thumb-driven power chair and participates in class with the help of a DynaVox speech device. Although born with a rare, muscle-weakening disease called X-linked myotubular myopathy, or MTM, leaving him virtually immobile, he hasn’t given up. Neither has Alan Beggs,
- [Mia’s team: Working together to address aspiration](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/mias-team-working-together-to-address-aspiration/) - Seven-month-old Mia Petrelli sits in a chair in the darkened room. As Kara Larson, a speech language pathologist in the Aerodigestive Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, spoons different foods mixed with liquid barium into the little girl’s mouth, a nearby video screen displays real-time images of her anatomy. It’s part of a modified barium swallow
- [Using ultrasound to trigger on-demand, site-specific pain relief](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ultrasound-triggered-pain-relief/) - According to the CDC, 91 people die from opioid overdoses every day in the U.S. Here in Massachusetts, the state has an opioid-related death rate that is more than twice the national average. “Opioid abuse is a growing problem in healthcare,” says Daniel Kohane, MD, PhD, a senior associate in critical care medicine at Boston Children’s and professor
- [Moving gene therapy into high gear](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/moving-gene-therapy-into-high-gear/) - Gene therapy, still experimental but beginning to enter the clinic, attempts to utilize advanced molecular methods to treat and even reverse genetic diseases. The field started in earnest about 25 years ago and has had many setbacks along the way to its recent earliest successes. International collaboration has been critical. Children’s Hospital Boston is one
- [Asthma and COVID: Four things families need to know now](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/asthma-and-covid-four-things-families-need-to-know-now/) - It’s an ongoing message from the media: People with underlying health conditions appear to be at higher risk for developing complications of COVID-19. So it’s no wonder that kids with asthma and their parents are worried. “Almost every family I speak with has questions about COVID-19,” says Elizabeth Klements, a pediatric nurse practitioner at Bridgewater
- [Gene therapy: Two years and holding](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gene-therapy-two-years-and-holding/) - For the Cáceres family of Argentina, it’s a joyous holiday homecoming. Agustín, who received gene therapy at 5½ months of age, journeyed with his family to Boston for a check-up and got a clean bill of health. Agustín was born with the rare immune-deficiency disorder SCID-X1. More popularly known as “bubble boy” disease, it left him defenseless against
- [How things work: Scientists find cellular channels vital for hearing](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cellular-channels-hearing/) - Ending a 30-year search by scientists, researchers have identified two proteins in the inner ear that are critical for hearing, which, when damaged by genetic mutations, cause a form of delayed, progressive hearing loss. The proteins are essentially transducers: They form channels that convert mechanical sound waves entering the inner ear into electrical signals that
- [A coming wave of diabetes? The link with COVID-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/diabetes-covid-19/) - Researchers are observing a new long-term health concern in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 — an increase in new-onset hyperglycemia lasting months after infection. An Italian study found that about half of the patients admitted to the hospital for COVID-19 during the start of the pandemic had new cases of hyperglycemia, or high levels of blood
- [A Juneteenth celebration of children’s books featuring Black characters](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/juneteenth-childrens-books/) - Books can provide a mirror for kids to understand themselves and a window into the world around them. Yet for many generations, Black characters were almost nonexistent in children’s books. Very often, the few that did appear were limited, with one kind of hair and one skin tone. “Thinking about the books that were popular
- [Groundbreaking research helps advance treatment of rare, fast growing brain tumor](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/dipg-biomarker/) - Researchers from the Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center recently found that levels of a specific protein detected through a patient’s urine can track a tumor’s size and responsiveness to treatment in children with diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG). This discovery helps steer the course for more innovative and less invasive treatment options. Confronting
- [New technique yields potential treatment for a common cause of autism](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/autism-gene-treatment/) - Since 2008, we have known that the 16p11.2 chromosomal region is linked with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Now, researchers from Boston Children’s have developed a new way to study the effects of 16p11.2 deletion in human neurons. In the process, they also found a potential treatment, possibly expanding the therapeutic options for this specific cause
- [Forty years waiting for a cure: ALD gene therapy trial shows early promise](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/forty-years-waiting-for-a-cure-ald-gene-therapy-trial-shows-early-promise/) - A small piece of notepaper, folded twice, sits tucked in a slot of the secretary desk in the living room. Every so often, I pull it out, read it, then reread. Addressed to my mom, the paper has a question and two boxes, one “yes” and one “no,” written with the careful precision of a
- [Inspired by Chinese finger traps, an annuloplasty ring that grows with the child](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/annuloplasty-ring/) - This post is part of a series on innovations to treat valvular disease in children. Read our prior posts on transcatheter valve replacement and an expandable prosthetic heart valve. Prosthetic annuloplasty rings have improved the durability of heart valve repairs in adults. Implanted at the perimeter of dilated, leaky valves, they help keep the valve
- [Providing culturally responsive care to refugee and immigrant families](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/refugees-immigrants/) - Refugee and immigrant parents and children have unique care needs. They have left their former lives behind, often due to discrimination, poverty, violence, or even ethnic cleansing operations. They may have witnessed or experienced torture or the death of a loved one. Once resettled in the U.S., parents must navigate and adjust to American culture,
- [Vertebral body tethering: Is it an option for my child?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/vertebral-body-tethering/) - For years, teens and tweens with idiopathic scoliosis had three treatment options: monitoring, bracing, or spinal fusion surgery. A new option emerged in 2019 when the Food and Drug Administration approved a treatment called vertebral body tethering (VBT). Compared to spinal fusion surgery, VBT offers quicker recovery times and the potential for greater spine mobility
- [Top tips for water safety](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/water-safety-drowning-prevention/) - As summer approaches, families head outdoors for fun ways to beat the heat. One of the most cherished summertime activities is swimming — whether in a pool, lake or beach. But each summer, it’s important to remind ourselves of the sobering statistic that drowning ranks among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the U.S.
- [I had a seizure. Here’s what I learned.](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gino-seizure/) - I was 11 when I had my seizure. I'm 15 now. I've learned a lot since that night, and I owe a lot of what I know to Dr. Alex Rotenberg and the team at Boston Children's Hospital. They helped me understand what caused my seizure and how to prevent another one. But I've also
- [Gearing up for sports? Call your child’s pediatrician](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sports-physicals-pcp/) - Every year, young athletes are required to get sports physicals, clearing them for participation in organized athletics. But, did you know that these physicals should be done by your child’s primary care provider (PCP)? Sports physical examinations give clearance for children to participate in the sports season safely and are a crucial part of pediatrics.
- [We speak your language: Helping non-English-speaking families receive the best care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/interpreter-translation-services/) - Visiting a health care provider requires a fair amount of communication, whether for scheduling an appointment, receiving care, or understanding follow-up directions. For families whose primary language isn’t English, the Interpreter Services program at Boston Children’s Hospital can help make those discussions easier. “Our team of interpreters provides translation services in more than 70 languages,”
- [Creating custom brains from the ground up](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/creating-custom-brains/) - Scientists studying how genetics impact brain disease have long sought a better experimental model. Cultures of genetically-modified cell lines can reveal some clues to how certain genes influence the development of psychiatric disorders and brain cancers. But such models cannot offer the true-to-form look at brain function that can be provided by genetically-modified mice. Even
- [A 'pump' gene's surprising role in early brain formation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/atp1a3-polymicrogyria/) - In polymicrogyria, the cortex of the brain has many irregular, small folds (gyria) and disorganization of its layers. Many affected children have severe developmental delay, intellectual disabilities, and epilepsy, and many need to use a wheelchair. Mutations in several different genes can cause this “overfolding of the brain” condition. Key takeaways The gene ATP1A3, associated
- [Children with severe MIS-C do better with IVIG and steroids as initial therapy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/mis-c-steroids-ivig/) - When children started getting sick with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) in the wake of COVID-19, clinicians largely turned to two treatments. Many used immunoglobulin (IVIG) because of MIS-C's similarities with Kawasaki disease. And many used steroids such as methylprednisolone because of MIS-C's inflammatory features. Key takeawayIn this large, rigorous national study, initial treatment of MIS-C
- [How lactation specialists can help you find answers to your nursing goals](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/lactation-consultants/) - Even if you’ve done it before, feeding a baby can be hard --- especially breastfeeding. Research has shown that almost 60 percent of women in the United States who breastfeed stop before they intend to. This happens for a number of reasons: difficulties producing milk, including low supplyslow infant weight gain (sometimes called “failure to
- [Wine used to toast CGD gene therapy trial linked to decades-long scientific journey](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cgd-gene-therapy-trial-a-decades-long-scientific-journey/) - When Brenden Whittaker of Columbus, Ohio, the first patient treated with gene therapy for chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), showed successful engraftment last winter, the gene therapy team lifted glasses for a celebratory toast. The wine they sipped was no ordinary wine. The 2012 Bordeaux blend came from an award-winning California vineyard owned and operated by Robert
- [Laparoscopic approach to cloacal malformation repair found safe in eligible patients](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cloacal-malformation-repair/) - A minimally invasive surgical approach called laparoscopic rectal mobilization and urogenital separation appears to be a safe alternative to open surgery in eligible patients with cloacal malformations. That’s the conclusion of a recent study by the team in the Colorectal and Pelvic Malformation Center at Boston Children’s Hospital. A minimally invasive approach to urogenital separation
- [Regular physical activity linked to more 'fit' preteen brains](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/exercise-brain/) - We know exercise has many health benefits. A new study from Boston Children’s Hospital adds another benefit: Physical activity appears to help organize children’s developing brains. The study, led by Dr. Caterina Stamoulis, analyzed brain imaging data from nearly 6,000 9- and 10-year-olds. It found that physical activity was associated with more efficiently organized, robust,
- [A successful, low-cost reusable treatment for infant hypothermia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/infant-hypothermia-warmer/) - Infant hypothermia leads to about one million deaths each year, primarily in low- and middle-income countries.A study in rural Rwanda of a non-electric infant warmer developed by Boston Children's showed it successfully raised infants' core temperatures and improved survival in preterm infants with hypothermia Infant hypothermia contributes to approximately one million deaths each year, primarily
- [An 'atlas' of the choroid plexus across the lifespan](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/choroid-plexus-atlas/) - Once viewed merely as a producer of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) bathing the brain and spinal cord, the choroid plexus is now known to be a key player in brain development and immunity. These fronds of brain tissue, located in the CSF-filled brain cavities known as ventricles, secrete instructive cues into the CSF to regulate
- [Coping with hepatoblastoma: It didn’t take magic for John’s family to find answers](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/john-hepatoblastoma/) - John Ogden considers himself a bit of a wizard. When his dad, Nick, says he wishes he had a boat, the 5-year-old points to a picture of one and casts a magic spell, declaring, “Moonshine, moonlight, make this sailboat come to life!” “He’s a typical kid: inquisitive, imaginative, ornery, and fun,” says his mom, Julie.
- [Whatever it takes: Fighting for Michael](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/michael-short-bowel/) - Michael stood at the top of the hill, staring down at the glittering white snow. The prospect of skiing to the bottom was scary — on previous trips, he’d refused to try, worried that he would fall. But this time was different. He was ready to take a chance. Attempting to balance without using poles,
- [Beyond HIPAA: Maintaining patient privacy in a big data era](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/patient-privacy-big-data/) - After a prolonged, painful era in which medical data were exchanged mainly by fax, most patients today have electronic health records. But the data within them aren’t as private as they might think, says Kenneth Mandl, MD, MPH. As director of the Computational Health Informatics Program (CHIP) at Boston Children’s Hospital, he’s seen patient data
- [Send your kids to camp with peace of mind: Safety guidelines to look for this summer](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/summer-camp-covid/) - After this past year, it may be hard to remember what a “normal” summer feels like, but as communities reopen, reclaiming the “normal” summer experience can be a reality for your family. We spoke with clinicians from Boston Children’s Primary Care Alliance about how to navigate camps and other summer activities as safety guidelines constantly evolve. The
- [You’re not alone in asking: Five common questions about your baby’s first year](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/babys-first-year/) - Having a baby often comes with a lot of two things: love and questions. While every infant and family are different, many pediatricians agree that there are common themes in what parents want to know in their child’s first year. We spoke with providers from Briarpatch Pediatrics and Wareham Pediatric Associates of Boston Children’s Primary
- [What drives severe lung inflammation in COVID-19?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/lung-inflammation-in-covid-19/) - A main feature of COVID-19 is lung inflammation and respiratory failure caused by an overexuberant immune response known as the cytokine storm. But why does the body produce such an excess of cytokine immune cells? New research from Talal Chatila, MD, of the Division of Immunology at Boston Children’s Hospital and colleagues provides some insights,
- [Spinal fusion surgery during COVID-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/spinal-surgery-covid-19/) - If things had gone according to plan, Jared Cohen would have had spinal fusion surgery during his April vacation. His mom, Sara, planned to homeschool him for the remainder of spring semester and he would have all summer to recover. By fall, he’d be more than ready to return to school. Then COVID-19 happened. In
- [Cancer researchers hit a bullseye with a new drug target for Ewing sarcoma](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/ewing-sarcoma-bullseye-drug-target/) - Screening a class of recently-developed drug compounds — so-called “CDK inhibitors” capable of blocking CDK7/12/13 proteins — against hundreds of different human cancer cell lines, researchers at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center have found that CDK12 inhibitors pack a particularly lethal punch to Ewing sarcoma, a rare cancer typically affecting children and young adults. “No one
- [Celebrating remarkable Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/asian-americans-pacific-islanders/) - Boston Children’s Hospital thrives, thanks in part to the contributions of its Asian American and Pacific Islander staff and clinicians. Whether developing innovative treatments for chronic disease, treating children with complex conditions, or organizing online events to bring remote teams together during the pandemic, our Asian American and Pacific Islander team members are central to
- [Recommendations for reproducibility in stem cell research](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/reproducibility-neuronal-stem-cells-iddrc/) - The ability to program induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and drive their differentiation into a variety of neural cells is essential for studying neurological disorders, including intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs). But issues regarding variability and reproducibility from lab to lab make translating discoveries difficult, in turn slowing the progress of IDD research. To address
- [What it’s like to have SDR surgery: Scarlet’s story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/scarlet-sdr/) - Scarlet is 9 years old. When she was 7, she underwent selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), a procedure in which a surgeon cuts certain nerves that may contribute to leg spasticity related to cerebral palsy. We talked with Scarlet and her parents, Darcie and Tyler, about their experience in the Cerebral Palsy and Spasticity Center at
- [Honoring our Black achievers](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/black-achievers/) - Each year, Boston Children’s Hospital honors exceptional Black achievers who have progressed in their careers and demonstrated a commitment to youth development and community. Recipients of the 2021 Boston Children’s Black Achievers Award bring a wide range of experience to their roles at the hospital. And all four of this year’s awardees are going above
- [New study ties residual lesion score (RLS) to cardiac surgery outcomes](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/rls/) - How well a patient does after surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) depends on a large number of variables, ranging from patient characteristics to preoperative status to anatomic complexity to perioperative factors. One of the most important predictors of adverse events or reintervention is the presence of residual lesions — structural cardiac abnormalities that remain
- [Can asthma be nipped in the bud?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/asthma-prevention-xolair/) - Worldwide, asthma affects an estimated 300 million people, and is expected to surpass 400 million by 2025, according to the World Health Organization. About 1 in 10 U.S. children have asthma, and research shows that the vast majority of them also have allergy. Could that provide a clue to its prevention? Starting at 2 to
- [Made-to-order therapies get a boost with new FDA guidelines](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/n-of-1-treatments/) - Ed. note: Mila passed away in February, 2021, at age 10. The Mila’s Miracle Foundation continues to work to pave a pathway for personalized treatments. Science-based treatments for rare genetic diseases have burgeoned in the past decade. That includes diseases so rare they affect just a handful of patients — or in some cases, just
- [Against all odds: Mila's unique mutation, and her own custom drug](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/batten-disease-mila/) - Ed. note: Mila passed away in February 2021, at age 10. The Mila’s Miracle Foundation continues to work to pave a pathway for personalized treatments. The FDA recently released a draft guidance on testing custom drugs such as Mila’s in patients. As a baby and toddler, Mila was healthy, active, and — in some ways
- [Suicide prevention in teens: Can we intervene through primary care?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/suicide-prevention/) - The past year has seen a disturbing rise in suicidal thoughts and attempts among adolescents, with a spike of suicidal teens going to emergency departments (EDs). This adds to a growing trend: From 2007 to 2016, ED visits for deliberate self-harm more than quadrupled nationwide among children age 5 to 17. In a recent review
- [Parvalbumin neurons—new insight into the workings of a superhero brain cell](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/parvalbumin-neurons-brain-plasticity/) - Say you’re a scientist in a movie, and you want to find out what gives a superhero his powers. You’d investigate any special suits he wears, whether he drinks any potions and what they are, right? Real-life scientists are following the same strategy to understand a powerful group of specialized brain cells. Parvalbumin cells (PV-cells)
- [Good early results with gene therapy for rare immune deficiency](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cgd-chronic-granulomatous-disease-gene-therapy/) - Brenden Whittaker, a college student in Ohio, has been caught off guard by his good health. Since he was young, a rare immune deficiency known as chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) had left him vulnerable to life-threatening infections. He was used to going in and out of the hospital, and then hooking up to an IV
- [Decoding sickle cell disease offers new outlook for Lamarcus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/decoding-sickle-cell-disease/) - When Lamarcus Jean visits the Hematology Clinic at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, he makes himself right at home. The 6-year-old, whom his mom, Stephanie, describes as “wise beyond his years,” has been a patient here since he was born. Lamarcus has sickle cell disease, an inherited blood disorder caused by a mutation
- [First-ever drug trial reverses some signs of aging in progeria](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/first-ever-drug-trial-reverses-some-signs-of-aging-in-progeria/) - The children came from all over the world: 28 families from 16 countries, speaking over a dozen languages. They faced a grim prognosis: death at an average age of 13 from cardiovascular disease. Not the congenital heart defects we so commonly see in babies coming to Boston Children’s Hospital, but the kind of disease you
- [Stroke in kids: What's different?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/stroke-in-kids-whats-different/) - Every May, we recognize National Stroke Awareness Month to honor everyone who has experienced a stroke — and to raise awareness of this disease. That awareness is especially important for pediatric stroke, which is more common than you might imagine. “Stroke occurs throughout childhood, from birth through 18 years of age, and more commonly than
- [Life after stroke: Rebecca’s fierce determination](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/life-after-stroke-rebeccas-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
- [This post may contain peanuts: Two-pronged treatment may ease severe allergies](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/peanut-allergy-treatment/) - Tripp Underwood contributed to this post. Families with peanut-allergic children live in fear that their child will ingest peanuts—even minute amounts—accidentally. Now, a small pilot study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology offers hope for peanut allergy. In the year-long study, immunologist Dale Umetsu, MD, PhD, and colleagues in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at
- [Taking a leap of faith: Jack says goodbye to his G-tube](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/goodbye-g-tube/) - As they waited for their son Jack’s appointment, Marika and Josh Reuling had no indication that July 17, 2018, would be different from any other day. They chatted, glanced at the cartoons playing in the waiting room and handed Jack crayon after crayon as he happily colored a picture. It seemed like a just another
- [When worlds collide: Glycosylated RNAs upend cell biology as we know it](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/glycorna/) - Cells in our body bristle with sugars known as glycans that other cells can recognize via specialized receptors. Glycans attach to and modify proteins and fats, thereby influencing how proteins fold, how cues are trafficked between cells, and other cell-to-cell interactions. As just one example of glycans’ importance, our blood types (A, B, O) depend
- [After a long journey and a father's gift, surviving Wilms tumor](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/wilms-tumor-complex/) - Eleanor (Nora) Franks was a happy, healthy toddler who loved playing with her twin brother Evan. But soon after she turned 3, she began having problems with her digestion. Eventually, her local hospital found a large mass in her kidney and diagnosed her with Wilms tumor, a rare kidney cancer. “She had to go almost
- [COVID-19 takes its toll on kids’ mental health](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-suicide-kids/) - As experts warn that increasing behavioral and mental health challenges could represent a “second wave” of the pandemic in kids and teens, a recent study suggests that hospitalizations for self-harm and suicide attempts show no signs of ebbing. According to a study from Boston Children’s Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto,
- [Neurogenetic disorders: Dreaming the impossible dream](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/neurogenetic-disorders-treatments/) - People with autism and most other disorders of brain development have never had medications to treat their core behavioral and cognitive symptoms. The best they can get are drugs targeting secondary problems, like irritability or aggression. But now, a new wave of clinical trials aims to change this. In the last decade, scientists have discovered
- [Alzheimer’s drugs for “lazy eye”?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/alzheimers-drugs-for-lazy-eye/) - When my parents told me I should walk around with my right eye patched like a pirate—on regular days, not just Halloween—I wondered if they were joking. They weren’t: those really were the doctor’s orders. As a child, I had amblyopia, or “lazy eye”: my left eye had much poorer vision than my right eye. The
- [Childhood brain cancer: Learning to divide and conquer](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/medulloblastoma-genomics/) - Diversity is good in populations of people, but when it comes to cancer, it’s bad news. In the case of medulloblastoma—the most common malignant brain cancer in children—tumor diversity has been one of the greatest barriers to designing effective treatments. Now, in the largest genomic study of human medulloblastomas ever, Children’s researchers and their collaborators
- [Another level of gratitude: Spina bifida care for Liam](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gratitude-spina-bifida-care/) - Most parents first walk through the doors of Boston Children’s Hospital seeking answers about their child’s health. But until recently, when Mary Holleran arrived at the hospital, she was simply beginning another day at work. A nurse practitioner, she’s been on staff at Boston Children’s for more than a decade, much of it spent caring
- [From fear to hope with CDH](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/from-fear-to-hope-with-cdh/) - Lyndsay MacNeil is a nurse, but even she — like most parents — had never heard of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) until she was pregnant with her daughter Shayne. During a routine ultrasound, her clinicians at Brigham and Women’s Hospital detected an anomaly in the fetus, which they suspected was CDH. In this serious condition,
- [Alivia’s journey with CDH](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/alivias-journey-with-cdh/) - Alivia Gannon recently got the kind of information every kid wants to hear: She won’t have to return to the Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Program at Boston Children’s Hospital for another five years. For Alivia and her parents, Erin and Richard, the news is particularly welcome: Although the active 12-year-old is now the picture of health,
- [Teens teach other teens healthy habits in Waltham](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/teens-teach-other-teens-healthy-habits-in-waltham/) - Learning how to eat healthier. Finding more time for physical activity. Coping with challenges and setbacks. These are all skills that teens need to learn … but from whom? The Waltham Boys & Girls Club believes it has hit on an answer: other teens. A grant from Boston Children’s Collaboration for Community Health will fund a campaign in which
- [Census 2020: Every child counts to ensure health equity](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/census-2020/) - With much of the world focused on the new coronavirus, it’s hard for many of us to think about anything else. But one important task that needs everyone’s attention is the 2020 census form. With many offices and schools currently closed, now is the perfect time to complete your census and make sure all your children
- [Not all brain tumors are made the same, and that’s important](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/not-all-brain-tumors-are-made-the-same-and-thats-important/) - When you look at an apple, no matter what variety, on the surface you can be pretty sure it’s actually an apple. From there, you can make lots of assumptions about it, like how it will taste when you bite into it and what will happen if you plant the seeds in your yard. With
- [Building a body, one organ chip at a time](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/organ-chips/) - They don’t look like much sitting in your hand. A few pieces of clear plastic, each smaller than an Altoids tin, with channels visible inside and holes for plugging tubing into them. But fill them with cells and treat those cells the right way, and they turn into something amazing: tiny hearts, lungs, guts, kidneys.
- [Is rapamycin the new aspirin?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/rapamycin/) - I’ve heard it said that if aspirin had to go through today’s FDA approval process, it would never be approved for over-the-counter use because it just does so many things. Lately, it’s been hard to cover biomedical research at Children’s without stumbling on another drug that’s also FDA-approved and also seems to have multiple uses:
- [Immune cells "sculpt" brain circuits -- by eating excess connections](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/microglia-synapses/) - The image above and the movie below show an immune cell caught in the act of tending the brain. The cell below has just eaten away unnecessary connections, or synapses, between neurons. That’s not something these cells, known as microglia, were previously thought to do. As immune cells, it was thought that their job was
- [Catching platelets with NETs: Neutrophils and deep vein thrombosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/catching-platelets-with-nets-neutrophils-and-deep-vein-thrombosis/) - Sea cucumbers have an unusual way of defending themselves. When threatened, they ensnare their foes with sticky threads. Some even expel their own internal organs to repel attackers. Immune system cells called neutrophils sometimes do much the same: When confronted with bacteria, they unravel and shoot out their chromatin—the tightly wound mix of DNA and proteins that
- [Organized sports and COVID-19: Are we there yet?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/organized-sports-covid-19/) - After a long, challenging year, many student athletes have returned to play this spring with joy and relief. But, organized sports have been linked to COVID-19 outbreaks in several states. The CDC warns that those who play close-contact and inside sports are at very high risk of infection. Even as they relax mandates to wear
- [Eating disorders in the time of COVID: Advice for parents](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/eating-disorders-covid-19/) - As the COVID-19 pandemic has worn on, it has led to a secondary epidemic of eating disorders among children and teens. In January, the National Eating Disorders Association reported a spike of activity on its help lines. And treatment programs are having trouble keeping up with the requests. “We have seen a huge increase in
- [Helping your kids understand and cope with anti-Asian racism](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/anti-asian-racism/) - Over the past year, there has been an alarming increase in anti-Asian sentiment and discrimination in the United States. The advocacy and hate reporting group Stop AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Hate reports more than 6,600 hate incidents — including harassment, shunning, and physical attacks — since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
- [Pediatric complex care: A day in the life](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/pediatric-complex-care/) - This is the first post of a two-part series on children with complex medical needs. Details on some patients have been changed for privacy reasons. This morning, as every morning, the Complex Care Service (CCS) team huddles in a tiny office deep inside Boston Children’s Hospital. They have 14 patients to discuss, each with a
- [Inherited autism mutations found via genomic sequencing in Mideast families](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/inherited-autism-mutations-found-via-genomic-sequencing-in-mideast-families/) - Autism clearly runs in some families, yet few inherited genetic causes have been found. A major reason is that these causes are so varied that it’s hard to find enough people with a given mutation to establish a clear pattern. Now, three large Middle Eastern families with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have led the way
- [How Boston Children’s is supporting childcare during COVID-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/childcare-covid-19/) - If you’re a parent who relies on childcare, you may be struggling with closures during COVID-19. You also may have questions about the reopening and the safety of the childcare classroom. For people who live in communities of color, which are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, the challenges associated with childcare are magnified. That’s why Boston
- [Can we explain sudden infant deaths? It’s complicated.](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sudden-unexplained-infant-death/) - Since the early 1990s, “Back to Sleep” campaigns have urged parents to place infants to bed on their backs to prevent suffocation and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). The results were clear: from 1992 to 1996, SIDS fell by more than half. But since then, rates of what is now called sudden unexpected infant death (SUID)
- [Racism and children's health: What providers need to know](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/racism-health-care-children/) - It’s easy to feel outdone by racism, especially as the country cycles through stages of tragedy, awareness, and inertia. But with renewed attention to violence against Black people in recent weeks, many health care providers are asking themselves hard questions: Can we create a better world for the next generation?Can the call for racial justice lead
- [Nurses Week 2021: Integrating new therapies into nursing practice and patient care delivery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/new-therapies-nursing/) - A revolution in pharmacological gene therapy is underway, as indicated by a significant acceleration in the creation of new therapies to treat genetic disorders at the molecular level. Boston Children’s Hospital Nursing and extended team members, in collaboration with hospital researchers and scientists, biotech, and biopharma partners, have developed a set of specific processes to
- [Single Ventricle Cardiac Home Monitoring Program empowers families to care for fragile newborns at home](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/single-ventricle-home-monitoring/) - A single ventricle heart condition is a congenital cardiac defect in which only one of the heart’s two ventricles is functioning properly. It is most often corrected with three surgeries: the first, shortly after birth, the second, when a baby is 4 to 6 months old, and the third in the toddler years. The Single
- [Nurses Week 2021: Parenteral nutrition: Nurses help lead the journey from hospital to home](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/parenteral-nutrition-nurses/) - For children needing parenteral nutrition (PN) — nutrition given through an intravenous line (IV) — the journey from the hospital to home was once long and arduous. But the prospects for these patients are much brighter today, thanks to the care provided by the Boston Children's Hospital Home Parenteral Nutrition (HNP) Program. The program —
- [Nurses Week 2021: Nurse-led contact tracing team helps reduce the spread of COVID-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/contact-tracing-team/) - As COVID-19 evolved into a serious threat in March 2020, protecting the health of patients, families, and employees at Boston Children's Hospital was more important than ever. To stop COVID-19 transmission within the hospital community, registered nurses from across Boston Children's voluntarily stepped up to form a contact tracing team. Their role: using their clinical
- [Teaming up to fast track a novel gene therapy for Diamond-Blackfan anemia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/gene-therapy-diamond-blackfan-anemia/) - Looking at Lindsay Krieg, it’s impossible to tell she has spent her entire 29 years in an out of hospitals managing a rare blood disorder. “It's routine for me,” she says. “It's all I've ever known.” Diamond-Blackfan anemia (DBA) prevents Lindsay’s bone marrow from producing the red blood cells essential for carrying oxygen from her
- [The neurology resident that could](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/elizabeth-engle-profile/) - Elizabeth Engle used to wait in peoples' driveways until midnight, hoping to enroll them in her genetic studies of eye-movement disorders. She landed there by chance: during her neurology residency, she saw a little boy whose eyes were frozen in a downward gaze. Wanting to find a solution to a disorder that others had written
- [Treating a ‘unicorn’: Norman’s incredible journey with vein of Galen malformation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/norman-vogm/) - Norman Flores is near the top of his class at his Montessori preschool. He can recognize a Tesla just from the car’s symbol. And he’s picked up an extensive vocabulary from his parents, Sarah and Erick, and older brother, Edward. When Sarah and Erick share these accomplishments, they’re not just being proud parents — they’re
- [A huge leap for cloning](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/huge-leap-cloning/) - Animal cloning, the creation of a genetically identical copy of an individual organism, holds promise for many different reasons, including its use to conserve endangered species and to improve our understanding of developmental biology, which could eventually help us prevent or reverse developmental disorders from the get-go. Although more than 20 species of animals have
- [Can we prevent leukemia in patients with Shwachman-Diamond syndrome?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/shwachman-diamond-syndrome-leukemia/) - Anna Nazarenko doesn’t see herself as sick. The strong-willed, spunky 6-year-old loves to dance and ski, and spent much of April Fool’s day pranking her parents. Aside from the enzymes she takes to help digest her food, you wouldn’t know that she has Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (SDS). The rare, inherited type of bone marrow failure has
- [Could leukemia be stopped before it starts?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/preventing-acute-myeloid-leukemia/) - Acute myeloid leukemia (AML), a blood cancer affecting both adults and children, requires more than one genetic “hit” to develop. As we age, many of us acquire a mutation that enables certain of our blood cells to multiply faster than others, forming their own distinct population. This first hit, known as “clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate
- [Targeted small-molecule agent shows early promise against a dangerous infant leukemia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/mll-rearranged-leukemia-vtp50469/) - Leukemias involving reshuffling or rearrangement of the mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) gene, known as MLL-rearranged or MLL-r leukemias, account for 70 to 80 percent of acute leukemias in infants under one year old. In these blood cancers, a subset of acute myeloid and acute lymphoid leukemias (AML and ALL), the MLL gene breaks and reattaches
- [Predicting the best treatment for vesicoureteral reflux in kids: The power of machine learning](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/machine-learning-antibiotics/) - The result of abnormal formation of the normal valve between the kidney and bladder, vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) can lead to recurrent febrile urinary tract infections (UTIs) and kidney scarring in children. Previous research has shown that when taken continuously, prophylactic antibiotics can reduce the risk of recurrent UTI in about half of this population. However,
- [Groundbreaking research identifies noninvasive biomarker for moyamoya in children](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/moyamoya-biomarker/) - Moyamoya is a rare blood vessel condition that has an outsized impact on children, as it is responsible for about 6 percent of pediatric strokes in the United States. Surgical revascularization is the only treatment and is very effective. However, clinicians face challenges in identifying new or worsening disease before a disabling stroke occurs, predicting
- [Back to school… back to what?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/back-to-school-covid-19/) - This month, many children and teens in Massachusetts and around the country are finally heading back to school in person. For some kids this news might elicit jumps for joy, while others might feel nervous or afraid. Wherever you or your kids land on this range of feelings, there will no doubt be an emotional
- [Behavioral health: What parents should know](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/behavioral-health/) - Even before a worldwide pandemic uprooted life as we knew it, our children have been grappling with an unprecedented health crisis. In the span of 10 years, emergency rooms have seen a 60 percent increase in mental-health-related visits in patients under age 18. COVID-19’s disruption of routines and social outlets has only worsened this problem.
- [Scar-free healing after spinal cord injury relies on specialized cells](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/spinal-cord-injury-repair/) - Scar tissue prevents nerves from communicating with each other. Microglia cells in the central nervous system help prevent scar tissue formation after spinal cord injuries in newborn mice. Transplanted newborn microglia cells drastically reduced scar formation in adult mice with spinal cord injury, opening the door to new treatment possibilities. One of the reasons people
- [Piecing together the preterm infant microbiome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/preterm-infant-microbiome/) - The human microbiome — the collection of microbes living in the gut — is now recognized as an important contributor to health and disease. The environment, the host, and microbe-microbe interactions are all likely to shape the microbiome’s dynamics, but the unique roles of each are not well understood. Now, a Boston Children’s Hospital infectious
- [Capturing SARS-CoV-2's shape-shifting spike protein](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sars-cov-2-spike-protein/) - The rod-like spike proteins on the surface of SARS CoV-2 are the tip of the spear of the COVID-19 pandemic. The spikes bind to human cells via the ACE2 receptor and then dramatically change shape. They jack-knife, folding in on themselves to fuse their own membrane with the membrane of our cells. And that opens
- [Newborn genetic screening for pediatric cancer risk could save lives](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/newborn-screening-cancer/) - Numerous genetic mutations increase children’s risk for various cancers. When they are detected early, cancers can potentially be caught at an early, more treatable stage — or avoided entirely. Could adding such “cancer predisposition” genes to routine newborn “heel-stick” screening save lives? Lisa Diller, MD, chief medical officer at the Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood
- [What is health equity and how does it affect children?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/what-is-health-equity/) - Put simply, health equity is a commitment to ensuring every person can obtain the highest level of health possible, no matter where they live or who they are. In 2020, many hospitals around the country — including Boston Children’s — made public commitments to health equity for their patients. This was part of a national
- [Freak accident leads to Dylan’s passion for neurosurgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/dylan-tbi-future-neurosurgery/) - It was the summer of 2019. Dylan Keusch had just graduated from prep school and was planning to major in Industrial Labor Relations at Cornell University in the fall. His life felt pretty perfect. “Everything was going great — I was a national club team swimmer at the peak of my career, I was headed
- [What it’s like to have brain surgery: Peyton’s story](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/peyton-chiari/) - During the summer before my junior year of high school, I started getting a lot of dull headaches at the base of my head and upper neck. I got so used to them that I built up a tolerance to the pain — I didn’t see them as a big deal, or would make excuses for
- [Meghan’s journey with UESL: Finding treatment for a rare form of liver cancer](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/meghan-uesl-liver-cancer/) - In the spring of 2017, Meghan Tompkins and her parents, Danni and Michael, arrived at the Dana Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorder Center. They were there for an appointment after Meghan’s doctors identified a suspicious spot on her liver. Meghan, then 13, only knew that she was having gastrointestinal symptoms — no one had uttered
- [Teagan’s triumphant return: Dancing after Perthes disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/teagans-dancing-perthes-disease/) - Teagan has lived and breathed dance — ballet, jazz, tap, and more — since she was 5 years old. “It’s what makes me happy,” the now 12-year-old says. But two years ago, she started to feel pain in her hip that persisted after dance class and worsened over time. As her spring dance season wrapped
- [Diversifying therapeutic antibodies: From one, come many with potential different uses](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/therapeutic-antibodies/) - A new method for producing antibodies against disease could result in a wider variety of drugs for infectious diseases, immune disease, and even cancer. The immune system naturally produces enormous varieties of antibodies to fight diseases. Therapeutic antibodies — antibodies created against specific therapeutic targets — have been used for decades to either rev up
- [Four things I learned at the Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Family Symposium](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cardiac-neurodevelopmental-family-symposium/) - I’m sure most parents treat clinic visits as I do… an opportunity to get every last drop of information out of your child’s doctors while you have their undivided attention. So, when the opportunity presents, you take advantage of a full day of learning about your kiddo. I had that chance recently — along with
- [COVID-19 vaccines for kids: What has to happen first](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/covid-19-vaccines-kids/) - Now that adults and older teens are receiving COVID-19 vaccines, some younger kids are wondering why they can’t get vaccinated too. While testing has begun in children 6 months to age 12, we aren’t ready to begin vaccinating most kids yet. But we do know the steps the companies are taking to be sure their
- [Game-changing surgical procedure results in zero-percent TEF re-recurrence rate](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/recurrent-tef-repair/) - A tracheaesophageal fistula (TEF) is a congenital defect in which an abnormal connection forms between a child’s esophagus and trachea. It often occurs with esophageal atresia. Even after surgical repair, TEFs recur in about 10 to 15 percent of infants and children. They rarely close spontaneously and typically require surgical or endoscopic intervention. Most recurrent
- [You’ve had the COVID-19 vaccine. What now?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/after-covid-19-vaccine/) - As more and more people across the country get vaccinated for COVID-19, the rules for social distancing are also slowly shifting. Recently, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rolled out new guidelines for those who are fully vaccinated. But these rules can still be a bit confusing for families, especially when some family
- [Sturdier spikes may explain SARS-CoV-2 variants' faster spread](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/sars-cov-2-variants-spike/) - The fast-spreading U.K., South Africa, and Brazil variants are raising concerns and questions about whether current COVID-19 vaccines will protect against them. A structural biology study led by Bing Chen, PhD, at Boston Children’s Hospital now reveals how the D614G mutation — carried by all three variants — makes SARS-CoV-2 spread faster. The main circulating SARS-CoV-2
- ['Anything is possible': The sky’s the limit for teen with cerebral palsy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/anything-is-possible-the-skys-the-limit-for-teen-with-cerebral-palsy/) - Jack Goldberg is on a mission. “I want other kids to see that if you work hard and put your mind to something, anything can be possible,” he says. “The sky’s the limit.” He should know. At 13, he competed in the National Finals to become one of Canada’s top-ranked pony jumpers in his division.
- [Reaching his goals: Surgery helps CP soccer star shine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/cooper-cerebral-palsy/) - Cooper Veloudis loves soccer. At 12, he’s an avid player on CP Soccer’s New York team. This U.S. Soccer member organization provides opportunities for players with cerebral palsy (CP), stroke, or traumatic brain injuries and feeds into the U.S. Paralympics. He’s even kept up with daily practices during the pandemic via Zoom, rarely missing a

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## News

- [STAT: A mother, shaped by tragedy, embarks on a mission to advance custom medicines](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/stat-a-mother-shaped-by-tragedy-embarks-on-a-mission-to-advance-custom-medicines/) - Three in 10 children with a rare disease do not reach the age of 5. After Mila was diagnosed with Batten disease, Dr. Timothy Yu at Boston Children's Hospital used a piece of genetic code to engineer a drug customized to Mila’s unique mutation. The drug slowed the progression of the disease and relieved many
- [WBZ-TV Channel 4: 16-Year-Old Figure Skater Back On The Ice Thanks To Boston Children’s Hospital Post-COVID Clinic](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wbz-tv-channel-4-16-year-old-figure-skater-back-on-the-ice-thanks-to-boston-childrens-hospital-post-covid-clinic/) - Figure skater Drew Kenney suffered with persistent fatigue, head aches and stomach aches for more than a year after contracting COVID-19 in March 2020. Finally, she visited the post-COVID Clinic at Boston Children's Hospital. Today, she is back to doing leaps and spins on the ice. Watch her story on WBZ-TV Channel 4.
- [Vox: Why young children have waited so long for Covid-19 vaccines](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/vox-why-young-children-have-waited-so-long-for-covid-19-vaccines/) - Boston Children's Dr. Kristin Moffitt helps explain the latest developments in vaccines for children under 5. Read about it on Vox.
- [Becker's Spine Review: Dr. Martha Murray earns clinical research award](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/beckers-spine-review-dr-martha-murray-earns-clinical-research-award/) - Boston Children's orthopedic surgeon-in-chief, Dr. Martha Murray and her research team are recognized for their innovative research that resulted in the development of an alternative to traditional ACL replacement surgery. Read about the award in Becker's Spine Review.
- [Consultant360: Wanda Phipatanakul, MD, MS, on Allergic Asthma (podcast)](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/consultant360-wanda-phipatanakul-md-ms-on-allergic-asthma-podcast/) - Dr. Wanda Phipatanakul talks about about allergic phenotypes and endotypes of asthma, including biomarkers that distinguish patients with allergic asthma, and how patients should be managed. Listen to the podcast on Consultant360.
- [earth.com: Health risks to children rise due to climate change](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/earth-com-health-risks-to-children-rise-due-to-climate-change/) - Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital and Boston University School of Public Health found that climate change has increased children's health risks significantly. Read about the study on earth.com.
- [Good Morning America: How to help kids struggling with mental health amid COVI-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/good-morning-america-how-to-help-kids-struggling-with-mental-health-amid-covi-19/) - Dr. Erica Lee offers advice for parents worried about their children's mental health as the pandemic drags on. Watch the interview on Good Morning America.
- [NBC10 Boston: Mental Health Crisis Grows as COVID-19 Pandemic Rages on](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/nbc10-boston-mental-health-crisis-grows-as-covid-19-pandemic-rages-on/) - Boston Children's psychiatrist Dr. Chase Samsel discusses the mental health impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic on children. Watch the interview on NBC10 Boston.
- [New Scientist: Have we got the science of obesity back to front?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/new-scientist-have-we-got-the-science-of-obesity-back-to-front/) - An article by Dr. David Ludwig explains why calorie restriction usually fails long before a person with obesity approaches an ideal body weight. "Whereas the usual approach (to obesity and weight loss) focuses on how much to eat, with prescriptions for daily calorie intake, in our view, the emphasis should be placed on what to
- [WCVB-TV Channel 5: Boston pediatrician on boosters, omicron](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wcvb-tv-channel-5-boston-pediatrician-on-boosters-omicron/) - Dr. Kristin Moffitt of Boston Children's Division of Infectious Diseases answers questions about Omicron, boosters for children, and how to protect children not yet eligible for vaccines amid rapidly rising cases of children with COVID-19. Watch the interview on WCVB-TV Channel 5.
- [CBS Boston: Boston Doctor Says COVID Is Being Detected In Kids Incidentally At Hospitals](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/cbs-boston-boston-doctor-says-covid-is-being-detected-in-kids-incidentally-at-hospitals/) - The number of children hospitalized with COVID-19 has risen dramatically in recent weeks. However, Boston Children's Dr. Richard Malley explains, many were brought to the hospital for other health reasons and tested positive for COVID-19 once they arrived. Watch the interview on CBS Boston.
- [CNN: It won't be a pandemic forever. Here's what could be next](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/cnn-it-wont-be-a-pandemic-forever-heres-what-could-be-next/) - Dr. Ofer Levy, of the Precision Vaccines Program at Boston Children's Hospital, describes a probable future in which COVID-19 becomes a viral illness that comes and goes but is not nearly as deadly as it currently is. Read more on CNN.
- [Good Morning America: COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective for children: 3 CDC studies say](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/good-morning-america-covid-19-vaccines-are-safe-effective-for-children-3-cdc-studies-say/) - Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and chief innovation officer at Boston Children's Hospital summarizes the studies demonstrating that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective for children. Learn more on Good Morning America.
- [WCVB-TV Channel 5: Boston Children's doctor on how to best protect young unvaccinated kids from omicron](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wcvb-tv-channel-5-boston-childrens-doctor-on-how-to-best-protect-young-unvaccinated-kids-from-omicron/) - Dr. Kristin Moffitt discusses the recent rise in pediatric COVID-19 infections, the Omicron variant, and how parents can help keep kids safe. Watch the interview on WCVB-TV Channel 5.
- [ABC News: ‘We're going to see a light at the end of the tunnel’ on omicron](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/abc-news-were-going-to-see-a-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-on-omicron-medical-expert/) - Dr. John Brownstein of Boston Children's Hospital talks with ABC News about the latest CDC guidance on COVID-19 isolation, the shortage of COVID-19 tests, and some possibly promising signs amid the surge in Omicron cases. Still, he warns, based on the sheer number of cases, it is as important as ever to remain vigilant to avoid
- [ABCNews: As omicron spreads, experts share how to celebrate holidays safely](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/abcnews-as-omicron-spreads-experts-share-how-to-celebrate-holidays-safely/) - Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist at Boston Children's Hospital, on why vaccines and booster shots will help make the 2021 holiday season better and safer than they were in 2020. "We didn't have vaccines, we didn't have pervasive testing. With these new tools, we can celebrate in a different way." Learn more on ABCNews.
- [Boston Globe: ‘Is it reflecting who we’re taking care of?’ Massachusetts Hospital Association urges members to increase board diversity](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-globe-is-it-reflecting-who-were-taking-care-of-massachusetts-hospital-association-urges-members-to-increase-board-diversity/) - Boston Children's Hospital President and Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Churchwell, MD, and co-chair of the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association’s committee on diversity, health equity, and inclusion, is part of a statewide effort urging hospitals to diversify their governing boards to better reflect the patients and communities they serve. Read about it in The Boston
- [ABCNews: CDC: Omicron responsible for 3% of COVID-19 cases](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/abcnews-cdc-omicron-responsible-for-3-of-covid-19-cases/) - Boston Children's Chief Innovation Officer, John Brownstein, PhD, on why having an antiviral pill as a second line of defense will be critical if the omicron variant causes a surge of infections. Watch the coverage on ABCNews.
- [CNBC: It's unclear whether we need an omicron-specific vaccine, says Dr. Ofer Levy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/cnbc-its-unclear-whether-we-need-an-omicron-specific-vaccine-says-dr-ofer-levy/) - Dr. Ofer Levy of the precision vaccines program at Boston Children’s Hospital on the omicron variant of COVID-19 and what early data indicates about the effectiveness of existing vaccines against the new variant. Watch the interview on CNBC.
- [BuzzFeed News: Here’s How Instagram Fails To Protect People At Risk For Eating Disorders From Pro-Anorexia Messaging](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/buzzfeed-news-heres-how-instagram-fails-to-protect-people-at-risk-for-eating-disorders-from-pro-anorexia-messaging/) - Tracy Richmond, MD, MPH, director of the Eating Disorders Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, on the alarming rise of "thinspiration" and "pro-anorexia" sites on social media. Read about it on BuzzFeed News
- [NBC10: Parents, Doctors Talk Youth Mental Health Crisis in Massachusetts](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/nbc10-parents-doctors-talk-youth-mental-health-crisis-in-massachusetts/) - Psychologist Erica Lee, PhD, offers advice for parents whose children are in mental or emotional despair. Watch the interview on NBC10.
- [Medscape: Biologically Enhanced ACL Repair Now Commercially Available](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/medscape-biologically-enhanced-acl-repair-now-commercially-available/) - Orthopedic surgeon in chief, Martha Murray, MD, describes Bridge-Enhanced ACL Restoration, an option for biologically enhanced ACL repair rather than reconstruction. Read about it on Medscape. (free login may be required)
- [CNN: Have a gun in your home? Here's how to help reduce the risks for kids](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/cnn-have-a-gun-in-your-home-heres-how-to-help-reduce-the-risks-for-kids/) - Emergency physician, Lois Lee, MD, weighs in on gun safety and why the risk of someone in the home dying from a gunshot is significantly higher when a gun is in the home than the likelihood of a home invasion. Read about it on CNN.
- [The New York Times: 4 Ways to Cultivate Resilience in 2022](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-new-york-times-4-ways-to-cultivate-resilience-in-2022/) - Maimuna Majumder, PhD, infectious disease epidemiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, describes how she has managed stress during the pandemic. Read about it in The New York Times.
- [Healio: Central adiposity gain during childhood associated with worse cardiometabolic profile](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/healio-central-adiposity-gain-during-childhood-associated-with-worse-cardiometabolic-profile/) - Allison Wu, MD, attending physician in pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, describes research linking increasing waist size in adolescence to higher cardiometabolic risk. Learn more about the study on Healio.
- [WCVB-TV Channel 5: Doctor warns we're 'not in a place to let our guard down' with COVID-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wcvb-tv-channel-5-doctor-warns-were-not-in-a-place-to-let-our-guard-down-with-covid-19/) - Even as more kids are being vaccinated for COVID-19 in Massachusetts than other states, it's important to remain cautious about possible infection explains infectious disease specialist, Dr. Kristin Moffitt. Watch the interview on WCVB-TV Channel 5.
- [National Geographic: What families can do now that kids are getting the vaccine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/what-families-can-do-now-that-kids-are-getting-the-vaccine/) - More kids are getting vaccinated, but cases of COVID-19 are once again on the rise. Boston Children's pediatric infectious disease expert, Dr. Kristin Moffitt, offers advice for parents wondering how vaccinated children can have fun without being reckless. Read about it on National Geographic.
- [TIME: How Ryan Kaji Became the Most Popular 10-Year-Old in the World](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/how-ryan-kaji-became-the-most-popular-10-year-old-in-the-world/) - Dr. Michael Rich, director of the Boston Children’s Hospital’s Digital Wellness Lab weighs in on why unboxing videos on YouTube fascinate so many kids. Read the story in TIME.
- [Association of American Medical Colleges News: 8 medical advances you may have missed during COVID-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/8-medical-advances-you-may-have-missed-during-covid-19/) - From stimulating torn ACLs to heal themselves to a possible cure for sickle cell disease, orthopedic surgeon-in-chief, Martha Murray, MD, and chief of Hematology/Oncology, David Williams, MD, are leading two of the noteworthy medical advances. Read about them in the Association of American Medical Colleges News.
- [Good Morning America: FDA could allow American to mix and match COVID booster shot](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/good-morning-america-fda-could-allow-american-to-mix-and-match-covid-booster-shot/) - Boston Children's Hospital Chief Innovation Officer, John Brownstein, weighs in on the new development in COVID-19 vaccinations. Watch the interview on Good Morning America.
- [NECN: Frontline Workers Among Grand Marshals for Boston Marathon](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/necn-frontline-workers-among-grand-marshals-for-boston-marathon/) - In honor of her work during the COVID-19 pandemic, Boston Children's Lauren Aiello was one of eight frontline workers chosen to lead the historic 125th Boston Marathon. Read about it on NECN.
- [The New York Times: These are the experts who advised the F.D.A on both the J&J and the Moderna booster shots](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-new-york-times-these-are-the-experts-who-advised-the-f-d-a-on-both-the-jj-and-the-moderna-booster-shots/) - A panel of expert advisors to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommended authorizing booster shots of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines for many recipients. Dr. Ofer Levy of the Precision Vaccines Program at Boston Children's Hospital serves on the panel. Read more on The New York Times.
- [Boston Business Journal: Boston Children's to bring Franciscan Children's Hospital under corporate umbrella](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-business-journal-boston-childrens-to-bring-franciscan-childrens-hospital-under-corporate-umbrella/) - Amid a crisis in pediatric mental health and rising demand for behavioral and mental health services, Boston Children's announces plans to acquire Franciscan Children's in order to increase mental health services for patients. Read about it in the Boston Business Journal.
- [The Boston Globe: Boston Children's Hospital launches health equity initiative](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-boston-globe-boston-childrens-hospital-launches-health-equity-initiative/) - Boston Children's Hospital announces the Sandra L. Fenwick Institute for Health Equity & Inclusion, an initiative that advances pediatric health equity locally, nationally, and around the world. The institute is named in honor of Ms. Fenwick, Boston’s Children’s former CEO, who retired in early 2021 after more than 20 years in leadership roles at the hospital.
- [Freakonomics, M.D. Why Are Kids With Summer Birthdays More Likely to Get the Flu?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/freakonomics-m-d-why-are-kids-with-summer-birthdays-more-likely-to-get-the-flu/) - Pediatrician Alyna Tung-Mei Chien, MD, MS, joins a discussion about why the time of year a child is born can increase their risk -- and their families' risk -- for developing the flu. Listen to the discussion on the Freakonomics M.D. podcast.
- [Boston.com: Grace Hull is running for Boston Children’s Hospital, and the support given to patients like her daughter](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-com-grace-hull-is-running-for-boston-childrens-hospital-and-the-support-given-to-patients-like-her-daughter/) - Grace Hull of Nantucket explains why she's running the Boston Marathon for Boston Children's Hospital this October. "I’ve joined the Miles for Miracles team because I believe so strongly in all the amazing things Boston Children’s Hospital does for kids." Read her story on Boston.com.
- [NBC10 Boston: 'Milk Crate Challenge' Prompts Warnings From Police, Kids Who Have Tried It](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/nbc10-boston-milk-crate-challenge-prompts-warnings-from-police-kids-who-have-tried-it/) - Lois Lee, MD, MPH, of Boston Children's Division of Emergency Medicine describes dangers posed by the latest challenge sweeping social media. "I could see the potential for a spinal cord injury which could even lead to paralysis if it affects your cervical spine and potentially even death," Lee said. Watch the interview on NBC10 Boston.
- [Heart Problem More Common After Covid-19 Than After Vaccination, Study Finds](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/heart-problem-more-common-after-covid-19-than-after-vaccination-study-finds/) - Boston Children's researcher Ben Reis describes a study comparing the risk of myocarditis associated with COVID-19 and the Pfizer vaccine. Myocarditis is a rare condition in which the heart muscle becomes inflamed. Reis was a co-author of the study. Read more on the New York Times.
- [The Boston Globe: We owe it to our kids to get them vaccinated](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-boston-globe-we-owe-it-to-our-kids-to-get-them-vaccinated/) - Kevin Churchwell, MD, president and CEO of Boston Children's Hospital, and Kate Walsh, president and CEO of Boston Medical Center, on how community and health care leaders can help limit the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on children's physical and mental health. Read the opinion piece on The Boston Globe.
- [Boston Globe: Boston Children’s joins $220 million research effort on athletic performance](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-globe-boston-childrens-joins-220-million-research-effort-on-athletic-performance/) - The Female Athlete Program has joined the Joe and Clara Tsai Foundation in a research collaboration looking at the physiology of and athletic performance of girls and women. Learn more at The Boston Globe. (Login may be required.)
- [Boston Globe: In these hazy skies, a public health warning from a warming planet](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/in-these-hazy-skies-a-public-health-warning-from-a-warming-planet/) - As smoke from the wildfires in Canada and the Western United States descended on Boston, Marissa Hauptman, MD, MPH, FAAP, Shalini Shah, DO, and Aaron Bernstein, MD, MPH, discussed the health effects of climate change. Learn more at The Boston Globe. (Login may be required.)
- [CNN: Tokyo 2020 isn't the first Olympic Games to battle a pandemic](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/tokyo-2020-isnt-the-first-olympic-games-to-battle-a-pandemic/) - Chief Innovation Officer, John Brownstein, PhD, discusses the history of pandemics and the Olympics, including how the Zika virus affected the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. Learn more from CNN.
- [Boston Globe: These two Boston hospitals were ranked best in the nation by US News & World Report](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/these-two-boston-hospitals-were-ranked-best-in-the-nation-by-us-news-world-report/) - Boston Children’s is recognized as the nation’s top pediatric hospital for the eighth consecutive year, as part of adult hospital rankings. Learn more from The Boston Globe. (Login may be required.)
- [WCVB-TV Channel 5: Mass. pediatrician on wearing masks around kids as delta numbers rise](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wcvb-tv-channel-5-mass-pediatrician-on-wearing-masks-around-kids-as-delta-numbers-rise/) - Dr. Kristin Moffitt answers questions about whether adults should wear masks around kids as the number of Delta variant infections rise. Watch the interview on WCVB TV Channel 5.
- [WCVB-TV Channel 5: Doctor talks about what summer vacations, camps will look like](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wcvb-tv-channel-5-doctor-talks-about-what-summer-vacations-camps-will-look-like/) - Dr. Kristin Moffitt talks about how lower COVID-19 infection rates and more people getting vaccinated mean that many kids can return to normal activities this summer. But, she cautions, risk still remains in areas where vaccination rates are low. Learn more on WCVB-TV.
- [Boston Herald: Boston Children’s Hospital ranks first in the nation for eighth year in a row](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-herald-boston-childrens-hospital-ranks-first-in-the-nation-for-eighth-year-in-a-row/) - In its 2021-22 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings, U.S. News & World Report named Boston Children's the #1 ranked children's hospital in the nation for the eighth year in a row. Read more in the Boston Herald.
- [NPR: 5 Ways To Stop Summer Colds From Making The Rounds In Your Family](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/npr-5-ways-to-stop-summer-colds-from-making-the-rounds-in-your-family/) - As more communities ease up on mask mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions, the summer cold is making a comeback. Read what you and your family can do on NPR.
- [Bloomberg: Pockets of Unvaccinated Americans Threaten to Prolong Pandemic](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/pockets-of-unvaccinated-americans-threaten-to-prolong-pandemic/) - A health informatics researcher at Boston Children’s Hospital discusses the challenges of hidden pockets of low vaccination rates and what that could mean for the broader population. Read more on Bloomberg.
- [BabyGaga.com: Low-Cost Infant Warmer Can Save Countless Babies From Hypothermia Each Year](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/low-cost-infant-warmer-can-save-countless-babies-from-hypothermia-each-year/) - A new, low-cost, reusable infant warmer that promises to significantly reduce the rates of neonatal hypothermia. The device was developed by a team of researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and collaborators in Rwanda. Read more on BabyGaga.com.
- [Parade: If You're Trying to Avoid Weight Gain, Here Are 40 Tips from Experts That Actually Work](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/parade-if-youre-trying-to-avoid-weight-gain-here-are-40-tips-from-experts-that-actually-work/) - Dr. Lori Fishman, psychologist in the Optimal Wellness for Life Clinic at Boston Children’s Hospital warns that eating standing up or while on the phone is a recipe for overeating. Instead, she recommends eating all meals and snacks at a table on a plate without screens. Read more tips on Parade.
- [Nature: What the science says about lifting mask mandates](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/nature-what-the-science-says-about-lifting-mask-mandates/) - Boston Children's chief innovation officer, John Brownstein, discusses links between mask mandates, COVID-19 infection rates, government mandates, and human behavior. Read more at Nature.
- [CNN: Interest in vaccinations increased after CDC announced new mask guidance](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/cnn-interest-in-vaccinations-increased-after-cdc-announced-new-mask-guidance/) - Boston Children's chief innovation officer, John Brownstein, on the rise in COVID-19 vaccinations following the CDC's easing of mask requirements for those fully vaccinated against the virus. Read more at CNN.
- [WBUR: The deal with all the pollen](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wbur-the-deal-with-all-the-pollen/) - Boston Children's pediatrician Dr. Ari Bernstein on why this pollen season seems worse than usual, and what we can expect from seasonal allergies now and in the years ahead. Listen to the interview on WBUR.
- [Vox: The lingering threat of fall COVID-19 outbreaks](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/vox-the-lingering-threat-of-fall-covid-19-outbreaks/) - Mauricio Santillana, a researcher at Harvard Medical School and Boston Children’s Hospital, is interviewed about reasons to both celebrate the recent drop in COVID-19 infections and remain cautious about what could happen this coming fall. Read more at Vox.
- [NBC Nightly News: Pandemic created 'perfect storm' for eating disorders in teens](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/nbc-nightly-news-pandemic-created-perfect-storm-for-eating-disorders-in-teens/) - Dr. Tracy Richmond, director of the Eating Disorder Program at Boston Children's Hospital, started getting an unusual number of requests for help with eating disorders in mid-April 2020. Read more at NBC Nightly News.
- [WCVB-TV Channel 5: Dr. Kristin Moffitt on teen vaccination misinformation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wcvb-tv-channel-5-dr-kristin-moffitt-on-teen-vaccination-misinformation/) - Dr, Kristin Moffitt, infectious disease specialist at Boston Children's Hospital speaks about teen vaccination misinformation. Learn more from WCVB-TV Channel 5.
- [WBUR Cognoscenti: I’m a physician. Don’t legislate health care for transgender patients](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wbur-cognoscenti-im-a-physician-dont-legislate-health-care-for-transgender-patients/) - Authored by Dr. Jessica Kremen, pediatric endocrinologist at Boston Children's Hospital. Read more at WBUR.
- [The New York Times: Eating disorders in teens have ‘exploded’ in the pandemic](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-new-york-times-eating-disorders-in-teens-have-exploded-in-the-pandemic/) - S. Bryn Austin, ScD, research scientist in the Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital is quoted. Learn more from The New York Times.
- [The Boston Globe: Facebook, Boston Children’s Hospital offer new way to find COVID shots](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-boston-globe-facebook-boston-childrens-hospital-offer-new-way-to-find-covid-shots/) - The Boston Globe (login may be required) reports on the collaboration between Facebook and VaccineFinder.org. The founder of the site, Boston Children’s Chief Innovation Officer, John Brownstein, PhD, explains how this partnership will allow more of the population to locate COVID-19 vaccination sites. ABC News, FOX Business, The Hill, Mashable, MobiHealthNews, Input, CNET, WWPR 105.1 (New York),FOX10 (Alabama), ABC4 (Utah), and KGET17 (California) also report on this
- [WBZ-TV: Moderna starts COVID-19 vaccine study for children under 12](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wbz-tv-moderna-starts-covid-19-vaccine-study-for-children-under-12/) - WBZ-TV. Boston Children's Richard Malley, MD, speaks to WBZ-TV channel 4 and NBC10 about the start of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine trials in children. Learn more from WBZ-TV.
- [National Geographic: Why kids need their own COVID-19 vaccine trials](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/national-geographic-why-kids-need-their-own-covid-19-vaccine-trials/) - National Geographic (login may be required) provides an inside look into the process of developing vaccines for children. Boston Children’s Erica Denhoff, MPH, CCRP, is quoted in the article. Learn more from National Geographic.
- [CNBC: VRBPAC member Dr. Ofer Levy on evaluating the JNJ Covid-19 vaccine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/cnbc-vrbpac-member-dr-ofer-levy-on-evaluating-the-jnj-covid-19-vaccine/) - CNBC reports on the evaluation of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. Boston Children’s,Ofer Levy, MD, PhD, a member of the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC), is interviewed for the segment. Learn more from CNBC.
- [CNN: Chemicals in plastics damage babies' brains and must be banned immediately, expert group says](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/cnn-chemicals-in-plastics-damage-babies-brains-and-must-be-banned-immediately-expert-group-says/) - CNN reports on new research that shows synthetic chemicals called phthalates, which are found in a variety of commonly-used items – such as food packaging; detergents; vinyl flooring, clothing, furniture and shower curtains- can damage brain development in children. Boston Children’s David Bellinger, PhD, explains more about these harmful chemicals. Learn more from CNN.
- [ABC News: Johnson & Johnson may soon have vaccine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/abc-news-johnson-johnson-may-soon-have-vaccine/) - ABC News reports on the potential approval of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. Boston Children’s Chief Innovation Officer, John Brownstein, PhD, weighs in on the latest vaccine developments. Learn more.
- [NECN: Boston researchers look to create anti-opioid vaccine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/necn-boston-researchers-look-to-create-anti-opioid-vaccine/) - NECN's "The Ten" reports that researchers from Boston Children’s are developing a fentanyl vaccine to prevent opioid overdose-related deaths. Boston Children’s Sharon Levy, MD, MPH, and Ofer Levy, MD, MPH, explain their research. Learn more.
- [Vox: When will kids be able to get the COVID-19 vaccines?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/vox-when-will-kids-be-able-to-get-the-covid-19-vaccines/) - Vox reports on the timeline to vaccinate children against COVID-19. Boston Children’s Kristin Moffitt, MD, explains the vaccine trial process for children and teenagers. Learn more from Vox.
- [The Washington Post: U.S. largely weathered Christmas coronavirus surge, but experts warn the threat could intensify](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-washington-post-u-s-largely-weathered-christmas-coronavirus-surge-but-experts-warn-the-threat-could-intensify/) - The Washington Post (login may be required) reports on the potential for the COVID-19 pandemic to intensify as new variants of the virus emerge across the U.S. Boston Children’s chief innovation officer, John Brownstein, PhD, weighs in on the rising infection rates. Learn more from The Washington Post.
- [New York Times: One dose now for everyone most likely to die](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/new-york-times-one-dose-now-for-everyone-most-likely-to-die/) - In an op-ed for The New York Times (login may be required), Boston Children’s Richard Malley, MD, weighs in on the COVID-19 vaccination strategies in the U.S. Read more from The New York Times.
- [MedTechDive: NFL player-backed implant to fix ACL tears gets FDA De Novo](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/medtechdive-nfl-player-backed-implant-to-fix-acl-tears-gets-fda-de-novo/) - MedTechDive reports that the FDA has granted De Novo approval for the Bridge-Enhanced ACL Repair (BEAR) Implant, which was pioneered by Boston Children’s Martha Murray, MD. Read more from MedTechDive.
- [USA Today: Where’s the COVID-19 vaccine? Who’s been vaccinated? Here's how we'll know.](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/usa-today-wheres-the-covid-19-vaccine-whos-been-vaccinated-heres-how-well-know/) - USA Today reports on the need to both track COVID-19 immunizations and provide the public with accessible information to locate vaccination sites. Boston Children’s Chief Innovation Officer, John Brownstein, PhD, explains the role of VaccineFinder, a website that will help users find where they can receive their shot and the vaccine supply at each location. Read
- [Parents Magazine: Top 15 children's hospitals in innovation and technology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/parents-magazine-top-15-childrens-hospitals-in-innovation-and-technology/) - Parents Magazine features Boston Children’s sickle cell disease gene therapy trial as one of its significant medical achievements for the year. Erica Esrick, MD, the trials PI, appears in the piece. The trial was also recognized by Prevention magazine this week. Learn more from Parents Magazine.
- [ABC News: COVID-19 emergency](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/abc-news-covid-19-emergency/) - As COVID-19 case numbers surge in the United States, ABC News reports on testing and vaccine development. Boston Children’s Chief Innovation Officer, John Brownstein, PhD, is interviewed for the segment. Learn more from ABC News.
- [Smithsonian Magazine: More than 1 million U.S. children have had COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/smithsonian-magazine-more-than-1-million-u-s-children-have-had-covid-19-since-the-start-of-the-pandemic/) - Smithsonian Magazine reports that more than one million children have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the United States since the start of the pandemic. Boston Children’s Richard Malley, MD, discusses the virus’s impact on children. Learn more from Smithsonian Magazine.
- [The Washington Post: Two-dose coronavirus vaccine regimens will make it harder to inoculate America](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-washington-post-two-dose-coronavirus-vaccine-regimens-will-make-it-harder-to-inoculate-america/) - The Washington Post reports on the challenge of distributing a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine. Boston Children’s Chief Innovation Officer, John Brownstein, PhD, discusses the potential role of the Vaccine Finder system in this new vaccination process. Learn more from The Washington Post.
- [The New York Times: Helping children with anxiety in the pandemic](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-new-york-times-helping-children-with-anxiety-in-the-pandemic/) - The New York Times reports anxiety can bring children into emergency rooms, and into psychiatric hospitalizations, and in a time of generally heightened stress and anxiety, parents with anxious kids find themselves worrying especially about the worriers, wondering how to talk with them about the complexities of life in 2020, and trying to assess when worry
- [Good Morning America: How to prepare for a safe Thanksgiving from travel to meal plans](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/good-morning-america-how-to-prepare-for-a-safe-thanksgiving-from-travel-to-meal-plans/) - Good Morning America reports on ways Americans can stay healthy and avoid transmission of COVID-19 during the Thanksgiving holiday. Boston Children’s Chief Innovation Officer, John Brownstein, PhD, says if you must travel to see family, 14-day isolation and testing leading up to the holiday is key. Learn more from Good Morning America.
- [USA Today: Trump’s EPA rewrote the rules on air, water energy. Now voters face a choice on climate change issues](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/usa-today-trumps-epa-rewrote-the-rules-on-air-water-energy-now-voters-face-a-choice-on-climate-change-issues/) - USA Today reports as Americans cast their ballots in next Tuesday’s election, voters have a choice: continued deregulation that could lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions, worsening symptoms of climate change and mass species die-offs or a reversal of those policies and slate of new governmental restrictions. Boston Children’s Aaron Bernstein, MD, MPH, is quoted in
- [ABC News: Massachusetts' COVID-19 response was science-based, so why are cases rising?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/abc-news-massachusetts-covid-19-response-was-science-based-so-why-are-cases-rising/) - Despite having one of the best initial responses to the pandemic in the U.S., Massachusetts is facing an unfortunate rise in COVID-19 cases. ABC News reports on the possible causes of this increase and Boston Children’s Chief Innovation Officer, John Brownstein, PhD, weighs in on how the cooler and drier weather could impact this new
- [WHDH-TV Making the Grade: Local doctor gives helpful tips to get children to wear masks](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/whdh-tv-making-the-grade-local-doctor-gives-helpful-tips-to-get-children-to-wear-masks/) - WHDH-TV channel 7 reports on the challenges families face to help children to continue to wear their masks amid the coronavirus pandemic. Boston Children’s Richard Malley, MD, provides helpful tips for families to inspire children to wear their masks properly. Learn more from WHDH-TV.
- [Medscape: Pediatric fractures shift during pandemic](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/medscape-pediatric-fractures-shift-during-pandemic/) - Medscape reports that pediatric fractures have dropped during the early months of COVID-19, but new research indicates that more breaks and fractures are now happening at home and on bicycles among younger children. Boston Children’s Benjamin Shore, MD, MPH, explains the results of the study and how families can best treat these injuries amid the
- [ABC News: Experts express concerns about possible coronavirus transmission at vice president debate](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/abc-news-experts-express-concerns-about-possible-coronavirus-transmission-at-vice-president-debate/) - ABC News reports on the two, five-foot tall plexiglass walls placed between Vice President Mike Pence and Senator Kamala Harris at the Vice Presidential debate. The thick plastic barriers, approved by the Commission on Presidential Debates, were intended to prevent the possible transmission of the coronavirus. Boston Children’s Chief Innovation Officer, John Brownstein, PhD, weighs
- [WCVB-TV: Boston Children's doctor on best Halloween trick-or-treat options in COVID-19 pandemic](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wcvb-tv-boston-childrens-doctor-on-best-halloween-trick-or-treat-options-in-covid-19-pandemic/) - In her weekly live segment with WCVB-TV channel 5, Boston Children’s Kristin Moffitt, MD, discusses some safer options for celebrating Halloween.​ Read more from WCVB-TV channel 5.
- [Becker’s Hospital Review: Boston Children's Hospital CEO weighs in on leading amid the pandemic: Six notes](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/beckers-hospital-review-boston-childrens-hospital-ceo-weighs-in-on-leading-amid-the-pandemic-six-notes/) - Becker’s Hospital Review reports that Boston Children’s CEO, Sandra Fenwick, participated in a webinar with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to discuss how Boston Children’s has worked through the pandemic. The webinar reached a global audience of more than 4,000 people, with many more expected to view the webinar through an on
- [Worcester Telegram & Gazette: ‘Miracle Boy’ in Worcester living inspiration on overcoming medical challenges](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/worcester-telegram-gazette-miracle-boy-in-worcester-living-inspiration-on-overcoming-medical-challenges/) - Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports on Boston Children’s patient Jose Rafael “Rafa” Melendez. Rafa underwent a kidney transplant at 16 months old and now, at age 4, he wants to be a phlebotomist, nephrologist or radiologist when he grows up and he plans to give all of his money to Boston Children’s Hospital. Learn more from
- [FOX5 New York: Why a COVID-19 vaccine isn’t specifically being developed for children](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/fox5-new-york-why-a-covid-19-vaccine-isnt-specifically-being-developed-for-children/) - FOX5 New York reports it is a question left out of most stories about the race for a COVID-19 vaccine: What about the kids? Is anyone working on a vaccine that protects them? The short answer is: No. Boston Children’s Richard Malley, MD, explains the vaccine testing process and why children are last to be
- [Nature: The lasting misery of coronavirus long-haulers](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/nature-the-lasting-misery-of-coronavirus-long-haulers/) - Nature reports that months after battling COVID-19, some people are still struggling with extreme fatigue, lung damage and other symptoms as a result of the toll this virus can take. Boston Children’s Adrienne Randolph, MD, MSc, explains that long term, when patients recover, doctors still don’t know how long it takes the immune system to
- [WCVB-TV: 5 on Education: Experts weigh in on kids’ physical, emotional health as they go back to school](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wcvb-tv-5-on-education-experts-weigh-in-on-kids-physical-emotional-health-as-they-go-back-to-school/) - WCVB-TV channel 5 reports every day we learn more about how the coronavirus pandemic impacts children, both physically and mentally. As kids return to classrooms across the state, local experts believe that the new dynamic presents an opportunity to find the best ways to minimize risk while helping kids thrive. Boston Children’s Chief Innovation Officer,
- [Nature: Coronavirus reinfections: three questions scientists are asking](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/nature-coronavirus-reinfections-three-questions-scientists-are-asking/) - Nature reports dueling anecdotes are common in the see-saw world of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s a challenge to draw firm conclusions about long-term immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 from just a few cases. But in the coming weeks and months, experts expect to see more reports of reinfection, and, in time, a picture could emerge
- [USA Today: Pandemic Preschool: How to navigate sending your child into an unfamiliar building with masked strangers](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/usa-today-pandemic-preschool-how-to-navigate-sending-your-child-into-an-unfamiliar-building-with-masked-strangers/) - USA Today reports many child care centers and preschools that survived COVID-19 shutdowns are reopening their doors this fall, but the first day of class looks a little different this year, leaving some kids and guardians feeling anxious. Boston Children’s Erica Lee, PhD, weighs in on some of the ways parents can help their children
- [Boston Globe: Sandra Fenwick, CEO of Boston Children’s Hospital, plans to retire in March](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-globe-sandra-fenwick-ceo-of-boston-childrens-hospital-plans-to-retire-in-march/) - In a page 1 story, The Boston Globe reports Sandra L. Fenwick, chief executive of Boston Children’s Hospital, said Wednesday that she would retire next year, wrapping up a trailblazing four-decade career in which she became a national health care leader and advocate for children’s health. Fenwick, 70, will have run the hospital for more
- [New York Times: Daily coronavirus testing at home? Many experts are skeptical](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/new-york-times-daily-coronavirus-testing-at-home-many-experts-are-skeptical/) - The New York Times reports over the past few weeks, a Harvard scientist has made headlines for a bold idea to curb the spread of the coronavirus: rolling out so-called antigen tests, a decades-old underdog in testing technology, to tens of millions of Americans for near-daily, at-home use. But more than a dozen experts said
- [Wired: New data on how many kids got that COVID-19 mystery illness](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wired-new-data-on-how-many-kids-got-that-covid-19-mystery-illness/) - Wired reports on Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) and how A CDC report sheds light on how widespread this syndrome is, and what it could mean for vaccines. Boston Children’s Adrienne Randolph, MD, MSc, is interviewed about the syndrome and how her study is working to find answers. Learn more from Wired.
- [The Washington Post: Evidence grows that children may play a larger role in transmission than previously believed](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-washington-post-evidence-grows-that-children-may-play-a-larger-role-in-transmission-than-previously-believed/) - The Washington Post reports that a new study finds some children have significantly higher levels of virus in their airways than the most severely ill adults — suggesting their role in community spread may be larger than previously believed. Boston Children’s Adrienne Randolph, MD, MSc, is leading a CDC-sponsored study with 73 medical centers across
- [WBUR: Rapid testing program planned for school outbreaks](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wbur-rapid-testing-program-planned-for-school-outbreaks/) - WBUR reports as students prepare to return to school in many districts, the state is preparing for the possibility of COVID-19 outbreaks. Gov. Charlie Baker said Thursday that his administration plans to roll out a rapid response testing program that can be made available to any school in the state that meets certain criteria. Boston
- [Minnesota Public Radio: Higher COVID-19 rates seen in Black and Hispanic children in Minnesota](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/minnesota-public-radio-higher-covid-19-rates-seen-in-black-and-hispanic-children-in-minnesota/) - Minnesota Public Radio reports that according to state health data, COVID-19 affects Black and Hispanic children at higher rates than whites in Minnesota. Boston Children’s Adrienne Randolph, MD, MSc, is interviewed. Learn more from Minnesota Public Radio.
- [WCVB-TV: Dr. Kristin Moffitt answers COVID-19 questions](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wcvb-tv-dr-kristin-moffitt-answers-covid-19-questions/) - In her weekly, live segment with WCVB-TV channel 5, Boston Children’s Kristin Moffitt, MD, answers viewer questions related to COVID-19 and returning to school in the fall. Learn more from WCVB-TV channel 5.
- [Good Morning America: Ventilation placement could affect COVID-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/good-morning-america-ventilation-placement-could-affect-covid-19/) - ABC’s Good Morning America reports on a new study from the University of Minnesota looking at ventilation placement in classrooms and how that may impact the spread of COVID-19. Boston Children’s Chief Innovation Officer, John Brownstein, PhD, says best practices like mask wearing, social distancing and the layout of the classroom in addition to proper
- [Real Simple: How to prepare your kids to go back to school during coronavirus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/real-simple-how-to-prepare-your-kids-to-go-back-to-school-during-coronavirus/) - Real Simple provides some tips on the best way to prepare children to go back to school – however that might happen. Boston Children’s Michael Rich, MD, MPH, provides his expertise and explains that it’s important to seek out the most up-to-date data from a reputable source. Learn more from Real Simple.
- [BuzzFeed News: We asked coronavirus experts about whether they're taking a vacation this summer](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/buzzfeed-news-we-asked-coronavirus-experts-about-whether-theyre-taking-a-vacation-this-summer/) - BuzzFeed News talks to coronavirus experts – including Boston Children’s Maia Majumder, PhD - about their summer plans and if it's safe to fly, rent an Airbnb, swim in a pool, or dine outside. Learn more from BuzzFeed News.
- [Fox Business: Brands that pulled Facebook ads with #StopHateForProfit campaign](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/fox-business-brands-that-pulled-facebook-ads-with-stophateforprofit-campaign/) - Fox Business reports on the brands – including Boston Children’s - that pulled their Facebook advertising for the month of July in support of the #StopHateForProfit initiative. Learn more from Fox Business.
- [WCVB-TV: Dr. Rick Malley answers COVID-19 questions](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wcvb-tv-dr-rick-malley-answers-covid-19-questions/) - In a live segment for WCVB-TV channel 5, Boston Children’s Richard Malley, MD, answers viewer questions related to COVID-19, including concerns about returning to school in the fall. Learn more at WCVB-TV channel 5.
- [Orthopedics Today: Comparable outcomes seen for bridge-enhanced ACL repair, autograft ACL reconstruction](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/orthopedics-today-comparable-outcomes-seen-for-bridge-enhanced-acl-repair-autograft-acl-reconstruction/) - Orthopedics Today reports that according to new data presented by Boston Children’s Martha Murray, MD, at the virtual American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, patients who had a bridge-enhanced ACL repair technique showed similar patient-report outcomes with no infection or rejection compared with patients who had autograft ACL reconstruction. Read more at Orthopedics
- [The Hill: Eating disorders cost US $65 billion a year: Here's what agencies can do](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-hill-eating-disorders-cost-us-65-billion-a-year-heres-what-agencies-can-do/) - In a contributed piece for The Hill, Boston Children’s Bryn Austin, ScD, explains that in a recent survey, data collected in the first few months of the pandemic confirmed that for people with eating disorders, being cut off from their normal sources of care and social support is worsening their symptoms, potentially increasing suicide and
- [The Boston Globe: Kids and COVID-19 with Sandra Fenwick](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-boston-globe-kids-and-covid-19-with-sandra-fenwick/) - On Tuesday, Boston Children’s CEO Sandra Fenwick was a guest on the Boston Globe Op Talk Webinar alongside Globe's deputy opinion editor, Brian Bergstein. The talk focused on how COVID-19 is affecting children and what that means for their return to schools and child care centers. The Globe promoted the interview extensively across its subscriber
- [Reuters Health: Early screening may curb breast cancer deaths in childhood cancer survivors​](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/reuters-health-early-screening-may-curb-breast-cancer-deaths-in-childhood-cancer-survivors​/) - Reuters Health reports that survivors of childhood cancer previously treated with chest radiation are at high risk of dying from breast cancer, according to a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine by Jennifer M. Yeh, PhD, and Lisa Diller, MD, of Dana-Farber/Boston Children's. The findings suggest that increasing the awareness of screening guidelines and
- [WCVB-TV: Doctor reacts to Mass. governor’s phase 3 reopening](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wcvb-tv-doctor-reacts-to-mass-governors-phase-3-reopening/) - In a live segment for WCVB-TV channel 5, Boston Children’s Chief Innovation Officer, John Brownstein, PhD, answers viewer questions about Governor Charlie Baker’s decision to move forward with phase 3 reopening of Massachusetts. Learn more from WCVB-TV.
- [Contagion Live: The epidemiology of MIS-C](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/contagion-live-the-epidemiology-of-mis-c/) - Contagion Live interviews Boston Children’s Adrienne Randolph, MD, about her recent New England Journal of Medicine study that looks deeper into MIS-C to better understand the mysterious illness. Learn more from Contagion Live.
- [The New England Journal of Medicine: Increased caseloads may explain why reducing resident physicians’ work hours doesn’t always improve patient safety](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-new-england-journal-of-medicine-increased-caseloads-may-explain-why-reducing-resident-physicians-work-hours-doesnt-always-improve-patient-safety/) - When Chris Landrigan, general pediatrics, and colleagues tested shorter work shifts in a randomized trial, patient safety actually worsened at some hospitals. In The New England Journal of Medicine, they report that a key factor driving medical errors was how many patients each resident cared for. ​Learn more from The New England Journal of Medicine.
- [WBUR: Children and play, during a pandemic](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wbur-children-and-play-during-a-pandemic/) - WBUR’s “Radio Boston” interviews Boston Children’s Rick Malley, MD, about better understanding the role children play in spreading the coronavirus, as well as what’s a safe level of play and interaction for kids at this stage in the pandemic. They discuss what level of play is safe and answer questions from callers. Learn more from
- [Boston.com: COVID-19 may give rise to ‘universal stress’ for kids coming back to school](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-com-covid-19-may-give-rise-to-universal-stress-for-kids-coming-back-to-school/) - Boston.com reports as families and teachers anticipate the day students can finally walk through their school hallways again, Boston Children’s Shella Dennery, PhD, LICSW, is worried about a newfound “universal stress” kids might be feeling as they continue to face unknowns and drastic changes in their routines amid the coronavirus pandemic. Dennery was one of
- [The Wall Street Journal: Efforts for coronavirus vaccine focus on vulnerable group: Older adults](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-wall-street-journal-efforts-for-coronavirus-vaccine-focus-on-vulnerable-group-older-adults/) - The Wall Street Journal reports health experts are worried about whether coronavirus vaccines under development will adequately protect the elderly, sparking efforts to make sure there are shots that can help this vulnerable group. Boston Children’s Ofer Levy, MD, PhD, is quoted in the story. Learn more from The Wall Street Journal (subscription may be
- [WGBH: Experts say school and childcare reopening presents challenges and opportunities](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wgbh-experts-say-school-and-childcare-reopening-presents-challenges-and-opportunities/) - WGBH reports schools and childcare programs face significant challenges as they work towards reopening this summer and fall. But a panel of health and human services leaders agreed Thursday that those challenges can be met, and that the current situation presents opportunities to do things differently. Learn more from WGBH.
- [Today.com: New research on COVID-19-related illness in kids: What parents need to know](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/today-com-new-research-on-covid-19-related-illness-in-kids-what-parents-need-to-know/) - Today.com reports on a new paper that examines multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children in 33 patients and finds that even though the symptoms are dangerous, doctors can treat it, leaving few lingering issues. Boston Children’s Kevin Friedman, MD, who was not involved in the paper provides his expertise on the findings. Learn more from Today.com.
- [U.S. News & World Report: Best Children's Hospitals 2020-21: Honor Roll and overview](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/u-s-news-world-report-best-childrens-hospitals-2020-21-honor-roll-and-overview/) - U.S. News & World Report announced their Best Children’s Hospitals for 2020-21 and for the seventh year in a row, Boston Children’s is the top ranked pediatric hospital in the nation. Read more from U.S. News & World Report.
- [Science News: What parents need to know about kids in the summer of COVID-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/science-news-what-parents-need-to-know-about-kids-in-the-summer-of-covid-19/) - Science News reports as states reopen, the coming months bring the prospect of gatherings at pools, playgrounds, and even amusement parks. But in this summer of COVID-19, many parents are left wondering what their kids can safely do. Boston Children’s Chief of Critical Care, Jeff Burns, MD, MPH, is quoted about MIS-C. Learn more from
- [Preschoolers may be looking at screens more than you think: What parents can do](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/preschoolers-may-be-looking-at-screens-more-than-you-think-what-parents-can-do/) - Healthline reports a new study concludes that most parents aren’t aware how much their preschool children are looking at electronic screens. Boston Children’s Elizabeth Harstad, MD, MPH, discusses the implications of the study’s findings. Read more from Healthline.
- [Children’s Hospital Association: Boston Children’s Hospital developing “rocket fuel” for COVID-19 vaccine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/childrens-hospital-association-boston-childrens-hospital-developing-rocket-fuel-for-covid-19-vaccine/) - Children’s Hospital Association reports infectious disease researchers and scientists around the globe are racing to develop a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. Boston Children’s Ofer Levy, MD, PhD, is interviewed for the article and Boston Children’s Hospital’s Precision Vaccines Program is highlighted. Learn more from Children’s Hospital Association.
- [Boston Magazine: How to talk to your kids about Boston’s police brutality protests](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-magazine-how-to-talk-to-your-kids-about-bostons-police-brutality-protests/) - Boston Magazine reports as a parent, you’re probably fresh off the heels of having challenging conversations with your child about what it means to live in a world seized by coronavirus. Now, in the aftermath of the recent deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, comes another series of difficult discussions about a
- [WCVB-TV: Team looks for laughter at Boston Children’s Hospital](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wcvb-tv-team-looks-for-laughter-at-boston-childrens-hospital/) - WCVB-TV channel 5 reports there is a team of clowns at Boston Children's Hospital that goes looking for laughter. Room by room, they hope to brighten what can be dark days. Now, because of the precautions required during the coronavirus pandemic, those visits are happening virtually but with the same effect. Jay Stewart – also
- [Fortune: What businesses can learn from a coronavirus-tracking breakthrough](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/fortune-what-businesses-can-learn-from-a-coronavirus-tracking-breakthrough/) - Fortune reports on HealthMap, an online global disease warning system developed by epidemiologists at Boston Children’s Hospital. Boston Children’s Chief Innovation Officer, John Brownstein, PhD, is quoted. Learn more from Fortune.
- [The Wall Street Journal: Schools and camps weigh coronavirus risks to kids when deciding to reopen](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-wall-street-journal-schools-and-camps-weigh-coronavirus-risks-to-kids-when-deciding-to-reopen/) - The Wall Street Journal (subscription may be required) reports there is evidence that COVID-19 can cause serious illness in children. Though such cases are very rare, they have parents worried and might influence decisions to reopen summer camps, day-care centers and schools. Boston Children’s Adrienne Randolph, MD, provides her expertise. Learn more from The Wall Street
- [National Geographic: Inflamed brains, toe rashes, strokes: Why COVID-19's weirdest symptoms are only emerging now](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/national-geographic-inflamed-brains-toe-rashes-strokes-why-covid-19s-weirdest-symptoms-are-only-emerging-now/) - National Geographic (login may be required) talks to Boston Children’s Chief of Medical Critical Care, Michael Agus, MD, about COVID-19 and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Learn more from National Geographic.
- [Al Jazeera: Doctors race to understand new illness afflicting children](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/al-jazeera-doctors-race-to-understand-new-illness-afflicting-children/) - Al Jazeera reports on multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and interviews Boston Children’s Jane Newburger, MD, MPH, Mary Beth Son, MD, and Adrienne Randolph, MD, MSc. Learn more from Al Jazeera.
- [WGBH: Boston Children’s Dr. Kevin Friedman: ‘Convinced’ development of inflammatory syndrome in children is related to coronavirus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wgbh-boston-childrens-dr-kevin-friedman-convinced-development-of-inflammatory-syndrome-in-children-is-related-to-coronavirus/) - WGBH’s Greater Boston reports at the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the conventional wisdom among medical professionals and researchers was that the virus largely spared or presented minor symptoms in children. But increasingly, doctors around the world have reported cases of a new illness thought to be related to coronavirus. Boston Children’s Kevin Friedman, MD,
- [PBS NewsHour: Why does COVID-19 appear to cause inflammatory response in some children?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/pbs-newshour-why-does-covid-19-appear-to-cause-inflammatory-response-in-some-children/) - Boston Children’s Jane Newburger, MD, MPH, joins PBS NewsHour to talk about multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Learn more from PBS NewsHour.
- [The Boston Globe: What we know — and don’t — about the new child inflammatory syndrome linked to coronavirus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-boston-globe-what-we-know-and-dont-about-the-new-child-inflammatory-syndrome-linked-to-coronavirus/) - In a Boston Globe opinion piece, Boston Children’s CEO Sandra Fenwick discusses multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children and the importance of research and pediatrics expertise to better understand this new syndrome. Learn more from The Boston Globe.
- [The Hill: Coronavirus isn't just a respiratory disease — it attacks your whole body](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-hill-coronavirus-isnt-just-a-respiratory-disease-it-attacks-your-whole-body/) - The Hill reports on COVID-19 and how it affects more than just the lungs. The more doctors learn about the virus, the more systems seem to be impacted and children aren’t immune to getting sick. Boston Children’s Chief of Critical Care, Jeff Burns, MD, MPH, is quoted. Learn more from The Hill.
- [Boston25 News: Cases of ‘coronavirus-like’ condition affecting children in Mass.](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston25-news-cases-of-coronavirus-like-condition-affecting-children-in-mass/) - Boston25 News reports on MIS-C, the inflammatory condition affecting some pediatric COVID-19 patients. Boston Children’s Kevin Friedman, MD, is interviewed for the segment. Learn more from Boston25 News.
- [WCVB-TV: Boston Children's Hospital doctor on syndrome found in some children](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wcvb-tv-boston-childrens-hospital-doctor-on-syndrome-found-in-some-children/) - In her weekly check in with WCVB-TV channel 5, Boston Children’s Kristin Moffitt, MD, talks about COVID-19 in children and multisymptom inflammatory syndrome. Learn more from WCVB-TV.
- [Vox: What we know about the new COVID-19-linked illness in children](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/vox-what-we-know-about-the-new-covid-19-linked-illness-in-children/) - VOX reports on a recent study in Lancet that focuses on multisystem inflammatory syndrome in Children. Boston Children’s Lauren Henderson, MD, provides her thoughts on the study. Learn more from Vox.
- [Nightline: Retailers, fighting to survive, adopt new safety measures as they begin reopening](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/nightline-retailers-fighting-to-survive-adopt-new-safety-measures-as-they-begin-reopening/) - ABC’s Nightline reports on the new measures some retailers are taking to protect consumers – and employees – from COVID-19 as businesses begin to reopen. Boston Children’s Chief Innovation Officer, John Brownstein, PhD, is interviewed for the story. Learn more from Nightline.
- [WBUR: Massachusetts hospitals report rare cases of coronavirus-related illness in children](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wbur-massachusetts-hospitals-report-rare-cases-of-coronavirus-related-illness-in-children/) - WBUR reports that a small number of children have been experiencing pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome – a rare inflammatory syndrome that doctors are working hard to better understand. Boston Children’s Chief of Critical Care, Jeff Burns, MD, MPH, explains what doctors are seeing in these patients and is encouraged that they are recovering well. Read
- [CNN: CDC will alert doctors to look out for syndrome in children that could be related to coronavirus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/cnn-cdc-will-alert-doctors-to-look-out-for-syndrome-in-children-that-could-be-related-to-coronavirus/) - CNN reports that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is preparing to release an alert warning doctors to be on the lookout for a dangerous inflammatory syndrome in children that could be linked to coronavirus infection. Boston Children’s Mary Beth Son, MD, is quoted. Read more from CNN.
- [The Boston Globe: COVID-19 was thought largely to spare children. Now a rare inflammatory syndrome seen in the young has doctors perplexed](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-boston-globe-covid-19-was-thought-largely-to-spare-children-now-a-rare-inflammatory-syndrome-seen-in-the-young-has-doctors-perplexed/) - The Boston Globe reports that while it was once thought children weren’t greatly impacted by COVID-19, there is now a focus on a small number of children developing pediatric multi system inflammatory syndrome and doctors are working hard to better understand that and how the coronavirus impacts children in general. Boston Children’s Jane Newburger, MD,
- [Channel 5: Children's Hospital expert discusses remdesivir's effectiveness with kids](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/channel-5-childrens-hospital-expert-discusses-remdesivirs-effectiveness-with-kids/) - In her weekly interview with Channel 5 Boston Children’s Kristin Moffitt, MD, discusses the latest developments in the coronavirus pandemic and the best approach to having kids wear masks. Learn more from Channel 5.
- [Boston Magazine: Who will lead the way?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-magazine-who-will-lead-the-way/) - Boston Magazine features Boston Children’s CEO, Sandra Fenwick, on its list of the 100 most influential people in Boston, noting that she has kept the 150-year-old institution ranked as the best children’s hospital in the country every year since she took charge in 2013 — as well as a leader in research. Learn more from
- [CBS Evening News: Doctors find unexpected symptom in children with COVID-19](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/cbs-evening-news-doctors-find-unexpected-symptom-in-children-with-covid-19/) - CBS Evening News reports doctors are learning more about how the coronavirus affects the human body, including inflammation in children who test positive for COVID-19. Boston Children’s Jane Newburger, MD, MPH, is interviewed for the segment. Learn more from CBS Evening News.
- [Boston Globe: Parents worried about coronavirus are missing vaccination appointments](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-globe-parents-worried-about-coronavirus-are-missing-vaccination-appointments/) - A page one Boston Globe story reports that parents fearful of the coronavirus are shying away from pediatricians’ offices, missing critical visits when children get immunized and opening the door to outbreaks of illnesses more dangerous to young people than COVID-19. The story reports on Boston Children’s work to get children immunized. Boston Children’s Claire
- [Boston Globe: Boston Children's Hospital to lead coronavirus studies](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-globe-boston-childrens-hospital-to-lead-coronavirus-studies/) - The Boston Globe reports that Boston Children’s Adrienne Randolph, MD, is leading a nationwide study to focus on COVID-19 in children and young adults up to age 25. The study is funded by the CDC and will perform real-time surveillance at more than 35 U.S. children’s hospitals to capture data on 800 patients hospitalized with
- [Becker’s Hospital Review: 73 hospital leaders in 10 states hit hardest by COVID-19 offer advice to colleagues: If you do nothing else, at least do this](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/beckers-hospital-review-73-hospital-leaders-in-10-states-hit-hardest-by-covid-19-offer-advice-to-colleagues-if-you-do-nothing-else-at-least-do-this/) - Becker’s Hospital Review reports on 73 hospital and health system leaders in the 10 states hardest hit by COVID-19 who shared the most critical actions for their colleagues across the U.S. to take in the next week as the virus continues its spread. Boston Children’s CEO, Sandra Fenwick is featured. Read more from Becker’s Hospital
- [Channel 5: Boston hospital admitting several child coronavirus patients per day, doctor says](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/channel-5-boston-hospital-admitting-several-child-coronavirus-patients-per-day-doctor-says/) - Channel 5 reports Boston Children's Hospital is admitting several COVID-19 pediatric patients per day during the surge in coronavirus cases throughout the state. Over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Boston Children’s has admitted a total of 25 patients who have tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Boston Children’s Chief of Medical Critical Care, Michael
- [The Boston Globe: In rare but growing number of cases, children hospitalized with coronavirus in Massachusetts](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-boston-globe-in-rare-but-growing-number-of-cases-children-hospitalized-with-coronavirus-in-massachusetts/) - The Boston Globe reports that when the state first released data on coronavirus cases by hospital last week, the numbers seemed almost predictable. Many large hospitals had well above 100 patients; smaller community ones had dozens. But one number was striking: Boston Children’s Hospital had seven patients admitted with confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus,
- [The Wall Street Journal: Online map tracks coronavirus outbreak in real time](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-wall-street-journal-online-map-tracks-coronavirus-outbreak-in-real-time/) - The Wall Street Journal reports that HealthMap, a program affiliated with the nonprofit Boston Children’s Hospital that monitors infectious diseases, has created a digital map using artificial intelligence and other technologies to constantly track the spread of the coronavirus. Boston Children’s Chief Innovation Officer, John Brownstein, PhD, is interviewed for the article. Read more from The
- [ABC News: Doctors using artificial intelligence to track coronavirus outbreak](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/abc-news-doctors-using-artificial-intelligence-to-track-coronavirus-outbreak/) - ABC News reports with novel coronavirus spreading throughout the United States, researchers are turning to social media and artificial intelligence to track the virus as it spreads. A team headquartered at Boston Children's Hospital is implementing machine learning to scour through social posts, news reports, data from official public health channels, and information supplied by
- [WGBH: New restrictions are aimed at curbing teen vaping, even as Mass. teens struggle to quit](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wgbh-new-restrictions-are-aimed-at-curbing-teen-vaping-even-as-mass-teens-struggle-to-quit/) - WGBH TV reports on vaping and how new restrictions are aimed at helping kids stop. But stopping is a real struggle. Boston Children’s Sharon Levy, MD, MPH, explains the toll these e-cigarettes take on a teens body and how difficult it can be to beat the addiction. Learn more from WGBH.
- [STAT: In coronavirus response, AI is becoming a useful tool in a global outbreak, data experts say](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/stat-in-coronavirus-response-ai-is-becoming-a-useful-tool-in-a-global-outbreak-data-experts-say/) - STAT reports that artificial intelligence is not going to stop the new coronavirus or replace the role of expert epidemiologists. But for the first time in a global outbreak, it is becoming a useful tool in efforts to monitor and respond to the crisis. Boston Children’s Chief Innovation Officer, John Brownstein, PhD, explains that the
- [WBZ-TV: Police escort boy to Boston Children’s Hospital for 3rd open-heart surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wbz-tv-police-escort-boy-to-boston-childrens-hospital-for-3rd-open-heart-surgery/) - WBZ-TV channel 4 reports that more than a dozen officers came together to give a 4-year-old boy a police escort to Boston Children’s Hospital on Wednesday. Mikey Grover, who suffers from congenital heart disease, is set to undergo his third open-heart surgery. Learn more from WBZ-TV.
- [WebMD: For trans youths, a tough path to gender harmony](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/webmd-for-trans-youths-a-tough-path-to-gender-harmony/) - WebMD reports on transgender teens and all that comes along with that journey. Boston Children’s Jeremi Carswell, MD, explains that each child who questions their assigned gender has to be treated individually - clearly one size does not fit all. Caregivers must hear their patients’ desires and take into account their age, personal maturity, home
- [New York Times: At 16, she’s a pioneer in the fight to cure sickle cell disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/new-york-times-at-16-shes-a-pioneer-in-the-fight-to-cure-sickle-cell-disease/) - The New York Times details the journey of Helen Obando, a 16-year-old with sickle cell disease, who is the first adolescent patient to undergo a novel sickle cell gene therapy clinical trial led by Boston Children’s Chief Scientific Officer David Williams, MD, and Erica Esrick, MD. Both Williams and Esrick are featured in the piece,
- [Marketplace: The big toy trend this year? Surprise! Seriously, it’s surprise.](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/marketplace-the-big-toy-trend-this-year-surprise-seriously-its-surprise/) - Marketplace reports on a common element of some of the most popular kids’ toys this season: surprise. From Hatchimals, to L.O.L. Surprise Dolls, the toy industry has pounced on the trend, creating a host of toys with built-in suspense. Boston Children’s Michael Rich, MD, MPH, says it may be more about the acquiring than the
- [USA Today: Legal vapes bought in stores made people sick. But the CDC doesn't ask where they were sold](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/usa-today-legal-vapes-bought-in-stores-made-people-sick-but-the-cdc-doesnt-ask-where-they-were-sold/) - USA Today reports that with many lung illnesses linked to legal THC vapes, cannabis advocates and opponents agree that government officials should give consumers more information about where the dangerous products were purchased. Boston Children’s Sharon Levy, MD, MPH, says she isn't surprised that dispensary marijuana was linked to lung illnesses. Read more at USA
- [Boston Herald: National Guard soldiers deliver toys for sick kids at Boston Children’s Hospital](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-herald-national-guard-soldiers-deliver-toys-for-sick-kids-at-boston-childrens-hospital/) - Boston Herald reports that more than 200 soldiers from the Massachusetts Army and Air National Guard marched 4.6 miles from Dorchester to Boston Children’s Hospital on Thursday to deliver toys, games, and gift cards to kids staying at the hospital over the holiday season. In addition to the gifts carried in soldiers’ sacks, two trucks
- [WHDH-TV: Boston Pops put on holiday show at Boston Children’s Hospital](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/whdh-tv-boston-pops-put-on-holiday-show-at-boston-childrens-hospital/) - WHDH-TV channel 7 reports that the Boston Pops visited Boston Children’s on Tuesday for their annual holiday concert. Former Patriots tackle Max Lane helped lead the musicians, and after a quick lesson from Pops conductor Keith Lockhart, 10-year-old patient Vivian Liedtke from Millville got a chance to conduct. Read more at WHDH-TV.
- [HealthDay News: Is timing everything for SIDS risk?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/healthday-news-is-timing-everything-for-sids-risk/) - HealthDay News shares new research that suggests that a baby's age may offer clues to sudden unexplained infant death (SUID) -- formerly known as SIDS. Boston Children’s Richard Goldstein, MD, who wrote an editorial that accompanied the study, is quoted in the story. Read more at HealthDay News.
- [NPR: Gene therapy may aid in sickle cell disease treatment](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/npr-gene-therapy-may-aid-in-sickle-cell-disease-treatment/) - NPR health correspondent Rob Stein reports on promising genetic treatments for sickle cell disease. The story focuses on two trials: the Boston Children's gene therapy trial led by Dr. Erica Esrick and Dr. David Williams and a CRISPR trial. Stein says the Boston Children's trial is looking good for the first handful of patients and
- [WHDH-TV: Rob Gronkowski builds gingerbread houses with kids at Boston Children’s](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/whdh-tv-channel-7-rob-gronkowski-builds-gingerbread-houses-with-kids-at-boston-childrens/) - WHDH-TV channel 7 reports on former Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski’s visit to Boston Children’s Hospital yesterday. Gronkowski and girlfriend Camille Kostek helped patients construct gingerbread houses. See more on WHDH-TV Channel 7.
- [WBZ-TV: Celtics spread holiday cheer at Boston Children’s](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wbz-tv-celtics-spread-holiday-cheer-at-boston-childrens/) - WBZ-TV channel 4 reports on the Celtic’s holiday visit to Boston Children’s where they spent time with patients and their families while decked out in the usual Christmas attire. More than a dozen players, along with head coach Brad Stevens and members of his coaching staff, made their annual holiday visit to the hospital, participating
- [Real Sports: Youth sports injuries](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/real-sports-youth-sports-injuries/) - HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel spotlights the increased occurrence of youth sports injuries – particularly in younger athletes. The story features Boston Children’s Chief of Sports Medicine Mininder Kocher, MD, MPH, and three of his patients – Emily, Quinn, and Mia. In the piece, Kocher explains how over the years it has become routine
- [The Harvard Gazette: A gateway to eating disorders](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-harvard-gazette-a-gateway-to-eating-disorders/) - The Harvard Gazette reports on a new study from Boston Children’s S. Bryn Austin, ScD, that finds young women who use diet pills and laxatives for weight control have a higher risk of being diagnosed with an eating disorder than their peers who do not. Austin says the findings parallel what we’ve known to be
- [WBUR: When 'friendly' probiotic bacteria turn into foes in the ICU](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wbur-when-friendly-probiotic-bacteria-turn-into-foes-in-the-icu/) - WBUR reports on a new study from Boston Children’s researchers that finds ICU patients on probiotics were about 120 times more likely to develop a lactobacillus infection than those not on probiotics. It is not clear exactly how ICU patients get bloodstream infections from probiotics, but it's likely that the bacteria leak out of the
- [Pain News Network: High number of youths using Rx opioids](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/pain-news-network-high-number-of-youths-using-rx-opioids/) - Pain News Network reports on a large new analysis of drug use by teenagers and young adults in the U.S. that finds a surprisingly high level of prescription opioid use. Boston Children’s Joel Hudgins, MD, first author of the study, says given these rates of opioid use and misuse, strong consideration should be given to
- [The New York Times: Why diet research is so spectacularly thin](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-new-york-times-why-diet-research-is-so-spectacularly-thin/) - The New York Times shares an op-ed from Boston Children’s David Ludwig, MD, PhD, and Steven B. Heymsfield, MD, whose recent study finds that most diet trials, even in the best journals, fail even the most basic of quality control measures. Read more from The New York Times.
- [Colorado Public Radio: What are teens doing when they’re on their phones? We asked them](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/colorado-public-radio-what-are-teens-doing-when-theyre-on-their-phones-we-asked-them/) - Colorado Public Radio reports that teens spend an average of nine hours a day online and 60 percent of teens themselves say spending too much time online is a “major” problem. Some adolescent psychologists believe that — in some teens and children — the phone has effectively killed the desire or need to develop other
- [CBS Boston: Bruins don Toy Story costumes for Halloween visit to Boston Children’s Hospital](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/cbs-boston-bruins-don-toy-story-costumes-for-halloween-visit-to-boston-childrens-hospital/) - CBS Boston reports on the Boston Bruins ninth annual Halloween visit to Boston Children’s on Monday. Players were dressed up as Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Forky, and other favorites from Toy Story 4, as they spent time visiting with children at the hospital. Read more from CBS Boston.
- [WGBH: Debating the public health impact of Baker’s vaping ban](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wgbh-debating-the-public-health-impact-of-bakers-vaping-ban/) - Boston Children’s Sharon Levy, MD, MPH, joins WGBH’s “Greater Boston” to discuss the vaping ban and why she believes it is the right move to protect consumers, particularly young people. Read more from WGBH.
- [Politico: Doctors lack treatments for nicotine-addicted youth](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/politico-doctors-lack-treatments-for-nicotine-addicted-youth/) - Politico reports that the nation’s top scientists and doctors lack approved therapies to help millions of teenagers stop using e-cigarettes even as the federal government grapples with regulations aimed at keeping new generations from becoming addicted to nicotine. Dr. Sharon Levy says vape products have the capability of delivering nicotine in very high jolts so
- [CNN: Young people who use flavored tobacco at first are more likely to keep using tobacco later, study says](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/cnn-young-people-who-use-flavored-tobacco-at-first-are-more-likely-to-keep-using-tobacco-later-study-says/) - CNN reports on a new study that finds young people who first try a flavored tobacco product are at higher risk of using tobacco later on. Dr. Sharon Levy says the study findings are a good place to start and could influence conversations about bans on flavored products. Read more from CNN.
- [The Wall Street Journal: Vaping-related illnesses rise to 1,604, CDC says](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-wall-street-journal-vaping-related-illnesses-rise-to-1604-cdc-says/) - The Wall Street Journal reports there are now 1,604 cases of the vaping-related illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Federal officials are still looking for the definitive cause of the illnesses but have flagged illicit THC products and oils as a major factor. Recent unpublished data from researchers at Boston
- [NIH Director’s Blog: One little girl’s story highlights the promise of precision medicine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/nih-directors-blog-one-little-girls-story-highlights-the-promise-of-precision-medicine/) - NIH Director’s Blog reports on Mila Makovec, an 8-year-old Boston Children’s patient with Batten disease, a rapidly progressing neurological disorder that is fatal. Boston Children’s Timothy Yu, MD, PhD, and his team found her highly unusual mutation, designed an oligonucleotide drug to bypass it, engaged industry partners and launched a treatment trial — just for
- [TCTMD: Statins started in kids with FH provide benefits in adulthood](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/tctmd-statins-started-in-kids-with-fh-provide-benefits-in-adulthood/) - TCTMD reports that starting statins during childhood in people with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) safely slows the progression of carotid intima-media thickness and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease events in adulthood, according to 20-year follow-up on patients previously enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. Boston Children’s Sarah de Ferranti, MD, MPH, says she’s been waiting
- [Targeting T-cell in mice: Preventing and reversing of multiple sclerosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/targeting-t-cell-in-mice-preventing-and-reversing-of-multiple-sclerosis/) - Health Periodical reports on a new study from Boston Children’s scientists that identifies the particular helper T cells that cause multiple sclerosis, as well as a protein on their surface that marks them. Eileen Remold-O’Donnell, PhD, says if human studies bear out the discoveries, targeting the rogue T cells could possibly improve multiple sclerosis (MS)
- [Babygaga: How we talk to babies can have long-lasting benefits for brain development](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/babygaga-how-we-talk-to-babies-can-have-long-lasting-benefits-for-brain-development/) - Babygaga reports that language development in babies is one of the most important milestones they can reach as it shows that instead of just absorbing information, they're able to process it and reiterate it back to you. A study led by Boston Children’s Rachel Romeo, PhD, finds that it is the number of direct conversations
- [Boston Globe: A timeline for Boston Children’s Hospital in its first 150 years](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-globe-a-timeline-for-boston-childrens-hospital-in-its-first-150-years/) - The Boston Globe shares a timeline of Boston Children’s myriad of milestones since 1869 when some Harvard Medical School graduates opened a 20-bed facility in the South End. Read more from the Boston Globe.
- [Boston Globe: Baker declares public health emergency, orders 4-month ban on all vaping products](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-globe-baker-declares-public-health-emergency-orders-4-month-ban-on-all-vaping-products/) - Boston Globe reports that Governor Charlie Baker took aggressive action Tuesday, ordering a four-month ban on the sale of all vaping products in Massachusetts in what is the most sweeping prohibition targeting electronic cigarettes in the United States. Boston Children’s Alicia Casey, MD, who appeared alongside Baker Tuesday, described treating teens who required ventilators to
- [ABC News: Doctors fail to help teens quit smoking, study finds](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/abc-news-doctors-fail-to-help-teens-quit-smoking-study-finds/) - ABC News reports on a new study from Boston Children’s Nicholas Chadi, MDCM, FRCPC, FAAP, and colleagues that finds despite serious risks, doctors aren’t doing enough to help young people quit smoking. Chadi points to existing interventions like nicotine replacement gum, patches, and lozenges as tools that pediatric health providers should consider to help young
- [Boston Globe: An intense EEE cycle is in full swing in Mass](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-globe-an-intense-eee-cycle-is-in-full-swing-in-mass/) - The Boston Globe reports that this year marks the beginning of a new, intense cycle of EEE, or Eastern equine encephalitis, that will likely persist for two to three years. The threat of infection, which has increased steadily over the last month, will last until the state sees several nights of prolonged hard frost. Boston
- [Reuters Health: Female pediatricians paid 76 cents for every $1 paid to men](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/reuters-health-female-pediatricians-paid-76-cents-for-every-1-paid-to-men-2/) - Reuters Health reports on two new studies which suggest that women in pediatrics still earn less than men even with similar levels of experience, even after accounting for the disproportionate amount of time they devote to unpaid work at home. Boston Children’s Amy Starmer, MD, MPH, co-author of one of the studies, says it is
- [Boston Business Journal: Boston Children's Hospital sky bridge opens with help from Celtics owner](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/reuters-health-female-pediatricians-paid-76-cents-for-every-1-paid-to-men/) - Boston Business Journal features the opening of Boston Children’s Fazzalari Sky Bridge. The project was made possible with the help of a donation from Wyc Grousbeck and wife Emilia Fazzalari. The bridge creates a pathway from the patient and family parking garage to the hospital, allowing patients and their families to avoid crossing Longwood Avenue
- [Akron Beacon Journal: UA grad student heads to Boston for third treatment; grateful for continued support](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/akron-beacon-journal-ua-grad-student-heads-to-boston-for-third-treatment-grateful-for-continued-support/) - https://www.ohio.com/news/20190831/brave-face-ua-grad-student-heads-to-boston-for-third-treatment-grateful-for-continued-supportAkron Beacon Journal reports on Lamise ElBetar, a Boston Children’s patient undergoing treatments to try to reduce her venous malformation. Lamise, a University of Akron graduate student, was born with a mass of intertwined veins and muscle that causes the lower right side of her face and the majority of her lips to protrude. When
- [Concord Monitor: For this 12-year-old from Pembroke, college sports came early](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/for-this-12-year-old-from-pembroke-college-sports-came-early/) - Concord Monitor reports on Katie Chase, a 12-year-old Boston Children’s patient who suffers from a disease called Alagille syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects major organs. This fall, Chase will be joining the Southern New Hampshire University women’s soccer team in order to inspire through her resiliency, after rebounding from surgeries, cancer, and a transplant,
- [CommonWealth Magazine: Trump administration changes course on immigrant patients](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/commonwealth-magazine-trump-administration-changes-course-on-immigrant-patients/) - CommonWealth Magazine reports that the Trump administration abruptly changed course on Monday, allowing immigrants with serious illnesses to have their denied cases to remain in the U.S. reopened, instead of being moved into deportation proceedings. The article highlights Samuel Fonseca, a Boston Children’s patient grateful for the reversal as it means being able to access
- [The Washington Post: Using symbols, she calmed a nonverbal autistic boy on a plane. His dad was awestruck.](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-washington-post-using-symbols-she-calmed-a-nonverbal-autistic-boy-on-a-plane-his-dad-was-awestruck/) - The Washington Post reports on Boston Children’s Rachel Romeo, a speech-language pathologist who recently spent a flight teaching a nonverbal child with autism to communicate with images. Romeo says the boy’s father seemed excited to learn about this new form of helping his son to communicate and she hopes the pair will continue to create
- [The Boston Globe: Health and stable housing: Taking preventative medicine to the next level](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-boston-globe-health-and-stable-housing-taking-preventative-medicine-to-the-next-level/) - The Boston Globe reports on the announcement last week that three big Boston hospitals — Boston Children’s, Boston Medical Center, and Brigham and Women’s — are partnering to spend $3 million to help poor families stay in their homes. By zeroing in on the close link between health and stable housing, the initiative is a
- [CBS News: Vaping linked to marijuana use in young people, study finds](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/cbs-news-vaping-linked-to-marijuana-use-in-young-people-study-finds/) - CBS News reports on a study from Boston Children’s Nicholas Chadi, MD, and colleagues that finds young people who vape are more likely to use marijuana. The findings support the theory that nicotine rewires the developing brain, changing how people respond to and crave addictive substances. Read more on CBS News.
- [Orthopedics Today: Bridge-enhanced ACL repair may restore tissue quality, quantity](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/orthopedics-today-bridge-enhanced-acl-repair-may-restore-tissue-quality-quantity/) - Orthopedics Today reports on recent research from Boston Children’s Ata Kiapour , PhD, MMSc, and colleagues that finds at two-year follow-up, bridge-enhanced ACL (BEAR) repair yielded a cross-sectional area, signal intensity and sagittal orientation similar to the contralateral native ACL. The team notes that use of BEAR may lead to a significant impact on the
- [WGBH: A prescription for housing to improve public health](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wgbh-a-prescription-for-housing-to-improve-public-health/) - WGBH’s Greater Boston reports three local hospitals are teaming up to implement a new program that would assist patients in need in obtaining access to stable housing, as part of a growing acknowledgment of the link between a healthy living environment and one’s physical and mental health. Boston Children’s Shari Nethersole, MD, joined host Jim
- [Fox 25 Boston: Wilmington woman battling rare blood vessel condition with breakthrough treatment](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/fox-25-boston-wilmington-woman-battling-rare-blood-vessel-condition-with-breakthrough-treatment/) - Fox 25 Boston tells the story of Boston Children’s Hospital patient Arianna Faro, who was born with Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome, an extremely rare genetic condition that affects the development of blood vessels, soft tissues, and bones. Boston Children’s Denise Adams, MD, is one of Arianna’s doctors and explains that this new treatment is a promising approach
- [The Boston Globe: Lawmakers seek to bolster child health services](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-boston-globe-lawmakers-seek-to-bolster-child-health-services/) - The Boston Globe reports on new legislation from Massachusetts House leaders that will help families navigate health care services and ensure that all children, including those in state custody, have access to services they need. Boston Children’s Hospital supports the House legislation and helped work on the section about children with complex conditions. Josh Greenberg,
- [The New York Times: The challenge of diagnosing lyme disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-new-york-times-the-challenge-of-diagnosing-lyme-disease/) - The New York Times reports that Lyme disease is on the rise with over 30,000 cases reported annually by state health departments. The biggest problem with diagnosing is that there is no reliable biomarker for Lyme, no way to test, unequivocally, for the presence of the bacteria which are transmitted by a tick bite and
- [WCVB-TV: Unique Boston specialists help families cope with loss](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wcvb-tv-unique-boston-specialists-help-families-cope-with-loss/) - WCVB-TV Channel 5 reports losing a child is unthinkable for every parent, yet families face that reality every day. With the help of unique specialists at Boston Children’s Hospital, these families are able to create memories that help them heal when their loved one is gone. Boston Children’s Megan Gallucci, BS, CCLS, is interviewed for
- [New York Times: Five ways to keep kids safe in extreme heat](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/new-york-times-five-ways-to-keep-kids-safe-in-extreme-heat/) - The New York Times reports on ways to keep kids safe in extreme heat as children are particularly susceptible to heat stroke. Boston Children’s Claire McCarthy, MD, is quoted in the article. Read more from The New York Times.
- [WBUR: Kids are increasingly entering foster care because of parental drug use](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wbur-kids-are-increasingly-entering-foster-care-because-of-parental-drug-use/) - WBUR reports on new research from Boston Children’s Yohanis Anglero Diaz, MD, that shows the number of children entering the foster care system in the United States because of parental drug use more than doubled from 2000 to 2017, even as total entries into the system fell. The paper provides insight into how the opioid
- [The Scientist: A Profile of Stuart Orkin](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-scientist-a-profile-of-stuart-orkin/) - The Scientist profiles Boston Children’s Stuart Orkin, MD. By unraveling the molecular underpinnings of inherited blood disorders, Orkin’s research has provided the basis for therapies now being tested for beta-thalassemia and sickle cell disease. Read more from The Scientist.
- [Fierce Biotech: Reversing the risk of sudden cardiac death with gene therapy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/reversing-the-risk-of-sudden-cardiac-death-with-gene-therapy/) - Fierce Biotech reports on a new study from Boston Children’s that could be the first human tissue model of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), a potentially lethal form of arrhythmia that's triggered by exercise or sudden emotional stress. Using the model, they developed a gene therapy procedure that aims to treat CPVT by restoring calcium
- [Boston Business Journal: Many doctors untrained, unwilling to treat opioid addiction](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-business-journal-many-doctors-untrained-unwilling-to-treat-opioid-addiction/) - Boston Business Journal reports on new research which shows that the biggest barrier to accessing treatment for a substance use disorder is finding a doctor trained and willing to treat it. Health care leaders are stepping up to address the gap with 11 Massachusetts hospitals, including Boston Children’s, committed to enhanced training and support for
- [WBZ-TV Channel 4: Simulations engineer helps surgeons practice](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wbz-tv-channel-4-simulations-engineer-helps-surgeons-practice/) - WBZ-TV Channel 4 features Greg Loan, a senior simulation engineer at Boston Children’s who began his career in special effects building creatures for Disney theme parks and Universal Studios. Now he develops sophisticated robots and props to give the medical staff at Boston Children’s the chance to hone their craft before treating real patients. Read
- [STAT: FIve burning questions about deploying voice recognition technology in health care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/stat-five-burning-questions-about-deploying-voice-recognition-technology-in-health-care/) - STAT reports voice assistant technologies like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are increasingly popular — today, nearly 25 percent of U.S. households own a smart speaker — and health care providers are taking notice. A host of health care companies and researchers are hoping the same technology can help make doctors’ jobs easier and better
- [The Scientist: Could manipulating the microbiome treat food allergies?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-scientist-could-manipulating-the-microbiome-treat-food-allergies/) - The Scientist reports on research from Boston Children’s Rima Rachid, MD, that finds transplanting fecal material from healthy human babies into a mouse model of severe egg allergy protected the animals against anaphylaxis, whereas a transplant of fecal material from babies with food allergies provided no such protection. Read more from The Scientist.
- [WGME-TV: Barbara Bush Children's Hospital announces partnership with Boston Children's Hospital](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/wgme-tv-barbara-bush-childrens-hospital-announces-partnership-with-boston-childrens-hospital/) - WGME-TV (Portland, ME) reports that Boston Children’s and The Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital announced a strategic alliance to enhance patient access to highly specialized pediatric care and improve the coordination of care between the two hospitals. Read more on WGME-TV.
- [Romper: Five Benefits Of Letting Your Kids Make A Mess That Prove Housework Is Overrated](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/romper-five-benefits-of-letting-your-kids-make-a-mess-that-prove-housework-is-overrated/) - Romper.com reports that experts say the benefits of letting your kids make a mess range from helping expand their creative development to boosting their developing immune systems. Boston Children’s Elizabeth Harstad, MD, MPH, explains that the most beneficial type of play is child-driven and unstructured. Read more on Romper.com.
- [The Wall Street Journal: Does your kid spend too much time online? Here’s when to worry](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-wall-street-journal-does-your-kid-spend-too-much-time-online-heres-when-to-worry/) - The Wall Street Journal does a Q&A with Boston Children’s Michael Rich, MD, MPH, about the time kids spend online and when to know that it’s too much. They discuss red flags like disruption in sleep, lack of socializing and a decreased interest in things they once enjoyed. Read more from The Wall Street Journal.
- [Boston Business Journal: Boston Children's ranked top pediatric hospital for sixth year](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-business-journal-boston-childrens-ranked-top-pediatric-hospital-for-sixth-year/) - Boston Business Journal reports that Boston Children’s has been ranked the top pediatric hospital by U.S. News & World Report for the sixth year in a row. In addition to its overall ranking, U.S. News ranks the top 50 institutions in 10 specialties and Boston Children’s ranked within the top five in every specialty. Read
- [Worcester Telegram & Gazette: Boston Children’s Hospital president: ‘Enabling others to build the best pediatric care’](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/worcester-telegram-gazette-boston-childrens-hospital-president-enabling-others-to-build-the-best-pediatric-care/) - The Worcester Telegram & Gazette reports on Boston Children’s CEO Sandra Fenwick’s keynote address at the annual meeting of the Worcester Economic Club Wednesday night in which she details the depth and breadth of research at Boston Children’s. She adds that significant medical breakthroughs have long been part of the Boston Children’s narrative including the
- [STAT: Legalizing medical cannabis reduces opioid overdose deaths? Not so fast, new study says](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/stat-legalizing-medical-cannabis-reduces-opioid-overdose-deaths-not-so-fast-new-study-says/) - STAT reports on the potential correlation between lower opioid deaths in states with medical marijuana laws and the research behind the findings from two different perspectives. Boston Children’s Sharon Levy, MD, MPH, explains that the relationship between marijuana use and opioid use is extremely complex and poorly understood. Read more from STAT.
- [The Lowell Sun: Take warnings from pot study seriously](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-lowell-sun-take-warnings-from-pot-study-seriously/) - The Lowell Sun reports on a recent statement sent to lawmakers from 40 doctors and researchers at Harvard Medical School, Boston Children’s Hospital, and other medical institutions concerning the potential harm of recreation and medical pot. Sharon Levy, MD, MPH, says the hospital has seen a lot more psychosis related to marijuana use since pot
- [U.S. News & World Report: Medication options for treating ADHD](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/u-s-news-world-report-medication-options-for-treating-adhd/) - U.S. News & World Report reports on the behavioral therapy and medication required to treat children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Elizabeth Harstad, MD, MPH, explains that if behavioral interventions are not efficient, medication should be considered. However, she emphasizes that medication is not a first line treatment for pre-school-aged children. Learn more from U.S.
- [The New York Times: When social media is really problematic for adolescents](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-new-york-times-when-social-media-is-really-problematic-for-adolescents/) - The New York Times reports on the ongoing concern about adolescents and social media. Michael Rich, MD, MPH, cautions against the impulse to look for binary answers to complex problems by drawing too-simple connections between social media and suicide, or video games and violence. Learn more from The New York Times.
- [Becker's: Boston Children's physicians' organization implements EHR tools to identify at-risk asthma patients](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/beckers-boston-childrens-physicians-organization-implements-ehr-tools-to-identify-at-risk-asthma-patients/) - Becker’s Hospital Review reports that the Pediatric Physicians' Organization at Boston Children's Hospital is expanding its medical home asthma program, which uses EHR data to help identify children at-risk of asthma. The program, or MAP, is in collaboration with Boston Children Hospital's Community Asthma Initiative, which aims to improve the health of children with asthma
- [NECN: Children’s Hospital partners with Foster MA campaign to recruit, retain foster parents](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/necn-childrens-hospital-partners-with-foster-ma-campaign-to-recruit-retain-foster-parents/) - NECN reports Massachusetts has a need for more foster parents and there’s a new recruitment effort just launched. Boston Children’s Kate Audette, MSW, and Nicolas D’Onofrio, MSOL, MBA, both foster parents, were interviewed for the segment. Read more at NECN.
- [New York Times: What causes SIDS?](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/new-york-times-what-causes-sids/) - A New York Times “Parenting” article focuses on what causes SIDS and how researchers are working tirelessly to find an answer. Boston Children’s Rick Goldstein, MD, and Hannah Kinney, MD, share their expertise and insight. Read more at the New York Times.
- [Boston Globe: Dozens of doctors, scientists warn Mass. marijuana is ripe for ‘regulatory failure’](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-globe-dozens-of-doctors-scientists-warn-mass-marijuana-is-ripe-for-regulatory-failure/) - A Boston Globe front page story reports that dozens of local doctors and scientists criticized the state’s marijuana regulatory system Thursday, saying the current rules don’t adequately protect public health from high-potency cannabis products now sold legally at 19 stores around Massachusetts. Boston Children’s Sharon Levy, MD, MPH, was one of the doctors to voice
- [Boston Business Journal: Boston Children’s Hospital lands $600K grant from V Foundation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-business-journal-boston-childrens-hospital-lands-600k-grant-from-v-foundation/) - Boston Business Journal reports that Boston Children’s Hospital will receive a three-year, $600,000 research grant for work on adenoid cystic carcinoma, a salivary gland cancer. The grant was awarded to Leonard Zon, MD, who is working on a treatment for the cancer. Read more at Boston Business Journal.
- [Boston 25 News: FDA recommends testing for tick-borne illness in donated blood](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/boston-25-news-fda-recommends-testing-for-tick-borne-illness-in-donated-blood/) - Steve Sloan, MD, PhD, appears in the Boston25 story on an infection transmitted by ticks that may not make you sick but could kill someone who gets your donated blood. It's called babesiosis and the Food and Drug Administration just came out with strict new recommendations on screening for the parasite causing the disease. Medical
- [Health Day: New gene variants for type 2 diabetes found](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/health-day-new-gene-variants-for-type-2-diabetes-found/) - HealthDay News reports on new research from Jason Flannick, PhD, that finds there are four genes that may play a part in a person's risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Read more at Health Day.
- [CBS Sunday Morning: Teaching anti-vax parents to trust science and the MMR vaccine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/cbs-sunday-morning-teaching-anti-vax-parents-to-trust-science-and-the-mmr-vaccine/) - CBS Sunday Morning reports the current outbreaks of measles around the country are largely a result of parents being afraid to vaccinate their children against the virus. The number one concern? Autism. But the upsurge in the anti-vaccine movement in the last 20 years was ignited by a 1998 study in The Lancet, a prestigious
- [Men's Health: Stop obsessing over calories. They aren't the key to weight loss anymore.](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/mens-health-stop-obsessing-over-calories-they-arent-the-key-to-weight-loss-anymore/) - Men’s Health features Dr. David Ludwig in an article focused on dieting properly by taking a low carb, whole food approach to eating right. Dr. Ludwig explains that the basic problem is that we are eating and living in a way that puts our fat cells into calorie storage overdrive. Those fat cells suck up
- [ABC News: Helping kids with gaming issues move away from video games](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/abc-news-helping-kids-with-gaming-issues-move-away-from-video-games/) - In an ABC News 20/20 special called “Screen Time,” Dr. Michael Rich is interviewed about kids’ use of media and how it can become problematic. Dr. Rich talks about his clinic at Boston Children’s and his team’s approach to helping these kids overcome the manipulations of screens and gaming. Also featured are Boston Children’s patients
- [The Boston Globe: The death of the school dance](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/the-boston-globe-the-death-of-the-school-dance/) - The Boston Sunday Globe reports on the demise of school dances and what that means for an important part of adolescent social development. Boston Children’s Michael Rich, MD, MPH, explains that kids aren’t learning to deal with the awkwardness and rejections that comes along in the real world. Read more from The Boston Sunday Globe.
- [ET: Derek Hough Talks Wanting Kids and Being a Future Dad While Visiting Children's Hospital](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/et-derek-hough-talks-wanting-kids-and-being-a-future-dad-while-visiting-childrens-hospital/) - After spending the day with a handful of kids, the biggest lesson that Hough learned is to be "grateful." Read more from ET.
- [Associated Press: Robotic device winds its own way through beating pig heart](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/robotic-device-winds-its-own-way-through-beating-pig-heart/) - It is one of the first times researchers have shown that a truly autonomous surgical robot can navigate inside the heart, not controlled by a doctor with a joystick, according to a study in Wednesday’s journal Science Robotics. Read more from Associated Press Health.
- [NBC News: Vaping teens exposed to as much nicotine as tobacco smokers](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/vaping-teens-exposed-to-as-much-nicotine-as-tobacco-smokers-but-dont-know-it/) - “Nicotine is a highly addictive substance and it’s being delivered at much higher concentrations than before," says Dr. Sharon Levy, director of the Adolescent Substance Use and Addiction Program at Boston Children’s Hospital and an associate professor of pediatrics at the Harvard Medical School. Read more from NBC News.
- [Reuters Health: Many young cancer patients regret initial treatment decisions](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/news/many-young-cancer-patients-regret-initial-treatment-decisions/) - Most teens and young adults with cancer want a voice in how their tumors are treated, but almost one in four express regret about the initial treatment decisions made, a small study suggests. Read more from Reuters Health.

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## Tags

- [acl](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/acl/)
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- [bioengineering](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/bioengineering/)
- [biomarkers](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/biomarkers/)
- [biomaterials and drug delivery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/biomaterials-and-drug-delivery/)
- [biventricular repair](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/biventricular-repair/)
- [blindness](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/blindness/)
- [blood](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/blood/)
- [brachial plexus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/brachial-plexus/)
- [brain aneurysm](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/brain-aneurysm/)
- [brain malformation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/brain-malformation/)
- [brain tumor](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/brain-tumor/)
- [bronchopulmonary dysplasia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/bronchopulmonary-dysplasia/)
- [cancer](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/cancer/)
- [car t-cell therapy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/car-t-cell-therapy/)
- [cardiac catheterization](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/cardiac-catheterization/)
- [cardiac research](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/cardiac-research/)
- [cardiac surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/cardiac-surgery/)
- [cardiomyopathy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/cardiomyopathy/)
- [cavernous malformation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/cavernous-malformation/)
- [celiac disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/celiac-disease/)
- [cell therapy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/cell-therapy/)
- [cellular and molecular medicine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/cellular-and-molecular-medicine/)
- [cerebral palsy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/cerebral-palsy/)
- [chiari malformation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/chiari-malformation/)
- [cholesterol](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/cholesterol/)
- [cleft lip](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/cleft-lip/)
- [cleft palate](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/cleft-palate/)
- [climate change](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/climate-change/)
- [clinical trials](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/clinical-trials/)
- [colorectal and pelvic malformations](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/colorectal-and-pelvic-malformations/)
- [community health](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/community-health/)
- [complex biventricular repair](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/complex-biventricular-repair/)
- [complex care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/complex-care/)
- [computational epidemiology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/computational-epidemiology/)
- [concussion](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/concussion/)
- [congenital diaphragmatic hernia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/congenital-diaphragmatic-hernia/)
- [congenital heart defect](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/congenital-heart-defect/)
- [craniofacial](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/craniofacial/)
- [critical care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/critical-care/)
- [decision support systems](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/decision-support-systems/)
- [developmental medicine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/developmental-medicine/)
- [diabetes](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/diabetes/)
- [diagnostics](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/diagnostics/)
- [digital health](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/digital-health/)
- [dipg](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/dipg/)
- [disease surveillance](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/disease-surveillance/)
- [double outlet right ventricle](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/double-outlet-right-ventricle/)
- [down syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/down-syndrome/)
- [dysphagia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/dysphagia/)
- [electronic health records](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/electronic-health-records/)
- [electrophysiology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/electrophysiology/)
- [emergency medicine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/emergency-medicine/)
- [encephalocele](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/encephalocele/)
- [endocrinology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/endocrinology/)
- [environmental health](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/environmental-health/)
- [epidemiology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/epidemiology/)
- [epilepsy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/epilepsy/)
- [esophageal atresia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/esophageal-atresia/)
- [ewing sarcoma](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/ewing-sarcoma/)
- [fecal transplant](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/fecal-transplant/)
- [feeding therapy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/feeding-therapy/)
- [female athletes](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/female-athletes/)
- [fetal cardiology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/fetal-cardiology/)
- [fetal medicine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/fetal-medicine/)
- [fever](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/fever/)
- [functional gastrointestinal disorder](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/functional-gastrointestinal-disorder/)
- [g tube](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/g-tube/)
- [gastroenterology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/gastroenterology/)
- [gastroschisis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/gastroschisis/)
- [genetics and genomics](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/genetics-and-genomics/)
- [global health](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/global-health/)
- [grief](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/grief/)
- [healthmap](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/healthmap/)
- [hearing](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/hearing/)
- [hemangioma](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/hemangioma/)
- [hemophilia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/hemophilia/)
- [heterotaxy syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/heterotaxy-syndrome/)
- [hip dysplasia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/hip-dysplasia/)
- [hip impingement](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/hip-impingement/)
- [hip preservation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/hip-preservation/)
- [hirschsprungs disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/hirschsprungs-disease/)
- [history](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/history/)
- [hiv and aids](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/hiv-and-aids/)
- [hlhs](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/hlhs/)
- [home parenteral nutrition](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/home-parenteral-nutrition/)
- [hydrocephalus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/hydrocephalus/)
- [hypertension](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/hypertension/)
- [hypospadias](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/hypospadias/)
- [imaging](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/imaging/)
- [immunology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/immunology/)
- [immunotherapy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/immunotherapy/)
- [infectious diseases](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/infectious-diseases/)
- [inflammatory bowel disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/inflammatory-bowel-disease/)
- [informatics](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/informatics/)
- [intellectual disability](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/intellectual-disability/)
- [intestinal rehabilitation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/intestinal-rehabilitation/)
- [kawasaki disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/kawasaki-disease/)
- [kidney failure](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/kidney-failure/)
- [laboratory medicine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/laboratory-medicine/)
- [laboratory tools](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/laboratory-tools/)
- [labral tear](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/labral-tear/)
- [laryngeal cleft](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/laryngeal-cleft/)
- [leukemia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/leukemia/)
- [liver disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/liver-disease/)
- [lower extremity](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/lower-extremity/)
- [lysosomal storage disorders](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/lysosomal-storage-disorders/)
- [magic](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/magic/)
- [marfan syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/marfan-syndrome/)
- [microbiome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/microbiome/)
- [media](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/media/)
- [medical devices](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/medical-devices/)
- [mental health](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/mental-health/)
- [metabolism](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/metabolism/)
- [microbes](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/microbes/)
- [microcephaly](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/microcephaly/)
- [midaortic syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/midaortic-syndrome/)
- [motility](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/motility/)
- [moyamoya](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/moyamoya/)
- [muscular dystrophy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/muscular-dystrophy/)
- [nanotechnology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/nanotechnology/)
- [nephrology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/nephrology/)
- [nerve injury](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/nerve-injury/)
- [neuroblastoma](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/neuroblastoma/)
- [neurology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/neurology/)
- [neuroscience](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/neuroscience/)
- [neurosurgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/neurosurgery/)
- [newborn medicine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/newborn-medicine/)
- [obesity](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/obesity/)
- [occupational therapy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/occupational-therapy/)
- [omegaven](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/omegaven/)
- [ophthalmology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/ophthalmology/)
- [organoids](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/organoids/)
- [orphan diseases](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/orphan-diseases/)
- [orthopedics](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/orthopedics/)
- [osteosarcoma](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/osteosarcoma/)
- [otolaryngology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/otolaryngology/)
- [pain](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/pain/)
- [pao surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/pao-surgery/)
- [patent ductus arteriosus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/patent-ductus-arteriosus/)
- [performing artist athletes](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/performing-artist-athletes/)
- [personalized medicine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/personalized-medicine/)
- [physiatry](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/physiatry/)
- [physical therapy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/physical-therapy/)
- [pneumonia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/pneumonia/)
- [policy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/policy/)
- [polymicrogyria](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/polymicrogyria/)
- [precision medicine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/precision-medicine/)
- [prematurity](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/prematurity/)
- [preventive cardiology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/preventive-cardiology/)
- [primary care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/primary-care/)
- [proteomics](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/proteomics/)
- [psychiatry](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/psychiatry/)
- [public health](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/public-health/)
- [pulmonary hypertension](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/pulmonary-hypertension/)
- [pulmonary vein stenosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/pulmonary-vein-stenosis/)
- [rare disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/rare-disease/)
- [regeneration](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/regeneration/)
- [rett syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/rett-syndrome/)
- [robotics](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/robotics/)
- [schizophrenia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/schizophrenia/)
- [scid](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/scid/)
- [scoliosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/scoliosis/)
- [second opinion](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/second-opinion/)
- [seizures](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/seizures/)
- [tethered spinal cord](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/tethered-spinal-cord/)
- [tissue engineering](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/tissue-engineering/)
- [total anomalous pulmonary venous return](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/total-anomalous-pulmonary-venous-return/)
- [tetralogy of fallot](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/tetralogy-of-fallot/)
- [tetralogy of fallot with pulmonary atresia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/tetralogy-of-fallot-with-pulmonary-atresia/)
- [tracheoesophageal fistula](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/tracheoesophageal-fistula/)
- [toxins](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/toxins/)
- [transposition of the great arteries](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/transposition-of-the-great-arteries/)
- [tracheomalacia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/tracheomalacia/)
- [transgender](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/transgender/)
- [traumatic brain injury](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/traumatic-brain-injury/)
- [tricuspid atresia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/tricuspid-atresia/)
- [transplant](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/transplant/)
- [truncus arteriosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/truncus-arteriosis/)
- [tuberous sclerosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/tuberous-sclerosis/)
- [urethral valves](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/urethral-valves/)
- [urinary tract infection](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/urinary-tract-infection/)
- [urology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/urology/)
- [vaccines](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/vaccines/)
- [vascular anomalies](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/vascular-anomalies/)
- [vascular biology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/vascular-biology/)
- [vein of galen malformation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/vein-of-galen-malformation/)
- [ventricular septal defect](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/ventricular-septal-defect/)
- [volvulus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/volvulus/)
- [wilms tumor](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/wilms-tumor/)
- [zebrafish](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/zebrafish/)
- [zika virus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/zika-virus/)
- [telehealth](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/telehealth/)
- [sepsis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/sepsis/)
- [sex education](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/sex-education/)
- [short bowel syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/short-bowel-syndrome/)
- [sickle cell disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/sickle-cell-disease/)
- [single ventricle defects](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/single-ventricle-defects/)
- [sleep](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/sleep/)
- [spina bifida](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/spina-bifida/)
- [spinal cord injury](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/spinal-cord-injury/)
- [spinal muscular atrophy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/spinal-muscular-atrophy/)
- [sports injury](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/sports-injury/)
- [sports medicine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/sports-medicine/)
- [stem cells](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/stem-cells/)
- [strabismus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/strabismus/)
- [stroke](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/stroke/)
- [sturge weber syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/sturge-weber-syndrome/)
- [sudden infant death syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/sudden-infant-death-syndrome/)
- [suicide](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/suicide/)
- [symbrachydactyly](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/symbrachydactyly/)
- [mitochondrial disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/mitochondrial-disease/)
- [safety](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/safety/)
- [flu](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/flu/)
- [heart center](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/heart-center/)
- [nursing](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/nursing/)
- [heart](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/heart/)
- [drug development](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/drug-development/)
- [acute lymphoblastic anemia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/acute-lymphoblastic-anemia/)
- [research](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/research/)
- [gene therapy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/gene-therapy/)
- [stem cell transplant](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/stem-cell-transplant/)
- [government relations](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/government-relations/)
- [reflux](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/reflux/)
- [culture](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/culture/)
- [long qt syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/long-qt-syndrome/)
- [ADHD](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/adhd/)
- [car seat safety](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/car-seat-safety/)
- [injury prevention](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/injury-prevention/)
- [surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/surgery/)
- [adrenal gland disorders](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/adrenal-gland-disorders/)
- [autism](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/autism/)
- [medical training](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/medical-training/)
- [pancreatic disorders](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/pancreatic-disorders/)
- [pan](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/pan/)
- [exome sequencing](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/exome-sequencing/)
- [headaches](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/headaches/)
- [neuroinflammation](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/neuroinflammation/)
- [summer safety](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/summer-safety/)
- [bike safety](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/bike-safety/)
- [bach](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/bach/)
- [spine division](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/spine-division/)
- [idiopathic scoliosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/idiopathic-scoliosis/)
- [developmental milestones](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/developmental-milestones/)
- [glioblastoma](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/glioblastoma/)
- [epigenetics](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/epigenetics/)
- [nutrition](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/nutrition/)
- [substance abuse](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/substance-abuse/)
- [leg lengthening](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/leg-lengthening/)
- [hip reconstruction](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/hip-reconstruction/)
- [medulloblastoma](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/medulloblastoma/)
- [encephalitis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/encephalitis/)
- [eeg](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/eeg/)
- [cardiac neurodevelopment](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/cardiac-neurodevelopment/)
- [multiple sclerosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/multiple-sclerosis/)
- [nicotine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/nicotine/)
- [complex cervical spine](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/complex-cervical-spine/)
- [ventriculomegaly](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/ventriculomegaly/)
- [phelan-mcdermid syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/phelan-mcdermid-syndrome/)
- [pten hamartoma tumor syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/pten-hamartoma-tumor-syndrome/)
- [oncology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/oncology/)
- [hematology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/hematology/)
- [bullying](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/bullying/)
- [pulmonology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/pulmonology/)
- [thrombosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/thrombosis/)
- [plastic surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/plastic-surgery/)
- [palliative care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/palliative-care/)
- [interstitial lung disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/interstitial-lung-disease/)
- [rheumatology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/rheumatology/)
- [probiotics](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/probiotics/)
- [tuberculosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/tuberculosis/)
- [opioids](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/opioids/)
- [child life](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/child-life/)
- [halo traction](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/halo-traction/)
- [spinal fusion surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/spinal-fusion-surgery/)
- [hand and upper extremity](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/hand-and-upper-extremity/)
- [family partnerships](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/family-partnerships/)
- [thyroid cancer](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/thyroid-cancer/)
- [acute lymphoblastic leukemia](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/acute-lymphoblastic-leukemia/)
- [autism research](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/autism-research/)
- [immune disorders](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/immune-disorders/)
- [icu](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/icu/)
- [shwachman diamond syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/shwachman-diamond-syndrome/)
- [brain injury](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/brain-injury/)
- [running injury](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/running-injury/)
- [coronavirus](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/coronavirus/)
- [oeis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/oeis/)
- [nicu](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/nicu/)
- [racism](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/racism/)
- [glioma](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/glioma/)
- [mis-c](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/mis-c/)
- [clubfoot](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/clubfoot/)
- [lymphoma](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/lymphoma/)
- [av canal](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/av-canal/)
- [martha eliot](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/martha-eliot/)
- [opsoclonus-myoclonus-syndrome](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/opsoclonus-myoclonus-syndrome/)
- [poverty](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/poverty/)
- [myeloproliferative neoplasms](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/myeloproliferative-neoplasms/)
- [vestibular system](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/vestibular-system/)
- [well child care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/well-child-care/)
- [pyruvate kinase deficiency](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/pyruvate-kinase-deficiency/)
- [drug safety](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/drug-safety/)
- [chemotherapy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/chemotherapy/)
- [crohn's disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/crohns-disease/)
- [eczema](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/eczema/)
- [ulcerative colitis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/ulcerative-colitis/)
- [gene editing](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/gene-editing/)
- [cerebrovascular surgery and interventions center](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/cerebrovascular-surgery-and-interventions-center/)
- [blood disorder](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/blood-disorder/)
- [pregnancy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/pregnancy/)
- [learning disabilities](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/learning-disabilities/)
- [vascular rings](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/vascular-rings/)
- [cystic fibrosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/cystic-fibrosis/)
- [health equity](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/health-equity/)
- [primary care alliance](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/primary-care-alliance/)
- [pectus and chest wall](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/pectus-and-chest-wall/)
- [limb lengthening and reconstruction](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/limb-lengthening-and-reconstruction/)
- [diet](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/diet/)
- [dentistry](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/dentistry/)
- [bone tumors](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/bone-tumors/)
- [mitral valve stenosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/mitral-valve-stenosis/)
- [international](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/international/)
- [ocular oncology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/ocular-oncology/)
- [MFCC](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/mfcc/)
- [Robin sequence](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/robin-sequence/)
- [research rising stars](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/research-rising-stars/)
- [telomere disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/telomere-disease/)
- [dyskeratosis congenita](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/dyskeratosis-congenita/)
- [coloring pages](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/coloring-pages/)
- [retinoblastoma](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/retinoblastoma/)
- [heart patient](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/heart-patient/)
- [cardiology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/cardiology/)
- [cardiovascular genetics](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/cardiovascular-genetics/)
- [aortic valve](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/aortic-valve/)
- [fetal surgery](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/fetal-surgery/)
- [brain health](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/brain-health/)
- [interventional pain](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/interventional-pain/)
- [Fetal Care and Surgery Center](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/fetal-care-and-surgery-center/)
- [sports behavioral health](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/sports-behavioral-health/)
- [lung disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/lung-disease/)
- [liver cancer](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/liver-cancer/)
- [blood donor center](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/blood-donor-center/)
- [flatfoot](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/flatfoot/)
- [endometriosis](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/endometriosis/)
- [gynecology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/gynecology/)
- [cochlear implants](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/cochlear-implants/)
- [neuroimmunology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/neuroimmunology/)
- [immersive design systems](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/tag/immersive-design-systems/)

## Service Line

- [Neuro](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/service_line/neuro/)
- [Heart](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/service_line/heart/)
- [Orthopedics](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/service_line/orthopedics/)
- [Transplant](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/service_line/transplant/)
- [Cancer](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/service_line/cancer/)
- [Gastroenterology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/service_line/gastroenterology/)
- [Urology](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/service_line/urology/)
- [Advocacy](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/service_line/advocacy/)
- [Rare disease](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/service_line/rare-disease/)
- [Research](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/service_line/research/)
- [Health, wellness, reputation (NOT BRAND)](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/service_line/health-wellness-reputation-not-brand/)
- [Complex care](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/service_line/complex-care/)
- [SILT](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/service_line/silt/)
- [Health](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/service_line/health/)
- [wellness](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/service_line/wellness/)
- [reputation (NOT BRAND)](https://answers.childrenshospital.org/service_line/reputation-not-brand/)