Patient Stories
After four unsuccessful heart surgeries, Nicholas finds 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 ... Read More about After four unsuccessful heart surgeries, Nicholas finds hope
Patient Stories
Alivia’s 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, ... Read More about Alivia’s journey with CDH
Patient Stories
Lia the ballerina: Off the couch and onto the stage
No matter what 3-year-old Lia is doing — playing dress-up, singing for her family, or running around with her preschool friends — you can be sure she’ll do it with pizzazz. “She’s a total girly girl,” says her mom, Kaitlyn. “She would wear makeup if I let her!” Watching her jump and twirl, you’d never ... Read More about Lia the ballerina: Off the couch and onto the stage
Research
Solving genetic mysteries – in the NICU and beyond
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 ... Read More about Solving genetic mysteries – in the NICU and beyond
Clinical Care
Patricia Hickey receives nursing research award
Patricia Hickey, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, vice president and associate chief nurse at Boston Children’s Hospital, was recently awarded the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses Distinguished Research Lecturer Award. Nominated by her peers, this award celebrates Patricia’s breakthroughs in nursing research that have spanned more than 20 years — focusing heavily on understanding the ... Read More about Patricia Hickey receives nursing research award
Research
Discoveries promise new strides for spinal cord injury patients
When neurobiologist Clifford Woolf, MB, BCh, PhD, began investigating potential treatments for spinal cord injury more than 30 years ago at University College London, he had mixed feelings about accepting funding for the research. “To be honest, the prospect that something could realistically make an impact on spinal cord injury in my lifetime seemed like ... Read More about Discoveries promise new strides for spinal cord injury patients
Clinical Care
Fifty years as a Boston Children’s nurse
Mary Ellen Pierce, RN, MS, CPN, has been a nurse at Boston Children’s Hospital since 1969. She currently works in the Perioperative Care Coordination Clinic. I’ve been a nurse at Boston Children’s Hospital for almost 50 years, but this hospital has always been part of my life. When I was a kid, my father would ... Read More about Fifty years as a Boston Children’s nurse
Patient Stories
For Kayla, post-surgical pain relief supports a lifetime of care
At 24, Kayla Regan is old enough to be the mother of some of her fellow patients at Boston Children’s Hospital. “I like to say that I’m one of the elderly patients here,” she laughs. All jokes aside, Kayla has been receiving care at Boston Children’s since she was 14. That was when she first ... Read More about For Kayla, post-surgical pain relief supports a lifetime of care
Clinical Care
My nursing story: Harriett Nelson
Harriett Nelson, CCRN, NRP, is a staff nurse III with the Critical Care Transport Team at Boston Children’s Hospital. Before becoming a nurse on the Critical Care Transport Team (CCTT) in 2005, I was a bedside nurse in the Medical-Surgical ICU (MSICU), where I was introduced to palliative care. We all know that the doctors, ... Read More about My nursing story: Harriett Nelson
Patient Stories
Finally getting answers about Jack’s reflux
Katie Accardi isn’t a first-time parent. As mom to 4-year-old Harper, she’s familiar with typical baby behavior, like crying and mild fussiness. In fact, she’s even experienced in caring for a sick child: Harper, who has been treated for bronchomalacia, subglottic stenosis, and other conditions, has been a patient at Boston Children’s Hospital since she ... Read More about Finally getting answers about Jack’s reflux