Health and Parenting
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 ... Read More about Chronic headaches: Five things families should know
Patient Stories
Virtual visits give Weston time to grow and thrive
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 ... Read More about Virtual visits give Weston time to grow and thrive
Patient Stories
A family’s search for answers and hope for 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 ... Read More about A family’s search for answers and hope for PACS1 syndrome
Research
Female athletes and sports injuries: Psychology matters
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 ... Read More about Female athletes and sports injuries: Psychology matters
Diving into summer: What to know about water safety
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 ... Read More about Diving into summer: What to know about water safety
Patient Stories
One day on the field, admitted to the ICU the next: Rob’s liver transplant journey
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 ... Read More about One day on the field, admitted to the ICU the next: Rob’s liver transplant journey
Patient Stories
Lifechanging surgery brings Ann-Raleigh relief from VUR — and some new ‘besties’
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 ... Read More about Lifechanging surgery brings Ann-Raleigh relief from VUR — and some new ‘besties’
Patient Stories
Varsity blues: How AVM radiation therapy got Greta back to sports
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 ... Read More about Varsity blues: How AVM radiation therapy got Greta back to sports
Patient Stories
‘A picture-perfect life’: Makayla is thriving with OEIS syndrome
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 ... Read More about ‘A picture-perfect life’: Makayla is thriving with OEIS syndrome
Research
Playing the long game: An exciting discovery in 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,” ... Read More about Playing the long game: An exciting discovery in telomere disease