Research
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 ... Read More about Research 2022: Tackling disease in new ways
Health and Parenting
New Year’s resolutions and kids: what to know
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 ... Read More about New Year’s resolutions and kids: what to know
Patient Stories
Weathering the storm of Apert syndrome: João’s story
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: ... Read More about Weathering the storm of Apert syndrome: João’s story
Research
How a leukemia hijacks the genes needed by blood stem cells
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 ... Read More about How a leukemia hijacks the genes needed by blood stem cells
Patient Stories
‘Life-changing’ appointment helps Georgia cope with motility issues
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 ... Read More about ‘Life-changing’ appointment helps Georgia cope with motility issues
Research
Research opens a window into understanding deadly brain tumors
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 ... Read More about Research opens a window into understanding deadly brain tumors
Patient Stories
Superando as dificuldades da síndrome de Apert: a história do João
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: ... Read More about Superando as dificuldades da síndrome de Apert: a história do João
Research
Understanding BRUEs: Recent study sheds light
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, ... Read More about Understanding BRUEs: Recent study sheds light
Patient Stories
‘Mom, my brain feels better.’ One mother’s story of her daughter’s fight with 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 ... Read More about ‘Mom, my brain feels better.’ One mother’s story of her daughter’s fight with epilepsy
Health and Parenting
What every family should know about RSV
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, ... Read More about What every family should know about RSV