Clinical Care
It takes a village: Creating best practices for personalized treatments
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. ... Read More about It takes a village: Creating best practices for personalized treatments
Research
Solving neurodevelopmental mysteries, one gene, one child at a time
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 ... Read More about Solving neurodevelopmental mysteries, one gene, one child at a time
Patient Stories
Care for post-COVID symptoms helps get figure skater back in the rink
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 ... Read More about Care for post-COVID symptoms helps get figure skater back in the rink
Health and Parenting
‘Feeling empowered’: How vaccination helped me care for my family when one son got COVID-19
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 ... Read More about ‘Feeling empowered’: How vaccination helped me care for my family when one son got COVID-19
Health and Parenting
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 ... Read More about Pass the pie and a mask: COVID-19 safety tips for the holidays
Clinical Care
A new option for teens with painful bunions
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 ... Read More about A new option for teens with painful bunions
Health and Parenting
Returning to holiday chaos: Preventing anxiety in kids
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 ... Read More about Returning to holiday chaos: Preventing anxiety in kids
Research
Sound sleep, sound mind: The importance of sleep for preteens’ developing brains
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 ... Read More about Sound sleep, sound mind: The importance of sleep for preteens’ developing brains
Health and Parenting
Sweet dreams: A guide to 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 ... Read More about Sweet dreams: A guide to infant sleep
Health and Parenting
Help kids fight the “Selfie Effect” and build self-esteem instead
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 ... Read More about Help kids fight the “Selfie Effect” and build self-esteem instead