Patient Stories
IBD surgery gives Ben a new taste for life (and hamburgers)
Ben Irland, 13, has been enjoying a lot of hamburgers lately. It’s an exciting development for him, since until recently meat — as well as most other foods — caused him pain. That’s because Ben has been dealing with the effects of Crohn’s disease, one form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), for the past decade. ... Read More about IBD surgery gives Ben a new taste for life (and hamburgers)
Patient Stories
Still within reach: Virtual visits keep Hadley plugged into stroke care
When it’s time for Hadley Rizza to see her care team in the Stroke and Cerebrovascular Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, she doesn’t have to leave home. Although Hadley and her parents, Eric and Meredith, live in the Pacific Northwest, appointments with her clinicians are just a click away, thanks to the hospital’s Virtual Visits ... Read More about Still within reach: Virtual visits keep Hadley plugged into stroke care
Patient Stories
Appreciating the small things: A New York family’s journey with 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, ... Read More about Appreciating the small things: A New York family’s journey with CHD
Patient Stories
Avoiding a dangerous attraction to magnets: Lainey’s story
A few days before Valentine’s Day in 2013, 2-year-old Lainey Styles wasn’t feeling well. She had vomited, was lethargic, and had a fever. After visiting the pediatrician, her mother Jessica thought Lainey had a stomach virus. But the appearance of a softball size bruise around Lainey’s belly button a couple of days later prompted her ... Read More about Avoiding a dangerous attraction to magnets: Lainey’s story
Patient Stories
Fighting for answers: Innovative approach to epilepsy helps Emma thrive
As a nurse, Lynda Coto was used to solving problems — until she was faced with her own daughter’s seemingly inexplicable illness. “I always have answers, and if I don’t, I find them,” she says. “But this time, I just didn’t know.” The questions surrounding Emma’s health began almost as soon as she was born. At ... Read More about Fighting for answers: Innovative approach to epilepsy helps Emma thrive
Health and Parenting
Hunker down and reduce your ‘transmission footprint’
In the midst of one of the worst COVID-19 surges so far, we finally have some good news. Two coronavirus vaccines, made by pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna, appear to be highly effective and safe. While data are still preliminary, it seems that the Pfizer vaccine may also have excellent efficacy in older adults. While ... Read More about Hunker down and reduce your ‘transmission footprint’
Research
Tough yet flexible: Biologically inspired adhesive may improve fetal surgery
In children with spina bifida, the neural tube that forms the spinal cord and brain doesn’t close during early prenatal development. That leaves the nerves of the spinal cord exposed to potential damage from fetal movement and the surrounding amniotic fluid. While surgeons can repair spina bifida soon after birth, the ideal would be to ... Read More about Tough yet flexible: Biologically inspired adhesive may improve fetal surgery
Research
Poverty predicts worse cancer outcomes, even in children receiving top-tier care
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. Key takeaways Poverty was associated with 3.7-fold higher mortality among children receiving targeted immunotherapy for high-risk neuroblastoma. Household poverty was associated with ... Read More about Poverty predicts worse cancer outcomes, even in children receiving top-tier care
Research
The new COVID-19 vaccines: Will they be safe?
Just within the past week, pharmaceutical companies have announced encouraging news about two COVID-19 vaccines in the final development phase. As more vaccine developers announce similar reports in the coming weeks and months, it’s key to remember that vaccine safety is as important as effectiveness against the virus. Fortunately, scientists have learned lessons from the ... Read More about The new COVID-19 vaccines: Will they be safe?
Research
Missed signals? A new way we vary from each other biologically
Genetics has made huge strides over the past 20 years, from the sequencing of the human genome to a growing understanding of factors that turn genes on and off, namely transcription factors and the DNA “enhancer” sequences they bind to. New research from Boston Children’s Hospital introduces another previously unknown layer of human genetics. It ... Read More about Missed signals? A new way we vary from each other biologically