Archive for plastic surgery
Understanding and treating Mason’s congenital nevus
Kim and Ryan noticed their son’s birthmark almost immediately after he was born. They knew birthmarks were common, but Mason’s was different — it covered a large portion of his right leg and calf. Their doctor classified it as a giant congenital melanocytic nevus and suggested they monitor it closely, but that didn’t answer all ... Read More about Understanding and treating Mason’s congenital nevus
Skin organoid could guide new treatments for skin conditions, hair loss
What does it take to build healthy skin? Two research groups converged on this question from different angles. They’ve now produced the most detailed view to date of the cell types and cell collaborations that go into creating our body’s largest organ. Several years ago, Karl Koehler, PhD, and colleagues at Boston Children’s Hospital used ... Read More about Skin organoid could guide new treatments for skin conditions, hair loss
No labels or limits with Apert syndrome: A letter to parents
Dear parents, If you’re reading this, your child might have been recently diagnosed with Apert syndrome and you don’t know what comes next with this rare genetic disorder that causes fusion of your child’s skull, hands, and foot bones. Or maybe you’ve been in the Apert world for a while and are looking for people ... Read More about No labels or limits with Apert syndrome: A letter to parents
A partner through amniotic band syndrome: Jace’s story
Jace is a happy, energetic 9-month-old whose big brown eyes light up a room. He’s adored by his parents, Kait and Evan, who not only delight in being first-time parents but are also incredibly appreciative of the care that helped save their son. It was care that took a village, Kait and Evan say — ... Read More about A partner through amniotic band syndrome: Jace’s story
‘Empowered to be there for Teagan’: New parents learn about hearing loss
Teagan O’Brien is a bright, spunky 4-year-old who loves reading, dancing, and playing outdoors. Her parents, Kim and Donnie, are firefighters who throw themselves into any new situation. Since they adopted Teagan three-and-a-half years ago, they’ve thrown themselves into supporting her with help from her team at Boston Children’s Hospital. Teagan was already a patient ... Read More about ‘Empowered to be there for Teagan’: New parents learn about hearing loss
Broken signals: Things you may not know about nerve injury
When Dr. Andrea Bauer talks about nerve injuries, she talks about phone cords. A damaged phone cord transmits staticky or broken sounds, or no sound at all. Similarly, peripheral nerve injuries (injuries that affect the arms, hands, legs, and feet) disrupt signals to and from the brain, causing numbness, loss of sensation, and lost function. ... Read More about Broken signals: Things you may not know about nerve injury
Overcoming microtia, atresia, and speech challenges: Braelyn’s story
Eight-year-old Braelyn is a sweet, confident kid who loves everyone, dotes on her little sister Kamryn, does well in school, and never stops moving. Her parents, Danielle and Joseph, are incredibly grateful to see their daughter happy and thriving, especially after the long road it took to get here, including pharyngeal flap surgery and ear ... Read More about Overcoming microtia, atresia, and speech challenges: Braelyn’s story
Decades in the making: JR’s journey with craniofacial care
Last fall, JR Foley posted on Facebook to thank members of the Craniofacial Program at Boston Children’s Hospital for seeing him through corrective jaw surgery. The post wasn’t JR’s first note of thanks, and it wasn’t his first surgery, either. JR’s been receiving care at Boston Children’s Hospital for more than 30 years. Treating the ... Read More about Decades in the making: JR’s journey with craniofacial care
Reconstructing a chest wall, one virtual step at a time
It takes a village of clinicians and engineers to reconstruct a chest wall. It also takes a lot of 3D modeling. A young girl needed to have her chest wall restructured to stop life-threatening airway obstruction. To ensure the complicated operation would be efficient, Emily Eickhoff, a Boston Children’s biomedical engineer, partnered with a team ... Read More about Reconstructing a chest wall, one virtual step at a time
Pieces at work: Luca’s experience with Apert syndrome
Luca Paolacci, 24, is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. It’s a serendipitous major given that it studies how pieces come together to create specific force and movement, and Luca’s personal story is a study of the opposite: how creating separation can build strength, movement, and dexterity. “It has always fascinated me how tiny ... Read More about Pieces at work: Luca’s experience with Apert syndrome