Archive for plastic surgery
‘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
Sonny’s story: How an online Apert syndrome community set one family on a path to Boston
Sonny Daniel has had a busy summer. Between traveling, camp, and time with family and friends, this 4-year-old has constantly been on the go — something his parents, Kellie and Josh, are incredibly grateful for. Their gratitude stems a lot from seeing how far Sonny’s come in his journey with Apert syndrome, a genetic disorder that ... Read More about Sonny’s story: How an online Apert syndrome community set one family on a path to Boston
Miles for Jack: Robin sequence and the bond between a family and doctor
For runners and non-runners alike, next week’s Boston Marathon is extra special. It marks a beloved tradition for the city, and for many, it’s a chance to once again run for those who can’t and bring awareness to causes worth fighting for. For 6-year-old Jack Ryan, this year’s marathon is a chance to cheer on ... Read More about Miles for Jack: Robin sequence and the bond between a family and doctor
A kiss from their sister: A family’s journey with cleft lip care
Kelly and Ben’s experience with cleft lip care at Boston Children’s Hospital spans multiple years and multiple children. Two of their daughters, Molly and Annie — five years apart in age — were born with an incomplete unilateral cleft lip. The couple won’t shy from admitting that receiving the diagnosis doesn’t get easier. “It’s a ... Read More about A kiss from their sister: A family’s journey with cleft lip care
Creating hairy human skin: Not as easy as you think
Key takeaways· Scientists have created the first cultured human skin capable of growing hair embedded with fat and nerve cells. · Potential applications include burn treatments, and testing medications and cosmetics· The skin organoid system developed is a proof of concept for creating other human organoids, such as the inner ear. For more than 40 ... Read More about Creating hairy human skin: Not as easy as you think