If you were to meet Ashok Raj, M.D., on the street, you would likely see a quiet and soft-spoken guy. But when you get him around his patients, it’s a very different story. “Dr. Raj is awesome,” said Matthew Walker, 14, who was diagnosed with leukemia at age 12 and received treatment at Norton Children’s…
Twins Miracle and Journee Brooks celebrated their second birthday today at Norton Children’s Hospital surrounded by their extended family. “Extended” included not just biological family, but physicians, nurses, therapists and others who have helped them get to where they are today. Two years ago, Miracle and Journee entered the world in a complex delivery at…
Get ready for some unhappy kids. It’s time to start getting the yearly flu vaccine, and the FluMist is being tossed aside. Last year, the American Academy of Pediatrics stopped recommending the nasal spray, saying it was barely effective at preventing the virus. Experts are doubling down on that stance by telling families to stay…
Hundreds of glass figurines glimmer under the light at one Kentucky State Fair booth, but one person shines brighter than all the sparkle. Her name is Tracy Ely. “We were told by someone she would never read,” said Tracy’s mother, Sharon Ely. Today, at 38 years old, one of Tracy’s many passions is reading. As…
“A band of brothers and sisters” is how Jonathan D. Cohen, M.D., describes the neonatology practice of which he is a member — a particularly valid statement considering he works alongside his brother, Terry A. Cohen, M.D., who is eight years his senior. Jonathan watched all three of his brothers progress through medical school, noting…
I looked up names of songs about saying goodbye. “Someone Like You” by Adele, “Hello, Goodbye” by the Beatles, “Don’t You Forget About Me” by the Simple Minds. This is exactly how I felt recently when my son, Scott, had to move on from our pediatrician of 18 years. I remember my husband and I…
The Pediatric Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Program at Norton Children’s Heart Center offers children of Kentucky and Southern Indiana a place to turn for state-of-the-art treatment close to home. The comprehensive program is the only one of its kind in the state. It provides diagnostic services including genetic evaluation and cardiac catheterization. For children…
Sleep had never come easy to me. I went to bed happy and tired. My parents tucked me in and I closed my eyes. But nothing happened. I could not sleep. I felt yucky. I did not know why. There was no explanation. Until one day there was. When I was in the first grade,…
If you’ve ever had a migraine, you’d probably agree you wouldn’t wish one on anyone, much less a child. However, migraines in kids are real and you can learn how to recognize them and help your child through the pain. “About 5 percent of all children experience migraine and this increases to 10 percent during…
The third annual Splash ‘n’ Dash 5K Walk/Run was held on Saturday, Aug. 5, on the Big Four Lawn at Louisville Waterfront Park. More than 800 runners and walkers splashed their way through a 5k course or a kid-friendly 1k course filled with fun and refreshing ways to cool off in splash zones. All of…
It is a hot July day in Bardstown, Kentucky, and Carter Alvey is working up a sweat on the Bethlehem High School soccer field. Of course, Carter, a senior goalie, has always had to work harder than his teammates. Carter was born with cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that primarily affects body movement and muscle…
Does your back-to-school shopping list include a fidget spinner? If so, you may want to check with your child’s school — the gadgets are being banned from some classrooms because they are becoming a distraction. Why are fidget spinners so popular? Manufacturers claim they help children with attention deficit and autism spectrum disorders to focus….