Norton Childrens Hospital, Patient Stories, Suicide

Boy shares important life lessons after attempting suicide

Jared Traxler almost became a statistic. At age 10, he attempted suicide. Fortunately, he was found, saved and given a second chance. It all started when he was 9. “I went into my Papaw’s room to ask to borrow a fishing pole,” Jared said. “I walked to his bed to wake him up, only to…

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Employee stories - Norton Healthcare, Heart, Norton Childrens Hospital, Ventricular Assist Device

Norton Children’s Hospital and UofL name new chief of pediatric cardiac surgery

Bahaaldin Alsoufi, M.D., has joined the University of Louisville Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery and Norton Children’s Heart Institute at Norton Children’s Hospital as the new chief of the division of pediatric cardiac surgery. He will practice with UofL Physicians – Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Alsoufi comes to Louisville from Emory University, Atlanta,…

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ENT-Audiology, Norton Community Medical Associates, Patient Stories

4 questions to ask about ear infections

My son had his first ear infection when he was 8 months old. We were on vacation in Florida, his first beach vacation, when he spiked a fever of 104. Prior to this, he hadn’t had any ear infections or colds. We knew he had teeth coming in, so we chalked his fever up to…

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Kentucky Poison Control Center, Norton Childrens Hospital, Teens

Overdoses in children may not be what you think

When parents think of drug overdoses in kids, many think of street drugs such as bath salts, marijuana or ecstasy. However, parents need to keep in mind the dangers associated with drugs right in their own medicine cabinet. Child and teen overdoses associated with prescription drugs found in the home are on the rise. According…

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Craniofacial, Neurosciences, Norton Childrens Hospital, Patient Stories

Palestinian girl receives lifesaving Apert syndrome surgery

Ian Mutchnick, M.D., pediatric neurosurgeon, spends most of his days saving young lives at Norton Children’s Hospital. But in 2015, he was 6,239 miles away, donating his time to provide free neurosurgical care to kids in Ramallah, a city in the West Bank that experiences frequent political unrest. A mom walked into the clinic with…

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Brain Tumor, Childrens Hospital Foundation, Epilepsy, Neurosciences, Norton Childrens Hospital, Technology

Laser ablation surgery now available for kids with epilepsy, brain tumors

Norton Children’s Hospital has joined an elite group of pediatric hospitals with a real-time, thermal imaging and laser system to perform laser ablation surgery for epilepsy, uncontrollable seizures and deep brain tumors. The technology, called Visualase, allows doctors to perform MRI-guided laser ablation surgery, which is less invasive and in most cases has a much…

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Norton Childrens Hospital, Prevention & Wellness

10 sledding safety tips

It’s the first snowfall of the season, and the Norton Children’s Hospital emergency department has already treated several sledding injuries. “Kids and adults can get seriously hurt — or even killed — if they’re not careful,” said Erika Janes with Norton Children’s Prevention & Wellness. If your family is hitting the hills, Janes offers the…

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Norton Childrens Hospital, Norton Childrens Medical Center, Norton Womens & Childrens Hospital, Surgery, Technology

Finding surgical care that’s right for your child

Choosing where to have your child’s surgery can be a daunting task. What kind of care is going to make your child and family feel safest, physically and emotionally? Technology advancements have made it possible for some procedures to be done at outpatient surgery centers. Costs can be lower at these types of locations. However,…

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Craniofacial, Neurosciences, Norton Childrens Hospital, Patient Stories, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

What is Treacher Collins syndrome? Ask an 11-year-old

Victoria Dicken is no stranger to challenges. The 11-year-old girl from Louisville has Treacher Collins syndrome. “I’ve lost count of how many surgeries I’ve had,” Victoria said. “At least 20.” Treacher Collins syndrome is a rare genetic condition that affects the development of bones and other tissues in the face. Most people with the condition have underdeveloped…

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Allergy and Immunology, ENT-Audiology, Flu, Infectious Disease, New Mom, Norton Childrens Medical Group

Dry cough in kids and other coughs explained

Spanish version: https://nortonchildrens.com/news/explicacion-de-la-tos-seca-en-ninos-y-otras-toses/ A kid’s cough can be a sign of a simple cold or something more serious that needs medical attention. Here are six types of coughs, including dry coughs in kids, and how to handle them. Dry cough in kids Also called a hacking cough; if it persists after a cold, it likely…

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Hand Surgery, Norton Childrens Hospital, Norton Specialists, Patient Stories, Teens

Doctor uses toe to replace teen’s thumb

It was September 2015 when a night with friends ended in an explosion that left Gabriel Rock without much of his left hand. “He lost his thumb, index finger and long finger; there was a big gaping hole in his palm,” said Amit Gupta, M.D., hand surgeon with Louisville Arm & Hand. Dr. Gupta remembers…

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Fetal Care, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Norton Childrens Hospital, Patient Stories

When babies need care before birth

With a baby on the way, Ni’Eshia Andrews and her family were overjoyed. The family planned to welcome a baby girl, joining her big brother in summer 2017. Everything was going as planned until they hit a bump in the road. During a 28-week fetal ultrasound, Andrews’ obstetrician discovered she had too much amniotic fluid…

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