Philmore Jackson III, is a courageous young man whose medical journey has taken many twists and turns. By age 3, Philmore, who goes by P.J., had been near death many times. By many accounts, there wasn’t much hope for him to live to his fourth birthday. Born in 2014 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, P.J. was…
A recent debate about feeding infants solid food before 6 months of age has become a point of conversation among new mothers. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, mothers should exclusively breastfeed for the first four to six months, however a recent study has questioned whether starting solid food earlier leads to better sleep….
It’s the season where kids are outside playing and, unfortunately, experiencing injuries such as a fracture, better known as a broken bone. Laura K. Jacks, M.D., pediatric orthopedic surgeon with Norton Children’s Orthopedics of Louisville answers common questions parents have when a child experiences a broken bone. What is a broken bone? How does it…
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…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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…