At 10 years old, Halle Shelton didn’t have the words to explain what was happening inside her head. She just knew it hurt. It started in 2014 with double vision and small symptoms that didn’t seem connected. Then came the migraine pain. Her eye doctor noticed dangerous pressure and sent her to a specialist, who…
Hospital halls are filled with sounds of beeping monitors, rolling carts and constant footsteps — a cacophony that can be anxiety-inducing for kids and their families as they face a difficult time. On the seventh floor at Norton Children’s Hospital, one man works to change that tune, helping patients create new melodies of their own….
Every Tuesday morning, the sweet sound of music takes over on the Norton Healthcare St. Matthews campus. Inside the Marshall Women’s Health & Education Center, a group of parents and infants are sitting in a circle. A music therapist strums the guitar, while the group sings along. The babies move their bodies to the beat….
Norton Children’s has named a new physician to lead its gastroenterology team. James P. Franciosi, M.D., will serve as chief of Norton Children’s Gastroenterology and division chief of the University of Louisville School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. In these roles, Dr. Franciosi will lead Norton Children’s team of physicians…
It’s not a job; it’s a passion spanning 33 years. During that time, Mary Jo McIver has helped save the lives of countless patients undergoing heart surgery. “I love hearts,” she said. Mary Jo began her career as a nurse’s aide at Norton Hospital while in nursing school. Even before graduating in 1991, she knew…
The mother in the pediatrician’s office with her baby seemed distressed as she spoke with the receptionist. Mom wasn’t sure of the location of her child’s appointment and was, unfortunately, at the wrong clinic near downtown Louisville on a cold winter morning. What happened next shows how one Norton Healthcare employee’s compassion and dedication —…
When Lindsay Brock was born, the world welcomed a fighter. Lindsay entered this world six weeks earlier than expected. Her early days were marked by medical complications that landed her in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at two Norton Healthcare hospitals. She would spend over a month fighting for her life, being cared for…
Dixie Robertson is like other kids you may know. She’s playful, funny, and full of personality. Dixie cares deeply for her family — which is now officially bigger after her longtime wish of being adopted by her stepfather, Thomas, has come true. She’s incredibly strong, in fact stronger than any 10-year-old, any child or any…
It’s one thing to have a friendly face with you during your hospital stay and another to have someone who can relate to what you’re going through. For kids with epilepsy and other neurological conditions at Norton Children’s, there’s someone who’s both. Jason Cox is a neurodiagnostic technologist at Norton Children’s Neuroscience Institute. A nearly 20-year employee…
Being a facility dog requires patience, a calm demeanor and adaptability. These qualities are even more important for dogs supporting children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children with ASD often experience anxiety, stress induced by new environments, difficulty with social engagement and a need for sensory support. The Norton Children’s Autism Center has state-of-the-art equipment…
When Nemr S. Eid, M.D., arrived in Louisville in 1988, he was the city’s only pediatric pulmonologist. For 10 years, he was on call around the clock, every day of the week, for children with asthma, cystic fibrosis or other lung conditions. His motto was “The patient remains first, always,” which meant his days started…
Pediatric cardiologist Delwyn E. McOmber, M.D., has advice for couch potatoes, athletes sidelined by COVID-19 and heart patients alike: Just get started. “Let’s get rid of the standard definition of exercise — the stuff you learn in PE. It doesn’t matter what you do. It’s just as simple as increasing your heart rate through physical…