In Eli Alexander’s 23 months of life, he has overcome a congenital heart defect with the help of a heart transplant. His family has taken to comparing his strength and bravery to an elephant’s. It only made sense that he should help unveil the name of the Louisville Zoo’s baby elephant. In a naming contest…
Nicole Pendino has a courageous son. In fact, his nickname is “Courageous Clay.” Many members of his hometown community in Bowling Green, Kentucky, have rallied around him over the past 12 years. In 2017 when Clay’s heart condition worsened and he was added to the heart transplant list, he was literally fighting for his life…
A day of tragedy in Charles City, Iowa, has led to lasting friendship and love for two families connected through one heartbeat. After Lenny and Wendy Luft’s 15-year-old son was injured in an all-terrain vehicle accident, his condition worsened. As it became clear he wouldn’t survive, they decided to donate his organs. “It was a…
Andrea and Barry Smith will never forget April 25, 2018. That’s the day their 18-month-old daughter, Emaleigh, had a computed tomography (CT) scan that threw the family into a tailspin. The Smiths had barely gotten home from the test when the doctor called. Emaleigh had a solid tumor in her chest, near vertebrae — hugging…
Australia just experienced one of its worst flu seasons on record, and experts are warning this could mean an early and rough flu season for the United States. Flu season in Australia usually spans from June to September and peaks in August. Officials say it started early this year, however, and the number of confirmed…
Symptoms of osteosarcoma in kids Pain and swelling are common signs of osteosarcoma. It is not unusual for active children and teenagers to experience limb pain as they grow, but any pain that lingers beyond two weeks should be checked by a medical provider, especially if it involves swelling. According to the American Cancer Society,…
Before he was born, Schielar Skaggs’ parents, Terry and Melissa, worried about the life their son would have. Would he survive childbirth? If he did, would his life be short and filled with suffering and surgeries? Tests during Melissa’s pregnancy showed Schielar had a complex congenital heart condition known as hypoplastic right heart syndrome with…
How did I not see the signs? What could I have done? These are questions no parent wants to ask. While suicide can be a dark and difficult subject to talk about, shining a light on it can help save a life. Suicide by the numbers More than 47,000 Americans die by suicide each year, making…
The pressures teens face today are enormous and much different than what most adults faced at their age. During these formative years, teens simply aren’t equipped to handle a lot of stress. As a result, more than ever teens are turning to suicide as a way out. In Kentucky alone, suicide is the second leading…
For many families, Christmas is a time for treasured memories. For the Walsh family, the Christmas of 2018 will always be unforgettable, but not for the usual reasons. That was when 4-year-old Seth was diagnosed with leukemia. Michelle Walsh said the news of Seth’s cancer threw the entire family into shock. “It all happened so…
September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and getting kids involved in the kitchen is one way to teach them mindful eating practices. Making sweet treats at home is also a way to avoid dangerous additives like high fructose corn syrup, artificial sweeteners and food dyes. Have your little chefs help you whip up this…
This September we are focusing on healthy eating for kids during Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Knowing that obesity correlates with increased risk of disease, mental health conditions including depression, higher risk of bullying, poorer performance in school and greater medical costs for life, it’s no wonder parents are concerned. Continued exposure to high-calorie, shelf-stable processed…