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…
Asthma is a common chronic respiratory condition that involves inflammation and narrowing of the airways, causing symptoms like wheezing, coughing and shortness of breath. Childhood asthma affects many children in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), 1 in 12 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with asthma. In…
Summer’s over for the kids, and they’re headed back to school. “It’s supposed to be an exciting time, so why, as a parent, am I the one feeling so anxious about it?” If you have thoughts like that, just know — it’s totally normal, and you aren’t alone. A child starting school can be a…
Kids can experience migraine just like adults do, and if you experience migraine, you know how helpless you can feel until it passes. It is thought that even babies can get migraine headaches. Many parents want to know what causes migraine headaches in children and whether there are ways to provide relief or potentially avoid them….
Migraine in teenagers is relatively common. It can be a disabling neurologic condition that can interfere with school attendance, academic performance and other important obligations, like work and sports. Nearly 10% of children and teens deal with migraine, and more teenage girls will experience migraine, compared with teenage boys. Overall, increasing amounts of stress on…
Dominick Smith spent the first week of summer break at Norton Children’s Hospital. While it wasn’t the ideal way to wrap up the school year, the junior from Petersburg, Indiana, was grateful. On the last day of school, a doctor discovered Dominick had an aortic aneurysm with aortic dissection — a potentially fatal time bomb…
Trampoline parks might be popular among kids, but they also pose many dangers to children because of the high risk of getting hurt at these types of facilities. Broken bones from bouncing on trampolines are common. Landing the wrong way can cause serious injuries, and a parent likely can’t prevent these types of injuries from…
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…
Dulce Alvarez Batres of Louisville, Kentucky, was diagnosed with neonatal diabetes when she was just 1 week old. Dulce’s mom, Wendy Batres, was not prepared at all. “She is a girl that is teaching us a lot,” Wendy said. “From the get-go we have been learning with her.” Although Dulce was born full term at…
Savannah Garner is a trouper. That is the biggest takeaway from the people closest to her. The fifth-grade girl from Louisville has been living with a medical condition for most of her life. Savannah was diagnosed at age 2 1/2, and for eight years, she has undergone treatment at Norton Children’s Hospital and Norton Children’s…
Water safety should be a priority for all families, and parents must be aware of the dangers of drowning, especially among young children. Drowning is a leading cause of death in children between the ages of 1 and 4 and a top cause of death among teens. “Drowning can happen quietly and suddenly, whether or…