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…
Do you remember helping your parents bake cookies or make dinner as a child? Did you realize you were learning skills such as how to count, measure and read recipes? Cooking activities for kids can help them develop confidence and skills naturally in the kitchen. Cooking together also can help your family commit to healthy…
If you or your child needs help If you suspect a child might need help dealing with stress, depression or other mental health issues, contact your child’s physician. If you need a physician, call (502) 629-KIDS (5437) or find one today. ADDITIONAL RESOURCES The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration offers a list of mental health professionals and resources…
Three-year-old Apphia Rosenthal started a regular day last summer eating eggs and chatting with her parents. She was excited about what color glasses she would choose if she needed them (she was thinking something in pink). What her parents weren’t expecting was for Apphia to go from the ophthalmologist, to then have a magnetic resonance…
Thanks to a new collaboration between Norton Healthcare and Jefferson County Public Schools, students at three schools have access to online medical care while at school. The pilot School-based Telemedicine Program allows a child to see a Norton Healthcare provider through a secure video visit from the school nurse’s office at Englehard Elementary School, Frederick…
Parents and kids are back to morning routines and nightly homework. Yet for many, the school year can come with unwelcome health issues. Shared classroom supplies, seasonal viruses and close contact on the playground can lead to illnesses, injuries and other conditions. Libby W. Mims, M.D., pediatrician with Norton Children’s Medical Group – Shepherdsville, highlights several…
An American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) report in the August 2019 edition of Pediatrics says that too many U.S. children start kindergarten without adequate social, emotional, cognitive and physical development critical to school success. The article “School Readiness” features rapidly expanding research that shows how these gaps can be lowered or eliminated. Providing developmentally sound…