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, affiliated with the…
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…
Despite dropping for the third consecutive year, Kentucky’s rate of child abuse victims continues to outpace the national average. The “Child Maltreatment 2021” report released this year by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Children’s Bureau found Kentucky’s rate of child abuse victims in 2021 was 14.7 per 1,000 children. That means about…
Kira Scrogham loves running track and cross-country, and a spinal fusion surgery to correct her scoliosis hasn’t slowed down this 16-year-old. Kira has always loved being involved in sports, but in sixth grade, a scoliosis screening put into question her future as an athlete. “She did a sports physical, and they found a curve,” said…
At 18 weeks pregnant, Brittany Walden learned she was going to be a “heart mom.” Her baby’s growing heart showed some abnormalities. After months of Brittany meeting with specialists and more scans, Emery Walden was born in October 2020 with a heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) with pulmonary stenosis. HLHS is a…
Whenever guests of Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital hear the smooth sounds of piano music filling the lobby, Reggie Watkins is likely behind the keys. “I get to share my gift and positively impact other people,” Reggie said. “You really feel like you did a good deed when people just look and smile with a…
Trey Adams is an active 11-year-old. He competes nationally in taekwondo and various styles of dance and practices one or the other pretty much every day. A little more than year ago, Trey started wetting the bed. When he went with his mother to his pediatrician to find out what was going on, a finger-prick…
As children head back to school, some families may encounter additional behavioral issues at school or in the home. Pediatricians are reminding parents that spanking is not an effective method of discipline. Spanking doesn’t work Spanking as a form of discipline is associated with poor health outcomes, such as mental health issues, substance abuse issues,…
Back-to-school season is a good time to catch up on your child’s immunizations. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more children have fallen behind on vaccines since the COVID-19 pandemic began. In the 2020-2021 school year, the CDC reported that fewer kindergartners were getting vaccinated, with an overall decline in childhood immunizations since…
Shopping for school supplies, completing back-to-school checkups and meeting new teachers are all part of the back-to-school excitement. But for many families, one of the biggest challenges is getting back into a regular bedtime routine. Summer break often means more relaxed bedtime and wake-up schedules. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine’s guidelines for the recommended…
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…
There is no cure for cystic fibrosis (CF), but breakthrough new drugs recently have been approved for children as young as 4 months, with more in the research stages that target the genetic mutations responsible for the disease. “This is a major development for our young cystic fibrosis patients,” said Ronald L. Morton, M.D., pulmonologist with Norton Children’s…