Alex and Aaron Haas had heard of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) — a former neighbor of Aaron’s had a grandchild who died from it — but didn’t know much about it when 3-month-old Riley seemed less active than a family friend’s baby of the same age. A small knot in the back of Riley’s neck…
For the past 25 years, Gregory N. Barnes, M.D., PhD. has worked with thousands of families to help diagnose, adapt to and overcome autism. Autism is personal to Dr. Barnes, whose son, Joshua, was diagnosed with the condition as a young child. It was clear to Dr. Barnes, a pediatric neurologist with the Norton Children’s…
The day before Thanksgiving 2018, the Howell family was traveling from Louisville to Frankfort to visit relatives. During the drive, 4-week-old Brooks started crying. It was the beginning of the family’s journey with the rare disease spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress, Type 1 (SMARD1). “It was a very different cry,” said Jessica Howell, Brooks’…
Rolando M. Puno, M.D., spine specialist with the Norton Children’s Spina Bifida Clinic and Norton Leatherman Spine, likes solving difficult challenges. Patients from around the world have come to Dr. Puno for surgery and treatment of their complex spinal conditions. “It’s kind of my nature, I guess,” Dr. Puno said. “If I see an issue,…
Erica Kelley was living in Arizona in 2007 when her son, Samuel, was born. Sam received his newborn screening before leaving the hospital, as is required in most states in the U.S. The screening indicated that Sam needed further testing, which showed that Sam has cystic fibrosis (CF). He was 15 days old when he…
Victoria A. Statler, M.D., works hard to educate children undergoing transplants on ways to avoid potentially dangerous infections. She also treats them when they do get sick. Children receiving transplanted organs or bone marrow take medicines to help their bodies accept the transplant. The drugs work by suppressing the immune system, so transplant recipients are…
Even when she’s delivering the most advanced care to the sickest babies, Tamina R.B. Singh, M.D., medical director of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Norton Children’s Hospital, never loses sight of the family. She sees how powerless new parents can feel with a child in need of intensive care. “A big part of…
Lindsay Rogers and her husband, David, tried for 16 months to get pregnant, including three cycles of fertility medications. As she considered whether seeing a fertility specialist might be the next step, she became pregnant with their son, Liam, in March 2018. Lindsay describes the pregnancy up to 20 weeks as completely normal. After hitting…
Natalie F. Slone, D.O., pediatric hematologist/oncologist with Norton Children’s Cancer Institute always knew she wanted to be a doctor. According to Dr. Slone, her mother said she talked about becoming a doctor from a very young age — and mom has a photo of her at 4 or 5 years old, asleep on top of…
Scott G. Bickel, M.D., was drawn to pediatric pulmonology by the bonds he would be able to develop with children and their families. He sums up his work as helping kids with pulmonary conditions lead the best lives possible and accomplish whatever goals they set for themselves. “What motivates me is seeing kids play sports…
Ian S. Mutchnick, M.D., is on a mission to help spina bifida patients and their families navigate this complex health condition with ease. “I feel honored to be able to help families with what is often one of the most difficult situations they can face,” said Dr. Mutchnick, a pediatric neurosurgeon at Norton Children’s Neuroscience…
The Bellarmine University Dance Marathon (BUDM) will always be special to Katie Casale, because she has been on both sides of event — as an event founder when she was a student and now as a registered nurse at Norton Children’s Hospital. The student-led dance marathon will hold its sixth annual event, virtually, on Friday,…