Cancer, Clip for Kids, Patient Stories

Leukemia survivor to shave head for fellow cancer patients

Join Matthew and help kids fighting cancer! Register today. ClipForKids.org Matthew, a two-time leukemia survivor, will take the stage at Fourth Street Live! on May 20 to have his head shaved. He’s doing it for his friends — kids fighting cancer at Norton Children’s Cancer Institute, affiliated with the University of Louisville. Since his diagnosis…

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Employee stories - Norton Childrens, NICU, Norton Childrens Hospital, Patient Stories

Patients and families recall a dedicated NICU nurse’s care

To be a long-time nurse at Norton Children’s Hospital, you must really love what you do. And that means going beyond the job description — something Nancy Allgood, R.N., embraces. Recently some families of patients let us know what this special NICU nurse has meant to them. Pregnant or planning? Start your pregnancy journey with…

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Craniofacial, Neurosciences, Norton Childrens Hospital, Patient Stories

Palestinian girl receives lifesaving Apert syndrome surgery

Ian Mutchnick, M.D., pediatric neurosurgeon, spends most of his days saving young lives at Norton Children’s Hospital. But in 2015, he was 6,239 miles away, donating his time to provide free neurosurgical care to kids in Ramallah, a city in the West Bank that experiences frequent political unrest. A mom walked into the clinic with…

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Heart, NICU, Patient Stories, Transport Team, Transposition of the Great Arteries, Ventricular Septal Defect

Bowling Green family becomes a ‘Brave Heart family’

The Miller family of Bowling Green, Kentucky, has a reason to celebrate Heart Month every day. Their daughter, Abigail, recently celebrated her first birthday — her “heartiversary” — with family and friends. A year ago, her parents, Amanda and Tim, learned Abigail needed lifesaving surgery to fix defects in her heart — ventricular septal defect…

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Arterial Switch Operation, Heart, Patient Stories, Transposition of the Great Arteries

After arterial switch heart operation, the baby is a man on the move

Logan Carroll is a young man on the move. A junior at Western Kentucky University, Carroll spent last summer biking 3,600 miles across the United States to raise money for Alzheimer’s research with his fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta. He also enjoys distance running, camping, hiking and, of course, hanging out with friends. Carroll sounds like…

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Cancer, Patient Stories, Teens

The cancer journey from a sibling’s perspective

Living with cancer at any age is difficult, but experiencing cancer as a teen is especially difficult when you’re trying to be “normal.” T.J. Branham’s sister, Kayla, opens up about her teen brother’s diagnosis and his incredible strength throughout his cancer journey. I remember so clearly getting the call from him almost in tears saying…

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Heart, Norton Childrens Hospital, Patient Stories

Sound of girl’s heartbeat put into stuffed animals for her family

When most people see Emily and Ethan Byler holding their stuffed animals, they don’t think anything of it. But if you stop and listen, there’s something special about Emily’s bear, Jessie, and Ethan’s dog, Gracie. Inside those furry frames is their baby sister Eva’s delicate heartbeat. Emily, 5, and Ethan, 4, dreamed of the day…

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Cancer, Childrens Hospital Foundation, Norton Childrens Hospital, Patient Stories

‘He thought his goals had been taken from him’

A child’s cancer diagnosis impacts the whole family. Below, Jacob Fields’ mom, Amanda, reflects on the weight of the disease, from her son doubting his future to the reality of remission. I knew something was wrong. I could feel it in my gut, but what I had no idea. The doctor looked at us and…

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Cancer, Norton Childrens Hospital, Patient Stories

Mom reflects on son’s cancer journey

Michael Yocum Jr. was diagnosed with childhood cancer at age 5. His mom, Spring, recounts the challenges, speed bumps and her son’s faith throughout his journey. He was very thrilled to be at the hospital because he thought it was a hotel. He was only 5 at the time so he had the beautiful innocence…

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Craniofacial, Neurosciences, Norton Childrens Hospital, Patient Stories, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

What is Treacher Collins syndrome? Ask an 11-year-old

Victoria Dicken is no stranger to challenges. The 11-year-old girl from Louisville has Treacher Collins syndrome. “I’ve lost count of how many surgeries I’ve had,” Victoria said. “At least 20.” Treacher Collins syndrome is a rare genetic condition that affects the development of bones and other tissues in the face. Most people with the condition have underdeveloped…

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Hand Surgery, Norton Childrens Hospital, Norton Specialists, Patient Stories, Teens

Doctor uses toe to replace teen’s thumb

It was September 2015 when a night with friends ended in an explosion that left Gabriel Rock without much of his left hand. “He lost his thumb, index finger and long finger; there was a big gaping hole in his palm,” said Amit Gupta, M.D., hand surgeon with Louisville Arm & Hand. Dr. Gupta remembers…

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Endocrinology, Festival of Trees and Lights, Patient Stories

A mom’s search for connection leads to Type 1 Diabetes Club

We are Kennon, Shawna, Olivia and Oliver Thomas. Oliver is our 8-year-old. He was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2015 at age 6. We had lived in Southern Indiana for just over three months when Oliver was diagnosed, so we did not know anybody and feared what life was to become. We attended the…

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