If your child is diagnosed with sickle cell disease, they may require additional support at school. Symptoms of sickle cell disease can cause fatigue, pain episodes and frequent classroom absences. That’s why it’s important to notify the school of your child’s diagnosis: to advocate for their health, safety, academic progress, and support in their school…
Many parents fear the worst when they hear “sickle cell,” wondering whether their child will face lifelong health concerns. However, understanding the difference between sickle cell trait versus sickle cell disease is an important distinction when it comes to managing your child’s health. “Parents should know that sickle cell trait is not the same thing…
Norton Children’s has named a new physician to lead its cancer institute. Michael J. Ferguson, M.D., will serve as chief of Norton Children’s Cancer Institute and division chief of the University of Louisville School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics Division of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation. In these roles, Dr. Ferguson will lead Norton…
Cyclic neutropenia is a rare disorder that happens when the blood doesn’t have enough neutrophils, a type of white blood cell that aids in fighting bacteria. “In cyclic neutropenia, a child experiences regular episodes of low neutrophils, which make them more susceptible to bacterial infections,” said Ashok B. Raj, M.D., pediatric hematologist/oncologist with Norton Children’s Cancer…
Thirty-nine years ago, Diane Burnett, APRN, wasn’t sure she was cut out to care for kids with cancer and blood disorders. Give it a year, she figured. “I didn’t know if I would be a good fit for that,” Diane said. As it turned out, she was, and Diane’s job became a passion. One year…
Some pediatric patients with bleeding disorders may have a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19, especially if they have serious underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity or asthma. Although most bleeding disorders are not associated with impaired immunity, COVID-19 can be a concern for children who are taking immune-suppressing medications, as…
Norton Children’s Cancer Institute cares for children with hemophilia, blood cancers and many other diseases. Emicizumab is a new drug now being used for children with moderate to severe hemophilia A. Hemophilia is a bleeding disorder that stops a person’s blood from clotting, so it becomes difficult to stop bleeding once it starts, even from…
June 6, 2021, marked the end of the long reign of the “Sickle Cell Queen,” LaVera Wilson. So-named by her colleagues, LaVera spent her 44-year nursing career with what is now Norton Children’s, much of the time as a lead apheresis nurse. “The first couple years, I started in general surgery, then moved to cardiology,…
On Valentine’s Day, 2020, Angel Florian received a 6-foot-tall plush rose from her boyfriend. It was a substitute for the real flowers he wanted to give her but couldn’t because her weakened immune system made it too risky. It was a year earlier, just after her 17th birthday, that Angel received a diagnosis of myelodysplastic…
Sickle cell crisis prevention is important for families of children with sickle cell disease. A sickle cell crisis can come on suddenly, causing great pain for hours up to several days, as the sickled red blood cells block blood flow. Here are some sickle cell crisis prevention tips to help families. Why does sickle cell…
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…
Bleeding disorders are a rare group of conditions that affect blood clotting. The human body has 13 blood clotting factors — blood components such as clotting proteins and platelets — that work together to help blood clot. Should any of these clotting factors be missing or deficient, blood clotting is affected, causing a bleeding disorder….