Nine years ago, at age 7, T.J. Floyd lost his independence just as he was discovering it. His parents, Heather and Bo, lost the child they knew — and all the dreams and aspirations they had for him. But out of tragedy, they found a purpose. And they have new dreams and aspirations for their…
Gracie Latkovski is sitting up straighter and breathing easier after undergoing state-of-the-art spine surgery. Her surgeons were able to be precise in her complex surgery by preparing with the help of a 3D printed replica of the 14-year-old’s spine. “Health-wise, it has helped her tremendously,” said Christin Latkovski, Gracie’s mother. “We are totally excited about…
For the first time in eight years, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has updated its recommendations for children recovering from concussions, easing restrictions on electronics and physical activity. The AAP is no longer recommending complete removal of electronic devices, such as television, computers and smartphones, following a concussion. In addition, the guidelines support children…
When many people think of shoulder issues, a professional athlete often comes to mind. But every year, thousands of babies in the U.S. are born with a brachial plexus injury. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that run from the cervical spinal cord in the neck to the shoulder, arm and hand. Their…
Last October, Wyatt Shaw fell asleep. He didn’t wake up for nearly two weeks. Then 7 years old, Wyatt served as a ring bearer at a wedding in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. He spent the evening making jokes and dancing with the girls in the bridal party. But 48 hours later, he was unable to stay awake….
A toddler’s or baby’s concussion symptoms are generally the same as other ages, but since children can’t communicate like adults, here are signs to watch for: Baby concussion symptoms Any persistent behavior change, such as irritability or distractedness Any change in the baby’s sleeping habits — sleeping more or less Any behavior, such as vomiting,…
Have you ever seen a baby in headgear and wondered, but didn’t want to ask mom “Why do babies wear helmets?” Also called a cranial orthotic, helmet therapy is a type of treatment prescribed for infants to help correct an abnormal skull shape. About 75 percent of brain growth happens by age 2. To accommodate…
Children with blurred vision and headache or double vision may be experiencing increased pressure inside the skull. Sometimes there’s no obvious cause. Often, the condition is pseudotumor cerebri. Pseudotumor cerebri in adults is associated with obesity and is much more frequent in women. In children who haven’t started puberty, pseudotumor cerebri happens equally among boys and girls…
If you’ve ever fired up an Xbox or PlayStation, you’ve likely seen the warning that certain video games can cause seizures. Recently, some theaters have posted health-related warning signs about animated film “Incredibles 2” after several fans tweeted about a scene that could be concerning for people with photosensitive epilepsy. The movie also includes a…
When Destiny Beavin tackled her 260-pound brother to the ground, it was cause for celebration. Not just because he’s quite a bit larger than his younger sister, but also because Destiny used her right arm for the takedown. That arm — and the rest of her right side — had been severely weakened by seizures…
Elizabeth S. Doll, M.D., completed years of medical training to become a child neurologist. But what most people don’t know is she also spent hundreds of hours at Harvard University, training in the art of acupuncture. “I’ve always been interested in integrative and alternative medicines,” said Dr. Doll, who cares for patients at Norton Children’s…
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…