You wouldn’t know it, but Kylie Smith is in the early stages of Type 1 diabetes. Thanks to a new treatment at Wendy Novak Diabetes Institute, Kylie, a 15-year-old from Shepherdsville, Kentucky, has the chance to potentially delay getting the disease. Two years ago, Kylie’s sister developed Type 1 diabetes, which happens when the pancreas…
Four-year-old Nouri was born with a hole in his heart, a condition that — for babies in the U.S. — usually can be surgically repaired soon after birth. But in Nouri’s home country, Burkina Faso, such lifesaving treatments were not accessible. In fact, the country in West Africa is considered one of the poorest in…
Norton Children’s is celebrating a milestone almost 40 years in the making. Doctors with Norton Children’s Heart Institute performed the hospital’s 100th pediatric heart transplant. The patient, a 9-year-old, is currently recovering. He had been on the transplant waiting list for almost a year. “It’s exciting to reach this milestone,” said Bahaaldin Alsoufi, M.D., chief…
Surrounded by nurses and staff, Alaina Kenney proudly rang the “end of treatment bell” at Norton Children’s Hospital. The celebration in early August marked the end of the 13-year-old’s chemotherapy treatments, nearly four years after being diagnosed neuroblastoma, a type of cancer found most often in kids and infants. One day in September 2019, as…
Electronic cigarette use puts young people at risk of bronchitis, shortness of breath and other significant respiratory symptoms after just 30 days, according to a new study from the Center for Tobacco Research. The study found these teens were twice as likely to have bronchitis and 78% more likely to have shortness of breath. A…
Every child deserves to grow up happy and healthy, and to lead a successful life. Yet, 1 in 5 kids ages 3 to 17 in the U.S. could be diagnosed with a mental, emotional, behavioral or development disorder, according to the American Psychological Association. Many more are at risk of developing a disorder due to…
Arguing with your child isn’t something that excites most parents, but that’s not the case for David Williams. David’s 7-year-old son, Oaks, is on the autism spectrum and nonverbal. Thanks to Norton Children’s Autism Center Oaks now has a specialized electronic tablet that has given him a voice for the first time. The tablet allows…
Through two brain surgeries, months of chemotherapy and a lot of hospital visits over the last three years, “Incredible Abel” had one goal — to be well enough to try football. “I don’t think he’s ever had the opportunity to be a typical kid, but now he has the chance,” said Ashely Durham, Abel Durham’s…
It’s hard for Annashae Wyatt to remember life before her diagnosis. While most kids her age were starting to explore the world, Annashae’s took an unexpected turn. At just 4 years old, she was diagnosed with Type 1 neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form in nerve tissue. At the time of her…
When Mary Vaughn thinks back to when she realized her son needed help, one moment stands out. When he was young, she took James to jump on bounce houses with friends. It was busy and loud. He quickly became overwhelmed and upset, but he couldn’t form words to explain why. “I knew the words were…
As an active young boy growing up in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Devan Riley experienced pains in his legs. He also endured recurring numbness on his left arm, which became more bothersome over the years. “As things progressed, we didn’t want to believe anything was wrong,” said Amy Wilson Harwood, Devan’s mom. “His previous doctors associated…
Dixie Robertson is like other kids you may know. She’s playful, funny, and full of personality. Dixie cares deeply for her family — which is now officially bigger after her longtime wish of being adopted by her stepfather, Thomas, has come true. She’s incredibly strong, in fact stronger than any 10-year-old, any child or any…