Atrial Septal Defect, Cardiomyopathy, Heart, Ventricular Assist Device

Genetic rarity: All 3 Byler children inherit the same cardiomyopathy heart defect

Elizabeth and Andrew Byler were devastated when their first child, Emily, was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. A few years later, they were shocked to discover their second child, Ethan, also had a heart defect and would require a transplant. But sometimes there are three sides to every story. In February 2017 their third…

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Electrocardiogram, Heart, Irregular Heartbeats/Palpitations

What is an EKG?

An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) is a painless test used to record the heart’s electrical activity and possibly reveal issues with the heart’s rhythm, such as an arrhythmia or other signs of underlying heart trouble. The EKG test involves placing small electrode patches on the skin. Wires from the electrodes run to the EKG machine….

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NICU, Norton Childrens Hospital, Norton Womens & Childrens Hospital, Patient Stories

NicView live streaming cameras keep NICU babies and families close

Lindsay and David Rogers know what it feels like to leave a piece of their hearts in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) every time they had to say goodbye to their baby, Liam. Born 16 weeks early, Liam spent the first three months of his life in the Norton Women’s & Children’s Hospital NICU….

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Infectious Disease, Norton Childrens Hospital, Norton Childrens Medical Group, Patient Stories, Pulmonology

RSV — respiratory syncytial virus — almost killed my baby

Alex McCoy shares her story about RSV in babies … This time last year, my husband and I were sitting in the Norton Children’s Hospital ”Just for Kids” Critical Care Center — decorated for Christmas — praying for our daughter’s life. Isla Mae was only 7 weeks old and relying on a ventilator to breathe….

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Childrens Hospital Foundation, Prevention & Wellness

Puffy winter coats could pose danger for kids in car seats

As the temperatures continue to drop, many parents are making a potentially fatal mistake by putting their kids in winter coats while they are in car seats. When a child is wearing a winter coat, it may feel like they are strapped snugly into the car seat, but the straps actually are dangerously loose against…

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Cancer, Eye Cancer, Norton Childrens Medical Group

Pediatricians using specialized iPhone app to detect eye diseases

Pediatricians at Norton Children’s Medical Group practices are using customized iPhones to detect serious eye problems, including amblyopia – lazy eye – and some types of eye cancer, such as retinoblastoma, in children age 6 and younger. “Detecting these issues in young kids has always been tough, because children don’t want to stay still and can’t…

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Fontan Procedure, Glenn Procedure, Heart, Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, Norton Childrens Hospital, Norwood Procedure

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a rare and complicated heart defect

One of the rarest and most complicated heart defects found in babies is hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) in which a critical underdevelopment of the left side of the heart leaves the right side doing most of the work. “With hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the left side of the heart can’t effectively pump blood to…

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NICU

What it means to be a level 3 NICU or level 4 NICU

Some new parents find themselves grappling with unanticipated complications after their baby is born. If the baby has to spend time in the hospital, he or she likely will be in the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU. That’s when parents may wonder what a NICU is and what’s the difference between levels of NICUs….

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Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Neurosciences, Newsjacking, Teens

New recommendations on childhood concussion recovery are less strict

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…

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Heart, NICU, Norton Childrens Hospital, Norton Womens & Childrens Hospital, Patient Stories

41 hours in the life of a little girl who received a heart transplant

Surviving everything Stella Paul has been through in her one year of life is nothing short of a miracle. But her biggest miracle came on July 23, 2018, when a family made the difficult decision to donate their child’s heart. Norton Children’s Heart Institute Learn more about Norton Children’s Heart Institute or schedule an appointment….

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Neurosciences, Norton Childrens Hospital, Patient Stories

A year ago, this boy slept for 11 days — here’s how he’s doing now

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….

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Gynecology

Vaginal itching? Vaginitis can affect young girls too

If you’re female, chances are you’ve had — or will have — vaginal itching at some point in your life. Girls’ private part itching comes with swelling, burning and sometimes milky discharge. “In younger girls, we often see vaginitis caused by soaps, detergents, nonbreathable underwear and poor hygiene,” said Audra Campbell, APRN, Norton Children’s Gynecology. “These…

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