News

Under the influence … of parents

Here’s a staggering fact: One-third of all teenagers drink. Teen drinking is an issue — and if you think your teen is not doing it, the statistics hint otherwise. According to a recent survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in six teens drank alcohol before age 13, and about the…

Read Full Story
Legislation, Teens

How I took on Capitol Hill

Anna-Maria Beck, a 17-year-old Sacred Heart Academy student with an inoperable brain tumor, led a delegation to Washington, D.C. Beck, along with a team from Norton Children’s Hospital, met with lawmakers to push new legislation, including the Advancing Care for Exceptional Kids Act of 2015 (ACE Kids Act), which would make it easier for children…

Read Full Story
News

Tips to survive noisy neighbor fireworks

Fireworks or sleep, fireworks or sleep … that is the question many of us will be asking ourselves as Monday night’s Fourth of July festivities get started. Don’t get me wrong — I love a beautiful fireworks display and am spoiled by our city’s Thunder Over Louisville extravaganza each April. But come 8:30 or 9…

Read Full Story
Concussion and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), Neurosciences, Teens

Concussions in kids worse than thought?

You don’t normally see soccer players wearing head protection. But for 15-year-old Ruby Fitzer, it’s a requirement. “I don’t like wearing it — it leaves a mark on my forehead,” said Ruby, a goalie for Dupont Manual High School in Louisville. “But the reality is I need it in order to keep playing.” Unfortunately, between…

Read Full Story
Heart, Patient Stories, Tetralogy of Fallot

To the physicians who saved my son

I’ve thought about writing this letter about a million times since March. Now that things have settled down and Miles is thriving, I feel like I can finally gather my thoughts and attempt to put into words just how much two physicians have impacted mine and my family’s life. A week before Miles’ open heart…

Read Full Story
News

Peyton Manning’s wisdom for young athletes

Former NFL quarterback Peyton Manning sat down with Jason Frakes, Courier-Journal high school sports writer, to discuss his career, retirement, thoughts on children playing football and advice for high school athletes. At the Kentuckiana Sports Awards Banquet on June 14, guest speaker Manning shared intimate details about his 22-year career as a football player. His…

Read Full Story
News

Finally a KY health ranking to be proud of

It’s no secret that our region has a child obesity problem. But it appears we are doing something about it. GoNoodle is out with its first Kids Movement Index, which ranked the top states and cities where elementary school-age children participated in physical activity during the 2015-16 school year. The report ranked Kentucky youth as…

Read Full Story
News

7 ways to help kids understand tragedy

Driving my children to camp the other morning, we listened to the radio DJs talking about the mass shooting in Orlando. Since the normal light and airy tone was replaced by something much more somber, my 6- and 8-year-olds instantly knew that something was wrong. When they asked me, I answered very matter-of-factly, just giving…

Read Full Story
Child Abuse Prevention

Doctor describes horrors of sex abuse

***This article includes graphic details*** As a medical resident, I saw a 4-year-old girl with a large tear in her vagina that required surgery to put it back together. I couldn’t image what had happened. The family said she fell on the top of a plunger. The examination (and common sense) said otherwise. The mother’s…

Read Full Story
Limb Lengthening, Orthopedics, Patient Stories

Graduating from 12 years of surgeries

Shearice Harrison cheered just like any other mom as her son, Jerren, walked across the New Albany High School stage to get his diploma. But she wasn’t just celebrating his academic achievements; she reveled in the fact that her son was alive to see this day. “I held my baby, who was just a few…

Read Full Story
Childrens Hospital Foundation

Throwback Thursday: A champ for kids

On Oct. 27, 1966, Muhammad Ali met Doug Jones in a six-round exhibition bout at Freedom Hall. But it wasn’t just about the boxing. The match-up was a benefit for the Children’s Hospital Foundation, which netted more than $6,000 from the fight. The day before the match-up, Ali visited children at Children’s Free Hospital (now…

Read Full Story
Cancer, Childrens Hospital Foundation, Patient Stories

A grandfather’s gift

Willie Sequeira was diagnosed with leukemia in 2013 just weeks after celebrating his fourth birthday. As his treatment proceeded, he began spending more time in the Addison Jo Blair Cancer Care Center at Norton Children’s Hospital. “The emotions around a cancer diagnosis for anyone are huge, especially when it involves a child,” said Mark Haney,…

Read Full Story