You’re not alone if you’ve wondered “When should I take my child to the hospital?” after your child has experienced an illness or injury. Having that kind of doubt is OK; no parent likes to see their child ill or hurt. It’s important for new and even veteran parents to know when to call 911,…
The day before Thanksgiving 2018, the Howell family was traveling from Louisville to Frankfort to visit relatives. During the drive, 4-week-old Brooks started crying. It was the beginning of the family’s journey with the rare disease spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress, Type 1 (SMARD1). “It was a very different cry,” said Jessica Howell, Brooks’…
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…
Rolando M. Puno, M.D., spine specialist with the Norton Children’s Spina Bifida Clinic and Norton Leatherman Spine, likes solving difficult challenges. Patients from around the world have come to Dr. Puno for surgery and treatment of their complex spinal conditions. “It’s kind of my nature, I guess,” Dr. Puno said. “If I see an issue,…
Exercise after recovering from COVID-19, even in kids who had mild symptoms or no symptoms, can be risky, especially since the coronavirus can strike at the heart muscle. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends kids, including adolescents, who tested positive for the coronavirus in the past six months see their pediatrician before resuming physical activity….
Signs of leukemia in kids are also symptoms of other common childhood illnesses. Leukemia is the most common type of cancer in children –– 1 in 3 children with childhood cancer have leukemia. Many of the early signs of leukemia are similar to those of other common childhood conditions. Here are the signs of leukemia…
Erica Kelley was living in Arizona in 2007 when her son, Samuel, was born. Sam received his newborn screening before leaving the hospital, as is required in most states in the U.S. The screening indicated that Sam needed further testing, which showed that Sam has cystic fibrosis (CF). He was 15 days old when he…
Getting a life-changing diagnosis, such as cancer, can create fear, uncertainty and stress for a child and their family. Child life specialists are professionals who provide emotional support and education and help children and their families build resiliency while getting medical treatment. Certified child life specialists are educated and clinically trained in the developmental impact…
COVID-19 testing for kids is now fast and accurate — important considerations as children may need to show proof of a negative test before resuming many activities. Recent breakthroughs have made polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 tests — the gold standard in coronavirus testing — available with nearly 100% accurate results that the equipment displays…
What used to be an empty concrete space at Norton Children’s Hospital has been transformed into a beautiful healing garden for families to enjoy thanks to $550,000 in funding from the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation. “This space is a welcome addition, and we’re excited it is finally ready to be enjoyed,” said Emmett C. Ramser,…
For Lauren Fitzmaurice of Owensboro, Kentucky, after 30 weeks of pregnancy, her due date was starting to seem like it was within reach. Pregnant with her second son, Miles, she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, prompting another ultrasound — all pretty normal stuff. But Lauren’s local OB/GYN noticed something not normal, an anomaly that needed…
Child regression can take many forms: Potty accidents, thumb-sucking, baby talk, clinginess and sleep issues. Increased stress, whether due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other disruptions such as the birth of a sibling, parent’s job loss or divorce, can set back a child’s progress and cause them temporarily to lose recently acquired skills. The changes…