Cancer, Hematology

What is sickle cell disease?

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common genetic disorders in the world. Each year, 1,000 babies in the U.S. and 500,000 children worldwide are born with the condition, according to the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month –– what should you know about this condition?…

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COVID19, Flu, Norton Childrens Medical Group, Prevention & Wellness

When is the flu or COVID-19 an emergency for kids?

It’s 2 a.m. and your child has a high fever. The signs of the flu are there, or is it COVID-19? At that point, a parent’s thoughts can race: “Should I call the pediatrician or go to the emergency department?” Take an inventory of what your child looks like and how they are acting based…

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Gynecology, Teens

Does my teen have PCOS?

Acne. Hair growth. Irregular periods. Weight gain. Sounds like the usual issues teen girls deal with during puberty. Maybe — but not always. These also can be symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS. When acne, hair growth on the face and body, and weight gain are excessive, this common hormonal disorder could be to blame….

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Festival of Trees and Lights, Home & BMW Raffle, Norton Childrens Hospital, Radiothon, Snow Ball

Deadline approaching: September Home & BMW Raffle prize

The annual Norton Children’s Hospital Home & BMW Raffle is one of the most popular ways to help the hospital maintain and advance its lifesaving programs and services. In addition to the grand prize of a new home in Norton Commons and a first prize of a 2021 BMW X3 from BMW of Louisville plus…

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Back to School, COVID19

Questions to ask before sending your child back to day care

If you’re considering sending your child to day care, or camp and activities, there are questions you can ask to make sure the facility is following guidelines to protect you and your family. Kentucky issued requirements for child care programs prior to their June 15, 2020, reopening during the coronavirus pandemic. In addition to some…

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Legs and Lower Extremities, Orthopedics

How to prevent shinsplints

With kids playing multiple organized sports or on several different teams, overuse injuries such as shinsplints in children have been on the rise. Shinsplints often occur in runners — but they can happen in sports such as football, soccer and others that require quick, cutting and sideways motions. How do you help your child prevent…

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Cancer, Leukemia, Patient Stories

Childhood leukemia patient returns to the hospital as a staff member

Heather Kays was a 12-year-old girl newly diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when she was a cancer patient at Norton Children’s Hospital. Now, as a 23-year-old healthy woman, she is on the staff as a patient care associate in the hospital’s Addison Jo Blair Cancer Care Center. As she cares for children undergoing treatment with…

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Neurosciences, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)

What is SMA?

Spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA, is a condition that progressively causes the loss of motor neurons (anterior horn cells). SMA affects about 1 in 11,000 births and is the No. 1 genetic cause of death for infants. What do you know about the condition –– and the exciting new treatments that can help stop its progression?…

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COVID19, Flu, Norton Childrens Medical Group, Prevention & Wellness

Once school starts, there will be more than 1 virus to take steps to avoid

There will be more than one virus to take steps to avoid as schools reopen. Kids have always brought home germs, viruses and bacteria that could make their sick day a sick day for you too. COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus, has symptoms that overlap with flu. Understand the symptoms of each. If…

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Foundation, Home & BMW Raffle

Last year’s Norton Children’s Hospital Home & BMW Raffle early prize winner supports the cause

When Anthony Manni won the technology package in the September early prize drawing as part of the 2019 Norton Children’s Hospital Home & BMW Raffle, it seemed meant to be. Anthony — who won an Apple iPad and a Microsoft Surface Pro — is an instructor of computer information systems at the University of Louisville…

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Childrens Hospital Foundation, Foundation, News, Pulmonology

$2.5 million gift to Norton Children’s furthers cystic fibrosis research and care

During the past 70 years, great strides have been made in developing treatments for cystic fibrosis (CF). A child born with the disease once had little hope of attending school, but today they are living into adulthood, graduating from college, having successful careers and getting married. In Louisville, children diagnosed with CF now have access…

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Heart, Norton Childrens Outreach, Patient Stories, Pulmonary Atresia, Tetralogy of Fallot, Transport Team

A Bowling Green girl is ready for kindergarten after complex heart care

Kara Ainsley is a registered nurse at a rehabilitation facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky. She can tell when things are going smoothly and when they aren’t. After a relatively uneventful pregnancy, she labored the morning of May 31, 2015, at the local hospital. If there was anything unusual about her labor it was the duration…

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