6-year-old boy with life-threatening conditions at birth ‘flourishing’ today after surgeries at Norton Children’s
Before Leeland Brady was born, his parents never knew if they would see their little boy thrive. Before birth, he was diagnosed with two life-threatening conditions that would require many months of critical care in the Norton Children’s Hospital neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The family, from Lebanon, Kentucky, spent nine months with Leeland in…
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Treating the flu in kids
If your child is feeling ill and you can’t quickly be seen by your pediatrician’s office, here are some helpful answers and suggestions based on questions our physicians and nurses are commonly asked. Helping my child at home Flu treatment for kids focuses on the fever and discomfort, with rest and over-the-counter medications to ease their…
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Bowling Green 4-year-old called ‘brave’ by doctor treating his leukemia
Mica and Samantha Baker of Bowling Green, Kentucky, are the parents of four children, all boys, with August “Auggie” Baker being the youngest. For all their children, annual well-child visits with their pediatrician are routine to make sure everyone is healthy and hitting milestones. “Auggie started out the healthiest among his siblings,” Samantha said. Life…
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Glasgow, Kentucky, teen is resilient in fight against brain tumor
At age 5, Jakob Quenzer was diagnosed with ganglioglioma, a rare and slow-growing benign tumor in his brain. Thanks to a bicycle accident leading to a scan at his local urgent clinic, the tumor was found early. “Upon arrival at the local urgent clinic, we learned that a total of four boys were being seen…
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Hope and gratitude: Skylin’s journey to getting a new heart
Eight-year-old Skylin Williams, from New Albany, Indiana, is celebrating the new year in a way she once thought was a distant dream — at home with her family, thanks to a lifesaving heart transplant. After a difficult journey filled with uncertainty, Skylin has a story that serves as a testament to resilience, hope and the…
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Flu or a stomach virus? How to tell the difference
Does your child have a fever? Are they throwing up? What about diarrhea? You may be wondering if it is the flu or a stomach virus. Sometimes what we call the flu really is a stomach bug, or vice versa — and sometimes there are specific symptoms that can offer up some clues. “Many people use…
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Norton Children’s seeing an increase in RSV cases
Norton Children’s is seeing an increase in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases. Several hundred cases were diagnosed in December alone. “We’re seeing a lot of RSV, and cases are continuing to go up. So emergency departments are very busy; pediatrician offices are very busy,” said Kristina A. Bryant, M.D., a pediatric infectious diseases physician with Norton Children’s…
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Walking pneumonia increasing among young children nationwide
Walking pneumonia is on the rise in the United States, especially among young children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It’s a trend being noticed at Norton Children’s Medical Group practices as well. “It is dramatically increased compared with past years,” said Amael A. Shalash, M.D., a pediatrician with Norton Children’s…
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Toddler defies odds after being diagnosed with rare genetic disease
Everleigh Johns is a miracle baby. She has an extremely rare genetic condition, but it wasn’t an easy or clear path to reach her diagnosis. For months, her care team never stopped treating her symptoms while searching for answers — until a special genetic test would finally reveal the cause of Everleigh’s struggles. By the…
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Norton Children’s diagnoses rare brain malformation in Owensboro patient
The Priar family was enjoying a summer barbecue when they noticed something was wrong with their 2-year-old son, George. “We were at a pool party, and he started staring off, just kind of went blank, so we called 911,” said Larissa Priar, George’s mother. “George was taken to our local emergency department, and we learned…
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Side effects of energy drinks in kids and teens
Energy drinks, sports drinks and other beverages with high amounts of caffeine and added sugar can make kids and adults, sleepless, jittery and anxious. Increased heart rate and high blood pressure are other risks of highly caffeinated energy drinks. In children and teens, the child and parent may not be aware of all that’s in…
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Saved by the first tiny pacemaker, Heavenleigh finds her forever home
Anyone who’s met Heavenleigh falls in love with her grin. It’s been winning people over since she was an infant. Heavenleigh has an even bigger reason to smile these days. Almost three years after receiving the first specially-designed, tiny pacemaker for a premature infant, she is now officially adopted by the family who raised her….
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