Traumatic life events, also called adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as repeated childhood trauma or toxic stress, can lead to long-term health issues. These may include a higher risk for chronic disease and substance abuse. But a child who lived with ACEs can escape these ill effects in a safe, stable and nurturing environment where…
Earlier this fall, Northwestern Mutual held a contest for pediatric hospitals to host a hands-on camp experience for children. As a result of votes, Norton Children’s Hospital was one of 10 children’s hospitals to receive a $5,000 grant to bring the joy and feeling of camping to children unable to travel due to their health….
Evan Karr is an active 14-year-old who swims and likes to have fun with his friends. But underneath his brave exterior is a young man who was born with tetralogy of Fallot — a rare condition made up of four heart defects that cause the heart to pump oxygen-poor blood into the body. He is…
Another phase of Norton Children’s Hospital’s expansion is nearly complete. Patients and staff cut the ribbon to open part of the hospital’s newest medical/surgical unit. The space on the sixth floor features 12 private rooms along with a teen entertainment room, toddler play room and nourishment spaces for families. The rest of the unit, which…
Pediatricians are now helping kids in Louisville and Southern Indiana get the dental care they need by teaching them about good dental hygiene and connecting them to dentists. “Most parents understand that not taking care of their child’s teeth can lead to cavities, but many may not realize just how common early childhood cavities are,”…
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…
Even though a record number of kids died from the flu last year, many parents still aren’t protecting their children from the influenza virus. According to a recent report, 34 percent of U.S. parents said their child was unlikely to get the flu vaccine this year. The online poll focused on parents who had at…
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….
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…
When many people think of shoulder issues, a professional athlete often comes to mind. But every year, thousands of babies in the U.S. are born with a brachial plexus injury. The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that run from the cervical spinal cord in the neck to the shoulder, arm and hand. Their…
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, affiliated with the University…
On Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2008, a hot and humid day, Max Gilpin’s mother, Michele Crockett, received a phone call just as she was leaving work to pick him up from football practice. The caller said her 15-year-old had passed out on the field and was not moving. “I was not prepared for what I saw…