Search Results

Follow Aiden's Heart Surgery As It Happens

We followed 16-month-old Aiden through heart surgery to repair a heart defect called Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) that enables blood flow between the left and right Atria through an abnormal opening. We captured his surgery through Instagram as it happened, posting updates and pictures every few minutes so that his story could be followed in real time. Below are the photos and a timeline of events throughout the surgery. Aiden's surgery was successful and we wish him the best as he gets back to being a normal little boy again.

Put down the phone!

Words with Friends. Angry Birds. Facebook. Texting. Online banking. Google. Our smart phones sure are hard to stop playing with. Anyone who’s got one can relate. Smart phones are just… fun. They truly give us the world at our fingertips. But, what happens when we can’t stop playing with that world and we start ignoring the one that we actually live in?

Why I'm not riding the organic bandwagon

On Fridays, my daughter and I participate in a playgroup. We have an informal group of moms and kids that get together to do fun activities. It’s a great way for the kids to socialize and learn to play well together, while having the opportunity to do something fun. Once in a while, the moms even have a chance to have a conversation, too.

A glimpse into Kaylee’s Life with Prader-Willi Syndrome

Monique and her husband Brian “Griff” Griffin had a lot to look forward to in the New Year. As 2008 was drawing to a close, the couple eagerly anticipated the arrival of their first child, a daughter, in the coming weeks. They were an equal mix of excitement and nervousness, looking forward to the joys of parenthood and anxious for all of the unexpected thrills that were headed their way. But when Monique went into labor five weeks early on December 28, she and Griff could not have predicted just how much their lives would change in the coming year.

Would you protect a child from abuse?

Recently, the headlines have been dominated by case after case of sports figures or other leaders of youth-serving organizations being accused of harming children in their care. Often, these stories are made worse by revelations that others had suspicions of abuse or even witnessed it occurring, yet failed to report their concerns to the proper authorities. I bet most of you were like me when you first read or heard about these stories and thought, “I can’t believe these people knew of threats to children and didn’t act to help them,” all the while telling ourselves that if we were in their shoes, we know we would have done the right thing and reported our suspicions.

Building a stronger community, one family at a time

Odil Douglas knows what it's like to be overwhelmed. Five years ago, she found herself raising two young children and a newborn, as well as caring for her sick mother in the hospital. Alone, stressed and unsure where to turn for assistance, Odil found an "extended family" in the Healthy Families Orange program at The Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families. An intensive home visitation program based on a national model, Healthy Families Orange prevents child maltreatment in 98% of families served and builds healthy, positive parenting behaviors for new mothers and fathers through education, referrals and resources. Odil credits Healthy Families Orange with helping her make it through the most difficult time of her life, all while teaching her how to be the best mom possible to her three young children.

Andrew's story- finding joy in unexpected places

Just days before going into labor on December 23, 2007, Steve and Betsy were anxiously awaiting the birth of their little bundle of joy. All of their doctor’s visits and checkups had been normal, and they were expecting to bring home a healthy, happy baby just a few days after giving birth. Like many other first-time parents, they felt nervous, excited, and a little scared as they awaited the new addition to their family. What they didn’t know was that they were about to go through the most challenging time of their lives.

Button batteries: a hidden hazard in your home

Over the past two decades there has been a dramatic increase in the number of children’s emergency room visits due to battery-related injuries. A recent study tracked battery-related ER visits in 100 hospitals across the U.S. and found that over a period of 20 years, the number of these visits had almost doubled. They also found that 84% of these visits were related to button batteries.

Giving to others gives meaning to Haley's battle with cancer

Haley is only 7 years old, but she carries herself with a quiet strength and a calm self-assurance that seems far beyond her years. Perhaps that’s because her childhood has been colored by more than playgrounds and petting zoos. The fabric of who she is and who she’ll become has also been weaved by doctors, hospitals, chemotherapy and cancer.

Most teens want to build muscle, even if it means going to great (and unhealthy) lengths

Gym rats, pro athletes, and teens- what do these three groups of people have in common? They all want to build muscle, and may even go to great lengths to do so. It is common to hear of gym rats, and even some pro athletes (even if it’s against regulations), who use steroids, or other muscle-enhancing supplements to help gain muscle mass, but now teens are mirroring these risky behaviors, too. While it’s great that teens have an increased interest in exercising, the desire for a certain body type can lead teens down a slippery slope of dangerous behaviors.

The Study