Menu
Virtual Visit Request an Appointment ER Wait Times
Search
Back

Filter By

All Search Results

  • A survivor of childhood cancer, 25 years later: Nessa’s story

    Twenty-five years ago in September of 1988, Nessa’s life was forever changed by words that weren’t talked about much back then: childhood cancer. After finding bumps on Nessa’s head and swollen lymph nodes, her mom knew something wasn’t right. After a trip to the pediatrician’s office, they were told to go to Orlando Regional Medical Center (ORMC) to see Dr. Vincent Guisti, a pediatric oncologist, to find out what might be causing these symptoms. Since the visit required an overnight bag, Nessa’s mom, Carol, knew it wasn’t what she’d first suspected – it was something much more serious.

    Receiving a heart-wrenching diagnosis

    Nessa was eight years old and in the third grade at a local elementary school. That day was picture day- a day that many girls prepare for by selecting their best school outfit and making sure their hair looks just right. As her mom was combing Nessa’s hair, she noticed little bumps on her head, and Nessa had been saying she wasn’t feeling well. The next morning, Carol knew something wasn’t right after Nessa woke up with swollen lymph nodes. Thinking it might be a case of mononucleosis, they visited the family’s pediatrician, where they were told to go to ORMC to see Dr. Guisti, a pediatric oncologist.

  • Are you concerned about your picky eater?

    I was asked the other day, “How do I get my 5-year-old to eat more than the five foods she eats?” Can you relate to this? Is your child a picky eater? Do you struggle with getting him to eat his vegetables? Do you worry she is not eating enough?

  • Things you may not know about your child's asthma

    Written by Heather Staples, 4th year medical student at Florida State University College of Medicine.

  • Medication poisoning has increased; are your kids safe?

    I consider myself a safety-conscious parent. I always buckle my daughter in her car seat. I make her wear a helmet when we go for a bike ride, and our house is fully child-proofed. But, there may be one very important safety issue that I overlook every day.

  • Reading aloud to your kids affects literacy and school readiness

    Did you know that by the time your child reaches the 3rd grade, experts can reliably predict whether he will graduate high school?

  • An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure

    As a pediatrician, one of the most common questions I am asked this time of year is what I think about the seasonal flu vaccine.

  • Winning the pacifier war

    My daughter has had an intense, rapturous love affair with the pacifier for the past 2 and-a-half years. I’m certain that if the world were ending and she had the choice to keep for herself either Mommy or her bee-bees (her word for pacifier), she would choose the bee-bees any day of the week. I try not to take it personally.

  • The difference between a children’s emergency room and an adult emergency room that every parent should know

    No one plans to end up in the emergency room. It just happens, usually when we least expect it. When our children become sick or injured, we are faced with difficult choices. Where is the best place to get care for my child? How do I know there isn’t something seriously wrong? Can I trust these caregivers to do the right thing for my kid?

  • What does Florida’s new booster seat law mean for your family?

    On January 1st, 2015 a new law became effective in Florida requiring children under the age of six years old to be restrained either in a child safety seat or booster seat while riding in a vehicle. Previously, Florida law mandated only that children under three years of age be restrained in a car seat, allowing parents to use seat belts for older children. Until this law took effect, Florida was one of only two states that did not require these safety measures for children under five years of age.

  • What you should know when starting your baby on solid foods

    One of my favorite milestones in a baby’s first year is introducing them to their first foods. I love the anticipation of trying new things and watching to see how they’ll react. Their excitement as they experience new flavors and textures for the first time (not to mention the hysterical facial expressions!) is entertainment at its best. And watching my oldest laugh uncontrollably at the baby’s messiness as he eats is better than watching TV.