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  • Tragedy in Aurora: talking to your kids about violence in the news

     I am an overprotective, careful parent - a big fan of seat belts, bike helmets, and sunscreen. I think I’m probably a little more overprotective and careful than some parents, and I know this about myself and try to keep it in check. I try not to stifle my child’s natural sense of adventure and curiosity. However, I want to keep any and everything that could be dangerous or hurtful away from my little boy.

  • Winning the kid lottery: how adoption changed my life... continued

    Our family continued to adjust and grow together. Brandon sometimes recognized gaps in his early years and we did our best to fill those in. One time when he was seven or eight, he asked me if we could read some fairy tales and said, “I never go to hear those when I was little.” So we read fairy tales.

  • A little bit of fabric equals a lot of love: a pillowcase makes the hospital feel like home

    Written by Nora Elkins, customer service specialist.

  • Baby’s teething products can be harmful

    There are some areas of parenting where everyone has an opinion. And, doesn’t it always happen that when you’re pushing your kid in the grocery cart, trying desperately to find the last item on your list so you can get the heck out of that store(!), that’s when someone stops you to share their little nuggets of parenting wisdom?

  • Feeling the warmth of a furry friend

     A few times a week, a special (furry) friend visits Arnold Palmer Hospital to brighten the day of our children who are receiving care. Pets have been a healing part of our hospital for over 20 years, bringing hope, joy, and comfort to our patients. Thought of as the “softer” side of treatment, man’s (and kids’) best friend provides physical and emotional healing to sick children who are fighting to get better everyday.

  • Winning the kid lottery: how adoption changed my life

    Our son Brandon, who is now 20 years old, came into our lives fifteen years ago. We met him about two months before he turned five. At the time, he was in foster care. His mother had problems with addiction and was not providing a stable home so he entered foster care about a month before he turned three. November is National Adoption Month and I thought it might be a good time to share our story.

  • Hearing with a cochlear implant: Paola's story

    Paola Fidalgo is finally able to hear her family thanks to a cochlear implant, or artificial hearing device implanted in her ear. Before the cochlear implant, Paola was unable to hear a door slam, but now is asking her mom to turn down the radio in the car because it's too loud. Hear her story and learn how a cochlear implant has changed her life and offered new hope.

  • Concussions and sports: It's a girl thing, too

    As summer winds down and a new school year gets underway, this also signals the start of the fall high school sports season in Central Florida.

  • Health benefits of circumcision outweigh risks

    The health benefits of circumcision in male newborns outweigh the risks, but parents should be free to choose what they believe is in the best interest of their child.

  • My Healing Harmony

    As a kid, being hospitalized can be a scary thing. Being in an unfamiliar place without the comforts of home, undergoing surgery, or dealing with pain that is unimaginable to most people is tough. The days can become monotonous, as kids start to feel less and less themselves, and more defined by their illness. Sometimes, kids can’t express their pain or what they are feeling, making it difficult for those around them to understand. Amidst these daily struggles, My Healing Harmony, the music therapy program at Arnold Palmer Hospital, brings hope and healing to patients and families.

    What is My Healing Harmony?

    My Healing Harmony was started two years ago by the Fatone Family Foundation as a way to bring the healing powers of music to patients. After starting their own foundation, the Fatone family was looking for a way to share their love and knowledge of the music industry with kids in need. And what better place to bring hope and joy to kids than at Arnold Palmer Hospital? My Healing Harmony comes to life through music therapist Holly Solis, whose angelic voice brings smiles everywhere she goes. Whether it is comforting a child while going through a procedure or bringing relaxation to a patient’s bedside through peaceful melodies, Holly shares her gift of music to brighten a child’s day.

    The benefits of music therapy

    There are many ways that kids can benefit from music therapy. Music has been found to promote healing in patients recovering from surgical procedures or battling life-threatening diseases. Therapists are able to use music as way to relate to what kids are going through and help distract them from the pain they are feeling. Music is frequently used as a relaxation method to calm a patient’s anxiety and fear. When Holly makes her daily rounds to patient rooms, she says, “I always look at the vital signs when I walk in to the room and as I am playing a song, because I can see a difference from the time I start to when I finish. It’s a great way to know the patient is relaxed”.