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  • We Love Isaiah: Little boy battles life-threatening brain tumor

    At 2 years old, Isaiah was diagnosed with a brain tumor wrapped around the stem of his brain. Follow his entire course of treatment as a patient of the Brain Tumor Program at Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and you'll see why we love Isaiah.

  • You can help make miracles happen, too

    A few months ago, I had the privilege of attending a Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals’ ceremony honoring children who have suffered illness or injury. During this exuberant celebration, children of all shapes, sizes, and abilities danced down the aisle with their favorite Disney characters to celebrate. Their smiles simply radiated joy. As I grinned and clapped along with them, though, I couldn’t help but think about the life and death struggles that many of these children have faced. With their bald heads from chemotherapy, their scars a reminder of past surgeries, or their IV medications disguised in a Mickey Mouse backpack, the battle was evident. And yet, they kept smiling.

  • Welcome to Illuminate

    Living in Central Florida for the past 10 years, it has amazed me to see the different people and cultures from all over the world represented right here in my own backyard. Many of the people that call this area home have come from places I've only dreamed of. They speak different languages, have different cultural and religious values and have totally different perspectives on the world around them. I love to hear their stories, get a glimpse into their lives and see the world as they see it.

  • 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.

  • 10 tips to encourage your kids to drink more water

    Why is it so difficult to get kids to drink a glass of ice water, but they’ll gladly gulp a gallon of murky, mystery water from the bathtub?

  • Helping your child say farewell to preschool, hello to kindergarten

    In a few short months, I will be the parent of a kindergartener. That boggles my mind a little bit. Gone is the chunky toddler who yells, “Nack! Nack!” when she wants an afternoon snack. No more diapers to change or pacifiers or naptime stories. She has officially moved on from baby to toddler and now little girl. As we make this change from preschool to kindergarten, it feels important to me to transition well- for her sake and mine- and to embark on this next challenge with enthusiasm.

  • What November means to me

    In honor of Epilepsy Awareness Month, we would like to share this story written by a mother, whose son was diagnosed with Epilepsy in 2007.

  • Putting Acceptance to the Test

    Back in February, Susie Raskin wrote a great blog called “ and she talked about creating a balance between wanting the best for our children, encouraging them to achieve and allowing them to find their own path. When I read her post, I thought I should write about what it’s like to parent a young adult and put my good intentions about acceptance to the test as he makes his own choices. The truth is, though, I have been in the midst of NOT accepting my son’s choices and trying to rationalize my thinking.  And now here I am, more than six months later, still wrestling with the dilemma.

    Teaching your children to think for themselves is a good thing, right?

    When Brandon first came to live with us, he would often try really hard to please us. We were concerned about it because we didn’t want him to feel like he had to be good enough to be our child. This can be a hazard for children who are adopted, especially if they are adopted after infancy when they can remember being in temporary care with relatives or a foster family. In those early days, he would try to be “really good” and he usually succeeded. However, there were times when he would get stressed or upset and melt down into a tantrum or fit of rage. After we came out the other side of those episodes, we intentionally reassured him and made sure we talked about us being a forever family, saying we were going to stick together no matter what.

  • A safe start to swimming

    As the mother of a toddler, I sometimes feel as if my day is spent preventing one accident after the next. Is she standing too close to the stove while I cook? Can she reach the cord where she might pull the iron down on her? Did I close the front door behind me? Is she splashing in the toilet? What in the world did she put in her mouth!?!

  • Is My Child Too Young For a UTI?

    When babies and young children get urinary tract infections (UTIs), they can’t tell you what’s wrong. The challenge for parents is recognizing the difference between typical childhood behaviors and an infection. Knowing what to look for can help.