Menu
Virtual Visit Request an Appointment ER Wait Times
Search
Back

Filter By

All Search Results

  • The struggle to keep your cool as a parent.

    Have you ever watched those nature shows on television about animals in the wild? I love the ones with the mamas and their babies. Not too long ago, I saw one about a mama bear and her little cubs. They all (including mom) looked so cute and cuddly, until some other animal messed with them. My, how quickly things changed! Mom was immediately on her two back legs, lunging, clawing, and snarling, looking terrifyingly angry. She effectively sent the message that she is not to be messed with, especially when it came to her cubs.

    Sometimes, I feel like that mama bear, too.

    A few years ago, my son was attending a day camp. The camp went on a field trip, and there was a “miscommunication of sorts” between my son and the camp counselors regarding eating lunch. Long story short, he had his lunch with him but didn’t eat it when he was supposed to (he said he never heard them give instructions to eat), and when he asked to eat later, he was told that he couldn’t, and that he had missed lunch and lunchtime was over.

  • One family’s unique bond through sickle cell disease: Aurita’s story

    Aurita knows all too well what it means to live with sickle cell disease. Sickle cell disease is characterized by abnormally shaped red blood cells that block small blood vessels, damaging tissue in the body. It is an extremely painful disease, but can be managed with treatment.

  • September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

    It’s nice to finally see the sun peak through the clouds when it comes to obesity rates in children. A recent report from the CDC reveals a decline in obesity rates among preschool children from low-income families. The report shows that from 2008 to 2011, there was a downward trend in obesity rates for young children in 19 states, including Florida.

  • A second chance at life: Michael's story

    Michael is a bright, spirited 2-year-old: full of life and overflowing with a vivacious curiosity about everything and everyone. But, his joy and unbridled enthusiasm for life also serve as a bittersweet reminder to his loved ones that just a few short weeks ago, Michael nearly lost his life in a tragic accident.

  • Are my child’s speech and language skills developing normally?

    Written by Faye Stillman, MS, CCC-SLP/ATP and Carla Hall, MA, CCC-SLP, Speech/Language Pathologists from the Outpatient Rehabilitation Department at Arnold Palmer Hospital. 

  • Considering a home birth?

    The published a new policy statement this week that addresses the controversial and often polarizing topic of home births. The AAP stands in agreement with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), stating that “hospitals and birthing centers are the safest settings for birth in the United States.” Both physician groups, however, also advocate for respecting the rights of a woman to make a medically informed decision about her delivery.

  • How much of our parenting is influenced by our friends?

    I read a study this week that discussed how parents’ social networks (online and in real life) affect their decisions about vaccinating their kids. The paper concluded that a parent’s people connections were the most influential factors affecting their vaccination decisions- above educational level, relationship with their healthcare provider, online and print reading sources and economic status. I found it to be really interesting, but as I thought more about it, I found myself saying this: “Well… duh.”

  • Is your teen depressed?

    In the years that I’ve been working with Teen Xpress as a counselor, I’ve seen many different issues with the students: child abuse, trauma, family struggles, stress management, anger problems, to name a few. However, this year, there is one issue that has trumped all the others by far: depression.

  • 12 ways to support families affected by military service

    I recently wrote about some of the parented by active military troops. While not all of us have a loved one serving in the military, we can all support the troops and the loved ones they leave behind. There are organized efforts to provide support to these families, especially around holiday time. In addition to these activities, we can provide emotional and practical support in some simple, every day ways.

  • E-cigarettes are becoming more popular with teens.

    Over the past year, the use of electronic cigarettes among middle and high school students has more than doubled, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). One in fifteen students in grades six through twelve report having smoked an e-cigarette sometime in their lives.