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Living through the uncertainties of spina bifida
Written by Amanda Kern
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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.
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For the Ohio kidnapping victims, is healing possible?
One of the more dramatic stories in the news recently has been about the three young women who were kidnapped about 10 years ago in Ohio and recently freed. Fortunately, while the trauma they have experienced has no doubt been horrendous, they are physically intact, and initial indications are that they will be able to heal and recover. Of course, I do not know these women, but I can guess one thing from the fact that they survived so long without contact with the outside world and their loved ones. They must have had some resilience within themselves that allowed them to remain hopeful and provide support to one another through those long years.
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Indoor tanning: Is it worth the “glow”?
Most teen girls love a good tan. And even though some may know the dangers of indoor tanning, they continue to indulge in this risky behavior. But can you blame them? Society and the media have associated this sought-after golden hue with good health and beauty for years. Popular beauty and fashion magazines are usually graced with images of flawless women with that desirable “sun-kissed glow”. As these young girls navigate the road to try and fit in with their peers and build their self-esteem, we have a responsibility to teach them about the risks associated with their decision to visit the local tanning salon.
Why might my daughter “tan”?
For many teens, a tan makes them look good and feel good. Many girls agree with the statements, “I look better when I have a tan” and “I feel healthy when I have a nice tan”. Yet tanning of any kind, especially indoor tanning, is not healthy at all. -
The Little Kaseman: A warrior who is fighting the battle of a lifetime against childhood cancer
May is National Pediatric Brain Tumor Awareness Month. Did you know that there are approximately 28,000 children in the U.S. living with the diagnosis of a brain tumor today?
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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.
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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. -
The FDA wants to ban trans fats.
On November 7, 2013 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it would like to ban trans fats in food.
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Get to know Dr. Bornstein, pediatric gastroenterologist at Arnold Palmer Hospital
As chief of the Pediatric Center for Digestive Health and Nutrition at Arnold Palmer Hospital, Dr. Jeffrey Bornstein has been an integral part of our medical team for more than 14 years and has helped thousands of children with gastrointestinal disorders. We sat down with Dr. Bornstein to find out a little more about the man behind the medicine. Here’s what he had to say:
What exactly do gastroenterologists do?
We take care of patients who have problems with their liver, stomach or intestines. Some are minor and often get better, like babies with reflux or children with constipation. Many people have abdominal pain or stomach aches. Others are more serious - patients who are unable to eat, or who have inflammatory bowel disease (inflammation in the intestines or colon), or who have liver problems.Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts about 30 miles outside of Boston.Where did you go to school?
I received my bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from MIT in 1985 and then went on to medical school at George Washington University in Washington D.C. I then continued with a pediatric residency at the U.S. Air Force Medical Center and a Pediatric GI and Nutrition fellowship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.What hobbies do you enjoy outside of work?
I play basketball, and I also enjoy reading. James Michener is my favorite author. I like to do yard work and gardening, and I love to cook.What's your dream vacation?
One month of touring Europe and ending in Israel.Do you have a favorite book?
Lord of the Rings. I read the trilogy with my son when he was in 5th grade. We've shared the books and movies as a special bond since then.How about a favorite movie or TV show?
I don't have a favorite, but I prefer comedies- happy shows and movies. My work days are filled with worrying about my patients. I don't like to see bad things happen to people when I don't need to, even if it's not real.Do you have a favorite sports team?
I'm a Boston boy, so the Celtics, of course!If you could meet anyone (alive or not) who would it be?
The answer to that question has changed, as I've gotten older. At one time, it was sports heroes, and then it was our ancient rabbis. Now, I think that I'd like to meet Ghandi and be able to better understand inner peace.Why did you choose pediatric gastroenterology as a specialty?
It allows me to see patients with many different types of problems. For most of them, I can help make them better. Many of my patients have chronic diseases. I may not be able to cure them, but I can play a part in making them, their quality of life and their family's life, better. I get to have long relationships with many of my patients and their families. I also get to do procedures, which offers a little bit of change from the office.What do you enjoy most about your job?
My relationships with my patients and their families.What's one thing that your patients and their families probably don't know about you?
I love to cook and entertain family and friends.Do you have a favorite memory from working at Arnold Palmer Hospital?
I don’t have a single favorite memory, but the memories that make me feel best are when a patient or family tells me thank you because I have affected their lives in a positive way. -
New laws allow schools to give life-saving care to children with severe allergies
On November 13, 2013 President Obama signed into law the School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act, a law that will help schools become better prepared to care for children with severe allergies in the event of an emergency. Earlier this year, Florida also passed a law that allows schools to offer life-saving treatment to those children in need.