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  • 10 reasons to get your kids into the kitchen

    If getting your kids into the kitchen sounds a bit daunting, you aren’t alone. There’s the extra time and the mess and the trouble. It’s easy to think that things might be simpler if we sent our kids off to play while we handled dinner alone. However, we might be overlooking some great opportunities for us and for our kids.

  • Does providing alcohol to our children teach them to drink responsibly?

    It is so hard for parents to know the right ways to help our children stay safe and out of trouble. It seems like everywhere we turn there are more tough influences for us to confront. Electronics invade our children’s sleep time, social time, and study time. Drugs, both illicit and prescription, are readily available. Sexually transmitted diseases are potentially life-changing, if not deadly, and are transmitted at younger ages at increasing rates. The list is long. But one of the big culprits is the same stuff we dealt with as kids- the age-old problem of alcohol. We know the mistakes we made. We know the potential consequences of excessive alcohol intake: automobile accidents, drowning, unintended pregnancies, alcoholism, even death. We want to teach our children to navigate the hazards of this culturally accepted drug so that they end up safe and sound in adulthood.

  • Should I give my child probiotics?

    Did you know that your digestive tract contains over 400 different types of bacteria? This complex ecosystem is called intestinal microflora. The concentration of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract increases dramatically moving from the stomach towards the colon. In humans, the intestinal microflora is vital in many important functions including digestion of nutrients and prevention of infection. Disruption of the “normal flora” can lead to many problems including diarrhea, bloating, abdominal pain and poor absorption of nutrients.

    What is a probiotic?

    Probiotics are “friendly bacteria” or “good bacteria” similar to those that occur naturally in the digestive tract. A few years ago, the defined “probiotics” as “live microorganisms which, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host.”

  • Get to know Dr. Jeffery Johnson, pediatric nephrologist at the Hewell Kids’ Kidney Center

    The Hewell Kids' Kidney Center at Arnold Palmer Hospital oftentimes becomes a home-away-from-home for many children needing outpatient dialysis treatment in Central Florida. The Hewell Kids' Kidney Center cares for children who have been diagnosed with with kidney-related disease such as end-stage kidney disease and obesity-related kidney disorders, as well as those who have undergone a kidney transplant. The team consists of several pediatric nephrologists, nurse practitioners, renal nurses, nutritionists, and social workers. The team recently welcomed it's newest member, Dr. Jeffery Johnson, pediatric nephrologist, in June of this year. Get to know Dr. Johnson in the Q & A below!

    Where did you grow up?

    I grew up all over since my dad was in the Air Force. We finally settled in Ohio when I was in high school and then I moved to California in my adult years. I had lived in Los Angeles, CA for the past 14 years before moving to Orlando.

    Where did you go to school?

    For my undergraduate I went to Washington University in St. Louis, MO and then attended Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH for medical school.

    What did you want to be when you were a little kid?

    I wanted to be a soccer player, even though I was horrible! I didn’t know I wanted to go into the field of medicine until halfway through college. I thought I wanted to do medical research, but after I started doing it I realized it wasn’t for me. With medicine, there is something new every day, which keeps me going.

    What was your first job?

    I worked in a games department at a local amusement park. It was a lot of fun. I worked there in high school and through my first year of college.

    What are your hobbies?

    I run a lot – almost every day. Today I’ll be running eight miles. I like to scuba dive and travel. Bali was probably my most favorite place I’ve traveled to so far.

    What is your favorite sports team?

    The Cincinnati Bengals even they break my heart every year!

    How did you get into pediatric nephrology?

    It was when I did a pediatric nephrology rotation as part of my medical training that I knew that was what I wanted to do – it was very interesting to me.

    How did you know you wanted to work with kids?

    It was probably after my second or third month of working in the adult emergency room that I felt called to work in pediatrics. My mom and sister are both elementary school teachers, so I’ve spent most of my life being around and working with kids.

    When did you start at Arnold Palmer Hospital and what is it like working at the Hewell Kids’ Kidney Center?

    I moved to Orlando for this job and have been here since June 2014. One of the things I love about working here is the team that I am a part of. Everyone is fun and easy to work with. We usually all eat lunch together. It’s like a family here, which is evident in how we care for our patients. We take a team approach in being able to provide comprehensive care to our patients, and everyone is usually on the same page as far as what the protocol should be and what the treatment plan should look like.

    What is it like working with the whole family and not just the patient?

    It’s a fine balance, because I always try to acknowledge and engage the child while also working with the parents and families. But it’s something that I really enjoy. It might not always be an easy day at work, but being able to care for kids and knowing that I am helping them is a great feeling.

    What is one piece of advice that you always communicate to families and patients?

    I think one of the most important things in our patient population is for them to be taking their medicine. In our transplant population, most of them are on an immunosuppressant, and if they don’t take their medication for a few days, they could end up losing their kidney or having recurrent kidney disease. It’s important for me that they understand the importance of taking their medicine and that the family ensures that they will follow through with the treatment plan at home.

    What would you say has been your greatest accomplishment?

    I would say it was when I took over the dialysis unit at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles. I had to basically redo the unit and start over from scratch, building it from the ground up.

    What is one thing that patients and families wouldn’t otherwise know about you?

    I want families to know that I am honest with them, whether I have good or bad news to share. I would want my physician to be honest with me, so I try and do the same for our families.

    Click here to learn more about the Kids’ Kidney Center at Arnold Palmer Hospital

  • Do you know the difference between a cold and the flu?

    Have your kids been sick lately?

  • Should your toddler have access to your digital devices?

    You’ve probably heard your pediatrician offer this advice: no television for children under two years of age. In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics has discouraged the use of screens of any kind (television, video, tablets, iPad or iPhones, to name a few) for toddlers.

  • Surviving a preschooler’s separation anxiety

    I’ve come to believe that separation anxiety is the straw that breaks the backs of many moms. We can carry our heavy loads through many child-rearing deserts, but we Mom-camels collapse under the pressure of children suffering from separation anxiety. Our children cry as we leave them, and we cry our guilty little hearts out as soon as we are out of our children’s sight. We are left with those lingering questions: Should I leave them? Are they going to be okay? Am I a terrible mother for leaving my child?

  • What to expect at your child's therapy evaluation

    Your child has been referred to Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy or Speech Therapy. So, what's next? First of all, don't dread this appointment. Therapists can be a wealth of information and you will leave that first appointment with some useful tools. Part of a therapist’s job is to share valuable information with you about your child- both their strengths and weaknesses. Their job is to help your child reach their maximum potential and equip you to be an expert about your child’s abilities. This is a good thing.

    For All Evaluations

    Bring your child in comfortable clothing that allow full movement Make sure they are well rested Bring any specific equipment they use such as walkers, splints, or communication devices Be prepared to share concerns you or your doctor may have Provide a list of their medications Be prepared to leave for part of the session if asked (so that therapist can build rapport and see how your child works on their own)

    What to bring for Feeding Concerns

    A hungry kiddo Food you’re sure your child will eat Food you have tried to give your child but they haven’t accepted A drink your child typically accepts: bottle, sippy cup, straw cup, etc. A list of their allergies or recent notes from any specialists

    What to Bring for School Related Concerns

    A copy of their 504 Plan, IEP, Behavior Contract or Health Plan A letter from the teacher expressing any specific concerns (if possible) A sample of their written work from class (if this is a concern) Report a from the school psychologist or therapist (if it’s available)

    During the Evaluation

    Let the therapist take the lead but feel free to comment if you feel your child is not showing their full potential. Be as specific as possible. Remember, you are the expert on your child and the therapist is getting a one-time snapshot. Any information on how your child typically functions is very much appreciated. During the evaluation, your therapists will gather valuable information on how your child responds- or doesn't respond- to certain tasks. The therapist is likely to approach your child in a specific way to achieve a desired outcome. For this reason, resist the urge to help your child complete tasks presented. Remember, therapists are looking to build rapport with your little one and form a partnership with you to ensure your child’s success. They’ll definitely let you know if they need you to jump in and help out.

    After your Evaluation

    Ask the therapist for their professional opinion on what strengths they observe in your child and what areas of concern they have. Would they recommend referrals to other professionals or further testing? If therapy is recommended, how often will they need to be seen to achieve their goals? What skills does the therapist see your child achieving through their intervention? How much work at home will be required to achieve these results? Although most of the recommendations will come during your child’s treatment sessions, you can still leave the evaluation equipped with something beneficial for your child. Ask for a few suggestions on what you can work on at home while you await your first therapy session. Therapists want to build your child’s skills and maximize their strengths so they’ll have great suggestions for toys and fun activities to help your child achieve their goals.

  • What we do now may affect our future children’s genetics

    We are all aware that mothers who smoke while they are pregnant run a higher risk of having children who are premature, smaller than they should be, or stillborn. This is likely due to reduced oxygen supply to the baby through mom’s diseased body and to toxins shared by mom with baby. We also know that children who are exposed to second-hand smoke have a higher risk of developing respiratory diseases like asthma, chronic lung disease and even cancer due to direct lung damage from inhaled smoke.

    What you do with your body early in life can affect future generations

    But recent data suggests that a father’s behavior even years prior to conception may affect the health of his children and future generations. For example, early paternal smoking has been associated with increased body mass in children. Paternal alcoholism has been associated with smaller birth weights in babies, and hyperactivity in children. Most recently, smoking even early in life has been found to be associated with an increased risk of certain forms of asthma in a man’s children. A study which was recently presented at the European Respiratory Society International Congress looked at 13,000 men and women and found that non-allergic asthma was significantly more common in children whose fathers smoked before the age of 15. In addition, the longer the father smoked, the higher the risk of his child having this kind of asthma. Interestingly, the same link was not found in children whose mothers smoked before they conceived.

  • A letter to my daughter’s teacher on her first day of school

    I don’t know you and you don’t know me, but today you become one of the most important people in my life. You are the one. The one who I’ve entrusted to take care of my girl in my absence. The one who I’ve tasked with teaching her things that I cannot. The one who will make an indelible mark on her little soul that will forever shape her perspective of learning.