All Search Results
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Follow Aiden's Heart Surgery As It Happens
We followed 16-month-old Aiden through heart surgery to repair a heart defect called Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) that enables blood flow between the left and right Atria through an abnormal opening. We captured his surgery through Instagram as it happened, posting updates and pictures every few minutes so that his story could be followed in real time. Below are the photos and a timeline of events throughout the surgery. Aiden's surgery was successful and we wish him the best as he gets back to being a normal little boy again.
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Trampolines aren't just fun and games
“Watch this!” cries your youngest child, as his older sibling bounces him high into the air on the backyard trampoline. Your child is all giggles and smiles as he quickly flies into the air and lands with a big bounce on the trampoline’s giving surface. Your child bounces a few more times, until he finally comes to a stop. What may seem like all fun and games at the time, can quickly take a turn for the worse when someone gets hurt.
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Free Down Syndrome Clinic at the Howard Phillips Center
The 18th Annual Down Syndrome Clinic, presented by the Developmental Center for Infants & Children/Early Steps, provides free resources for infants, children and adults with Down Syndrome. Participating families can see dozens of developmental specialists including dentists, cardiologists, eye doctors, therapists and more. The clinic provides a unique opportunity to access resources and network in one convenient location absolutely free.
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Talking to Teens about Sex
As an adolescent medicine specialist caring for youth at a time of life when first crushes, first dates, and first loves (and for some youth, the first time) happen, I cannot help but notice the obvious lack of communication between parents and teens about sexuality, and quite frankly, sex. For many parents, sex in the teenage years is something to be feared and forbidden and is often a source of family conflict. Many parents cringe at the idea of talking about sex with teens. And when they do talk to teens, conversations usually focus just on the dangers of sex and romance -- STDs, pregnancy and heartbreak.
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The Puzzle Theory
Are puzzles in your toddler’s toy basket? If not, you may want to reconsider. These challenging games are a great tool to keep your child entertained and help stimulate their minds. Unlike a toy truck or baby doll, puzzles are interactive and keep children interested and willing to try and try again until they get the perfect fit. Now, not saying toy trucks or baby dolls are a bad thing; they’re great! But we all want our babies to grow up to be little Einsteins right? Or at least that’s what we tell ourselves.
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Healthy snack ideas for kids
Have you ever been to a campfire? To keep the fire burning, you have to continue putting logs onto the fire, right? Your metabolism is like that fire, and to keep it going strong you have to feed it at regular intervals, like when you’re hungry. A strong metabolism keeps your body working efficiently and helps to maintain your healthy weight.
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It’s time to get up and get outside!
With summer just around the corner, what better time to get your kids more active? Concern over kids’ health and the growing obesity rates has been a hot topic for years, bringing to attention the fact that physical activity is a crucial part of kids’ health. Not only does it help to keep kids’ weight in check, but also plays a role in the development of cognitive and social skills.
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What Valentine's Day means to us at the Heart Center
This Tuesday was the annual celebration of our miracle heart kids. This party is not just your ordinary Valentine’s Day party, but is a way for us to be able to celebrate our successes at the Heart Center and honor all of our patients who have fought and conquered the battle against heart defects. To be able to see these kids running around, laughing and playing, who were once struggling with life-threatening conditions, is a blessing that words alone cannot express. The families look forward to celebrating together with the doctors and nurses who have been their support system since the moment they heard the devastating news that their child has a heart defect. The continual appreciation and gratitude of our heart families is an encouragement to our doctors to know that they did a job well done. What a special day to celebrate the little miracles right here in our very own backyard.
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Fighting a Fever without Fear
Many parents worry when their child is having a fever. We know that fevers can be scary for parents, especially if it is your child’s first fever. It may be difficult to think clearly and make important decisions when your child feels very warm. Learning what causes a fever and how to take care of your child when it occurs can help relieve some stress and anxiety.
What is a fever?
Your child’s normal body temperature with vary based on age, activity, and time of day. Infants tend to have higher temperatures than older children. Usually, our body’s temperature is the highest in the late afternoon and early evening. Each person has his or her own internal “thermostat” that helps to regulate their own body temperature, and this number is around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, plus or minus one degree. When your body detects an infection or illness in your body, your brain responds by raising its temperature to help fight the condition. Many conditions can be associated with fever, such as ear infections, croup, pneumonia, sore throat, influenza, urinary tract infections, meningitis, and many different viral illnesses. -
Are you protecting your newborn from whooping cough?
If you’ve been reading the news the past few weeks, you may have heard about the outbreak of whooping cough, also known as pertussis, that has reached epidemic levels in Washington. There have been more than 1,000 cases reported already this year in the state, and it is reminiscent of the 2010 California outbreak that infected more than 9,000 people and resulted in the death of 10 infants.
