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Jack's Journey- A True Miracle

Jack Otremba's survival was nothing short of a miracle. He was born at 1 lb 1 oz. at Winnie Palmer Hospital and was given a 10% chance to live. But thanks to the dedicated and caring experts in the NICU at Winnie Palmer Hospital Jack defied the odds. He's grown into a happy, healthy and hilarious little boy. This is his journey.

Have you laughed today?

“Laughter is the best medicine.” We’ve all heard it. But do we really believe it?

Should I worry about my child’s stuttering?

We both remember the days when our daughters were so excited and had so much to say all at once that their mouths couldn’t keep up with the thoughts soaring through their little minds. We recall how they would get stuck on words or phrases such as, “and then, and then, and then.”

Get to know Dr. Eslin and Dr. Amy Smith, pediatric oncologists at Arnold Palmer Hospital

Cancer tries to take the joy of childhood away. No one is better at fighting childhood cancer than our specialists at Arnold Palmer Hospital. Orange TV recently aired a 30-minute show all about childhood cancer. The show featured Arnold Palmer Hospital cancer specialists Dr. Don Eslin and Dr. Amy Smith, along with Whitney Goldstein, a young cancer survivor treated at Arnold Palmer Hospital.

Get to know our pediatric oncologists and learn more about childhood cancer, here:

Video source: Healthy Connections - Childhood Cancers

Leading by example

The other day I had lunch with a friend at one of our favorite mom-and-pop sandwich shops. Well, sort of. We did have lunch, but I only remember this lunch date in flashes of chaos and confusion created by two lively toddlers.

Katie Karp is a cancer survivor.

Katie Karp remembers the day when she was diagnosed with cancer very well. The diagnosis of osteosarcoma in her left leg was unexpected and quite a blow, but Katie was not going to let cancer win. She's a fighter. Through dozens of chemotherapy treatments and surgery that resulted in 11" of her thigh bone being removed, Katie persevered. Watch her amazing story and how she's used her experience with cancer to help children currently going through their own battle.

Should I teach my baby to sign?

We have posted previously on the “” and ways to sidestep the frustration that comes at that time of life. I often educate parents that it’s not a behavior problem; it’s a communication problem.  Have you ever found yourself at the pantry door with a child who lays on the floor because the choices are too many and they know what they want, but they just can’t tell you? Parents report this to us all the time, and you are not alone. Unbeknownst to most new parents, children are able to understand language as early as 6 months, but the ability to speak requires complex fine motor skills that don’t develop until much later. The result is frustration and tantrums.

Watch your words: labeling your kids can have long-lasting effects

This post was originally posted in May 2014.

Why Sports Clearance Exams Don’t Replace Annual Physicals

A common question parents have is whether their child needs an annual physical with their pediatrician if they’ve already had a sports clearance exam at school.

Your Teen’s Weight Could Be Linked to Chronic Kidney Disease

If your child is overweight, they may be at risk of developing chronic kidney disease in early adulthood. Once that happens, it’s impossible to repair the damage, so it’s important to encourage your child to eat well and exercise regularly to maintain a healthy weight.