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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.

  • Andrew's story- finding joy in unexpected places

    Just days before going into labor on December 23, 2007, Steve and Betsy were anxiously awaiting the birth of their little bundle of joy. All of their doctor’s visits and checkups had been normal, and they were expecting to bring home a healthy, happy baby just a few days after giving birth. Like many other first-time parents, they felt nervous, excited, and a little scared as they awaited the new addition to their family. What they didn’t know was that they were about to go through the most challenging time of their lives.

  • Inspired to give back after becoming a childhood cancer survivor: Whitney’s story

    After meeting Whitney, you would never realize the hardships she endured by spending most of her childhood in the hospital, battling several childhood illnesses. Instead, you would see a sweet, quietly confident 16-year-old girl who is passionate about art and medicine, as well as fundraising, pursuing excellence in everything that she does. While most girls her age are interested in the latest fashion trends, boys, and the usual high school drama, Whitney is different. Although she thinks about these things, she is on a greater mission. A mission to educate people on childhood cancer and to one day, find a cure for this ugly disease.

    The diagnosis that changed everything

    At eight years old, Whitney was diagnosed with a T-cell post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD), or a T-cell Lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer. In fact, it is so rare, that only one to two percent of the population in the United States is affected by this type of cancer today. Having been previously treated at a local hospital in Gainesville for a liver transplant that she underwent at the age of three, she began treatment for cancer there, so that her previous team of physicians could care her for. However, after three months of treatment, Whitney was not responding well, and her parents asked if she could be transferred to Arnold Palmer Hospital for treatment so that she could be closer to home. Once Whitney transferred, they started to see significant signs of improvement and she was finally responding to treatment. Over the course of her treatment, Whitney was a trooper and did extremely well. However, with the intensity of treatment that childhood cancer requires, there are good days and bad days. And some days, they feel so dark you wonder if there is a light at the end of the tunnel, according to her mom. Despite all of the trials and hardships that came her way, Whitney persevered through it all, and in April 2006 she was told she was “cancer-free!”

  • 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?

  • You think your teen is depressed. Now what?

    On , we discussed the statistics behind depression in teens and the warning signs to look for if you think your teen is depressed. Let’s now look at some next steps in getting help for your child.

    Finding help through professionals

    Finding a good mental health professional is like finding any good healthcare provider. Some of them you might like, some you might not. Some of them might have specialties, like working with teens, adults, or couples, so you’ll want to ask questions to make sure this is a person that is likely to be helpful. Look for a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, or a Psychologist.

  • Concerned about high fructose corn syrup in your child’s diet?

    Have you seen any Yoplait yogurt commercials recently? I have seen one where they are advertising that all their products are now free of high fructose corn syrup. As the advertisement goes, Yoplait has been listening to its customers who requested the change.

  • What I wish I’d known when my son was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect

    Written by Trey Flynn

  • How one physical therapist overcame scoliosis and now helps children do the same

    My Story

  • Know the hazards of a button battery

    Written by Timothy Hadley, DO

  • Why Teens Need the HPV Vaccine—Now

    Human papillomavirus (HPV) causes at least 26,000 cases of cancer every year in the United States: about 18,000 in women and 8,000 in men. In 2006 a vaccine was licensed to prevent most of these cancers as well as venereal warts. First recommended for girls, the victims of more HPV-related cancers, the HPV vaccine was soon recommended for boys as well. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends HPV immunization for all preteens between the ages of 11 and 12 years, prior to any risk of exposure.

    The reality of HPV immunization in the U.S.

    About 80% of us will contract HPV in our lives. Fortunately, most HPV infection is cleared by the immune system without long-term consequences. The unfortunate few go on to develop devastating disease. Sadly, the immunization rate of U.S. teens against HPV is very low. By 2013 less than half of all teens had received even one dose of an HPV vaccine. Currently, only 24% of preteens aged 11 to 12 years of age have begun the series.

    Why are vaccination rates so low?

    HPV is difficult for parents to think about because it is mostly transmitted by some form of sexual contact. However, as much as we don’t want to think about our youngsters becoming sexual beings, they will. It is actually our goal as parents to have our children grow up and have families. Thus, acknowledging that our children may at some time in their lives contract HPV is our responsibility.