Connecticut Children's Blog

It was a pneumonia diagnosis that revealed a 30-degree curve in young Sabella’s spine at the age of 6. She was referred to Connecticut Children’s Orthopedics division where she was followed closely by Jeff Thomson, MD, for years before she underwent spinal fusion surgery to correct her debilitating scoliosis. Now a teenager, Sabella’s love for […]

By: Nicole Roscoe As parents of three young children, my husband and I make it a priority to teach them the difference between healthy and not-so-healthy eating choices. We also take steps to ensure our children learn the importance of exercise. Exciting Wellness Opportunities We look out for new and different opportunities for them to […]

It started like every other family dinner. Kelly sat around the table with her parents, grandparents, and two older siblings. They each talked about their days. Kelly, who was 10 at the time, mentioned that she felt an odd pain in her left leg. Her parents assumed it was growing pains—both of her older siblings […]

Olivia Belfonti wasn’t even born yet when her parents, Tricia and Arnold, knew there was trouble—serious trouble—with their baby. Tricia was 19 weeks pregnant when an ultrasound showed that Olivia’s heart had only one ventricle. Instead of the normal arrangement, where one side of the heart pumps oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the rest […]

By Shannin Burns, Patrick’s mom On the outside, my son, Patrick, appears to be a typical 12-year-old boy. He likes hanging out with his friends. He’s a good student. He’s in the ski club at his middle school, and he’s excited to start playing baseball in the spring. He loves video games, robotics and technology. […]

By Jennifer Twachtman-Bassett, M.S. CCC-SLP, CCRP  A hospital visit can be scary for a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), even if the visit is a quick doctor’s appointment. Since a hospital visit is almost never routine, it disrupts the child’s entire day, not just for the time that they spend in their visit. Plus, […]