Connecticut Children's Blog

In 2019, a very pregnant Kristina Gisonde studied two dots on her latest ultrasound. The dots represented her baby’s kidneys, and they were different sizes – not a good sign. Her doctor recommended that, soon after birth, they see a specialist at Connecticut Children’s. Kristina and husband Matt had just moved to Fairfield County with […]

Milagros knew in her heart that her daughter was sick. But for a long time, no one else seemed to believe her. Jazz, age 3, had been plagued with mysterious symptoms for months. She’d been spitting up for no reason, and waking with bad headaches. Milagros brought her to doctors all over Massachusetts, but no […]

One day, when Danny Sullivan was 8 years old, he began to feel very tired. Everyone thought it was allergies, maybe, or a growth spurt. He’d always been a healthy kid, with nothing more than the occasional cold. But this time, it got worse. Suddenly, he could barely stand up. His father had to carry […]

Alexandra was the first baby born in Danbury Hospital, an event celebrated in the local newspaper. As she grew, there was more cause for celebration: She became a formidable athlete. Swimming was her love, but when she got to Danbury High School, they didn’t have a swim program, so Alex decided to try running. And […]

There is no one else quite like Youssef Shahine. Sure, when he’s blasting music on his headphones or glued to a video game, he’s a typical 14-year-old. But ask him a question about life, and he’s wise beyond his years. “I like to look at the good stuff,” says Youssef. “Yes, there are rough times. […]

Before COVID-19, Jillian Duffy, Miss Connecticut 2019 and 2020, visited the Medical Center once a month and made her way room-to-room meeting with patients. The visits are part of the partnership between the Miss America Organization and Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and they connect directly with her platform “Jillian’s Journey: Pediatric Cancer Research and Awareness.” […]

Editor’s Note: Hannah is a 13-year-old patient at Connecticut Children’s. Here she shares the story of her diagnosis. There are lots of moments in your life that you remember. Some can be good, some can be bad. This moment happens to be one I’ll never forget. I’m Hannah Forstell, and I am going to tell […]

When 26-year-old Jonathan Sales was diagnosed with cancer for the second time in his life, he and fiancée Alyssa Griffin, 27, had an emotional conversation. With all the uncertainty ahead, there was one thing they knew: They didn’t want to wait any longer to be married. Jonathan, a seventh grade science teacher at Oakville’s Swift […]

Anthony had been in remission for more than three years when a routine MRI scan revealed another ependymoma, his third brain tumor. “It was devastating,” says Jennifer, Anthony’s mom. “Things had been going so well for so long.” To make matters worse, Anthony had already received the maximum amount of radiation during treatment for the […]

by Sasha Dagnall I can’t imagine having a better daughter than my little girl, Rylie. She’s 16 and a sophomore at Hall High School in West Hartford, Connecticut. Rylie’s an honor-roll student and plays on the school tennis team, among other activities. I know the teenage years often involve drama, but Rylie understands better than […]