Connecticut Children's Blog

Connecticut Children’s new Westport Specialty Care Center already has a happy family. John B. Jr. — “JJ” to his family — is a giggly, boisterous 16-month-old from Stratford. Every couple months, he’ll visit the Neurosurgery team at the new Westport center, which opened its doors Dec. 15. This high-tech space is designed to feel welcoming and […]

By: Sarah Malvezzi, Child Life specialist At Connecticut Children’s, we have a lot of practice caring for kids in a way that’s comfortable, empowering and even fun for them. If they have a surgery or procedure scheduled, you can count on us to keep them safe and sound every step of the way. You’ll probably […]

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Sonia Chaudhry is the only pediatric hand surgeon in Connecticut and she’s here at Connecticut Children’s.  Ashley Denison remembers the worry that washed over her when doctors told her that her son had no thumb on his left hand just moments after he was delivered in April 2017. How would he hold […]

The staff at the hospital where Natalia Rodriguez Sabala was born hadn’t seen a patient like her in seven years. She was born with cloacal exstrophy, also known as OEIS syndrome: Her bladder and portions of her large intestine were on the outside of her belly, and her bladder was split open into two halves. […]

Recently the American Academy of Pediatrics released guidelines endorsing, and advocating for, earlier access to weight loss surgery for teens with severe obesity. Is bariatric surgery right for your family? Melissa Santos, PhD, from Connecticut Children’s bariatric team joins the blog to answer your questions. What’s changed in the new weight loss surgery guidelines? The […]

In honor of Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating the accomplishments of women in health care – including Christine Finck, MD, FACS, Connecticut Children’s first woman surgeon-in-chief and one of six women surgeon-in-chiefs at 45 children’s hospitals across the country. What inspired you to become a surgeon? Dr. Finck: I was inspired to become a surgeon […]

In the third trimester of pregnancy, Hattie and Donnie Donner went to one last ultrasound to check on Hattie’s thyroid levels. Her levels were fine, but something else wasn’t. The ultrasound picked up on two bubbles in the baby’s small intestines. Their baby boy had a rare, life-threatening condition called duodenal atresia. Just like that, […]

Last summer, Ben Kline couldn’t make it from the kitchen to his bedroom without hugging the wall. He was having trouble balancing. He had a constant headache. He was so sensitive to light, he had to stop playing video games. He was so sensitive to sound, his younger sister stopped having friends over. He lost […]