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Remembering Joanna: The “Heart” of Help Me Grow By Paul Dworkin, MD: By: Paul Dworkin, MD With great sadness, I share my reflections on the passing of our dear friend and beloved colleague, Joanna Bogin. Joanna was the first manager of the Help Me Grow (HMG) National Center, leading our HMG dissemination efforts even prior to our evolution to an

Coccygeal Pits in Babies: What Parents Need to Know By Bethany Simonetti MSN, APRN, FNP-BC: One of the most common reasons kids see our team in pediatric neurosurgery is for a coccygeal pit, something that often sounds more concerning than it actually is. To help answer common questions and ease worry, we spoke with Bethany Simonetti, APRN, pediatric neurosurgery nurse

Through the Storm: Keilany’s Story When Tropical Storm Isaias hit Connecticut this past August, it toppled trees and knocked out power across the state. It also hit the campground where Keilany Palma and her parents, siblings and grandmother were celebrating her 12 th birthday. Keilany’s actual birthday had been

Medicaid Matters for Kids: Part 1 - What is Medicaid? By Jane Baird: Welcome to the first of a three-part blog series about a critical health care issue for children: Medicaid. As Senior Director of Government Relations and External Affairs, I spend a lot of time thinking about the Medicaid program because it plays a huge role at Connecticut

Help Your School-Aged Kid Plan for Next Year- Now By Bradley S. Jerson, PhD: Before we know it, school will be in session again. It's not too early to start thinking about ways to help your child make the most of the move to a new school year this fall. Below are some tips for talking to your kids AND their school teams about what may be most helpful for

Resilience Is Connection: Strong Relationships Create Strong Kids By Robert D. Keder, MD: Resilience is the ability to overcome serious stress or difficulty, and bounce back stronger than ever. In this series, Connecticut Children’s pediatric experts share keys to resilience, and tips to help your child be resilient. Research consistently shows that even in stressful

How to Talk to Kids About Their Own Cancer Diagnosis By Kelly Muccino: When it comes to teaching children about their own cancer diagnosis, a step-by-step approach can be helpful. Talk to your child about each step of the treatment process as it’s happening. Connecticut Children’s Child Life team explains…

Gunshot Triggers New Outlook on Life: Jadiel’s Story Jadiel Vasquez spent two and a half months as an inpatient at Connecticut Children’s and much longer as an outpatient recovering from a gunshot wound. He was just 15 years old when he was unintentionally shot inside his Hartford home in March 2021. Now, at age 17, Vasquez is

Why Sleep Might Be the Most Important Part of Your Athlete's Training By Nicholas Giampetruzzi, PT, MPT: When we think about what helps athletes thrive, our minds often go straight to hours of practice, skilled coaching, and proper nutrition. But sleep, a powerful tool, is often overlooked. Sleep is one of the most effective ways to help your child stay healthy, recover quickly, and

A Team-Focused Strategy to Tackle Tough Topics By Lauren Dominique, MA: By: Lauren Dominique Team members of Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health (the Office) recently embraced an opportunity to participate in a shared reading and discussion group to advance their understanding of the ongoing inequities faced by people of color

Native American Heritage Month: 5 Facts Beyond Imagination In November, we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, also known as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. What should we know about the culture, traditions, struggles and victories about these very diverse groups? We called upon Connecticut Children’s DEI team to

Fetal Care Beyond Imagination: Introducing Dr. Timothy Crombleholme By Timothy Crombleholme, MD: We’re excited to announce the opening of the Fetal Care Center at Connecticut Children’s, led by Timothy Crombleholme, MD, a world-renowned expert in fetal surgery. Dr. Crombleholme and his experienced team diagnose and treat the full spectrum of complex fetal conditions, some of

Safe Sleep Practices Protect Babies By Amy Watkins, MPH: By: Amy Watkins, MPH Safe sleep environments are critical to protect babies from harm. Each year in the United States, approximately 3,500 infants die unexpectedly during sleep. This can happen from accidental suffocation, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or unknown causes

From Signing Building Beams to Building Memories: Debra's Journey at Connecticut Children's For Debra, a veteran team member at Connecticut Children's, this rings true as she reflects on her journey from signing the first steel beam for the original hospital in 1996 to preparing to sign another beam for the new 8-story patient tower set to open in Fall of 2025.

Such a Miracle: Jack's Story At 17 weeks pregnant, Ashley Donnelly’s water broke. She wasn’t even halfway through a full-term pregnancy. At her Ob/Gyn’s office, and then with her maternal fetal medicine team, the experts gently prepared her for the worst. “I could see it on everybody’s faces,” she says.