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Beyond Trust: Kali’s Story Krystin Sylva always says her twins came into the world like a storm. Kali and Jada were 28-week preemies born during an actual ice storm in January – at 3:33 am, three seconds apart. They started life in the NICU at Danbury Hospital, receiving care from Connecticut Children's

Reflecting on the Heart of Our Work: Racial and Social Justice By Nancy Caperino, LCSW, ACSW: By: Nancy Caperino, LCSW, ACSW and Lauren Dominique Racial and social justice is at the hearrt of our work with children, families and community. That’s why Connecticut Children’s and Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health (the Office) have an ongoing commitment

Teaching Empathy in Action: The Meaning Behind Pajama Day As you settle into the new school year—organizing supplies, marking sports schedules, and syncing calendars—there’s one date worth circling now: the second Friday of December. That’s when students, teachers, and communities across Connecticut, and the region, come together for PJ

Building a Sense of Belonging in the Workplace By: Nicole Capsolas; Danielle Chenard, MPH; and Lauren Dominique Connecticut Children’s kicked off its first annual Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Symposium with powerful presentations from Priya Phulwani, MD; Christine Finck, MD, FACS; and Rev. Carolyn Wilkins, MBA, BBA. In

What Are the New COVID-19 Variants, and Do They Infect Kids More Easily? By Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, FAAP: In addition to all the news about the COVID-19 vaccine , you’ve probably been hearing a lot about new variants of COVID-19 . Connecticut Children’s Physician-in-Chief Juan Salazar, MD, MPH, shares what we know so far. What does it mean when there’s a new “variant” of COVID-19? A

7 Things You Might Not Know About Black History Every February, we celebrate Black History Month which honors the contributions of Black people in the U.S. Many of us are familiar with Rosa Parks, Harriett Tubman, George Washington Carver, and Barack Obama—all of whom had an extremely important role in Black culture and U.S

Beyond Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation (CCAM): Izzy’s Story This is Danielle Chenard’s story about her daughter, Isabelle “Izzy,” now 10 years old. Danielle is Senior Research Program Manager at Connecticut Children’s Research Institute . These are her words. Finding out you are pregnant is an exhilarating and life-changing moment for any

Beyond Fetal Renal Failure: Josiah’s Story, One Year Later By Timothy Crombleholme, MD: It would forever impact her 3-year-old son, Josiah, and their whole family. As she answered, she glanced at the time: 11:10 a.m. on April 1. “They said there was a kidney available for Josiah,” Narina remembers. “I started crying immediately. I felt excitement, fear, gratitude —

Beyond Fetal Renal Failure: Josiah’s Story By Timothy Crombleholme, MD: When the pregnancy ultrasound showed fetal renal failure, Narina and Chris prayed for a miracle. They found it in the nation’s top fetal surgeon, and the innovative technology he’d created.

Beyond Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID): Aria’s Story In August 2021, Shauna and Tim Barrett were enjoying the first days of newborn bliss with their second child, Aria, when they received a life-changing call from their pediatrician. Aria’s newborn screen had returned abnormal results. This single phone call would alter everything

Beyond Heart Failure at 2 Months Old: Crew's Journey Following a series of concerning symptoms, a diagnosis of SVT-induced cardiomyopathy became a reality for baby Crew, Mom and Dad. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) happens when the heart beats too quickly. Because of this, the heart doesn’t work as well and can eventually cause

Beyond Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD): Lincoln’s Story For new parents Kirsten and Elijah, the arrival of their first child, Lincoln, in March 2023 was a moment of pure bliss. However, just a week after bringing him home, their world shifted when Kirsten received a call that no parent imagines—a flagged abnormality had appeared in

Beyond Orthopedic Injuries: One Fairfield County Family’s Story By Anthony Pastore, MS, PA-C: For Ronnie Klein, a physician and mom of five in Fairfield County, one thing is non-negotiable: care from true pediatric specialists. “Having the right subspecialist is really important — that level of expertise makes a difference,” Ronnie says. “And in Fairfield County

When Does a Teen ACL Tear Need Surgery vs. Rehab? A Parent’s Guide By Matthew Brown, MD: When your teen is told they have torn their ACL, one of the biggest questions parents ask is: Do they need surgery, or can physical therapy be enough? Matt Brown, MD, orthopedic surgeon and ACL reconstruction expert, answers questions for parents.

Improving Sexual and Reproductive Health Communication Between Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Patients and Clinicians By Natasha N. Frederick, MD, MPH, MST: Dr. Natasha Frederick, a physician-researcher in Connecticut Children’s Research Institute’s Scientific Center for Pediatric Hematology & Oncology, was recently awarded a $1.36 million K08 grant by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institutes of Health.