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Beyond ECMO: Cadence’s Story By Jacob Campbell, DO, MPH: Last May, pediatric surgeon Jacob Campbell, DO, MPH, glanced out his office window to a welcome sight: his former patient Cadence, looking healthy and strong, walking into the medical center with his parents. Just weeks before, Cadence — nicknamed Cash — had been in Connecticut

First in the World: Haresh’s Story Haresh Surti may be young at heart, but at 62 years old, he is no kid. So at first, it might seem unusual that he receives heart care at Connecticut Children’s – known far and wide as the state’s only health system 100% dedicated to children. The truth is, lots of adults receive

Level Up Your Video Game Knowledge: An Interview with a Child Life Gaming & Technology Specialist By Annie Goldsnider: The world of video gaming offers so much! Did you know Connecticut Children’s Child Life team works with families during hospital stays to encourage therapeutic video game play? That’s because, with the support of Child’s Play Charity, we have a Gaming & Technology Specialist

Monkeypox: How Worried Should We Be Right Now? By Ian C. Michelow, MD, FCPaed: Earlier this month, Connecticut saw its first cases of monkeypox in adults, making the virus a reality in the community. (Visit this CDC webpage for a breakdown of cases by state.) As if COVID-19 and parechovirus weren’t enough, parents are concerned. What should you know, and

Time to Rethink Our Sugary Drinks By Nancy Trout, MD: By: Nancy Trout, MD, MPH Sugar sweetened beverages, including sodas, fruit drinks, sport drinks, energy drinks, and sweetened coffees and teas are contributing to an undue level of poor health. Sugary drinks account for approximately 36% of added sugar in the American diet

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

Fevers in Children: When to Worry and When to Stay Calm By Saima N. Jafri, DO: This article was originally published in 2022 and last updated in October 2025 for relevance. Do we need to be worried when our kids spike a low- or high-grade fever? Dr. Saima Jafri, pediatrician with Connecticut Children’s Care Network, lays out the facts on fever in kids. What

Beyond a Rare Blood Cancer: Elijah’s Story By Natasha N. Frederick, MD, MPH: But after weeks and then months, it didn’t heal. When Elijah’s doctors ordered imaging and a biopsy, the results were so devastating, everyone hoped it was a lab error. It wasn’t. Elijah was diagnosed with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) — a rare and

What is Kindness in Healthcare? 8 Questions with Chief Kindness Officer, Bob Duncan Look up the word “kindness” in the dictionary and you’ll likely see, “the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate.” But kindness is so much more than its textbook definition. Here at Connecticut Children’s, we go beyond imagination to cultivate a culture of kindness

Responding to Violence in the Home During COVID-19 By: Amy Hunter, PhD, MPH, Susan DiVietro, PhD, and Rebecca Beebe, PhD The COVID-19 pandemic has brought a new level of concern to those of us who work to prevent intimate partner violence (IPV) and child maltreatment. Since the pandemic hit, the Connecticut Coalition Against

Are You Disinfecting Your Baby’s Gear Correctly? By Patricia Garcia, MD, MPH: This article was originally published in March 2020. Updated in November 2023. As parents who dread peak illness season, we're all trying to do a better job disinfecting items and surfaces that get a lot of contact. That goes for baby gear, too. Of course, cleaning baby gear is

What to Expect at Your Child’s First Heart Ultrasound (Echocardiogram) By Brooke Davey, MD: If your child has been scheduled for their first heart ultrasound—called an echocardiogram—you probably have questions. That’s completely normal! An echocardiogram is a safe, gentle test that shows pictures of your child’s heart using sound waves. There are no needles, and it

When Should Your Child See a Pediatric Sports Medicine or Physical Therapy Specialist? By Nicholas Giampetruzzi, PT, MPT: For young athletes to get the full physical, social and emotional benefits of their sport, they need support – at minimum, from their coach, teammates and family. But sometimes, kids could also benefit from a pediatric sports medicine expert, from doctors to physical therapists

Beyond Hydronephrosis: Gjovana’s Story 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

Explaining Anesthesia to Younger Kids By Sarah Malvezzi: At Connecticut Children’s, we know how to make kids feel comfortable and special, including explaining medical procedures in a way that doesn’t feel intimidating. If your child has a surgery or procedure scheduled, you’ll probably want to talk to them about it at home too. To get