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Grow Kind: Cameron’s Story When Cameron Soto had a life-threatening injury three years ago, a highly specialized team saved his life. Surgical innovation transformed his future. And compassionate care got him through it all. But if you met Cameron today, you couldn’t know any of that. You’d just see a

Chiari Malformation in Children: Questions to Ask Your Doctor By Bethany Simonetti MSN, APRN, FNP-BC: Finding out that your child has a Chiari malformation can be overwhelming. Parents often have many questions like: What does this mean for my child? Will they need surgery? What will life be like afterward? Before your appointment with a pediatric neurosurgeon, it helps to have a

5 Reasons Not To Delay Your Child's Vaccines By Andrew Carlson, MD: This blog was originally published in 2022 and has been updated as of October 13, 2025 to reflect current times. We continue to stress how important it is for kids to get their routine childhood vaccines according to the recommended schedule, which is based on rigorous scientific

Beyond Atrial Septal Defect: After Heart Surgery, Soccer Player Is Stronger Than Ever It was Xavier Crane’s first soccer game after open heart surgery — but most of the people in the stands had no clue. Neither did the opposing team. He was playing better than ever. Xavier’s mom, Beth, was another story. She’d enlisted Xavier’s sister to come with her for moral

What’s Juneteenth and Why Do We Celebrate It? The Juneteenth commemoration celebrates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. The term combines June with nineteenth, which is the day in 1865 that Union Army General Gordon Granger read federal orders in Galveston, Texas proclaiming freedom for enslaved

Beyond a Rare GI Disorder: Gracyn's Story Last time 6-year-old Gracyn-Rose was staying at Connecticut Children’s, she turned to her long-time nurse Meaghan Schneider. “You’re my second mom,” she told Meaghan. “You’re my hospital mom.” In her young life, Gracyn has been hospitalized more than 20 times for a rare

What is Parechovirus and How Can I Keep My Family Safe? By Ian C. Michelow, MD, FCPaed: On Tuesday, July 19, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) issued a warning to medical professionals about parechovirus, a common virus that goes around in summer and fall and infects most children by the time they start kindergarten. Understandably, parents are concerned

Adolescent and Teen Weight Loss Do’s and Don’ts By James Healy, MD, MHS, Pediatric Surgeon: How can we all be better informed about the different approaches to weight management, including diet, exercise, medication and surgery? James Healy, MD, MHS, Pediatric Surgeon with expertise in weight loss surgery, answers some of the most pressing questions parents have about

When and How to Talk to Young Kids About Sex By Andrew Carlson, MD: “Hey, Alexa, how are babies made?” Kids as young as 3 or 4 have turned to voice assistants to ask this question. Just like that. It’s no surprise because sex is a normal part of life, not “taboo” or “dirty.” As a pediatrician, parents ask me all the time: “When and how should I

Should Parents Be Worried About the Recent Increase in COVID-19 Cases in Kids? By Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, FAAP: The American Academy of Pediatrics recently reported a significant increase in COVID-19 infections in children across the country. The overall infection rate among kids is still relatively low. But we know that this news has raised questions – and concerns – for families

The Secret to Sustainability By Jacquelyn Rose, MPH: By: Jacquelyn M. Rose, MPH It is the sometimes dreaded, but ever present, S word that is essential for developing and maintaining impact – sustainability. Ensuring sustainability is now more important than ever as organizations everywhere pivot to address the needs of children

What to Expect at Your Fetal Echocardiogram By Alicia Wang, MD: For many babies, care begins during pregnancy. If your developing baby might be at risk of a heart condition, you’ll see a fetal cardiologist. These experts use special technology called a fetal echocardiogram to detect heart problems in utero – and begin important care and

Drawing on Personal Experience to Help Others Overcome Childhood Trauma By Kayla Gonzalez, MD: By: Kayla Gonzalez, MD Childhood trauma has been an enduring personal and professional interest of mine. My parents are immigrants from Cuba and did not have support upon arrival to the United States. My father only completed an 8th grade education and suffered from an intense

'Tis the Season.. of the Cold, the Flu, RSV and COVID This is a guest blog brought to us by Trinity Health Of New England . Repurposed with permission. The cold and flu have always been around, but now we also have to be aware of COVID-19 and RSV, which have both become more prevalent in recent years. They are caused by different

Whooping Cough is On the Rise. Here’s What Parents Should Know. By Andrew Carlson, MD: Have you ever heard a cough that sounds like someone trying to bark and gasp for air at the same time? That's the signature sound of a serious respiratory virus, whooping cough, also called pertussis. It's a sneaky disease that can make kids really sick and end up with 1 out of 3