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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

Grow Competitive: Jordan’s Story For eight years, every time Jordan DeMatteo stepped onto the soccer field or basketball court, she didn’t just brace herself for competition. She braced for pain. At any moment, her right kneecap could shift out of alignment, an issue she’d dealt with since age 8. It was

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 Innovators Actually Need By Scott Orsey: Most of us carry a picture in our heads of what it looks like to support innovation. We imagine tools. Coaching. Slide decks and strategy maps and logic models. Convenings, trainings, and technical assistance. That work matters. It helps. And it’s often essential. But it’s rarely

Beyond Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis: Melina's Story When Melina, at age 10, felt a shooting pain in her leg and suddenly couldn’t put weight on it, her family assumed it would mean physical therapy at worst. They never imagined it would mean emergency surgery so she could play sports, dance, or possibly just walk normally again

Recurrent Ear Infections in Babies: How Ear Tubes Helped Linus Thrive By Nicole Murray, MD: By the time Linus was just eight months old, his family knew something wasn’t right...

What’s the Risk? Which Activities Are Safe When Kids Aren’t Vaccinated Yet By Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, FAAP: In previous editions of What’s the Risk?, Connecticut Children’s pediatric experts have covered everything from playgrounds to farmers markets throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. But things just got more complicated for families whose adults and adolescents are vaccinated but

If Your Baby May Arrive Early: What to Know About Premature Birth By Annmarie Golioto, MD, IBCLC, FAAP: Most families expect their baby to arrive around their due date. But sometimes, babies are born a lot earlier than planned for any number of reasons. If your doctor has told you that your baby may come early and need a NICU stay, you may feel scared or unsure of what happens next

Cole’s Story: Growing Again After Crohn’s Disease By Jeffrey Hyams, MD: For most of his childhood, Cole looked like he was right on track. The youngest of three kids, he hovered around the middle of the growth charts and kept up with his siblings and classmates. But when he hit his teens, something didn’t follow the usual pattern. Between ages 13 and

Prevention Is Powerful: Supporting Youth Before Crisis Hits By Cara During: When we talk about suicide prevention, the conversation usually focuses on intervention when someone is already in a crisis. But at Connecticut Children’s, we believe in building a safety net that helps young people before a crisis arises. This is called Primary Prevention. Think

Personal Best: Alexandra’s Story Alexandra was the first baby born in Danbury Hospital, an event celebrated in the local newspaper. As she grew, there was more cause for celebration: She became a formidable athlete. Swimming was her love, but when she got to Danbury High School, they didn’t have a swim program

When Resources Are Connected, Families Feel the Difference Last week, North Hartford Ascend hosted its Summer Programs Fair, “Plan Your Summer, Secure Your Spot!” Families from across North Hartford gathered to explore local summer programs, ask questions, and begin applications before spots fill up. The event focused on summer planning

Happy 25th Anniversary, Connecticut Children’s! By Jim Shmerling, DHA, FACHE: Today, Connecticut Children’s celebrates 25 years! That’s 25 years of partnering with your family and community to help kids grow healthy. To mark the occasion, Connecticut Children’s President and CEO Jim Shmerling, DHA, FACHE, joins the Growing Healthy blog with a special