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The 6 Rules of Sports Injury Prevention for Kids, Teens and Young Athletes By Imran Hafeez, MD: The longer an athlete is inactive, the longer it takes for them to come back to full activity after a break. Connecticut Children's pediatric and adolescent sports medicine experts have been hearing one question a lot: How can athletes prevent injury? Here are 6 tips from our

Prevention Starts With Connection: Supporting Student Mental Health By Isabella Baldino: Young people between the ages of 10 and 34 are at a heightened risk for suicide , making adolescence and early adulthood a critical time for prevention, early intervention and connection to support. For many students, the college years fall within the late stages of adolescence

When Diseases Are Rare, What Keeps Them That Way? By Ian C. Michelow, MD, FCPaed: These terrible illnesses were once common in childhood and caused much suffering. Today, most families are very fortunate that they don’t encounter them at all. That’s not because the diseases disappeared on their own, or because children are “more resilient.” It’s because

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

Overuse Injuries and Kids: A Sports Physical Therapist Answers Your Questions By Nicholas Giampetruzzi, PT, MPT: This article was last updated in March 2025. Overuse injuries can occur at all ages. But because kids are still growing, they’re at a greater risk for these types of injuries, and may need a pediatric expert to ensure they heal properly. Nick Giampetruzzi, PT, MPT, Connecticut

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 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