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Grow Focused: Michael’s Story At indoor track practice this past winter, Derby High School shot putter Michael Hyder, age 15, was hit in the back of the head with a shot put – a metal ball about the size and weight of a small cannonball. It knocked him unconscious, and he fell face-forward onto the gravel Article
Meet Emma: A Journey from the Adult Surgery Unit to the Pediatric ICU Emma got her start working in adult healthcare, but always knew she wanted to work with children. Now a nurse in the Pediatric ICU, Emma knows firsthand the incredible fulfillment and inspiration that comes with a career in pediatrics.
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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
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6 Reasons Why It’s Important to Cook With Your Kids By Nancy Trout, MD: By now, you and your child may be discovering the fun of cooking together. Want to make kitchen time even more meaningful? Primary care pediatrician Nancy Trout, MD, MPH, co-director of the Kohl’s Start Childhood Off Right program at Connecticut Children’s, joins the blog with Article
The Office’s Three Roles By Scott Orsey: By: Scott Orsey Promoting the optimal healthy development of children. That’s what we do here at the Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health (the Office). It sounds fairly straightforward, right? Getting kids programs and services to help them achieve their best
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4 Quick Tips to Help Kids Sleep Better and Wake Up Energized By Lynelle Schneeberg, PsyD: This article was originally published in August 2021 and last updated in December 2023. Good sleep is essential for a good school year: during the day, a well-rested child has an easier time focusing and behaving. At night, quality sleep allows their brain to organize and store
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GROW Thoughtful: Danny’s Story One day, when Danny Sullivan was 8 years old, he began to feel very tired. Everyone thought it was allergies, maybe, or a growth spurt. He’d always been a healthy kid, with nothing more than the occasional cold. But this time, it got worse. Suddenly, he could barely stand up. His
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Changing How We Talk to Kids About Wearing Masks During COVID-19 By Melissa Santos, PhD: Our kids have been through a lot during this pandemic. Many have lost people in their own families due to COVID-19. Because of this, we’ve told them that masks are how they help to save people’s lives—and they did a good job at taking this mission seriously. On March 1, 2022, the Article
What to Do When Your Child or Teen Doesn’t Want to Go Back to School By Bradley S. Jerson, PhD: This article was originally published in July 2021 and last updated in December 2023. If your child is dreading going back to school this fall, or is having a series of "off" days about going to school at all, how can you help? Connecticut Children’s pediatric psychologist
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Little Warrior: Jazz’s Story Milagros knew in her heart that her daughter was sick. But for a long time, no one else seemed to believe her. Jazz, age 3, had been plagued with mysterious symptoms for months. She’d been spitting up for no reason, and waking with bad headaches. Milagros brought her to doctors
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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
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3 Steps for Teens to Master Time Management By Vanessa R. Laurent, PhD: Grades, friends, sports, extracurricular interests – teens have a lot on their plates. All of these obligations can quickly go from fulfilling to overwhelming, especially during times of transition or in the midst of ongoing stressors like the pandemic . Connecticut Children’s
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Summertime is Trauma Season By Brendan Campbell, MD, MPH: By: Brendan Campbell, MD, MPH and Kevin Borrup, DrPH, JD, MPA Summer is a time for fun and play for children, but it is also a time when injuries occur at greater frequency compared to other times of the year. The time period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is referred to as
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The Layers of Optimal Health, Development and Well-being When it comes to promoting the optimal health, development and well-being of children, there are many layers to consider that go beyond the parameters of traditional medical care. Connecticut Children’s Office for Community Child Health embraces an approach that takes into