Trading cards, secret service and a tasty ice cream sandwich given to him by a Congressman were among the highlights of Donovan Stringer’s recent trip to Washington, D.C. Stringer and his parents, Lisa and Kevin, were guests of Akron Children’s Hospital for 2 days in the nation’s capital as part of Family Advocacy Day. Patient […]
About Jim Houck - Writer
TV commercial star continues running past physical barriers despite spina bifida
He’s got a made-for-TV smile and a spirit that just won’t quit. When 8-year-old John Lamm walks, runs, plays hockey and even breakdances around his hometown of Girard, Ohio, you wouldn’t know about the difficult odds he overcame; nor the 29 surgeries he’s endured. As documented in a popular 30-second television commercial for Akron Children’s […]
Grant helps literacy flourish through Reach Out and Read program
Throughout the Mahoning Valley, children are boosting their vocabulary and reading skills thanks to a critical literacy development program. Reach Out and Read is a national program dedicated to promoting early literacy and school readiness in children ages 6 months to 5 years. Reach Out and Read focuses on helping children grow by incorporating books […]
Cancer survivor Donovan, 9, to advocate on Capitol Hill
Donovan Stringer of Warren is as articulate of a 9 year old as you’ll find. He’s book smart, well-mannered, he excels at chess, follows politics and cooks for his family. Just ask his mother, who was treated to his shrimp and grits on Mother’s Day. He’s also a cancer survivor, but that’s far from what […]
Donor makes Mother’s Day special for NICU moms
Merissa Rodino didn’t expect to be celebrating her first Mother’s Day quite this soon, but when her son was born 6 weeks early last week, she accepted it as a pleasant surprise. “I’m still trying to process what being a mother is like, but part of what makes it special is that it was unexpected,” […]
Tragedy strikes twice in two weeks for Youngstown mom and daughter
Two weeks after her father died of a sudden illness, 2-year-old Nya Williams was diagnosed with cancer. It came out of the blue, said Nya’s mother. She pondered her suddenly changing future during a life flight ride from Boardman to Akron where a leukemia diagnosis would be confirmed. “I kept asking myself, ‘What did I […]
