My son, Sawyer, passed away on Nov. 25, 2018, after battling Joubert Syndrome his entire life. When people would ask how I was really doing while he was on hospice care I would tell them that it was like holding a grenade that you knew at some point would explode. I was right. People ask […]
At Akron Children’s, we believe in the power of personal stories to provide support and inspiration. We encourage you to share how we’ve touched you and your family, and by doing so, allow our online community to learn from your experiences.
Juvenile arthritis isn’t stopping Tallmadge girl’s fun-loving life
In every family, there is always one family member who seems to set the tone for the rest of the family. For Jessica and Shane Rine, their daughter, Ruby, age 6, is that person. Ruby, who lives in Tallmadge, is the couple’s first-born child, as well as the first grandchild and niece in both Jessica’s […]
Summer starts with a crash for Cole, but he speeds into therapy
“The boys wrecked the go cart. Cole is hurt. The ambulance is on its way.” Brandi Phillips’ head was spinning after this 9 a.m. phone call about her 13-year-old-son, Cole. He slept over at a friend’s house the previous night, a typical summer activity for the teen. Brandi raced over to the house to find […]
Dana quickly jumps to path of healing after trampoline injury lands her in ER, Surgery
“Simon says do a flip” When Dana Griffith, 14, heard her sibling’s instruction while playing a round of Simon Says on the trampoline, she was ready. The cheerleader used the trampoline to practice jumps and flips, so this should be easy. Mid-flip, Dana realized Simon never said which way to land, and before she could […]
New hemophilia drug gives Wiley new lease on life
When 9-year-old Wiley Moran was diagnosed at birth with hemophilia, a disease that prevents blood from clotting properly, it wasn’t a surprise to his mom, Katharine, who found out she was a carrier when her older son, Logan, was diagnosed with it at age 5. According to Dr. John Fargo, a pediatric hematologist-oncologist in the […]
National Cancer Survivor Month: E.J.’s story
Miami University student E.J. Coulas has been in remission for 12 years after battling an aggressive type of leukemia. The disease struck before he was old enough to understand it. He was in treatment for more than 3 years, yet he says his memories are mostly positive. “When I was a kid, I didn’t think […]
