D’Ayshunah Kind’s high school graduation is an accomplishment that goes beyond GPAs, scholarships and big future plans. And while the coronavirus pandemic has altered traditional graduation ceremonies, that can’t take away what this amazing young woman has achieved after suffering an anoxic brain injury in middle school that took away – temporarily — her ability […]
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.
Heart patient, family face PICU stay amidst pandemic
Our son Maverick, who is now 5 months old, and our family have had a long and bumpy ride. Just his diagnosis of a rare congenital heart defect alone is scary. Add the COVID-19 pandemic on top of our child’s fragile health makes it even more nerve wracking. Because Maverick has these heart issues, his […]
A new normal for outpatient surgeries at Akron Children’s
May 4 has been a long time coming for the Mundy family. After a series of restrictions and closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Jessica Mundy’s surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) was postponed March 21. The ACL is a ligament that helps stabilize your knee and girls are 8 times more […]
A bone marrow transplant saved my life 20 years ago
20 years… It’s been 20 years since April 26, 2000: the day I was given a second chance at life. On Dec. 3, 1998, I was 10 years old and hadn’t been feeling well for about 3 months. After finally having blood work drawn, I was admitted to Akron Children’s Hospital and diagnosed with acute […]
Family of 5 has brittle bone disease, unbreakable spirits
In early 2017, Kristen MacKellar had just finished nursing her 3-month-old baby boy to sleep. A snuggly baby, she typically nursed Samuel in her bed and later transferred him to his crib for safe sleep. Though on this day, he was especially tired and she didn’t want to disturb him. But when she stepped away […]
Wren Patterson like “a whole new baby” after heart repair
The day after Wren Patterson was born in October, doctors were concerned about a heart murmur and her low blood oxygenation. An echocardiogram at Aultman Hospital in Canton showed the reason. Wren had a congenital heart defect called tetralogy of Fallot, characterized by 4 malformations that robbed her of adequate blood flow to the lungs […]
