As an active preschooler, Tristan Rhoades was running through the house when he fell and hit his head on the corner of his toybox. The injury resulted in a visit to Akron Children’s Emergency Department for stitches, where Tristan and his mom Rachel Knight first met Doug Lehner, one of our suture technicians. The experience […]
Neuromuscular Clinic at 15 years: Multi-disciplinary team offers hope to families who once had none
Dr. Kathryn Mosher remembers a time when she had to explain to a parent what a diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) meant – and there was no hope to be offered. “In the natural history of that disease, most children die by the age of two. If they do survive past that, they are […]
Unsinkable college athlete swims against the odds toward Paralympic dream
In the world of competitive swimming, Grace Nuhfer, age 21, stands out not just for her remarkable talent in the water, but for her determination and resilience. Hailing from Indiana, Grace’s journey into the world of swimming began at the age of 7 despite being born with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a connective tissue disorder that […]
Fainting is common in childhood; proper hydration is the key to prevention
Fainting (syncope) is common in children and teens, according to Dr. Timotheus Watson, a pediatric cardiologist at Akron Children’s. “Most children faint due to a brief drop in blood pressure, which temporarily decreases blood flow to the brain,” he says. “This blood pressure change results in passing out. Fortunately, most episodes of fainting are not […]
From sepsis to survival: Toddler fights to regain his life after devastating illness
For Shanelle Beachy, the two-hour roundtrip drive to Akron Children’s Hospital has become a familiar route. Three times a week, she makes the trip from her family’s home in Sugarcreek, determined to give her son Reid, age 2 ½, the best possible care. Reid, a happy and thriving toddler, had his world turned upside down […]
Family shares journey to son’s rare genetic syndrome diagnosis
When Katie and Marques Davis decided to move back to Ohio from California, it was so they could be near family to help them with their 4-year-old daughter, Scarlett, and their baby on the way while they both returned to school to pursue nursing. Little did they know their journey would soon take unexpected twists […]