It was an overcast winter day in northeast Ohio – nothing unusual – with rain on and off but, as they were walking into Akron Children’s Hospital, Lisa and Sidney McLain realized this otherwise dreary day was also a milestone day. Sidney, 17, had been coming to see Dr. Chandrakant Patel in Akron Children’s Heart […]
Scotland Zinser has come a long way with rare heart condition
At 17 months old, Scotland Zinser learned to sit himself up. In a few weeks he was crawling. Then standing. “He started walking today,” his mother, Jillian Campbell, said one recent afternoon at their home near Portage Lakes, while her boy with vibrant red hair happily pushed on a stand-up walker toy. “I’m proud of […]
1 year after surgery: Bryce returns to celebrate, cheer up other ‘heart families’
How do you celebrate the 1-year anniversary of successful heart surgery? For Bryce Ripley and his family, there was no better way to mark the occasion than a visit back to Akron Children’s Hospital to support patients in need of a boost. The 5-year-old, his mom, Tracy, and sister, Reyna, who is 9, visited the […]
Nurse switches roles, learns what life is like as a patient family
Sarah and her husband, Zach, were already parents to 3-year-old Chloe when they learned she was pregnant with a second daughter. But 3 weeks after her 19-week ultrasound, their world came crashing down when they learned their unborn baby had a series of complex congenital heart defects.
Tiny Hearts, Big Responsibilities: Akron Children’s cardiologists honored at Heart Ball events
An Akron Children’s Hospital pediatric cardiologist Dr. Peter Vande Kappelle, Jr. and one of his mentors, Dr. Chandrakant Patel, were honored as “Heart Champions” at two separate American Heart Association Heart Ball events in February in Youngstown and Akron, respectively.
Baby Jackson battles against the odds with heart (Video)
Jackson Straits has defied the odds. Diagnosed with non-immune fetal hydrops at 27 weeks gestation, this often fatal form of prenatal heart failure caused Jackson to develop fluid around his heart. Strong family faith along with the care of 3 Akron Children’s specialists came together to give him the best chance at life.
