With her larger-than-life personality, Annie, 6, has always had an unbreakable spirit despite her medical conditions. At her mom’s 5-month ultra sound, Annie’s arms and legs were measuring smaller than a typical baby. Specialists thought she may have achondroplasia (dwarfism), but genetic testing and additional scans revealed more concerns. Doctors detected healing breaks in her […]
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 […]
Our top “In the Moment” posts from February 2020
There were some touching stories of children overcoming their health challenges sprinkled amongst our top February “In the Moment” posts. We invite you to take a glance at those you may have missed, or a second peek at those you’ve already enjoyed. 1. We provided this chart to help parents figure out if it is […]
Pediatrician’s Own Disease Makes Him More Relatable to OI Clinic Patient Families
Two key factors led pediatrician Frank Artinian to become co-director of Akron Children’s osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) clinic. First, it was the positive reputation of Akron Children’s skeletal dysplasia center, and second, his personal interest in bone disease. Also known as brittle bone disease, OI is a genetic condition that causes extremely fragile bones. Most people […]
New OI Clinic: A Dream Come True for Families and Staff
Last October, a new clinic for brittle bone disease opened at Akron Children’s Hospital with little fanfare, but for families and staff it was a dream come true. Before this clinic opened, parents had to travel hundreds of miles to Omaha, Neb., or Wilmington, Del., to get care for osteogenesis imperfecta (IO), a complex disease […]
