Ava Jones with her mother, Kori. Ava has a rare genetic disorder and hypotonia, which leads to weak muscles. Because of this, she is unable to eat orally and uses a feeding tube.
The Jones family had no reason to anticipate health problems with their third child, Ava.
Ava’s mother, Kori, had a typical pregnancy and delivery and had two healthy children at home. But just 10 weeks after delivery, the Jones family was at the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital Emergency Department.
The parents of many of our "Conquering Heroes," such as Missy, shown here with her daughter Bernie, are the stuff Mother's Day legends are made of.
By Rebecca Priest
Working in the marketing department for a children’s hospital gives me the honor of meeting many incredible children that inspire and delight. Kids that bring a smile to your face and help you remember what’s important at the end of the day. Behind many of these children, however, are equally inspiring parents. Moms who know what it’s like to spend too many nights on a hospital room’s pull out couch. Dads who know all too well what “rounds” are. Parents who have memorized the hours of the child life playroom, the options on the room service menu, and the names of the nursing staff without reading their badges, not to mention the names of a few of the therapy dogs.
As we celebrate Mother’s Day, I’d like to take a moment to recognize a few of the moms I’ve made the acquaintance of this past year.
In honor of National Teacher Day, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital would like to recognize the work of our Hospital Teacher, Carol Fanning. We asked some questions of Fanning, who has been the inpatient teacher at Mott for 20 years.
By Dr. Stephanie Goodson, a mom, pediatrician and recent world traveler
The Goodson family sports University of Michigan Pediatrics gear in Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world! Dr. Goodson has some useful family travel tips after this journey to Dubai.
My family was so excited about our upcoming trip around the world to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. That area of the world has so much history and a culture that is very different from our family here in Michigan, it made us all enthusiastic and just a little bit nervous about this trip. But, hey, my kids have been well travelled around the States on typical American vacations. We’ve gone to see grandparents in Texas, Disney world, and all the way to California both by air and car. I figured we’d be fine, right? Soon enough, the idea of 17-hour flight, customs, language barriers, water safety, and food preferences all became a bit daunting. However, with a little planning, lots of discussions on expectations and plenty of patience, we had one of the most enjoyable, educational and memorable trips ever. When we went to the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, the views were breathtaking. But even better, we hear in foreign accent from across the observatory recognition of our coordinating shirts: “Go Blue!”
Read these tips to keep in mind when planning a trip with your children, whether your destination is as close as Lansing or as far as Asia! Read the rest of this entry »
By Bethany Mohr MD, pediatrician and child abuse specialist
In April, blue ribbons honor National Child Abuse Prevention Month. Read Dr. Mohr's insights to keep your family prepared and protected all year.
The subject of child abuse is challenging and one that most people find difficult to discuss. However, April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month and is a time to recognize how individuals and communities can help prevent child abuse. It is important to be an active part of keeping children safe and prepared. This is a time to promote children’s emotional well-being and strengthen families.
Course description: Potty training is a big step for kids and their parents. With so much information to take in, it can be confusing for parents to help guide their child. Take this “class” to learn tips and pitfalls from a specialist, and stay positive during the transition to the toilet!
Potty professor: Dr. Barb Felt is a developmental behavioral pediatrician, with a passion for elimination disorders and sleep disorders. At the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital multidisciplinary Eliminations Disorders Clinic, Dr. Felt works closely with a pediatric psychologist. Together, they evaluate and propose a plan for families, seeing them through until they are stable and healthy.
Potty prerequisites: Before we go any further, it is important to remember that each family and child has a unique situation. There is no fit-all method. But, a helpful rule to get started with potty training is to stay positive and support your child. Some children will naturally need more time to adapt to using the toilet so be ready for several months of positive effort. Still, if you see any signs of developmental, health or behavioral change that are a concern to you along the way, visit your pediatrician or family practitioner for guidance. With that in mind, we hope this crash course will help your family get an A+ for potty training effort!
As we prepare for our annual Children’s Memorial Service coming up on April 22, we asked one of the speakers for this year’s memorial service to share her story in honor of all the Little Victors whose courage we celebrate, both at the memorial and throughout the year.
Mitchell Ryan, one of C.S. Mott Children's Hospital's many "Little Victors" who will be honored at the Children's Memorial Service on April 22.
Heroes come in many forms. Their acts are often blatant and powerfully triumphant, but sometimes they are more subtle. Sometimes they take their time and fight a long battle, but show their true heroism by teaching us along the way. I was saved by a hero named Mitchell. A little boy with a sunny disposition and infectious laugh that warmed the hearts and touched the souls of everyone he met. None more so than mine.
Two nationally recognized C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital physicians recently authored an article in response to shortages of methotrexate, a drug used to treat children with the most common form of childhood leukemia. A few of our Facebook fans and Mott family members have inquired about the shortage over the past few months, so we wanted to share the article on our blog as well.
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NEW PRESCRIPTIONS FOR SHORTAGES OF VITAL DRUGS
By Valerie Castle, MD, and Matthew Davis, MD
Imagine that your child is diagnosed with cancer. The doctors say they have a medicine that is a game-changer, a cancer-beater, a life-saver. It has been all that for the last 50 years, for tens of thousands of children in the United States with leukemia.
But then, imagine that there is a national shortage of this medicine. Read the rest of this entry »
Towards the end of 2011 there was a flurry of news articles related to the safety of infant formula. We checked in with one of our pediatricians who specializes in newborn care to shine some light on the topic and provide some helpful tips for parents of infants on how to ensure feeding safety. Thank you, Dr. Jocelyn Schiller for sharing your time and expertise with us!
There has been a buzz in the news lately as a result of the recent – and unfortunate – death of a Missouri newborn who was given formula before falling ill from a bacterial infection. In light of this, I thought this may be a great opportunity to revisit the ever-important rules of safe infant feeding, including the dos and don’ts of handwashing, milk storage and how to pick the right formula for your little one.
This fall, the American Academy of Pediatrics released new recommendations related to limiting the amount of “screen time,” children under the age of 2 are exposed to. We asked Dr. Kelly Orringer to help us make sense of the new recommendations and how real parents can integrate them into busy, chaotic lifestyles.
The American Academy of Pediatrics last addressed media consumption by children under two years-old in 1999, well before advances in technology allowed for TV programs, DVDs, mobile games and more to be accessed anywhere from our child’s bedroom to the backseat of our mini-vans. Even then, the AAP’s recommendations warned against the danger of too much screen time for our little ones.
Now, with easy access to iPads, smart phones, and TVs a-plenty, combined with the allure of programming marketed as “educational,” it’s become harder and harder to keep kids’ eyes away from screens.