1. When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that vaccinated people do not have to wear a mask indoors or outdoors, in most cases, we shared these tips to help parents determine how these guidelines impact children who aren’t or can’t be vaccinated.
The CDC recommends that children continue to wear masks until they are able to be vaccinated.
2. We recognized Bereaved Mother’s Day, extending our hearts and hopes to all who have lost a child.
Bereaved Mother’s Day was created in 2010 to remember mothers who have had a child pass.
This discussion covered topics such as the risk/benefits of the vaccine, what the doctors have been seeing in treating children for COVID-19 this past year, myths and misinformation about the vaccines, and the common reasons why people are hesitant to get vaccinated.
4. As younger children became eligible to receive the vaccine, we asked parents to share their questions and concerns ahead of an upcoming panel discussion.
Akron Children’s Hospital is now offering the vaccine to everyone 12 and up. For an appointment, visit https://www.akronchildrens.org/covidvaccine.
5. Akron Children’s held a vaccine clinic at Edgewood Middle School in Wooster, where 75 students received their first dose of the vaccine.
In addition to our school clinics, we are holding clinics at our hospital campuses, as well as regional and drive-thru clinics.
6. Memorably born holding hands, Jenna and Jillian Thistlethwaite celebrated their 7th birthdays just in time for Mother’s Day.
The identical twins have very different personalities, but share a remarkable bond and an amazing story that continues to make people smile even seven years after their births.
7. What started with an appointment to check Ashton Amick’s eye turned into a congenital heart defect (CHD) diagnosis, leading to an unexpected two-hour surgery.
Ashton hopefully will not require future surgeries; however, he will continue to see a pediatric cardiologist to keep a close eye on him.
8. Despite mandates going away, Akron Children’s announced that we will continue to require patients, visitors and hospital staff to wear masks, per recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Because many of our patients are immunocompromised or not currently eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, we need to remain vigilant and continue wearing masks to keep them safe.
9. As our vaccine clinics opened up to kids ages 12-15, Michael, a staff member volunteering at the clinic, received this thank you note.
“It was incredibly thoughtful of them to write this and all of us working the clinic were so touched to receive it,” Michael said. “But this note does not belong to just me or even just the people working the clinic that day. I feel it belongs to everyone working at Akron Children’s.”
10. For Global Tracheostomy Tube Awareness week, we shared the story of Cyril Evans.
Cyril was born with a severely bell-shaped rib cage so he was unable to breath on his own. The trach allows him to continue to be ventilated while he grows so that his lungs can get stronger. His rib cage is expected to normalize with age.
