With summer vacation just around the corner, many families are gearing up for their annual trips — from lakeside adventures to beachside fun. The bags are packed, hotel reservations confirmed and the family pet is boarded. The only thing left to do is fill up the gas tank, right? Wrong. Packing your child’s medical record should […]
Archives for 2025
What parents should know about breast milk production
Every breastfeeding experience is different. If you’re navigating yours or about to start breastfeeding, you might be wondering what you can expect. What breastmilk is made of, the amount of it your breasts make and even its color changes as your baby grows. Here’s what you should know about the stages of breast milk production, […]
Mckenzi’s road from micropreemie to first birthday
When Ginny Hardwick went into labor at 22 weeks, she was terrified for her daughter, Mckenzi, and what her future may hold. Through patience, persistence and a wonderful team of labor and delivery doctors and nurses at Mercy Health – St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital’s Birthing Center, Ginny’s labor was held off for 2 weeks. Mckenzi […]
The prescription for a fulfilling career: Julie Prather shares her professional milestones and retirement plans
In 1995, after nearly a decade of honing her skills in adult hospital pharmacies, Julie Prather was ready for a change. While perusing the Akron Beacon Journal’s classified ads on Jan. 22, one ad caught her attention. Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Akron was searching for a pharmacist, and little did Julie know, this opportunity […]
Akron Public Schools (APS) students share what influences health in their community
Seeing a condemned house might not make most of us think twice. For Xavier, a sophomore at the East Community Learning Center (CLC), seeing such a building alarmed him.“When I first moved here from Europe, I’d never seen something like this before,” he explained. “I chose this issue because I want to spread awareness about […]
Courtney bounces back after 9 orthopedic surgeries
What do you do when you’re an active kid, and your joints keep hurting? You seek help from an expert. That’s just what Courtney Carpenter of Girard, Ohio and her family did. “I was a gymnast for many years, until the pain got so bad that I was forced to quit,” she said. “In high […]













