Living in rural New Waterford, Ohio, 19-year-old Joey Hawkins grew up fishing, hunting, motocross racing and dirt biking. “Joey prefers activities that give me heart palpitations and usually end up with cuts, bruises or stitches,” joked his mom, Angie. “He’s been a daredevil since the age of 3.” In November 2022, Joey and some friends […]
North Canton teen shares her journey with hearing loss and cochlear implant
Dr. Maria Leno, an audiologist at Akron Children’s, does more than just help kids with hearing loss. In the case of 16-year-old high school sophomore Kylie Porter, she may have inspired a future career. Born with Stickler syndrome, a group of hereditary conditions that can lead to eye abnormalities, hearing loss and joint problems, Kylie […]
3D modeling helps ensure correct realignment of teenager’s wrist and forearm
What hockey player doesn’t dream of scoring a first period goal? It was a perfect moment for Elliott Hannah, age 14, as he shot and scored. But elation quickly turned to pain when one of the opposing team’s defensemen checked Elliott while trying to steal the puck. The force of that collision caused Elliott’s right […]
Cardiac procedure targets frequent fainting, gives mom her life back
When Hannah Grable got COVID, everything changed. A busy mother of two, Hannah dealt with various health conditions throughout her life, including one that caused her to faint from time to time. After she had her second child, she was diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). POTS is a blood circulation disorder that causes […]
Akron mom is a fierce advocate, cheerleader for 2 young children with special needs
Sharmba Varner begins her workday at 4:30 a.m. and, for this mom of four, including two children with special needs, life rarely pauses for one minute until her early evening bedtime. That’s fine with Sharmba. Even though having a daughter on the autism spectrum and a son with Down syndrome means days filled with extra […]
Brothers burned in house fire develop special bond with their nurse
On a recent visit to Akron Children’s to get sized for new compression garments and undergo laser surgery procedures, Arthur (Artie), age 8, and Alan Curtis, age 9, raced down the hall to embrace licensed practical nurse Stacey Cool. Stacey, who cared for the boys last year when they were severely burned in an explosion […]
