Akron Children’s External Affairs has offered a Nurturing Families Program (NFP) to expecting couples, parents and caregivers of children birth to 5 years old since 2016. The free program is a partnership between Akron Children’s and Ohio Children’s Trust Fund and is designed to teach individuals and families new ways to make healthy parenting choices. […]
Patient Stories
Without doctors’ vast knowledge and incredible care, Massillon native wouldn’t be a mom of 3 today
For Julia Bonner, it was just another routine prenatal testing appointment. Yes, the Massillon native pregnant with her first child had all the common pregnancy discomforts (and swollen ankles), but there was no cause for concern. Her baby boy was growing and developing as expected. It wasn’t until her Red Blood Cell (RBC) Antibody screen […]
Prescription for caring: Director of Pharmacy John Lepto retires after 37 years
John Lepto, director of pharmacy, is retiring after nearly 40 years at Akron Children’s, and he’s leaving with a prescription for more family time and travel, with no side effects and as many refills as he would like. “This has been such a special place to work,” John said. “Everybody works to help sick kids […]
Teen with medical challenges celebrates high school graduation
In the realm of numbers, each one tells a story. For 18-year-old Devyn Emmons, the number “54” carries some weight because it signifies the number of surgeries and procedures he’s been through over the last 18 years. Devyn’s journey began on October 3, 2005, when he went into fetal distress and had to be delivered […]
New mom achieved ‘priceless gift’ of tandem nursing twins with help of Akron Children’s breastfeeding medicine specialist
Allison Gonzales was Dr. Carly Dulabon’s first patient when Akron Children’s opened its Breastfeeding Medicine Program in February 2024. Dr. Dulabon was inspired to start the program because, years earlier, she too was exactly in Allison’s place – a new mom of twins who had been through the emotional roller coaster ride of the […]
A parent’s perspective: Witnessing the power of our PICU
Many of us wear multiple hats in life. Advanced practice providers are no different. They dedicate themselves to caring for children, but at home, they’re simply parents. The following story comes from a place many providers can relate to – the vulnerability of their own child’s health and the profound gratitude for the incredible care […]













