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 […]
Patient Stories
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 […]
Ahead of the curve: Spinal tethering surgery helps gymnast recover from scoliosis
Mady Sirlouis, age 11, is a bit of a frequent flier – adept at both back handsprings and trips to Akron Children’s for frequent broken bones. “She breaks a bone every year,” said her mom, Autumn, “She’s broken both arms and both legs multiple times, but that doesn’t stop her from doing back flips and […]
