For Ridgewood High School softball player Maggie Shannon, her senior season ended far too soon. Just 8 games into the year, the 17-year-old suffered a devastating injury while running the bases. “She pivoted to head back to second, and as she turned, she felt a pop and dropped to the ground,” recalled her mom, Robin. […]
Patient Stories
Mom shares what Akron Children’s new Tom and Jill Zidian Family Autism Center means for families
When Melissa Baker talks about her son, her voice fills with both love and a deep understanding of kids who see the world differently. Melissa is mom to 11-year-old Korbin, who has autism. She has worked at Akron Children’s Hospital for nearly 2 decades – 15 years as a child life specialist in the pediatric […]
Basketball phenom turns a setback into a comeback with help from Akron Children’s
When 14-year-old Trinity Finnie suffered a devastating ACL injury, it could have sidelined her basketball dreams. Instead, with help from Akron Children’s Orthopedics and Sports Medicine teams, she’s proving that ACL injury recovery can be just as inspiring as victory on the court. Learn more about her story as told by her mom, Tamika Jenkins. […]
Hearing aids help teen hear life more clearly
October is National Audiology Awareness Month, a time to raise awareness about hearing health and the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. For 17-year-old Gunner Cronin, of Hammondsville, that awareness hits close to home. A senior at Edison High School in Richmond, Gunner is active both in and out of the classroom. He plays golf, […]
Dr. P. Cooper White, pediatrician who didn’t shy away from ‘complex kids’ set to retire
“Special needs families are a world unto themselves,” said Tammie Memmer-Prentiss, who first met Dr. P. Cooper White when her son, Tristan, was a 3-year-old neonatal intensive care unit graduate with cerebral palsy. “A lot of doctors are afraid of us but not Dr. White. He has always known exactly what we needed.” Dr. White, […]
Responsive neurostimulator (RNS) technology changes Conner’s life
Conner Butler of Jeromesville, Ohio is a trailblazer. He’s the first Akron Children’s patient to have an RNS device implanted to reduce seizures caused by epilepsy. He’s gone from missing school and constantly worrying about seizures to being back in class and hanging out with his friends. Diagnosis and daily struggles As a child, Conner […]













