Born with Prader-Willi syndrome, a complex genetic condition that affects many parts of her body, Sabrina Hart, age 10, hasn’t let it slow her down. The 4th grader at Green Intermediate School is a cheerleader, swimmer and equestrian among other things. No stranger to Akron Children’s, Sabrina has been a patient of orthopedic surgeon Dr. […]
Patient Stories
Sister dedicates book to older brother, shares tips on befriending a child with autism
From the moment she was born, Tara Johnston, of Canal Fulton, was in a unique situation to learn how to befriend a child with autism. Now, 19 years later she shares all the knowledge she has learned in a self-published book, “Tara’s Tips for Friends with Autism,” which is dedicated to her older brother, […]
Living her best life – robotic arm helps girl with transverse myelitis gain independence
Emmie Wanzer, age 11, likes to do things for herself. Paralyzed at age 2 with transverse myelitis, Emmie hasn’t let that stop her from living her life to the fullest. A quadriplegic, with no feeling from the neck down, Emmie operates her motorized wheelchair with a tilt of her head. “Independence is a big deal […]
Could a declining sports performance be nutrition related?
Blazing running speed, powerful muscles and quick maneuvering are all signs of a strong athlete. But, behind all that speed, power and agility is more than just practice, exercise and strength training. Good nutrition is essential in order to enhance athletic performance both on and off the field. For kids, it’s even more critical because […]
Do’s and don’ts when talking to kids about weight
Weight can be a sensitive topic, but a necessary one, especially where your child’s health is concerned. Dr. Geoffrey Putt, a pediatric psychologist at Akron Children’s provides some tips on how to get a conversation with your kiddo started. Do’s for talking to kids about weight Do acknowledge your own biases, struggles and insecurities with […]
Mom’s CMV infection during pregnancy led to newborn’s hearing loss
When Caitlyn Idoine was pregnant with her daughter Riley in 2021, she had never heard of an infection called cytomegalovirus (CMV) which pregnant women can carry and pass onto to their babies. “CMV is the leading cause of nongenetic hearing loss and can also cause other neurological deficits and vision loss,” said Caitlyn. “A typical […]
