Clayton Richeson. Son. Grandson. Oldest brother of three. Multi-sport athlete. Fifth grader who loves science, Legos, and fun on a trampoline. The list could go on, but one thing that is just part of his story – not his headline – is that Clayton is an 11-year-old with a rare genetic disorder. The disorder is […]
Patient Stories
Canfield student can now breathe easier
Ellie Horvat, 12, couldn’t catch her breath, even while doing simple activities, like climbing stairs. It started after she contracted COVID-19 in November 2021. COVID can cause trouble breathing, which concerned Ellie and her mom, Sherri Horvat. “We worried that Ellie might have lingering effects from COVID because, months later, she still complained about shortness […]
Making good on a promise: Joseph and Linda Gingo plan a $5 million estate gift for the neonatal intensive care unit of the future
After her son spent weeks in the NICU at Akron Children’s, Linda Gingo told her husband Joe, “If we ever get the chance to give back to the NICU for what they’ve done for us, we must.” More than 50 years later, the Gingos have taken action on that passing comment. Through a planned gift […]
Post-scoliosis surgery, Salem teen ‘courts’ return to the sport she loves
Following a routine tonsillectomy at age 13, Sadie Dennison wasn’t quite herself and her observant mom took notice. “I had some complications that made me lose my appetite,” said Sadie. “I got really bony, and as a result my mom noticed that my shoulders looked crooked.” Sadie’s mom, Michelle, who used to work with […]
Nurturing Families Program helps people make healthy parenting choices
When Crystal Colbert became a first-time mom to her son, Cairo, she had a lot of parenting questions. “I had a best friend who had gone through Akron Children’s Nurturing Families Program, and she spoke very highly of it,” says Crystal. “The Nurturing Families Program, a program of the hospital’s External Affairs department, is a […]
Early diagnosis helps Rory see clearly
Rory Flanagan probably doesn’t remember much about her strabismus surgery when she was just 18 months old, but her mom sure does. In the midst of feeling anxious about the big day, her mom remembers the calm, caring environment they found at the Akron Children’s Outpatient Surgery Center and the expert care Rory received, and […]
