Josie Greco has been beating the odds since her birth on April 30, 2008. You may remember her as an Akron Children’s superhero patient for the 2017 Akron Marathon Race Series. Now at age 17, Josie continues to make her mark on the world. Josie survived a traumatic birth, arriving 11 weeks early and weighing […]
Patient Stories
Mckenzi’s road from micropreemie to first birthday
When Ginny Hardwick went into labor at 22 weeks, she was terrified for her daughter, Mckenzi, and what her future may hold. Through patience, persistence and a wonderful team of labor and delivery doctors and nurses at Mercy Health – St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital’s Birthing Center, Ginny’s labor was held off for 2 weeks. Mckenzi […]
Courtney bounces back after 9 orthopedic surgeries
What do you do when you’re an active kid, and your joints keep hurting? You seek help from an expert. That’s just what Courtney Carpenter of Girard, Ohio and her family did. “I was a gymnast for many years, until the pain got so bad that I was forced to quit,” she said. “In high […]
Addison makes it back to the pitcher’s mound
Addison Lahmers from West Lafayette, Ohio is a busy teenager. She’s plays volleyball, throws the discus and is an elite softball pitcher with more than 200 career strikeouts in a season and a half. She participates in school clubs and committees, 4-H and Coshocton County Youth Leadership. But among her biggest achievements to date is […]
From prenatal heart diagnosis to graduation
It’s a special time for 18-year-old Ian Cadwallader. He recently graduated from Cuyahoga Falls High School and will start college in the fall at The Ohio State University Mansfield Campus. While he’s focused on the future, he’s also taking time to look back on his life. That includes care he’s received from before birth at […]
Sam smiles and sings, despite Marfan syndrome challenges
Sam Jimenez was born prematurely at 32 weeks’ gestation, weighing 6 pounds and 12 ounces. He grew significantly, and at age 6, his pediatrician referred him to an orthopedic specialist for bone problems often connected to Marfan syndrome. The genetic disorder affects the body’s connective tissue, which holds cells, tissues and organs together – and […]
