Trust. Confidence. Accessibility. These are the words that come to mind when Scott and Gail Wilkes reflect on their experience at Akron Children’s Hospital after their daughter, Shannon, was diagnosed with a rare type of bone cancer called metastatic osteosarcoma. Today, they’re helping to instill those same feelings in others – by expanding treatment and […]
Online rewind: Our top content of 2022
From inspirational patient stories to tips on how to be the best parent you can be, we’ve shared hundreds of photos, videos and blogs throughout 2022. Here are the ones that made the biggest impact on you. Facebook 1. Halloween around the hospital 2. Preschool students at Norwalk Catholic School learning about the body/medical field […]
Bad days don’t exist for Dr. Nicole Kendel when helping sick kids feel better
As Akron Children’s newest pediatric hematologist-oncologist, Nicole Kendel, MD, admits many days could be labeled a bad day in her field. But while there are extremely difficult days indeed, she chooses to think differently and finds inspiration in her patients’ strength and perseverance. That’s what allows her to reframe her mindset and better position herself […]
Giving more sickle cell patients hope for a brighter future
When Erika Proctor gave birth to her first child, Lyric Ayers, she had no idea that she carried the sickle cell trait or what having sickle cell disease would mean for her precious baby girl. “I was devastated,” said Erika. She was referred to the Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders at […]
Jersey contest hits home for hematology patient
Brooke Barkan (13) from Canal Fulton will be beaming with pride on Aug. 12 as the RubberDucks baseball team takes to the field in a jersey she designed as part of the Showers Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders’ annual patient celebration event. The RubberDucks selection team chose her design out of 42 entries, double […]
Pano is seeing cancer care from a new perspective
Five summers ago, Pano Tsarouhas (18) came to the Shower’s Family Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Disorders as a patient. He’s back at Akron Children’s this summer, but now he’s learning what it’s like to sit across from patients as a provider. “I wanted to shadow Dr. Hord to help me evaluate different paths […]
