Marlene Thompson is not afraid of a challenge — and, apparently, not of her life-size skeleton and roommate, Mortimer, either. After working as a nurse in Akron Children’s PICU for 13 years, she was ready to push herself to face a new challenge head-on and feel the thrill of change once again. Today, she is […]
Juvenile arthritis isn’t stopping Tallmadge girl’s fun-loving life
In every family, there is always one family member who seems to set the tone for the rest of the family. For Jessica and Shane Rine, their daughter, Ruby, age 7, is that person. Ruby, who lives in Tallmadge, is the couple’s first-born child, as well as the first grandchild and niece in both Jessica’s […]
Local family advocates for daughter and those with rare connective tissue disorder
Brittani Tomic is moved to tears every time she hears the lyrics of Hillsong UNITED’s song “Another in the Fire” because it reminds her of a very dark period in her family’s life, as well as the light that finally appeared on the long journey to a diagnosis for her daughter. In fall 2018, at […]
Elyza’s story inspires hospital to light up in turquoise for Dysautonomia Awareness Month
Elyza Bolanz was doing online school before there was a pandemic. She wanted to be in school with her friends and teachers, but her body simply wouldn’t let her. Equally as frustrating, multiple doctors were enlisted for help for her complex diagnosis and treatment plan before she finally got some relief. Sadly, Elyza’s story mirrors […]
From soccer fields to Capitol Hill, Ethan takes on juvenile arthritis
The symptoms of juvenile arthritis came on quickly for Ethan Berkovitz. The pain in his legs at age 8 was such that sometimes his father had to carry him onto the school bus. The good news was that after Dr. Steven Spalding, director of the Division of Rheumatology at Akron Children’s Hospital, diagnosed the disease […]
5 medical specialties help Cayleigh win her independence over sarcoidosis
My daughter Cayleigh’s long story with Akron Children’s Hospital started in the summer of 2017 when she was 5 years old. Cayleigh fell at home and bit a pretty large hole in her tongue that needed stitches. I was concerned that maybe she needed glasses so I scheduled an eye exam. At the exam we […]
