Harper has been on life support – twice – had 4 open heart surgeries, 5 eye surgeries, countless therapy sessions and even more needle pokes, but not once has she let anything get the best of her. She’s overcome every obstacle in her own time. At birth, Harper’s parents were surprised to learn she had Down syndrome, but it was her heart defect, atrioventricular canal defect, that caused them worry. The hole in […]
Down syndrome awareness month reminds us we have more in common than not
Akron Children’s prides itself on inclusion – at the hospital and in our communities – so it should come as no surprise that we love to celebrate and raise awareness for our patients. We first introduced you to Gino Russ in 2018 to celebrate his accomplishments during World Down Syndrome Day. Today, like all of […]
Home Health nurse delivers shot of courage
It was the happiest Jeremiah Skaggs-Bradley has ever been after getting a blood draw. And the 5-year-old from Warren has had his share of anxiety-ridden needle experiences. “It’s so bad. It’s horrible. It breaks my heart and sometimes I have to leave the room,” his mother, Melinda Skaggs, said about her son’s typical blood draw […]
Wren Patterson like “a whole new baby” after heart repair
The day after Wren Patterson was born in October, doctors were concerned about a heart murmur and her low blood oxygenation. An echocardiogram at Aultman Hospital in Canton showed the reason. Wren had a congenital heart defect called tetralogy of Fallot, characterized by 4 malformations that robbed her of adequate blood flow to the lungs […]
Special needs don’t stop kindergartner from having a ball on bowling outing
When you are 5 years old and it’s a Tuesday morning, what could be better than going on a field trip to a bowling alley with your class? Jack Cleavenger has special needs but he was able to go bowling because Emily Ocheltree, a medical assistant in Akron Children’s School Health Services, was right by […]
Preparing for back-to-school success for a child who has special needs
Returning to school each fall is a time of both excitement and nervousness for parents and students. For parents who have a child with special needs, this time of year can bring increased anxiety and stress. We worry about all the same things most parents worry about like how will my child do in school? […]
