As a retired teacher elementary school teacher from Austintown schools, working with kids has always come naturally to Lynne Horacek. It’s one of the reasons she decided to start volunteering at Akron Children’s Beeghly campus in 2008. “I like to take the book cart around the units and read to the children and play games […]
Hannah takes it all in stride
At 2 days old, Hannah Jabbour had surgery to close the half dollar-sized opening in the base of her spine, but only time would tell how spina bifida would impact her everyday life. “While in the NICU, Hannah also needed a shunt placed to drain the spinal fluid from her skull due to her hydrocephalus,” said Hilary, […]
Determined 2-year-old lights up recently opened New Philadelphia Health Center
Jaxon Britton is not even 2 yet and he’s already developed a reputation for marching to the beat of his own drum. “He’s a unique kid, what can we say?” his mother, Bridget said. Jaxon has defied the odds multiple times and lived to smile about it. He’s been through more serious health issues than […]
Wall of Hope shows light at end of NICU tunnel
No foot is too small to leave an imprint on this world. That’s the Wall of Hope message that greets patient families as they enter the Akron Children’s NICU at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital. The artful display of 10 uplifting patient family success stories and photos was recently installed in the family waiting area just […]
National Breastfeeding Month: A look into the NICU
A click of the call button brings in a nurse as a mom soothes her baby as he begins to whine out of hunger. Instead of cuddling up with her baby to feed, mom watches as the nurse hangs a syringe-full of mother’s pumped breastmilk. The breastmilk, filled with antibodies and other important substances to […]
Wardle twins revisited: Now 3 and medical equipment free
One piece of advice that resonated with Barry and Rachel Wardle when their premature-born twins first arrived in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) was to constantly let them know of your presence. “Talk to them, touch them, read to them, let them hear your voice. They’ll fight harder if they know you’re here,” Barry […]
