Elijah was born without ears (bilateral atresia microtia) but, at 9 weeks premature, his parents’ first priority wasn’t his birth defect, it was saving his life. “He was in the NICU for a month because he had holes in his lungs and struggled with breathing,” said Colleen, Elijah’s mom. “While we were in the NICU, […]
Tissue engineering: A sound solution for kids born with ear abnormalities
Hear this: Of the roughly 4 million babies born in the United States each year, an estimated 15% of them have an ear abnormality affecting the structure and appearance of part of or the entire ear, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Microtia, the most severe ear abnormality, occurs when the entire external ear […]
More than a job, more than a patient: 4-year-old Madhu’s care is as ‘sweet as a cupcake’
For those who work at Akron Children’s, most will tell you there’s something special about working at the independent pediatric hospital. They can’t quite put their finger on what ‘it’ is, but perhaps ‘it’ comes from the satisfaction of knowing everyone – from parking attendants to surgeons – plays an active role in supporting patients. […]
Surgery closes the gap on cleft lips and palates – (VIDEO)
Beyond the impact on a child’s physical appearance, correcting a cleft lip and palate can aid in the ability to speak, chew and swallow. In this Children’s Channel video, Ananth Murthy, MD, director of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Akron Children’s Hospital, discusses the treatment of this birth defect.
Hemangiomas will fade with time and treatment – (VIDEO)
Although hemangiomas will go away on their own, there are options to speed this process. In this Children’s Channel video, Ananth Murthy, MD, the director of plastic and reconstructive surgery at Akron Children’s Hospital, discusses the occurrence and treatment of these vascular birthmarks.
