Valentine’s Day 2020 is forever etched into Chad Bigley’s mind and not for the reason one might expect. Instead of spending the day with his high school girlfriend, Chad, age 17, was sitting with his family in orthopedic oncologist Dr. Scott Weiner’s office where he had just been officially diagnosed with osteosarcoma (the most common […]
They ‘graduated’ cancer and are now graduating high school
Five high school seniors recently gathered in downtown Akron for photos but there was no time to linger once the last image was snapped. They dashed to rescheduled softball games, spring musicals and other social engagements – just as it should be. The busy lives of teens about to embark on the world is not […]
Sickle cell disease almost cost this boy his life. ‘It’s nothing to play with,’ mom says
One of the dreaded complications of sickle cell disease happens when sickle-shaped red blood cells cause large amounts of blood to pool in the spleen. It happened to Karson George of Canton in August 2019, when he was 9 months old. Normal red blood cells are round and flexible, allowing them to flow easily through […]
Perseverance keeps Pano achieving goals after cancer treatment
Like a story out of Greek mythology, Pano Tsarouhas’s cancer journey started in Greece, but his battle with Ewing’s sarcoma was defeated in Ohio. While on vacation in Greece, Pano came down with a fever. After returning home, he had an appointment at Pediatrics of Akron expecting an antibiotic would help him feel better. “Dr. […]
Kamryn continues to show sickle cell disease who’s boss.
In the fall or 2020, we introduced you to Kamryn who was hoping to celebrate her first birthday and first anniversary of no pain episodes due to her sickle cell disease. On Sickle Cell Awareness Day, we’re happy to report she was able to celebrate both! While COVID-19 kept many of us from doing ordinary things, it […]
National Siblings Day gives the Gabriel sisters another reason to celebrate
The Gabriels have always been a close family. The family of 8, which includes 6 girls who are close in age, is used to the attention they attract. “Our maiden name was Gabriel and even the priest at our parents’ church joked with our mom and dad,” said Beth Diefendorff, nurse clinician in hematology/oncology. “He […]
