Kids Health Matters
Archive: March, 2016

"Like most kids, Christina likes to go fast,” says her dad, Derek Kademan. "If she’s not going to slow down, why should I?" See how Kademan's promise to Christina, and major surgery at Gillette, helps her live life to the fullest.

As parents, we celebrate the simple things in our children’s lives—but can quickly forget them: the first word, standing up, walking, the first birthday, the first day of school, tasting a new food. We sometimes take these milestones for granted. That’s not the case for the parents of Felix Henry. Felix has a severe form of epilepsy.

"Every step Sophia takes is a testament to the countless dedicated individuals who made it possible," says her mother, Susan Slinkard. Last summer, Sophia and her family traveled from Arkansas to Minnesota for major neurosurgery aimed at reducing Sophia's spasticity.

Every parent wants their child to be healthy, but that isn’t always the case. The reality is that as many as one in about 325 parents will have a child who has a complex medical condition such as cerebral palsy, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC also says about one in six children will have some type of developmental disability.

During the annual Musculoskeletal Management in Pediatrics conference, Gillette physicians shed their blue scrubs and white coats and don teaching hats instead.

The arrival of the Zika virus in the U.S. has raised awareness of the hidden risk of viruses, particularly those that cause problems for pregnant women and their babies. Zika, however, is only one of several viruses and conditions that can have an adverse outcome on a child in the womb.

Aimee Blanchette, a features writer for the Star Tribune, is mom to a 5-year-old who has cerebral palsy. She recently wrote a column in the newspaper about teaching her daughter, Lila, how to skate. It inspired us to ask her to author a post for Kids Health Matters detailing what a day is like raising a child who has special needs.

A few simple tips, such as wearing a helmet and taking breaks, can help kids stay safe outside during the spring and summer months.

As the parent or caregiver of a child who’s in the hospital, you play an important role in your child’s safety and well-being. Find out how you can partner with hospital staff to keep your child safe during a hospital stay. These simple tips might surprise you.

Children who have spasticity, or tight muscle tone, may benefit from an appointment with Gillette's spasticity evaluation team. Meet three key members of the team and learn how they help families understand treatment options.

When Andrew Haldeman needed emergency surgery after breaking his arm during a wrestling match, his anesthesiologist noticed something unusual. Learn how the discovery proved lifesaving, and why it inspired Andrew to give back to Gillette.

March is cerebral palsy month – and March 25 is National CP Awareness Day. Take a moment to get information about the most common motor disorder. Remember that when a child is diagnosed, it doesn’t mean he or she can’t live a happy, fulfilling – and most important – meaningful life.

A Venezuelan mother's prayers are answered as her daughter receives treatment for cerebral palsy at Gillette. “No word is good enough to express our gratitude for helping our daughter have a better quality of life and to overcome the challenges she’s had since birth,” she writes.

Gillette participated in a Twitter chat hosted by ABC's Dr. Richard Besser on rare diseases as part of Rare Diseases Day. Gillette was one of the top chat influencers.