The Paralympic Games are underway in Tokyo. Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare has a history of encouraging all people to participate in sports. Our strong therapeutic recreation program helps children find opportunities to stay physically active. The benefits of consistent physical activity include better weight control, improved heart and muscle strength and the opportunity to make new friends.

The recent hot weather and high humidity has everyone looking for ways to keep cool. For people who have a disability the heat can pose a serious health concern.The Associate Medical Director of Pediatrics for Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, Madeleine Gagnon, MD, has advice to make sure everyone can have fun in the sun.

April is Occupational Therapy (OT) month and Gillette is highlighting the amazing work our OT team does every day to help our patients increase their independence with daily activities. Gillette is one of the only pediatric health care centers to have an ArmeoSpring machine. Our occupational therapists use this robotic exoskeleton to assist patients who are building strength as the result of trauma, cerebral palsy, neuromuscular conditions or stroke.

April 14 was a rainy night at Target Field, but the rain didn’t stop the thousands in attendance from rising to their feet to cheer as Eli Brummond, 11, flew towards home plate. He was moving fast enough that you wouldn’t necessarily notice at first. Eli’s left leg is missing from just below his knee and he wears a prosthesis.

Rolling over, crawling. The first words, the first steps, the first bike ride. These actions seem small individually, but many serve as formative moments that represent individual progress. They’re the signs that we’re moving forward and the experiences we remember. However, for many of the patients and families at Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, these milestones are often delayed—if they happen at all.

It's rare for a singular event to bring so much joy and meaning to so many individuals and organizations, but Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare's celebration of the 3rd Annual Mauer and Friends Kids Classic, did just that. The event took place on a perfect, June day, and 25 Gillette patients and their families had the experience of a lifetime down on the grass of Target Field.

“It’s Matthew’s machine, but communication is a two-way street. I need to know how to use it just as well as him.” – Martha Wilson, Matthew’s mom. Learn why the most important part of this mother-son relationship is his adapted communication device.

Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare is proud of its long and strong relationship with the Minnesota Twins and is pleased to sponsor Kids Day each Sunday home game at Target Field.

Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare hosted two successful events aimed at helping kids of all abilities know the joy of riding a bike.

Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare provides support and resources to help kids achieve their athletic goals. Our therapeutic recreation specialists take pride in helping kids improve their strength and flexibility while having the fun experience of playing sports.

You know, there might be nothing more Minnesotan than lacing up a pair of skates and heading out to the rink. “You bet, you’d better believe it,” says Tony Lang of Loretto, Minnesota. “I grew up playing hockey my whole life. It’s a family tradition. In fact, when we had kids I built a rink in our backyard.”

On Pedal in Place race day, participants jump on stationary bikes, battle it out with other teams, and race to good health—all while raising funds for kids who have cerebral palsy or other lifelong conditions. Many Gillette families say the adaptive bikes are helpful for their child's physical therapy and emotional well-being.

Not one to sit on the sidelines, Danny Lilya’s wheelchair and congenital spine diagnosis have never defined him. From playing hockey to scoring field goals on the football team, find out how this athlete and Vikings fan is headed to the Super Bowl this weekend.

"This kid is without a doubt my hero. I am without a doubt his biggest fan," says Ross Carothers of his son, Mikey, who has schizencephaly. Learn how the generosity of donors has supported Mikey's family and how they've given back in return.

Maia Gochez pursues anything that catches her fancy: horseback riding, cute sandals, traveling the country. And she’s courageous enough to overcome anything that might stand in the way—even her cerebral palsy diagnosis.