Za’Nii is only 9 years old, but she’s already been through more than most individuals would in a lifetime. She's stared down two potentially life-threatening illnesses including severe scoliosis, and beaten them both. Through all of it, Za'Nii has maintained an irrepressibly positive attitude that rubs off on everyone around her. Read her story here.

When I was 2 years old, I was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Now, I'm 23. I've faced many challenges in my life, but I think my dad said it best, "Inch by inch, life's a cinch. Yard by yard, life's hard." You can't get too caught up trying to project what the end result might be, all you can do is try to deal with the challenge in front of you, and move forward.

A new book edited by Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare orthopedic surgeon, Tom Novacheck, MD, and clinical scientist, Michael Schwartz, PhD, is intended to be a resource for health care providers and scientists to improve the lives of people who have cerebral palsy and mobility challenges. “We hope this new book is a blueprint for the next five years of research and clinical care to help people who have cerebral palsy,” Novacheck says.

October is Spina Bifida Awareness Month and October 25 is World Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Day. To recognize the day and the month, we're sharing the story of Chloe and Gracie, two longtime Gillette patients connected by spina bifida, but much more than that, their profound friendship. Read their story here.

Walter Truong, MD has worked as a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeon at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare for nearly ten years. Dr. Truong specializes in treating a variety of pediatric orthopedic conditions. Learn more about him, here.

There's a new level of excitement and commitment to conducting research at Gillette that could change and improve the lives of countless numbers of children everywhere, and donor support is pivotal in leading the charge. 

Mpls. St. Paul Magazine recently released its “Top Doctors list,” which includes the names of 24 physicians from Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare. The magazine determines award recipients based on a survey sent to physicians each year, asking them to nominate one or more doctors (excluding themselves) whom they would visit if they or a loved one needed medical care.

Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare has launched a new resource to help parents of children who have complex, rare or traumatic conditions. The first book released by the new Gillette Children’s Healthcare Press is Spastic Diplegia—Bilateral Cerebral Palsy and it’s written by Lily Collison, an Ireland-based author and the mother of a Gillette patient.

As the weather turns warmer and sunnier, families are eager to get outside for fresh air and exercise. While the escape from the four walls of home is a welcome relief, it’s important to make sure we’re all safe during our outdoor activities. Gillette is here to help if a child is injured.

Aaron Navarro is a 14-year-old teenager from Grandview, Texas. He's a sophomore this year, is an active member of his high school debate team and runs 5K races (even though he’ll tell you that running isn’t his favorite thing). His mother, Christine, will tell you that the fact that he is running at all is nothing short of remarkable.

Back pain is more common in children than one might expect. In fact, by age 15, 30-50 percent of all children have had at least one episode of back pain! At Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, our team of internationally-recognized orthopedic experts work closely with many pediatric patients each year, helping them identify and treat their unexplained back pain.

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.

The pediatric orthopedic department at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare is the first pediatric health care organization in Minnesota and several surrounding states to be recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).This achievement highlights Gillette’s commitment to integrated care and its focus on providing the highest quality of care for our patients and families.

Wes Jackson is a thoughtful, kind and inquisitive kid. He also has cerebral palsy, but he won't let that (or anything else for that matter) get in his way. Get to know Wes and his family, you'll be glad you did.

The day was Christmas Eve, the year was 2003 and the Ketelhohns were resting and watching a movie in their home near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was an idyllic evening, but their youngest daughter, 8-month-old, Kate, had a slight fever. It was the type of malady that many children experience throughout their development. There was no reason to worry, until there was.

Roderick Bright is 11 years old, but don’t let that fool you. He’s not a kid. Ask him who he is and he’ll tell you: Roderick is an athlete. There was only one problem.

Becky Hamilton can’t help but get a bit emotional as she prepares to hang up her scrubs after 40 years as a Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare nurse. She’ll freely tell you that when you devote so much of your life to an organization, your colleagues become like family. This goes for your patients as well.