Gillette Children's is known worldwide for its research and expertise in caring for children diagnosed with rare diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), Legg-Calve Perthes disease, Prader-Willi syndrome, Rett syndrome, and other conditions.

Gillette Children's is known worldwide for its expertise in caring for children diagnosed with rare diseases. Several Gillette providers are participating in an event at the University of Minnesota to talk about the successes and challenges in caring for rare disease disorders. Linda Krach, MD, is a Gillette rehabilitation medicine physician and a keynote speaker at the U of M event. Krach recently won a prestigious award for her work and is part of a team helping patients who have spina bifida and other rare diseases.

Music therapy helps manage pain, helps a child adjust to a hospital environment, provides positive emotional experiences, and promotes comfort and relaxation.

Rare Disease Day is Feb. 28. The main objective of the day is to raise awareness about how rare diseases have an impact on people’s lives and our communities. Gillette Children's is known worldwide for its expertise in caring for children diagnosed with rare diseases such as Rett syndrome, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), acute flaccid myelitis (AFM), Legg-Calve Perthes disease, Prader-Willi syndrome and other conditions.

The 12th Annual Gillette Children's Adaptive Ski Day was an opportunity for children who have disabilities to discover the thrill of downhill skiing. Marcie Ward, MD, is a Gillette pediatric rehabilitation medicine physician and says these adaptive sports events bring joy and can transform children and families.

Learn how to have conversations with family and friends about your child's recent cerebral palsy diagnosis and how they can help.

“The Everybody Club” is a book about love. It easily could have been a book about grief, heart break and the struggles in life. But that’s not what author Linda Hayen and her daughter Carissa wanted to put into the world. Linda Hayen, is the mother of a Gillette patient and says it's joyful, colorful story about inclusion that's based on the relationship between her daughter and son.

Lucia Lazarus was only 5 years old when she had to have surgery at Gillette. She was devastated to learn she would miss Valentine's Day celebrations at school. But child life specialists at Gillette made sure she felt the love while in their care. Because of the dedication of the Gillette staff, Lucia's family worked to find ways to pay it forward. Now they make Valentine's Day bags for Gillette patients and help amplify the work of our researchers studying the use of Virtual Reality to help Gillette patients manage pain and anxiety.

Augmentative and Alternative Communication devices are part of a child's communication system, ranging from choice boards to iPad apps.

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. Oral disease is the top unmet health issue for children who have special needs. The dental clinic at Gillette Children's is one of only three facilities in the metro area that is specially equipped to serve patients who have disabilities.

Gillette Children's 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.