When Mindy Miller gave birth to her second son in 2020, she wasn’t expecting anything out of the ordinary. So, when she got the news that baby Oliver tested positive for a metabolic disorder called Phenylketonuria (PKU) during his routine newborn screenings she was thrown for a loop. “I had never heard of PKU and […]
Fresh Air Camp offers summer fun for kids with respiratory technology needs
Campfire sing-alongs, gooey s’mores and cabin games are summer camp traditions that create lasting childhood memories. For kids with tracheostomies and other respiratory needs, these magical moments of summer are all made possible at Fresh Air Camp. The camp serves children, ages 6-18, with tracheostomies, ventilator-dependency and other respiratory technology needs. It’s a collaboration between […]
Teen affected by transverse myelitis navigates school with help of Akron Children’s nurse
In 2010, at the age of 2 ½, Dereon North’s life was forever changed when she awoke from a nap unable to move. Dereon was eventually diagnosed with transverse myelitis, a neurological condition that left her paralyzed from the neck down. Fast forward 12 years and Dereon is now an 8th grader at East Middle […]
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 […]
Jackie’s journey: From cancer patient to survivor
As an athlete, patient or coach, Jackie Custer believes in the mantra there is no ‘I’ in team. Growing up, Jackie learned how to win games with her teammates. As she faced her own battle with cancer, she relied on her Akron Children’s care team to get her to the finish line. Today, at 24, […]
Former PICU patient ready to give back as a resident
When Ann Jacobs’ son Eli Moss walked into her room and told her he wasn’t feeling well, she had no idea what was to come. Eli was experiencing cold symptoms that kept him home from preschool, and Ann and Eli’s father took him to their local emergency department after he spiked a high fever. The […]