When Alex Manda was about 9 years old, his parents, Rina and Mick, noticed his chest was slightly caved in, a condition known as pectus excavatum. Pectus excavatum is a disorder of the chest wall that causes some of the ribs and the breastbone to grow inward, forming an indentation in the chest. “By the […]
Confessions of prenatal ultrasound techs
A YouTube video of an ultrasound showing a 14-week-old fetus clapping while her parents sing, “If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands,” generated all sorts of online discussions about whether this was indeed possible. Can the fetus react to sounds, music and the like? Or was it a reflex like the hiccups? What exactly does go on in there?
Is the COVID-19 vaccine the answer to getting back to normalcy?
Over the past year, COVID-19 has disrupted just about every aspect of our lives — from virtual school to work-at-home orders to canceled social and sporting events. So it’s no surprise many families are desperate to get their lives back to some form of normalcy in this New Year. With millions of vaccinations being distributed […]
Vitamin D is vital to healthy bones, so much more
Craving some sunshine? You may think you need those elusive rays of good cheer in the winter for a psychological boost. But sunshine also affects our vitamin D levels – then that, in turn, can affect our bones and many other aspects of our health. “Vitamin D is a hot topic right now,” said Lindsay […]
Family says counseling, open communication key to strong mental health
For Cohen Pierce, it was triggered by the transition to middle school. For his younger sister Lila, it was most apparent the morning of test days. The “its” in both cases were mental health concerns. Cohen’s depression manifested as changes in his personality. He went from his normal happy-go-lucky self to feeling down and negative […]
The delta variant and kids: What parents need to know
The delta variant has become the predominant cause of COVID-19 infection in Ohio and throughout the country. With cases and hospitalizations on the rise locally, our children are vulnerable to infection. Dr. Eric Robinette, a pediatric infectious disease physician at Akron Children’s, answers parents’ questions about the COVID-19 delta variant and insights into how close […]