My Kids' Doc

Period poverty is a global health issue affecting millions of women and girls around the world in both rich and poor countries. One of the keys to tackling this issue is making everyone more comfortable discussing periods so that it is easier for women and girls to come forward with concerns and ask for support when needed.

I am honored to have been asked by once again to be a speaker at their annual My Period My Pride event where I get to to educate adolescent girls and their families on puberty and periods.

Follow to find out what you can do to alleviate period poverty in The Bahamas.

My 18th Mother's Day is in the books! This year looked a little different since It's my first without my oldest one at home with me, but she was the first to wish me a happy Mother's Day today. Grateful that God chose me to raise this awesome crew. 💜💕💙

A Blessed Easter Sunday to all!

Hello Freeport! I wish I could see all of you, but I am fully booked for this Saturday, March 30th. The good news is appointments are available for the month of April! Call 242-688-5322 to book your little ones. Appointments fill up fast!

Easter Bunny shenanigans in progress. Don't tell our dentist friends, but we definitely gave out Cadbury eggs today 👀

My babies are all grown up and I can't take it!!! 😩

It was so good to see them today 🤗💕🌸

Five years ago today, I saw my first patient in Freeport, Grand Bahama. Since then, my patients and I have navigated the aftermath of Dorian, the pandemic, and several other challenges that made me consider closing up my Freeport practice. Through it all, my patients have asked me to keep coming back.

So today, on My Kid's Doc's 5th Birthday, I am happy to announce that I am resuming weekly pediatric services in Grand Bahama with the team at !

Thank you for continuing to allow me to help you raise happy and healthy kids!

So last night I traded in my white coat for a white dress and went out to support the Sir Victor Sassoon Heart Foundation at their 58th Annual Heart Ball. Through strategic partnerships, they are able to facilitate life saving heart surgeries for people who would not be able to afford it without their assistance.

I was also able to hang out with a few familiar faces including our Prime Minister and First Lady Anne Marie Davis and my mentors in the field of pediatrics, Dr. Corrine SinQuee (Pediatric Hemarologist-Oncologist) and Dr. Jerome Lightbourne, the country's only Pediatric Cardiologist.

Always a good time! Shout out to hubby for always being the perfect date 😁

Happy "Last Day of the Year" from my family to yours. Wishing you all the best for 2024!

When you thought you were on vacation, but your patients had other plans...🌲🌲🌲

Healthy Kids is closed for the holidays! Wishing you all a happy and healthy holiday season!

Spreading some Christmas cheer with nurse Jasmine today!

Sending a HUGE congratulations to one of my favorite patients on his 3rd place finish in the under 10 category in The Bahamas Chess Federation's 2023 Classic!!!

I'm so proud and grinning from ear to ear! Continue to soar!

Thank you to the Ministry ofHealthandWellness for the invitation to sit on a panel with this dynamic group of professionals addressing ways we can support the mental health of our youth.

It was the beginning of a much needed conversation.

Hello Friends! The needs your help! School is just about to open and we need help sourcing books for a few of our kids. If you're willing/able to donate any of the books from this list, please send me a message. All donations (books or monetary) can be dropped off at the GB Children's Home in Freeport or Healthy Kids Pediatrics if you're in Nassau. Thanks for your help!

Tylenol is not a cure (and a few other things you should know).

A conversation about fever often goes like this...

"Doc, my child felt so hot, I gave some Tylenol and the fever went away for a little bit, but it keeps coming back."

Fever is a temperature of 100.4 or higher, not a feeling 🙃.

It's important to remember that FEVER IS NOT AN ILLNESS. Fever is a SYMPTOM OF AN ILLNESS. Think of Tylenol as something to quiet the “noise of battle” as your child’s super-strong immune system is fighting off the illness-invader. Tylenol’s role is supportive...a tool that can be used to bring kids comfort while their body fights and heals.

The return of fever after 4 hours simply means your little one's body iis still battling the illness that gave the fever in the first place. For children over 3 months, as long as everything else seems OK (generally good mood, adequate hydration, and no associated symptoms of concern), there is no need to panic. Offer another dose of Tylenol, if they seem uncomfortable.

For children under 3 months, err on the side of caution and consult your pediatrician at the first sign of fever.

Quick Tylenol Tips:

Give Tylenol every 4-6 hours, no more than 5 doses per 24 hours.

Always dose Tylenol based upon your child’s weight, not their age.

Always use the syringe or medicine cup that came with the bottle to administer the medication, not a kitchen spoon.

No Tylenol for kids under the age 12 weeks, without doctor’s approval.

Be sure to keep medications out of kids' reach.

If you need guidance on what to do when your little one gets a fever, don't hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help you raise happy and healthy kids.

43...I heard a saying that a comfort zone is a nice place, but nothing amazing ever grows there. At 42, I took a flying leap out of mine and landed someplace very foreign and...uncomfortable.

Daily I am stretching, changing, learning, doing...growing. My faith has been tried and tested, but God shows me daily it has not been misplaced. It too has grown.

I am thankful for the friends and family who have given me a safe space to grow, tangible support, prayers and encouragement in moments that I've been weary.

This year I'm looking forward to growing into something amazing.

Thank you all for the birthday wishes ❤️

One of the most common phone calls I get goes something like this "Johnny's been coughing for a week, what cough medicine can I give him?"

That's a really difficult question to answer without having an opportunity to examine "Johnny" because all coughs aren't created equal and treatment will vary based on the cause.

Some causes are:

- Infection (viral, bacterial, or otherwise)

- Acid reflux

- Asthma

- Allergies or sinusitis

- A foreign body

This list is by no means exhaustive and while the end result is some form of irritation leading to cough, the management of each is different.

So the next time you want a recommendation for a cough suppressant (which we rarely recommend), allow your pediatrician to do a proper assessment. Remember, we’re here to help you raise happy and healthy kids.

Contact us through our website www.healthykids242.org to schedule an appointment for tomorrow at our Cable Beach location or just walk in.

We're here to help you raise happy and healthy kids!

Happy Saturday!

Back in my element!

Last year was fraught with a lot of health challenges for me which left me physically and mentally exhausted. It made everything a struggle - showing up for work, showing up as a wife and mom, showing up as a friend, meeting obligations - everything was hard.

Ultimately, 2022 ended with me having surgery, laying up in hospital as a patient, and spending the entire holiday season on bedrest.

There are a few things I learned in the process tho...

- listen to your body or it will make you listen

- being a patient can be scary

- doctors truly are THE WORST patients

- ask for help when you need it

I am so grateful to all my family and friends who supported me through this whole ordeal.

I am thankful for my patients and their families who understood that I'm not a real superhero and only play one when I'm at work. I have missed you all too much for words.

I am elated to be back in my element and better than ever!

I know I'm late to the party, but cheers to an amazing 2023!

XOXO,

Your Kids' Doc

May I present to you the future Dr. Ellis! Three years ago, this young lady sent me an email saying that she wants to become a doctor and asked if I minded if she came to work with me for her community service hours. She's been stuck with me ever since.

Denae has been one of the best things to happen to my practice in Freeport, but she is heading off to college tomorrow. Guess where she chose to spend her last day before leaving for college...in the office with me!

I will miss your boundless energy, your wit, your knowledge of every good breakfast spot on GB, and bearing witness to your self-motivation, discipline, and incredible work ethic. Such huge shoes to fill...

I can't wait to say "this is my colleague, Dr. Ellis." All the best my dear!

Is anyone else afraid to sneeze in public? Just me? Ok then.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, seasonal allergy sufferers have been in quite the predicament. They’ve had to make the choice between suffering in silence while choking back coughs and sneezes or being on the receiving end of dirty looks for letting them rip even with masks in place.

For our children, showing up to school with these symptoms has been problematic, with teachers and parents alike wanting to know “is this COVID?”

Any pediatrician can tell you that kids have runny noses for lots of different reasons, especially at this time of year. It’s important to keep things in perspective and not panic at the first sign of runny nose or other symptoms in children.  While the symptoms of allergies, COVID-19, and other respiratory viruses can be similar, there are some ways to tell which one your child is experiencing so that you can know how to treat it appropriately.

Head over to the "My Blog" tab on www.clubkidsdoc.com (link in bio) for ways to determine the cause of your child’s sniffles.

From the candy to the costumes, Halloween is a fun-filled time for kids and parents. To help make it a trick-free treat, follow these simple safety tips.