Children's Wisconsin

It was just 10 seconds. But that can feel like an eternity when you can’t see, hear or breathe. That’s what happened to 10-year-old Maya. Her mom didn’t know what was causing these terrifying episodes, but she knew she needed answers quickly. Learn how a partnership between Children’s Wisconsin, Bellin Health and ThedaCare called Connected for Kids allowed Maya to get help faster than ever.

Peace of mind: How a Children’s Wisconsin partnership is helping families in Northeast Wisconsin When Maya's family needed answers, a new partnership in Northeast Wisconsin helped get them for her faster than ever.

Let’s be realistic — in today’s world, some amount of screen time is unavoidable. Yes, the internet and other media can be both educational and fun. But kids also need plenty of opportunities to play without structure, using their imaginations to learn and explore the world around them. Read this blog post by Dr. Matt Maves, a pediatrician at the Children’s Wisconsin Cedarburg Pediatrics primary care office, for tips to set — and keep — healthy screen time limits.

Tablet time: How to set — and keep — healthy screen limits Too much screen time can interfere with your child’s wellbeing and development, especially if it’s replacing other healthy habits.

If your child is experiencing urgent mental health issues, we are here to help. Children's Wisconsin offers two mental health walk-in clinics that provide same-day care in southeast Wisconsin for children and teens ages 5-18. Located in both Milwaukee and Kenosha, our mental health walk-in clinics are designed to offer an alternative to traditional urgent care and emergency room services. To learn more, visit: https://childrenswi.org/mentalhealthwalkin

Becoming a mom changes you forever — not only physically but emotionally. How could you not be altered by suddenly having a tiny person who relies on you and who you love and want to protect more fiercely than you could have imagined?

Moms and dads have a wide range of feelings during this challenging time, and that can include depression. Read this blog post by Dr. Karen Swanson, a pediatrician at our Children's Wisconsin Pewaukee Pediatrics primary care office, to learn more about the signs and effects of postpartum depression, and how to seek help.

Postpartum depression: More than the baby blues Becoming a mom changes you forever — and that includes your mental and emotional state of being.

In June 2024, Children’s Wisconsin sent a pint-sized representative to Washington, D.C. to meet with members of Congress. Little Caroline went as part of the Children's Hospital Association Family Advocacy Day. But that’s just one way how Children’s Wisconsin advocates for the health of children. Read this blog post to learn how Children’s Wisconsin supports policies and legislation that help kids get the care they need on the local, state and federal level.

Miss Caroline goes to Washington: How Children’s Wisconsin advocates for kids The Children’s Wisconsin Government Relations team supports policies and legislation that help kids get the care they need on the local, state and federal level.

Milwaukee families: your input matters! Please consider taking our 10-minute Community Health Needs Survey with Healthy MKE to help shape health initiatives in Milwaukee that will impact your child's care 💙.

🌟 Your input matters! Take our 10-minute Community Health Needs Survey to shape health initiatives in Milwaukee. Your feedback drives local health policies and programs. 🌟

🔗 Participate now: HealthyMKE.com/chna or click the link in our bio.

Born out of social media pressure, kids these days are buying more skincare products than ever. But we’re not talking about Dr. Pepper flavored lip gloss or glittery lotion. Known as “The Sephora Kid Craze,” tweens are spending nearly $400 a year on things like face masks, anti-aging serums and even facial peels. But is any of this safe for their young skin? Read this blog post by Dr. Yvonne Chiu, a dermatologist at Children’s Wisconsin, for what products she recommends kids use and, more importantly, what they should avoid.

Natural beauty: What skin and makeup products are safe for your tween Born out of social media pressure, kids ages 9 to 12 are buying more skincare products than ever.

Meet brothers/best friends, Blake and Logan 👋. They are expert fishermen and campers. And more recently, have become big Wisconsin Timber Rattlers baseball fans ⚾. Blake and Logan had a BLAST at their first game together and enjoyed the day alongside a team that has made such a positive impact on their lives – the Children’s Wisconsin Celiac Disease Program. Our Celiac Disease Program was also named the community partner of the Timber Rattler’s game, so this day was extra special for Blake and Logan 💙.

Because Blake has type 1 diabetes and a food allergy, he was predisposed to other autoimmune conditions including celiac disease, a disorder where individuals develop an intolerance to gluten. After some testing by the team at Children’s Wisconsin, it was confirmed that Blake had celiac disease. Logan was diagnosed with the same disease about a month later.

“Blake reminisces about his hospital stays,” said their mom, Danielle. “He was very sick, but they were still good experiences and special times for him. We cannot say enough praises for Children’s Wisconsin and the care they provide!”

Now that the family has learned to manage symptoms of celiac disease, Blake and Logan are looking forward to spending the summer doing their favorite activities, like camping and fishing, without any barriers 💙.

Wishing you and your family a fun, festive and safe 4th of July!

Almost every parent knows the struggles of trying to put sunscreen on a squirmy child who just wants to get outside. But sunscreen is an important tool for protecting kids from the negative effects of sun exposure.

Read this blog post by Dr. Sharyl Paley, a pediatrician from the Children’s Wisconsin Bayshore Pediatrics primary care office, for the how, what, when and why of sunscreen.

Fun in the sun: Everything you need to know about sunscreen Sunscreen is an important tool for protecting kids from the negative effects of sun exposure.

What. A. Day 👏. From stilt walkers, music and magicians, to free rides at the Bay Beach Amusement park, we had so much fun sponsoring and attending the 22nd annual Green Bay Kids’ Day last week with the Green Bay Parks, Recreation & Forestry Department. Our staff enjoyed seeing all of the smiling kiddos, and sharing the unique services we offer in Northeast Wisconsin with you and your families 💙.

The 4th of July is one of the best days of summer — family barbecues, neighborhood parades, all-day fun with family and friends. But a trip to the emergency department will end the festivities quickly. Every year, more than 3,000 children under age 15 go to the hospital with injuries caused by at-home fireworks. Please keep fireworks to the professionals and read this blog post from Libbe Slavin, a program manager with the Children's Wisconsin Safety Center, for ways to safely celebrate the 4th of July and festivities all summer long.

Fireworks and kids: How to stay safe this summer There is no safe way to enjoy fireworks at home.

The bond between sisters is often enduring and irreplaceable. From childhood playmates to lifelong confidantes, sisters navigate life's ups and downs together. They famously share secrets, clothes and sometimes hobbies. But for sisters Cassi and Steffi, they also share a congenital heart defect.

Read this blog post to learn how Cassi and Steffi bonded over their shared heart defect and how the Herma Heart Institute at Children’s Wisconsin has provided complete care for their entire family.

All in the family: How the Herma Heart Institute helped two sisters navigate heart disease and pregnancy Cassi and Steffi weren't super close growing up, but a series of unexpected life events bonded them tighter than ever.

The Children’s Wisconsin board of directors has named Gil Peri as the organization’s new president and CEO, effective August 12, 2024.

Peri said, "...I look forward to working alongside the tremendously talented and dedicated Children’s Wisconsin team and partnering with individuals and organizations across the state who are committed to ensuring all kids have a chance to grow up healthy and happy.”

Read more:

Children’s Wisconsin names Gil Peri next President and CEO The Children’s Wisconsin board of directors has named Gil Peri as the organization’s new president and CEO, effective August 12, 2024.

Carey was 22 weeks pregnant when a cyst was spotted on her baby’s neck during a routine ultrasound. The family was referred to Children’s Wisconsin, where their baby was diagnosed with lymphatic malformation: A rare but benign mass of abnormal lymph vessels that can cause significant swelling, often around the head or neck.

Their son, Jaxson, was born and spent a few days being monitored in the Children’s Wisconsin Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) before returning home to his older siblings. Two months later, Jaxson returned to Children's Wisconsin for his first sclerotherapy treatment. The procedure — performed under anesthesia — involved injecting medication into the affected area to shrink the cyst on his neck. This treatment was successful and would be one of many to treat the cyst.

Today, Jaxson and his family keep an eye out for swelling, but for the most part, the condition doesn’t impact his daily life. He’s a 10-year-old math whiz with a passion for baseball and wrestling, his mom says, and he makes friends with everyone he meets – including his parents’ Walmart co-workers.

Carey and Nathan are both store managers at Walmarts in southeast Wisconsin. Now through July 7, 2024, their stores help raise funds for Children’s Wisconsin through Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. This partnership has taken on new meaning for the family as Jaxson has spent his life receiving care at Children’s Wisconsin, as have his brothers and sisters – all of whom receive the best and safest care from the doctors and caregivers at Children’s Wisconsin.

If you've spent time with a teenager, you've probably witnessed the hormonal mood swings that come with puberty. As parents, we’ve all been there, and we all want to help our children navigate this often difficult time. But understanding what’s going on inside your teen’s body can be confusing.

Read this blog post by Dr. Leah Farley, a pediatrician at the Children’s Wisconsin Kenosha Pediatrics primary care office, for a breakdown of all the hormones running through your teens’ bodies during this time of change.

The who's who of hormones: Here are the key players in puberty During puberty, hormones aren't just responsible for changes in moods — hormones are the ones running the show.

Earlier this week, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy wrote an op-ed in the New York Times calling for social media sites to have warning labels like ci******es do.

“The mental health crisis among young people is an emergency — and social media has emerged as an important contributor,” Murthy wrote.

Sadly, that’s not terribly surprising. But what can parents do to look out for their kids?

Read this blog post by Elizabeth Zuniga, LCSW, a school based mental health therapist at Children’s Wisconsin, for some tips to help avoid the harmful effects of social media.

Bad influences: Is social media harmful to your child? How parents can help protect their kids from the negative effects of social media.

You can donate now and double your gift this holiday season to help young patients like Nick, who was born with multiple heart defects, underwent numerous surgeries and received a life-changing gift – a new heart.

Nick lived a relatively normal life, but the elephant in the room popped up occasionally. He was living life at 70 percent oxygen, which prevented him from keeping up with his friends when participating in physical activities and going out for sports at school. His heart would start racing, which led to shortness of breath and lightheadedness.

Since his early childhood, Nick visited our Herma Heart Institute three times a year that included ECHOs, stress tests and regular checkups to monitor his heart progress. His heart was stable when he got to high school, but it wasn’t improving. That’s when the idea of a heart transplant was brought up by Nick’s care team, and Nick was officially put on the transplant list in December 2021.

On Thursday, April 14, 2022, Nick’s parents got a call at 2 in the morning that a match had been found. “I couldn’t believe it was real,” said Nick. “I was overcome with so many emotions. The doctors explained the full process and made me feel comfortable – like I was home.” The next day, Nick’s life changed forever as he underwent a 13-hour surgery and received his new heart. Recovery wasn’t easy, but between Nick’s motivation and the expert care he received from his team, Nick was released from the hospital 17 days later.

“I am overjoyed to say that my second life is full of managing basketball, doing musicals and hanging out with friends,” said Nick. “This amazing journey couldn’t have been fulfilled without the incredible team at Children’s Wisconsin. They made me feel like family. They’re a community that does an outstanding job of providing comfort and happiness for all people. My heart can’t wait for the next adventure.”

Help more young patients like Nick receive lifesaving care. Donate today and your gift will be matched, up to $25,000 thanks to a generous community supporter: https://childrenswi.link/makeanimpact