Akron Children's Hospital Neonatal Follow-Up Program, North Canton

As a first-time dad to two-month old Charlie, Alex Walker says the experience is surreal.

"I don't know if it's completely sunk in that I'm a dad," he said. "I keep thinking about all of the dad things I'll be able to do once he's out of the NICU. It makes everything a little more special."

Charlie's mom, Melanie, says that seeing Alex become a father has brought out all of the amazing qualities she loves about him. "We have wanted a kid for three years, and it hasn't been easy. Seeing him be able to be a dad to Charlie and living through all those beautiful moments has made me fall in love with him even more."

The Walkers have a message to everyone this Father's Day:
"We hope that everyone gets to celebrate Father's Day, even if it looks different from what you had imagined. There are still those beautiful moments you can have throughout all the unknowns you may have to deal with."

Happy Father's Day to all the dads and father-figures out there!

As a new mom of twin babies in the NICU, it was Allison Gonzales's dream to breastfeed both of her babies at the same time.

Thanks to Akron Children's new Breastfeeding Medicine Program with Dr. Carly Dulabon, director of Breastfeeding Medicine, that dream came true.

“I’m a first-time mom, a mom of multiples, a NICU mom – it was a lot to process,” said Allison. “And it was so nice to connect with somebody (Dr. Dulabon) who had lived it because her newborns were also in the NICU for some time. So, the first appointment was just sharing our stories and my goals – my dream was to tandem nurse my babies at the same time.”

New mom achieved 'priceless gift' of tandem nursing twins with help of Akron Children's breastfeeding medicine specialist : Inside Children's Blog   Allison Gonzales was Dr. Carly Dulabon's first patient when Akron Children's opened its Breastfeeding Medicine Program in February 2024. Dr.

As Ohio gears up for the first heat wave of the summer, you may be wondering how your kids will handle the high temps. Dr. Alex Miksit, pediatrician, provides some tips to help keep your children safe.

How does your family plan to safely beat the heat?

How to keep kids cool in summer heat : Inside Children's Blog Summertime means outdoor fun for kids, but along with fun in the sun comes the risk of heat-related illness. Here are some tips for keeping kids cool.

Yee-haw! Dance Unlimited is hosting camps this summer that are downright rootin' tootin' fun. The first session's wild west theme was a hit as the kids learned new dance routines and got moving.

Interested in joining the fun? Visit: https://bit.ly/45wvTqj

Congratulations to School-Based Health Services' nurse practitioner Allison Lantz and the department’s director, Michele Wilmoth, on their recent G.R.I.T. awards!

Alison received the 2024 G.R.I.T. Provider Award and Michele the School Administrator Award by the Ohio School-Based Health Alliance, recognizing their genuine, resilient, innovative and tenacious contributions to school-based health care.

Visit our blog to read more on the honorees and their awards.

Akron Children’s nurses awarded 2024 Ohio G.R.I.T. awards for transformative leadership in school-based health services : Inside Children's Blog School-Based Health Services is celebrating nurse practitioner Allison Lantz and the department’s director, Michele Wilmoth, on their recent G.R.I.T.

Father's Day is this weekend and many dads and father figures will be spending it with their child in the hospital. Akron Children's offers Father's Day cards that will be sent right to their room. Help brighten up the weekend with one of our fun, customizable cards.

Visit our eCard site for more info, including cards for other occasions.

Send an eCard | Akron Children's Would you like to send an eCard to a patient staying at Akron Children's? Design your eCard online and it will be printed and hand-delivered to a patient of your choice! Please be aware that eCards are only delivered Monday - Friday. eCards submitted on a weekend will be delivered on the next busine...

When you have the same taste in shoes as a dog as cute as Rafferty, you own it! Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Andrea Hall has a whole selection of Chuck Taylor Converse shoes that not only match this adorable dog, but also serve as conversation starters with her patients.

Learn more about the surprising impact of Andrea's shoes at the link below!

Andrea Hall brings fun and creativity to inpatient behavioral health in Akron : Inside Children's Blog Each day, APP team members help create a positive work culture as they share what makes them unique in the workplace. Andrea Hall, a psychiatric nurse

We schedule our haircuts, order pizza and arrange for a ride all online, so why not manage our doctor appointments online, too? You can at Akron Children’s!

Online scheduling allows you access 24/7 at the tip of your fingers. No wait, instant results, it's that easy!

Learn more about online scheduling over on our blog.

More and more families are turning to Akron Children’s online scheduling to manage doctor appointments : Inside Children's Blog We schedule our haircuts, order pizza and arrange for a ride all online, so why not manage our doctor appointments online, too? You can at Akron Akron Children's offers online scheduling for specialty and pediatric offices to meet the needs of today's busy family.

Did you know that someone dies from gun violence every 11 minutes in the U.S.?

Tonight, our building lights will be orange in recognition of Gun Violence Awareness Day. Join us in wearing orange to honor survivors of gun violence and help build community with those who are working to end these tragedies by promoting gun safety.

Devyn Emmons' future had a lot of unknowns. Born with gastroschisis, where the organs protrude through a hole in the abdominal wall, and arthrogryposis, a congenital issue where joints are stuck in one position, Devyn has endured 54 surgeries and procedures to beat the odds.

The 18-year-old is now donning his cap and gown and looking towards what next. Devyn is currently contemplating a future in real estate or coaching college baseball as he takes a gap year to explore his options.

Devyn, it has been a privilege watching you grow up before our eyes. Congrats on your graduation! 🎓

Read more on Devyn by visiting our blog.

Teen with medical challenges celebrates high school graduation : Inside Children's Blog In the realm of numbers, each one tells a story. For 18-year-old Devyn Emmons, the number "54" carries some weight because it signifies the number of

Sharing news with your child about the tragic shooting in Akron can be difficult. What do you say? How do you say it? Dr. Michael Redovian, child and adolescent psychiatrist, offers guidance on navigating those conversations.

Child psychiatrist addresses how to handle kids' concerns after Akron mass shooting Dr. Michael Redovian from Akron Children's Hospital stressed that routine, reassurances are key to helping children understand violent events.

Children’s hospitals like Akron Children's are among health care's leading systems when it comes to using tech advancements to enhance patient care. Our team's improvements to the Pediatric Early Warning Score system has reduced medical response team calls by nearly 40% as well as reduced unplanned transfers to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

Visit the article to learn more on these great advancements and the staff behind them.

How Children’s Hospitals Approach Change in Patient Care When it comes to creating a healing environment for patients, children’s hospitals pave the way with transformed physical spaces and enhanced digital approaches.

Akron Children’s is thrilled to recognize this year’s graduating class of 23 pediatric residents!

Residency is a demanding yet rewarding time, and these individuals have dedicated themselves to excellence in pediatric care. As they embark on the next chapter of their careers, we’d like to recognize their achievements and celebrate their bright futures.

Join us in congratulating our residency class of 2024! 🎓🎉

Akron Children’s celebrates its graduating residents : Inside Children's Blog Akron Children's is thrilled to recognize this year’s graduating class of 23 pediatric residents. Residency is a demanding yet rewarding time, and these

As an 11-year-old who is both a gymnast and a cheerleader, Mady is no stranger to injuries. At age 8, she was diagnosed with scoliosis and tried a few nonsurgical approaches to correcting the curvature of her spine with Dr. Todd Ritzman, orthopedic surgeon. But after that wasn't doing the trick, he decided to conduct a surgical procedure called vertebral body tethering (VBT).

Today, Mady is cleared for all activities - including gymnastics and cheerleading.

“Mady says the world looks different now because it’s straighter. She’s so proud of herself for going through this,” said her mom, Autumn. “She walks straighter, her T-shirts fit better and the pain in her chest is gone.”

Learn more about VBT and the Spine Center at Akron Children's via the link below.

Ahead of the curve: Spinal tethering surgery helps gymnast recover from scoliosis : Inside Children's Blog Mady Sirlouis, age 11, is a bit of a frequent flier – adept at both back handsprings and trips to Akron Children’s for frequent broken bones. “She breaks

What a sweet moment! Rhonda Larimore, chief human resources officer, got to meet Dani, a Doggie Brigader, in the office last week.

Have you met Dani yet? Leave a 🐾 in the comments!

As an advanced practice provider, Lauren Lewis knows the passion and love caregivers bring to their patients.

Now, after her 21-month-old son, Wyatt, spent two weeks in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) for respiratory issues, she has experienced that passion from the patient's perspective.

One of Wyatt's main caretakers was Amy McHenry, critical care nurse practitioner, who regularly checked in, kept the nurses updated, and provided support to her and her husband, Jensen.

“Thank you, Amy, for demonstrating the very best of what it means to be a caregiver," says Lauren.

Read more at the link below.
https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/2024/05/20/a-parents-perspective-witnessing-the-power-of-our-picu/

The news can be scary, especially to kids. As a parent, it’s hard to know how, or even if, you should talk to your kids about the news. Learn how best to have that conversation.

For more info, visit: https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/2022/05/25/how-talk-children-news-scary/

Did you know more than one in five children in Ohio has been exposed to multiple adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)? ACEs indicate the experience of a traumatic event such as a car accident, childhood abuse or the death of a loved one. How a child reacts to an ACE can vary but it is important that, no matter how they express their feelings, you keep an open dialogue and validate your child's feelings.

Missy McClain, community outreach coordinator for Akron Children’s School Health Services, provides advice on how to handle ACEs and how schools can help kids heal.

For more info, visit: https://www.akronchildrens.org/inside/2024/05/19/childhood-trauma/?preview_id=73168&preview_nonce=d00920b532&_thumbnail_id=73416&preview=true

It's no puzzle why Dr. Louise Miller, pediatrician at Akron Children's Pediatrics (ACP) Wooster, is all smiles for her birthday!

Earlier this year, Dr. Miller began bringing in puzzles for the staff to put together during their breaks. She loves being able to bring the team together for a fun goal and ACP Wooster has put together nearly a dozen high-piece count puzzles since this group project began. It was a no-brainer what to get her for her big day: a custom puzzle!

Join us in wishing Dr. Miller a happy birthday and drop a 🧩 in the comments.

Memorial Day is an important time to honor those who lost their lives while defending our freedoms.

Thank you to our military members for their invaluable sacrifice.

We are wild about popsicles! We served 50,000 popsicles in 2023 alone. Whether you are in the ER with a sore throat or needing a sweet treat after surgery, we have you covered.

Share your favorite popsicle flavors in the comments. 🍧

During her junior year, University of Akron lacrosse player, Noelle Boyd, started experiencing persistent hip pain. X-rays and an MRI revealed a torn hip labrum (cartilage) most likely due to years of playing sports.

After undergoing surgery, months of physical therapy and working with Josh, her athletic trainer, Noelle is not only back in the game, but returned in time to play her senior season and earned a First Team All-MAC award.

Starting today, the Summit County WIC program is opening a clinic in the Family Resource Center on our Akron campus! Hours of operation will be Thursdays 8-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-4 p.m. This clinic is available for our adult patients, patient families, staff and general public

Summit County WIC is a nutrition education program that provides nutritious foods that promote good health for pregnant women, women who just had a baby, breastfeeding moms and infants and children up to age 5.

Learn more about Summit County WIC and our Family Resource Center at the link below.

family resource center The Family Resource Center serves as a hub, a place where families can connect with various staff from Akron Children’s and community organizations to access valuable resources and information. It is dedicated to strengthening families and nurturing brighter futures. The center is open Monday thr...

The unofficial start of summer is only days away! You might be planning fun family trips to ponds, lakes or the ocean. Make sure it’s a safe outing by knowing the dos and don’ts of open water.🌊

Childhood obesity is a complex disease, which is why our Healthy Active Living program uses a multidisciplinary team of dietitians, exercise specialists, psychologists, pediatricians and nurse practitioners to treat patients.

“Research shows a multidisciplinary team is the most effective approach to treating obesity,” said Amy Perusek, pediatric nurse practitioner. “Obesity is a complex disease and it’s difficult to tackle all the moving parts. I’m thankful to work with this great team that is improving kids’ health and making a difference in their lives.”

Learn more about the Healthy Active Living clinic at the link below.

Teamwork makes the dream work: Akron Children’s takes a multidisciplinary approach to confront childhood obesity : Inside Children's Blog Childhood obesity continues to be a growing problem in this country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the obesity prevalence Akron Children's APRN Amy Perusek discusses childhood obesity and ways to treat the disease to increase kids' quality of lives.

Like many kids, Seth has always had a hard time with bloodwork, but his recent visit to our Boardman campus lab was a different experience. His phlebotomist helped make Seth feel safe by listening to him talk about his stuffed animal collection, and promising him a new stuffed animal after their appointment.

His mom, Christine, was amazed at how well it worked.

"After we were done, she walked us down to volunteer services," she said. "They came out with 3 stuffed animal options, and of course he picked this big lion! It was the best experience for him. He even tried to take it to school with him that day! He was proud to show off his green bandage too!”

Thank you to the staff for making this a positive experience for Seth!

When Lily found herself at a crossroads in her career, her mom's role at Akron Children's presented a new opportunity for her. Through her mom's guidance, she discovered a passion for pediatrics and now works as a psychometrist in the NeuroDevelopmental Science Center (NDSC).

Read Lily and Anna's story via the link below.

Leading by example: Mom helps daughter find her way with a career at Akron Children’s : Inside Children's Blog Two years ago, Lily Heath, psychometrist in Akron Children’s Neurobehavioral Health, found herself at a crossroads. As she prepared to graduate from The Anna Dusseau and her daughter Lily Heath work together in Akron Children’s NeuroDevelopmental Science Center. After college, Lily became a a ps...

Did you know that the first clinical trial dates back to 1774? Today, our clinical research team regularly conducts trials to help bring the best care to patients.

It's Clinical Trials Day - join us in thanking our clinical research team for the amazing work they do in the comments below!

Learn more about the Akron Children's Research Institute: www.akronchildrens.org/clinicalstudies