At 12 years old, Kollin isn’t letting anything slow him down. A lifelong patient at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, Kollin’s journey to his narcolepsy diagnosis started when he found himself constantly exhausted. “My father has narcolepsy, so when I was tired all the time, my mom requested to have a sleep study done,” Kollin shares. A sleep study, also called a polysomnogram, is an overnight test that helps doctors diagnose sleep disorders, including narcolepsy. During the study, sensors are placed on different parts of the body to monitor breathing, brain activity, heart rate, and movement while a child sleeps. It provides essential information to guide treatment and improve sleep health. “I really don’t like sleep studies because of all the wires and goop in my hair,” shares Kollin. But after his second long sleep study, the results were clear—he had narcolepsy, just like his dad. The diagnosis meant he could […]

When Piper was just four months old, her parents faced an unexpected concern: their pediatrician noticed her head size was not typical. After a series of tests, Piper was diagnosed with microcephaly. By the time she was nine months old, she was missing developmental milestones, and by her second birthday, she had also been diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Piper’s journey also brought unique challenges with communication and mobility. As a nonverbal child, Piper relies on creative ways to express herself, and her family has embraced learning to understand her cues. Piper is also not yet mobile, affecting her ability to move around and get from one place to another on her own. In 2022, the family relocated to Florida and began researching the best care options for Piper. “We spent a lot of time looking for facilities that could meet Piper’s needs,” her mother, Christy explains. “Nemours was the best […]

“…finding a good pediatrician is really important. It’s because of [this] we were able to discover Luca’s milk allergy so quickly.” – Luca’s mom, Meghan Luca was diagnosed [with cow milk protein intolerance, GERD and soy allergy] at 3 weeks when Dr. Kelly Brower decided to test his stool for blood, which came back positive. This, along with other symptoms he was experiencing like low weight gain, inconsolable crying and excessive loose stools, confirmed the diagnosis. In those early weeks, we saw Dr. Brower once or twice a week for weight checks and lactation support.  We have received nothing but exceptional care from Dr. Brower. We were so fortunate to see her for Luca’s first appointment after bringing him home. During that visit, she took the time to answer all our new-parent questions and even helped me with my breastfeeding challenges. I was struggling to get Luca to latch, and […]

At just seven years old, Seth has already overcome more challenges than most face in a lifetime. Seth’s health challenges began when he was just three years old. What initially seemed like persistent allergies turned out to be something much more serious. After multiple doctor visits, his family discovered a tumor growing in his sinus tract. The day after Christmas in 2020, they rushed to the Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware emergency department, expecting a routine visit. Instead, they never went home. Seth was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. The tumor not only blocked his airway but also led to severe complications, including serious blood clots. Within his first week at Nemours Children’s, he underwent multiple emergency surgeries. “He had surgery Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday that week,” shares Deborah, his great-aunt who has cared for him since infancy, and has been by his side throughout his entire […]

For 15-year-old Bryan, his journey toward better health has been a collaborative effort powered by determination and expert care. Diagnosed with Down syndrome at birth, Bryan has faced challenges his entire life, but as he’s gotten older it’s been his obesity related fatigue that has significantly affected and limited his daily activities. With the support from his family and the dedicated team at Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware, Bryan is now thriving. Bryan joined Nemours Children’s Bariatric Program in 2022 after transitioning from another hospital to be closer to home. The bariatric program is dedicated to helping teens with obesity achieve better health through expert care and support. The program specializes in laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, a minimally invasive weight loss surgery that reduces the size of the stomach to help teens eat less and feel less hungry. As the only pediatric weight management program and hospital accredited by the Metabolic and […]

“Dr. Gannon and the whole team changed my life … Dr. Berman is incredible at what she does. She saved my life and I’m forever grateful for her.” – Jenna, patient When I was 13 years old, I went for a routine well visit. My doctor was doing an examination on my neck and noticed my thyroid felt enlarged. She sent me to get labs and an ultrasound. My labs confirmed that I had Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. Then, we received the results from my ultrasound. It showed that I had two thyroid nodules. I had a small one on my left side, and then a bigger one on my right. The border of the nodule was irregular and calcified. This looked suspicious. I was referred to a Nemours endocrinologist, Dr. Doyle. He told my mom and I that he recommends another ultrasound and to visit another endocrinologist who specializes in treating […]