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The pain seemed to come from nowhere. Although fifth-grader Amelia Watt had sprained her ankle playing soccer a few weeks earlier, the injury had seemed inconsequential. Yet now, she couldn’t put any weight on her foot without crying. Soon, the burning pain crept up her leg and her foot began to turn purple. Even taking a shower had become excruciating. At age 11, this vibrant, active girl was relegated to crutches, afraid to walk. …
For the last few years, concussions have been on the forefront of the minds of parents, coaches and athletes across the country, as their risks and prevalence become more well-known. This increase in visibility has raised a lot of concern about both the immediate and potential long-term effects of concussions sustained by children and adolescents. Luckily, research efforts have also increased, leading to a better understanding of how concussions should be managed in young athletes.
At the 5th International Conference on Concussion in Sport held in Berlin, Germany, physicians and researchers around the world came together to collaborate on the treatment of sport-related concussions.
One of the outcomes of the conference was a change in the suggested concussion return to play guidelines, a decision that was based on a vast array of research and scientific consensus from multiple institutions, including Boston Children’s.
Dr. William Meehan of Boston Children’s Division of Sports Medicine explains what these changes are and how Boston Children’s helped make these advancements possible.
For most families, movie night is simply an opportunity to enjoy each other’s company while soaking up some mindless entertainment. But for Tanner Chung and his family, a trip to the theater was life changing. As they watched the tale of a young girl with a mysterious illness play out on the big screen, they were struck by the similarities to Tanner’s own story. …
When our daughter, Ruby, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at one and a half years old, my husband and I were immediately transformed from working parents with two young children, to parental caregivers for a child with cancer. Between hospital stays, medications and appointments, there was so much to keep track of. It can be overwhelming at times, but there are ways to manage life after your child is diagnosed with cancer. …