As all eyes fall on northeast Ohio for tonight’s presidential debate, it is a good time to make sure you are ready for the election. Akron Children’s Hospital President and CEO Grace Wakulchik and Secretary of State Frank LaRose held a virtual conversation about the basics about voting in Ohio. They discussed ballot security safeguards and the steps being taken to ensure voting is safe this Election Day. For more about how to vote and other election information, visit our blog. 🇺🇸
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Secretary of State LaRose: What you need to know about the 2020 election:Inside Children's Blog
Anyone else still worn out from the weekend? After all the fall fun, sometimes you need a rest, even mid-meal.
Share something good in the comments to get excited for the week ahead.
#MoreChildhoodPlease
It's the season for spooky, but don't let the COVID-19 virus scare you away from having Halloween fun. While this Halloween will look a little different, there are still safe ways to celebrate. Read on for more tips and info for a happy, safe October.🎃
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Halloween, COVID-19 style – don’t let the virus scare you away from traditions old, new:Inside Children's Blog
At Akron Children's Hospital, we like to share #positivity around every corner. Help spread the #joy. What is making you #happy today? 🌞
Wherever your personal Blue Line takes you during this year’s virtual FirstEnergy Akron Marathon, Half Marathon & Team Relay, Akron Children’s is celebrating heroes of all kinds – from the runners, to the doctors, nurses, donors and our courageous patients – who support the health and well-being of our community.
Take a look back at our heroes from presenting sponsor FirstEnergy’s hero zone throughout the years and find out what they are up to today: bit.ly/3mU9e0z
Drop your favorite Akron Marathon memory in the comments!
#ACHero #RunAkron
SAT, 3 OCT AT 10:00 EDT
Free Booster Seat and Health Kit Event
Today and every day, we remember the babies born sleeping, those carried but never held, those held that could not be taken home, and those taken home who could not stay. We remember them, always.
Light a candle at 7 p.m. as a symbol of remembrance for the light and love brought to us by the babies taken too soon by pregnancy and infant loss.
The lights outside of our Akron campus are blue and pink to mark Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month. #neverforgotten
In the first few weeks of life, babies spend up to 16 hours a day asleep. That's a lot of time snoozing, which is why it's important for parents and caregivers to make sure infants are placed in safe sleep environments. These deaths are preventable by keeping in mind the safe sleep ABCs: Alone on their Backs, in their own Crib. For more information on safe sleep, including our Cribs for Kids program, visit: bit.ly/3drrpGl #safesleep #SIDSawarenessmonth
Raising kids is one of the most challenging and fulfilling jobs in the world, yet as any parent knows, it doesn’t come with a playbook. One of the ways Akron Children's is here for those navigating parenthood is the Nurturing Families Program, designed to provide families with the skills needed to make good, healthy lifestyle choices. New mom Taneisha Bratcher wanted to be the best parent she could be and joined the program. Learn more about Taneisha and how she and her son benefited from the program.
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Nurturing Families Program helps new mom ‘Be the best mom I can be’:Inside Children's Blog
It's no secret that online learning has presented its own set of challenges this school year. Students are dealing with a new anxiety brought on by video calls, such as having to worry about what their classmates think of their background, or unable to see their classmates are giving them supporting smiles or nods as they present due to display settings. Dr. Jessica Foster, a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, weighs in.
HUFFPOST.COM
How To Help Shy And Introverted Kids With Remote Learning
Is COVID-19 making the Halloween season feel extra spooky and scary? No need for fright--there are fun ways to safely celebrate the season. Check out our handy Halloween risk chart to help you figure out your fall plans. 🎃
As the weather gets chillier, and the days get shorter, flu season is on the horizon. Protect your family by vaccinating everyone 6 months and older. Akron Children's provides a variety of times and locations to help get your children in and out and ready to take on the season. For more information, please visit: bit.ly/fluach20
At Akron Children's Hospital, families are not just patient visitors; they are essential caregivers and participants in the care and decisions that impact their child’s care. This week, our team recognizes the importance of family-centered care. This includes listening to and honoring patient and family perspectives and choices, communicating openly and clearly with families, making sure the patient and their family feel involved in their care, and working together to get the best possible outcomes for the patient.
We wear this foundation on our sleeves, literally this week, and work to always give our patients the best care.
The most fundamental gifts we can give our children are acceptance, stability, and most importantly, love. Sometimes, when dealing with busy schedules and daily life, showing love can be challenging. Top experts, including our very own Dr. Laura Gerak, pediatric psychologist, give 11 simple ways to show your child love.
PARENTS.COM
11 Simple Ways to Show Your Child Your Love
Celebrations reigned in our top October "In the Moment" stories. From Halloween shenanigans to long-overdue homecomings to the chance to shine the spotlight on our staff, we invite you to take a glance at the posts you may have missed, or a second peek at those you’ve already enjoyed: bit.ly/2TTgSux
SUN, NOV 8 AT 9:30 AM EST
Drive-Thru Flu Shot Clinic
Happy Halloween from all of us at Akron Children's! Check out costumes from our staff and patients. Which one is your favorite? 🎃
Our 4th Annual T.I.C. Night Out was filled with tricks and treats as guests enjoyed fun and safe activities like a pumpkin carving contest, costume contest, and a Halloween classic at the drive-in. T.I.C. Night Out stands for “Together In the Community”, an annual outing for children diagnosed with Tic/Tourette Disorders and their families. The COVID-19 pandemic added extra challenges while planning the event, so they went old school back to the drive-in!
Read more on our special Halloween T.I.C. Night Out: https://bit.ly/3mGdcsI
New Year’s resolutions can be a fun tradition for kids to ring in the New Year and celebrate a fresh start. It’s an opportunity for kids to think about their strengths, and how they can continue to build them.
Read more about how parents can help children make their resolutions and set achievable goals for the new year.
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Resolutions your kids are sure to keep throughout the New Year:Inside Children's Blog
Behind the masks, employees from our Beeghly campus in the Mahoning Valley are smiling as they receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. We continue to work towards our goal of vaccinating all of our employees across the region to keep patient families and employees safe. We are #InThisTogetherAkronChildrens.
Parents may struggle with how, or even if, they should talk with their children about media coverage of concerning events.
Check out tips from mental health experts at Akron Children’s to help handle these types of conversations.
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How to talk to your children when news is scary:Inside Children's Blog
Is it okay to let your kids wear shorts in the winter? Although this has become a popular trend among boys, it’s also a fashion statement many parents hope goes away.
Unfortunately, not dressing appropriately for cold temperatures does put kids and teens at risk for frostbite and hypothermia.
Read more on what to do if your child wants to wear shorts all winter.
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Winter clothing advisory: Is it OK to let your kids wear shorts?:Inside Children's Blog
When Ahmad Amiri, 18, found out he tested positive for COVID-19, he immediately recognized that his status as a post-kidney transplant patient made him high risk for complications from the virus.
After a call to his nephrology team at Akron Children's, Ahmad was given great news. Akron Children’s received a limited number of doses of bamlanivimab, a monoclonal antibody therapy. Ahmad is one of the first patients in Northeast Ohio to receive this particular monoclonal antibody therapy, which, for him, likely prevented his COVID-19 symptoms from worsening and kept him from being hospitalized.
Read more about Ahmed's story and his recovery by visiting our blog.
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Teen at high risk for COVID-19 receives monoclonal antibody therapy:Inside Children's Blog
The total is in! Thanks to all of our generous donors during the 98.1 WKDD Radiothon, we raised $355,626!
Every dollar raised will have such a big impact on the patients and families we're so privileged to serve. A very special thank you also to 981. KDD, especially Keith Kennedy and Kat Jackson. Your continued support of Akron Children's patients means so much - you're helping us change kids' health and change the future 💙
If you didn't get a chance to give during Radiothon, it's not too late! You can still make a donation to help provide the best pediatric care for every child in our community at https://bit.ly/3pl1J2p
#KDDRadiothon
Stephanie and Rich Abatangelo are busy working parents of four children, ages 3 to 10. She’s a teacher and he’s in law enforcement, so they should be able to handle anything, right? Tell that to COVID-19. Both parents battled coronavirus while everyone still needed to eat, the older kids had remote classes to attend and the youngest still needed his diaper changed.
Stephanie was surprised at how symptoms fluctuated during the two week illness. She would start to feel better, and then it would hit her again with extreme exhaustion and body aches. Rich even needed a visit to the ER to address a fever, chills and sweats that had left him dehydrated.
Now that the family has recuperated, Stephanie wants others to know that COVID-19 should not be taken lightly. It’s important for families to continue to be vigilant: maintain 6 feet of distance, wash hands, and wear masks.
Learn more about one family’s experience and how to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
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COVID leads to lessons for local parents:Inside Children's Blog
It's the first day of radiothon! Make sure to tune into 98.1 WKDD through 7 p.m. today and 6 a.m.- 7 p.m. today.
Akron Children's Hospital Foundation
Yesterday at 9:23 AM ·
It’s Day 1 of the 98.1 WKDD Radiothon benefiting Akron Children's Hospital! 🎉 You can tune in to 98.1 FM today until 7 p.m., and again tomorrow from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. to hear Keith Kennedy and Kat Jackson broadcast live from the KDD studio, sharing incredible stories of our patients' bravery and strength while raising money for the hospital.
If you haven't already, there are 3 ways for you to donate to Radiothon -
Call 330-543-0981 or 1-866-543-0981 (toll-free)
Text KDD to 41444
Donate online at http://giving.akronchildrens.org/akronradiothon
#KDDRadiothon
Layne Malutic only came in for a quick ultrasound, but left with fun memories and some goodies, too. While walking through our Beeghly campus in Boardman, the 7-year-old visited with part of our Public Safety team, including K9 Tucker. After receiving his honorary badge and Tucker trading card, Layne was off to his appointment. There he made friends with staff and came home with a new furry pal. Talk about a fun visit to the hospital!
Has your kiddo you made any good memories while visiting Akron Children's? Share in the comments!
After a skiing accident, 16-year-old Juliana Glass was left with a severely torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and torn meniscus. Juliana was referred to Dr. Patrick Riley, Jr., a pediatric orthopedic surgeon, whose thorough explanations and easy-going personality helped to put her at ease. Dr. Riley understood how important sports were to Juliana, and he was certain surgery would repair her knee and get her back to dance and cheerleading. She had her surgery on March 3, 2020 at the Akron Children’s Hospital Beeghly campus in Boardman, and Dr. Riley was able to successfully reconstruct her ACL and repair her left meniscus. For the past year, Juliana recuperated from surgery and worked hard with physical therapists to restore the strength in her knee.
Read more to learn about Juliana’s rehabilitation and return to the varsity cheerleading squad.
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After ACL surgery, teenager once again skis black diamond trails and schusses down mountains:Inside Children's Blog
This week recognizes Congenital Heart Defects Awareness. Addisyn Piekarski, age 4, came to her post-surgical appointment with heart surgeon, Dr. Robert Stewart, just 8 days after her latest open heart surgery. She had her first heart surgery when she was only 3 months old after being diagnosed with a congenital defect called Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD). Addisyn’s doctors thought she would need a valve replacement once she started to get older and grow. In November 2020, she met with Dr. Stewart who felt confident he could repair the valve instead of replacing it. After a successful surgery, Addisyn is back to her spunky self and enjoying time with her family.
Read more about Addisyn’s strong heart and quick recovery.
#CHDAwarenessWeek #CHDAware
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Surgery to repair leaky valve mends 4-year-old’s “broken” heart:Inside Children's Blog
