Urology and Nephrology
Commentary
March 31, 2009, marked a great day for our children. It was the culmination of a campaign to end the use of the "R" word, which, as most of us know, means any variant of retard or retarded. The Spread the Word to End the Word campaign, begun by youths with intellectual disabilities, aims to eliminate a word that can only be categorized as hateful and insulting to so many individuals.
This Month's Focus: Urology and Nephrology
Mitrofanoff: Living with a Cathing Stoma
by Michelle Detwiler
Those of you who have children with neurogenic bladder know the issues and pain of helping your child empty her bladder by catheterization. Our daughter Emily was born with L4-L5 paralysis of the lumbar spine, and in the beginning she showed signs of kidney reflux. However, she seemed to empty her bladder normally, so we didn't have to think about urinary catheterization as an infant. But after numerous bladder infections over the years, it was becoming clear that she needed some help emptying her bladder.
Bilateral Wilms Tumor: New Protocols and Proceduresby Michelle Detwiler
Those of you who have children with neurogenic bladder know the issues and pain of helping your child empty her bladder by catheterization. Our daughter Emily was born with L4-L5 paralysis of the lumbar spine, and in the beginning she showed signs of kidney reflux. However, she seemed to empty her bladder normally, so we didn't have to think about urinary catheterization as an infant. But after numerous bladder infections over the years, it was becoming clear that she needed some help emptying her bladder.
by Dawn Wolf
Masses...tumors...oncologist...straight to the ER.... Those were the words the doctor was using as he talked about our nine-month-old daughter. As I sat with my Dad in the doctor's office and heard those words about my beautiful baby, I began to miss parts of the conversation. But I knew, as we left the doctor's office and drove to the hospital, that my role as Kelly's mom was changing.
Hypospadias Diagnosis and Repair
by Jessica Jewell
Our son was born with two congenital birth defects. He had a heart defect, a Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), and Hypospadias, a defect of the urethra in boys. His heart defect was found at 40 days old and diagnosed by seven weeks. Around age nine weeks he was also given a failure to thrive label and was diagnosed with severe GERD shortly thereafter.
Specialty Article
Infections and Immunity
Recognizing and Treating Fevers in Children with Complex Medical Issues
Fevers can be some of the scariest symptoms we see in our children, but they are also some of the most common ones. While pretty much every parenting book and website has general information on recognizing and treating fevers, I find that these recommendations don't always make sense when it comes to children with complex medical issues.
In this article, we will take a look at how to recognize a fever in your child and when you should consider treating that fever. Along with general recommendations, we will address fevers in children with temperature regulation issues, fevers in children with chronically elevated temperatures, fevers in children with seizures, and fevers in children who take daily medications that reduce fevers. Finally, we include a sample and blank Individual Fever Plan for your child.
Recognizing and Treating Fevers in Children with Complex Medical Issues
Fevers can be some of the scariest symptoms we see in our children, but they are also some of the most common ones. While pretty much every parenting book and website has general information on recognizing and treating fevers, I find that these recommendations don't always make sense when it comes to children with complex medical issues.
In this article, we will take a look at how to recognize a fever in your child and when you should consider treating that fever. Along with general recommendations, we will address fevers in children with temperature regulation issues, fevers in children with chronically elevated temperatures, fevers in children with seizures, and fevers in children who take daily medications that reduce fevers. Finally, we include a sample and blank Individual Fever Plan for your child.
Feature
Tips for Coping with Extended Hospital Stays
It is an unfortunate fact of most of our lives that our children need to be in the hospital for extended lengths of time. It is, of course, very difficult to move your entire life into one tiny little hospital room (or half of one in some cases), especially if you are like most parents and rarely leave your child's bedside.
We asked a group of very experienced mothers to share their tips and experiences for surviving a hospital stay. They've provided us with lots of great ideas, which we have listed out below.