Stories & Outcomes

Discharge days are bittersweet at Blythedale Children's Hospital. While we miss the children we become so close to over the course of their treatment, our hearts soar when they are able to return to their families and their communities. We are proud to share some of their stories.

Helping Hands

Children Gain Strength and Function in Summer Upper Extremity Program

For most children, summertime means no school, no classes and no teachers. But, for a small group of motivated youngsters at Blythedale Children’s Hospital, summer means something more. It means heading indoors, slipping on a special blue mitt and working hard to achieve new therapeutic goals. It...

Tags:

  • Assistive Technology
  • Complex Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
  • Hemiparesis

A Doll Like Mimi

Young Amputee Receives Cross Country Gift of Hope

Seven-year-old Mimi, a Day Hospital patient at Blythedale Children’s Hospital, was surprised with a special birthday present from halfway across the country earlier this month. Mimi received “A Doll Like Me” (she now lovingly calls “Precious”), donated by nine-year-old Rylan from Wisconsin as part...

Tags:

  • Complex Wound and Burn Management
  • Complex Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
  • Multi-Organ Failure
  • Septic Shock
  • Necrotizing Fascitis
  • Amputation

Big Academic, Rehabilitative Dreams Ahead

Mt. Pleasant Blythedale School Holds Moving Up Ceremonies

“We want what every other kid wants, each and every day; to go to school, learn, study, make choices, make mistakes and then move on to the next grade.” Powerful words of inclusion from Zoriah, an 11th grader at Mt. Pleasant Blythedale School, during the middle/high school Moving Up Ceremony in June...

Tags:

  • Acquired and Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Assistive Technology
  • Cancer Rehabilitation
  • Cardiac Rehabilitation
  • Complex Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
  • Complex Wound and Burn Management
  • Neuromuscular Disorders
  • Pre/Post Organ & Stem Cell Transplant
  • Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Cerebral Palsy (CP)
  • Acquired Brain Injury
  • Blindness
  • Chromosomal Abnormalities

Resilient Raymond

Micro-Preemie Masters Movement as Inpatient and Outpatient

Raymond has got some serious moves. The 14-month-old can roll over, push himself up to a sitting position and even use both hands to play with toys. Some pretty impressive skills considering what he had to overcome. In January 2018, an unexpected pre-term delivery brought him into the world at just...

Tags:

  • Post Acute Neonatal Care
  • Specialized Feeding
  • Pulmonary Rehabilitation
  • Micro Preemie
  • Congenital Heart Disease
  • Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
  • Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)
  • Chronic Lung Disease
  • Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)
  • Hypothyroidism

Dancing David

Conquering Cerebral Palsy with Physiatry, Physical Therapy and K-Pop

“He’s a firecracker that walks to the beat of his own drum.” Akua Genfi speaks with pride about her confident and charismatic nine-year-old son, David, who is always excited to meet new people, say “hello” and spark up a conversation. For almost half his young life, David has been part of the...

Tags:

  • Complex Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
  • Neuromuscular Disorders
  • Cerebral Palsy (CP)
  • Obstructive Congenital Hydrocephalus
  • Endoscopic Third Ventriculostomy
  • Spasticity
  • Dorsal Rhizotomy

GOT Star's Medical Revelation Empowers Former Patient

- Theo Applebaum, Former Blythedale Children's Hospital Patient

I lived a normal, healthy and active life for fourteen years until I suffered a stroke caused by an unexpected brain hemorrhage. I underwent life-saving surgery, but became partially paralyzed to the right side of my body. This was my lowest point, but I didn't know just how bad it was. In the...

Talented Trejah

Dancer Dazzles with Emotional Encore After Beating Brain Tumors, Stroke

“Since I was little, dancing was everything to me.” The spotlight shined brightly on Trejah as a young, talented performer. Before even becoming a teenager, she had taken the stage numerous times in ballet and dance, even joining the famed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at Lincoln Center in New...

Tags:

  • Acquired and Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Juvenile Pilocytic Astrocytoma (JPA)
  • Seizure Disorders
  • Stroke
  • Paralysis
  • Cognitive Impairments
  • Brain Tumor

Tara's Triumph

Teen's Fierce Determination for Independence Drives Assistive Technology Training

The will to fight was instilled in Tara ever since day one. Born a premature triplet at 26-weeks and weighing just under two-pounds, she required resuscitation in the delivery room and was put on a life-sustaining ventilator for weeks while undergoing numerous surgeries and medical procedures to...

Tags:

  • Assistive Technology
  • Complex Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
  • Neuromuscular Disorders
  • Extreme Prematurity
  • Cerebral Palsy (CP)
  • Spastic Quadriplegia

Brave Bentley

Health Home Helps Medically Complex Boy & Family Thrive in Community

Bentley is more than meets the eye. He’s more than the power wheelchair that keeps him moving. He’s more than the ventilator that keeps him alive. He’s more than the assistive technology that helps him communicate. “He is the bravest kid in the world and an inspiration for anybody,” says Marlenny...

Tags:

  • Neuromuscular Disorders
  • Complex Chronic Conditions
  • Pulmonary Rehabilitation
  • Assistive Technology
  • Specialized Feeding
  • Complex Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
  • Nemaline Myopathy
  • Neuromuscular Scoliosis
  • Chronic Respiratory Failure

A Different Daniel

From Failure to Thrive to Specialized Feeding Program Pride

Slow and steady wins the race. A mantra that Blythedale Children’s Hospital patient, Daniel, his family and medical/clinical teams have lived by for the past few years. Since his birth four years ago, eating has been an obstacle for Daniel. He was initially breastfed, but had difficulty latching and...

Tags:

  • Specialized Feeding
  • Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EOE)
  • Failure to Thrive (FTT)
  • Food Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Autism
  • Feeding Delays
  • Speech Delays