Carolinas HealthCare System Team

It’s the middle of the summer, the heat is on, you’ve spent the last 2 months applying sunscreen, museum trips, play dates and you’re ready to send the little darlings back to school.

Every parent’s back to-school to-do list: School supplies, clothes, car pool, after-school arrangements, sports, pediatric well check-ups. It’s a time to review your child’s medical history (like asthma and ADHD) and medications that they take. A thorough exam allows for monitoring their physical and emotional development.
Schools require an updated vaccination form at the start of Kindergarten and 6th grade. Not all of the following recommendations by the CDC/ACIP/AAP are required by the school so discuss the importance of these vaccinations with your pediatrician.

“Pink or blue?” That was the only question on their minds when parents-to-be Casey and Charles Clark visited her OB/GYN office for a routine ultrasound. They were thrilled to learn they were having a boy—but weren’t ready for the results that would forever change their lives.

A rare condition

The technician couldn’t see all four chambers of their baby’s heart. “Little did we know that the excitement would quickly turn into days of anticipation, waiting to find out what was wrong with Murphy,” says Charles. A fetal echocardiogram at Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute helped confirm that Murphy had a rare congenital heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). The Clarks met with James Renè Herlong, MD, and Chief of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery Benjamin Peeler, MD, FACS. The Clarks were concerned about the road ahead, but their new team of caregivers gave them the confidence they needed to continue with Murphy’s treatment.

Without a little planning and a few fresh ingredients, snack time can be “grab-what’s-in the pantry” time, often with little or no nutritional value. Try these fun, quick (quick being the key word) snack ideas the next time anyone in your family gets a craving. All are 200 calories or less per serving:

– Fruit-and-cheese kabobs. Skewer two 1-inch cubes of Colby cheese, to strawberries and five grapes for a fun treat big on protein and calcium. Make a bunch ahead of time. They are easy to grab and go.

What should I do if my child gets a nosebleed?

Nosebleeds are a fairly common occurrence in children, but all that gushing blood can still send concerned parents into a panic. Nosebleeds can be easily treated at home with a few simple steps:

– Have your child sit upright and tilt his or her head forward. Don’t have your child lean back, which can cause the blood to enter the back of the throat.
– Using a clean tissue, gently pinch the fleshy part just below the bony ridge with your thumb and index finger. Hold for about 10 minutes to ensure the bleeding has stopped.
– After a nosebleed subsides, discourage rough play and blowing or picking the nose.

Dr. Paul Smolen, also known as Doc Smo by his friends, is a pediatrician with 30 years of experience caring for children and families. He is currently a practicing pediatrician in Charlotte, NC. Doc Smo is a bona-fide expert in knowing what parents want and need to know about parenting and child health. Imparting practical and useful advice is the goal of every “Pedcast” on his website, DocSmo.com, which brings parents a unique and folksy pediatric forum. Whether the post be a “Pedcast” (short pediatric podcasts), an article “From the Desk of DocSmo”, or a transcript of a “Lunchroom Lowdown,” parents will enjoy listening and learning.

In the bright lobby of Levine Children’s Hospital, philanthropic leaders announced big news for little hearts. Almost $2.5 million in local funding will support pediatric cardiovascular services and the pediatric congenital heart program at LCH. These significant commitments came through the Partnership for Pediatric Hearts, a group of individuals and businesses dedicated to supporting pediatric care in the community. The Partnership was established earlier this year by an initial gift of $1 million from NASCAR and automotive business owner Rick Hendrick and his family.

At Levine Children’s Hospital and Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital, child life specialists use iPads as a teaching tool for their young patients and families. Not only do they educate patient about their medical care and condition, but they also give virtual hospital tours to ease jitters.

IPad apps and age-appropriate games teach kids about organ systems, divert attention during long or painful procedures and help patients record video messages. Patients can
use the tablets to connect with friends, classmates and family via FaceTime video calls.

Nearly 150 Charlotteans hit the lanes for a good cause at “Bowling 4 Booty,” a fundraiser hosted by Carolinas HealthCare System’s Levine Cancer Institute to benefit cancer research and survivorship support programs in the Charlotte community. Supporters raised nearly $3,000 at the event, which featured food, music, fun – and of course, bowling.

A twisted ankle at a family cook-out. A spiked temperature at 9 p.m. An infection that needs treatment on a Sunday afternoon. Illness and injury never happen at a convenient hour.

Carolinas HealthCare Children’s Urgent Care is your answer to I-can’t-believe-this-is-happening-now medical care. The office has a child-friendly atmosphere, hours from noon – midnight seven days a week and a convenient location in the Charlotte area (with a second office opening soon in Ballantyne). Best of all, board-certified pediatricians are on staff at all times and the urgent care centers are affiliated with Levine Children’s Hospital, offering access to pediatric specialists in more than 30 specialty area.

A baby boy named Zaylen is one patient who benefited from a minimally invasive procedure. During an ultrasound, physicians found that Zaylen had a 3-centimeter cyst on his right lung, which had to be surgically removed. Click here to read about Zaylen’s amazing recovery.

Quicker recovery time is of the biggest advantages of minimally invasive surgery for children and one of a long list of benefits this surgical technique offers patients at Levine Children’s Hospital. From newborns to adolescents, “the vast majority of pediatric surgeries we perform are minimally invasive,” says Robert Attorri, MD, a pediatric surgeon at Levine Children’s Hospital.