Smarty Health Corner

Smarty Moms we have a story to share with you about Kathleen Aliff, a 27-year-old Charlotte, NC native, who’s already been through more health challenges than many people experience in a lifetime.

Endometriosis – which affects about 5 million American women – can occur in teenagers and adult women of all ages, but most typically occurs in women between the ages of 25 and 40. A family history of endometriosis, especially in a mother or sister, increases a woman’s likelihood of developing it herself.

“I remember one day getting out of the shower and blacking out, collapsing on the bathroom floor,” Kathleen recalls. “I was in an out of the Emergency Department because of my pain; no one knew what was wrong with me.” Ultimately, she was diagnosed with Stage IV (severe) Endometriosis.

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.

“It’s the same surgery, but just done in a less invasive fashion,” says Graham Cosper, MD, a pediatric surgeon at the hospital. When surgeons perform minimally invasive surgery, they create one or more small incisions instead of one large incision—as is done with traditional “open” surgery—with the goal of minimizing infection and other complications.

Smarty families are healthy families. As a Smarty Mom, you are looking for the right resources to care for the health of your children, spouses, aging parents, family members, friends and (when you find the time) yourself. We understand that you need a partner in this journey. From first breaths to second chances, Carolinas Healthcare System is there for you. With unparalleled clinical expertise and more than 600 care locations, Carolinas Health is defining the future of healthcare and we want to start with you and your family.