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State Lawmakers Pass Seattle Children’s Top Priority Bill to Change How WA Cares for Youth Stuck in Hospitals

May 25, 2023  |  General, Health and Safety, Mental Health Comments Off on State Lawmakers Pass Seattle Children’s Top Priority Bill to Change How WA Cares for Youth Stuck in Hospitals

(Pictured left to right) Kashi Arora, Dr. Alysha Thompson, Dr. Sina Shah, Gov. Jay Inslee, Erika Boyd, Greta Johnson and Representative Lisa Callan

Most people hope any trip to the emergency room will be a short stay, but many emergency rooms and hospitals in Washington, including Seattle Children’s, are where young people in crisis become stuck when they are unable to get connected to the kind of support they need.

Last summer and fall, Seattle Children’s convened with other hospital leaders and government agency officials to devise a legislative fix.

The group included representatives from the agencies that oversee, health, social services, child welfare, and education as well as the mental health policy lead in the governor’s office. They met for over six months before settling on many of the provisions outlined in what is now called House Bill (HB) 1580.

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Gift Brave Gowns to Seattle Children’s with Former Patient, Harper

May 23, 2023  |  General, Neonatology, Patient Stories Comments Off on Gift Brave Gowns to Seattle Children’s with Former Patient, Harper

Harper is giving back to Seattle Children’s by collecting bright, fun hospital gowns for patients

Angie Foy and her daughter Harper of Edmonds are excited to give back to Seattle Children’s with a fundraiser called “Gift a Brave Gown to a Brave Kid.”

Harper was born with a rare genetic disorder called harlequin ichthyosis, which causes the skin to form in hard diamond-shaped plaques on the body. The plaques become dry and flake off, and the intensely dry, tight skin causes severe discomfort for Harper.

She spent almost three months at Seattle Children’s as a newborn undergoing various surgeries to restore circulation to her hands, legs and feet.

“They became family to us,” explained Foy of Harper’s care team at Seattle Children’s. “They saved her life and watched over her for me when I couldn’t be there.”

When she and Harper heard about Brave Gowns, they knew right away they wanted to help too.

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Just How Bad Is Social Media for Youth Mental Health?

May 11, 2023  |  General, Media and Technology, Mental Health Comments Off on Just How Bad Is Social Media for Youth Mental Health?

There is growing concern about social media’s effects on mental health, especially for kids.

In January, Seattle Public Schools filed a lawsuit against Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and YouTube for their roles in “creating a youth mental health crisis.” In February, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing about the issue, with some senators demanding social media companies be held accountable.

How does social media affect mental health? Are the concerns valid? And if so, what can parents and other adults do to protect kids (and themselves)?

Dr. Yolanda Evans, co-chief of the Division of Adolescent Medicine and a principal investigator in the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children’s, sees the effects of social media firsthand.

In this Q & A with Dr. Evans, On the Pulse shares her expertise and provides helpful resources for families and caregivers.

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Celebrating the Diverse Perspectives of the Autism Community this Autism Acceptance Month

April 27, 2023  |  Patient Care, Seattle Children's Autism Center Comments Off on Celebrating the Diverse Perspectives of the Autism Community this Autism Acceptance Month

Autism Acceptance Month is a time to foster inclusion of the autism community. This goes beyond simply promoting education about the differences and abilities of people with autism— it is a commitment to understanding, respecting, and celebrating those differences and abilities from across the diverse range of the autism spectrum.

Seattle Children’s Autism Center holds space for the varied truths and narratives that co-exist in the world of autism, and believes that every person with autism has the right to thrive: to be accepted, included, celebrated and to live their best life. Some individuals with autism need high levels of support in their daily lives, while others are able to reach their goals with relative independence. And many others fall somewhere in between—benefitting from support in some areas and independence in others.

All deserve not just awareness of their differences, but true acceptance and inclusion. This requires a shift for all of us—not just in our healthcare and education systems to provide needed supports and therapies to autistic individuals—but in our society as a whole to broaden our appreciation of diverse lived experiences and recognition of the value of neurodiversity.

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Anxiety and Depression: The Most Common Questions Asked by Parents

April 13, 2023  |  General, Mental Health, Patient Care Comments Off on Anxiety and Depression: The Most Common Questions Asked by Parents

Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health conditions seen and treated at Seattle Children’s.

Although sometimes confused, they are different classes of disorders. Some of the confusion stems from an overlap in symptoms and in fact, people often experience both at the same time.

Dr. Kalina Babeva and Dr. Sonia Venkatraman, co-directors of the Mood and Anxiety Program at Seattle Children’s, dive into these conditions with On the Pulse to answer some frequently asked questions from patients and families.

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University of Washington Softball and Football Teams Pay Special Visit to Seattle Children’s Patients

April 6, 2023  |  General, Patient Stories, Philanthropy Comments Off on University of Washington Softball and Football Teams Pay Special Visit to Seattle Children’s Patients

Seattle Children’s patients and families were surprised when some exciting visitors stopped by from University of Washington (UW) Athletics.

The 17 women on the UW Softball team each brought a pair of white cleats to be designed by a patient, and the team will wear their custom cleats during the televised Cal series on the Pac -12 network April 6 – 8, 2023.

Additionally, the UW Football team stopped by with footballs for our patients to decorate.

Seattle Children’s is grateful for UW Athletics bringing smiles and creativity to our patients, and we are excited to cheer them on throughout their seasons.

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Seattle Children’s Therapeutic Gaming Program Uses The Power of Video Games to Improve Patient Outcomes

March 30, 2023  |  General, Heart Center, Media and Technology, Patient Stories, Transplant Comments Off on Seattle Children’s Therapeutic Gaming Program Uses The Power of Video Games to Improve Patient Outcomes

Seattle Children’s Therapeutic Gaming Program brings the power of video games, virtual reality and other therapeutic technology to enhance patient experiences and improve outcomes.

The program uses a variety of video games, consoles and technologies to help patients cope with the stress and boredom of hospitalization, as well as to provide opportunities for socialization, education and rehabilitation.

Since its inception in 2018, thanks to grant funding from Child’s Play Charity, the program has become a leader in the field of therapeutic gaming.

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After More Than 500 days Attached to a Berlin Heart, Kaelyn Gets a Heart Transplant at Seattle Children’s

March 14, 2023  |  General, Heart Center, Patient Stories, Transplant Comments Off on After More Than 500 days Attached to a Berlin Heart, Kaelyn Gets a Heart Transplant at Seattle Children’s

In July 2021, Kaelyn, a seemingly healthy, happy 10-month-old, woke up one morning with a puffy face. Her parents, Christine and Jerome, assumed she was having an allergic reaction. They took her to the nearest hospital in their hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii, where she underwent various tests to determine the cause.

In the hospital, Kaelyn’s condition deteriorated, and she was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), where Christine and Jerome learned their daughter’s heart function was severely diminished and she had little chance of survival without major intervention.

Kaelyn was born with left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy – a condition in which the lower left heart chamber doesn’t develop properly – that went undetected throughout pregnancy and her first 10 months of life.

Kaelyn was placed on life support for five days before she was transferred to Seattle Children’s. Christine and Jerome left their jobs in Honolulu behind and flew to Seattle with just one suitcase each, having no idea how long they would stay.

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The 5 Most Common ADHD Questions Asked by Parents

February 23, 2023  |  General, Mental Health, Patient Care Comments Off on The 5 Most Common ADHD Questions Asked by Parents

For parents with children or teens who are having problems at home or at school for more than six months due to trouble with attention, learning or behavior, understanding if it’s attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or a related disorder, is important.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder and is the most common mental health disorder during childhood. It can be effectively treated in most cases, and improvement happens most quickly with the combination of medicines and behavior therapy.

With ADHD affecting up to 10% of the population, parents and caregivers of adolescents diagnosed with ADHD often have many questions. To help answer some of those most commonly asked, On the Pulse spoke with Dr. Erin Gonzalez, Co-Director of the Behavior and Attention Management Program in Seattle Children’s Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department.

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Tips for Raising Heart-healthy Kids and Teens

February 14, 2023  |  General, Heart Center, Nutrition and Obesity, Patient Care Comments Off on Tips for Raising Heart-healthy Kids and Teens

For American Heart Month, Seattle Children’s providers share their tips for helping kids and teens build strong, healthy hearts.

Protect young athletes with pre-sport heart screenings

Generally, kids are safe to play sports and exercise without concern for cardiac events, but with all types of sports, it is important to do a physical with family history to identify those who might be at risk.

Dr. Jack Christian Salerno, Associate Chief, Division of Cardiology; Director, Electrophysiology and Pacing Services, said parents can help protect their young athletes from sudden cardiac arrest by learning about potential “red flags” before their kids begin competing in sports during the middle- and high-school years.

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