Nashawnte is a 9 year old diagnosed with pancreatitis. When her pancreatitis flairs up she has a lot of pain and has to go to the hospital. Sometimes she has to have an NJ tube inserted which requires sedation. She’s SCARED of sedation but has been working very hard to overcome her fears! Learn more about what to expect when getting anesthesia.
Georgia is 14 years old and is living with Crohn’s disease. In this video Georgia answers the questions of ‘how does Crohn’s affect what you eat?’, ‘what about stress?’, ‘how do you handle the pain?’, ‘what are the side affects of steroids?’, and ‘how do you just live life?’. Listen and watch as Georgia explains her situation and provides encouragement to others that are dealing with Crohn’s.
View Part 1 of Georgia’s story
The two most common types of IBD are called Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (say: ul-sur-uh-tiv keh-lye-tis).
Crohn’s disease most often develops where the small and large intestines meet and usually causes all layers of the intestinal wall to become sore, inflamed, and swollen. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, and anus.
Unlike Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis inflames only the inner lining of all or part of the colon and rectum. Sometimes, only the rectum is affected. In both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, inflammation may stick around for many years, flaring up over and over again.
Georgia is 14 years old and has Crohn’s disease. In this video, which is part 1 of 2, Georgia answers the question’s of ‘what is Crohn’s disease?’, ‘how did you learn that you had Crohn’s disease?’, ‘what was it like being in the hospital for so long?’, ‘what helped you cope?’, ‘how do you manage day-to-day?’, and ‘how did kids at school react?’. Watch as Georgia carefully explains how she has overcome great difficulty to live happier and healthier while managing her disease.
View Part 2 of Georgia’s story
The two most common types of IBD are called Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (say: ul-sur-uh-tiv keh-lye-tis).
Crohn’s disease most often develops where the small and large intestines meet and usually causes all layers of the intestinal wall to become sore, inflamed, and swollen. Crohn’s disease can affect any part of the digestive tract, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestines, large intestines, and anus.
Sometimes all you need to relax and calm down is to focus on taking deep breathes. Watch as Amber shows us some techniques for deep belly breathing.
What’s something that you do all day, every day, no matter where you are or who you’re with?
(a) think about what’s for lunch tomorrow
(b) put your finger in your nose
(c) hum your favorite song
(d) breathe
It’s possible that some kids could say (a) or (c) or that others might even say — yikes! — (b). But every single person in the world has to say (d). Breathing air is necessary for keeping humans (and many animals) alive. And the two parts that are large and in charge when it comes to breathing? If you guessed your lungs, you’re right!
Your lungs make up one of the largest organs in your body, and they work with your respiratory system to allow you to take in fresh air, get rid of stale air, and even talk. Let’s take a tour of the lungs!
Tabitha is 15 years old and has both cystic fibrosis and diabetes. Despite her illness Tabitha is extremely positive and some great words of encouragement for others that are going through a tough time or dealing with illness. Watch more videos from Tabitha!
Kids who have CF have to take care of themselves, but thanks to a better understanding of what causes CF and improved treatment, they can go to school and do regular stuff, just like other kids. Meanwhile, researchers are working on even better treatments and hoping that one day there will be a cure. Learn more
Tabitha is 15 and has cystic fibrosis. In this segment Tabitha shows us how she puts together her acapella treatment at home. Watch more videos from Tabitha!
Approximately 30,000 people in the United States have been diagnosed with CF, which affects both males and females. It’s not contagious, so you can’t catch CF from another person.
Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease caused by mutations (changes) in a gene on chromosome 7, one of the 23 pairs of chromosomes that children inherit from their parents. Cystic fibrosis occurs because of mutations in the gene that makes a protein called CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator). A person with CF produces abnormal CFTR protein — or no CFTR protein at all, which causes the body to make thick, sticky mucus instead of the thin, watery kind. Read more
Juliana is a brain tumor survivor. She talks about the complications through the years and how she has used art and family to help her through tough times.
A tumor is any mass caused by abnormal or uncontrolled growth of cells. Tumors in the brain are categorized according to several factors, including where they’re located, the type of cells involved, and how quickly they’re growing. Learn more
Natasha is a cancer survivor. Listen to her words of encouragement and find out more on what it is like to deal with cancer.
Chances are you know someone who has had cancer, such as an older relative or someone in a friend’s family. But sometimes cancer affects teens and when the person affected is you, the word cancer takes on a new meaning — one that can feel personal and frightening.
If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, you should know that although it’s unusual for people to have cancer during their teenage years, you’re certainly not alone. The good news is that most teens who get cancer survive and return to their everyday lives. Read on to learn about how to cope if you or someone you know has cancer.
Vanessa’s younger brother Caleb was diagnosed with cancer when he was 13 years old. Watch as Vanessa talks about how she and her family worked through Caleb’s treatment and helped support one another.
Siblings can be many things: friends, allies, role models — and let’s face it, pests. (Of course, it goes without saying that if you’ve got a sibling, you are a sibling!)
But when your sibling has a serious illness, like cancer or autism, it adds another dimension to your relationship — and to your life. You may find yourself juggling some pretty intense and confusing emotions. You’re not alone in feeling this way, and it’s important to take care of yourself during this stressful time. Learn more about how to cope with a sick sibling.
Watch as Tabitha shows us how she does her vest treatments at home for cystic fibrosis. See more videos from Tabitha.
What is Cystic Fibrosis
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease that causes the body to produce mucus that’s extremely thick and sticky. The mucus in people with CF is thicker than normal because CF affects cells in the epithelium (pronounced: eh-puh-thee-lee-um), the layer of cells that lines the passages in the body’s organs. In a person who does not have CF, the epithelial cells produce a thin, watery mucus that acts like a lubricant and helps protect the body’s tissues. In a person with CF, however, the thicker mucus doesn’t move as easily. This thick, sticky mucus clogs passages in many of the body’s organs and infection sets in.
Tabitha is 15 years old and has diabetes and cystic fibrosis. In this segment she discusses how she stays motivated to do her treatments and how she manages her illnesses. She has great tips for those that are struggling to comply with medications and treatment.
When people are first diagnosed with diabetes, they might be nervous about getting shots or medical tests and scared about how diabetes will affect their future health. Learn more
Victoria has had a tough time eating and a bit of a fear of swallowing things. Watch as she walks us through how she conquered her fears and is now successfully able to eat full meals.
There’s a lot of discussion these days about fit kids. People who care (parents, doctors, teachers, and others) want to know how to help kids be more fit.
Being fit is a way of saying a person eats well, gets a lot of physical activity (exercise), and has a healthy weight. If you’re fit, your body works well, feels good, and can do all the things you want to do, like run around with your friends. Learn more about being a fit kid!
Hayley was in an accident that caused severe burns. Here she talks about how she deals with dressing changes and also teaches us how to relax.
From kids washing up under a too-hot faucet to an accidental tipping of a coffee cup, burns are a potential hazard in every home. In fact, burns, especially scalds from hot water and liquids, are some of the most common childhood accidents. Babies and young children are especially susceptible — they’re curious, small, and have sensitive skin that needs extra protection. Learn more about the causes of burns and how to treat them.
Callie shows some breathing techniques and ways to cope with Vocal Chord Dysfunction (VCD) and Stress. Callie’s VCD was a result of her asthma.
People who have asthma might cough or wheeze, two sounds that come from the lungs. Be sure to tell a parent or check with your doctor anytime your breathing is unusually noisy or you have trouble breathing. Learn more about asthma and the sounds, signs, and symptoms at the Asthma Center.
Callie talks about ways that she has learned to cope with stress. Her vocal chord dysfunction was significantly affected by her levels of stress. Listen to how she has learned to harness her stress levels.
Everybody gets stressed from time to time. Different people feel stress in different ways. Some ways of dealing with stress — like screaming, hitting someone, or punching a wall — don’t solve much. But other ways, like talking to someone you trust, can start you on the road to solving your problem or at least feeling better. Also, try taking these five steps the next time you are stressed.
Megan talks with us at a cancer survivorship event about coping with a brain tumor.
A tumor is any mass caused by abnormal or uncontrolled growth of cells. Tumors in the brain are categorized according to several factors, including where they’re located, the type of cells involved, and how quickly they’re growing. Learn more about what causes brain tumors and what signs and symptoms are.
Tabitha has cystic fibrosis and has quite a few different medications that she has to take throughout the week. Watch as she offers tips on ways to remain diligent and organized throughout the treatment process. Watch more videos from Tabitha!
Medicines are chemicals or compounds used to cure, halt, or prevent disease; ease symptoms; or help in the diagnosis of certain illnesses. Advances in medications have enabled doctors to cure many diseases and save lives. Learn more about medicine.
Kristen is 18 years old and is on her fourth treatment of chemotherapy. In this segment she talks about what it was like to lose her hair and how she copes with it.
Most children with ALL are treated with chemotherapy (the use of special drugs to kill cancer cells). What drugs are used and in what combination will depend on which subtype of ALL is present and how aggressive the disease is.
Chemotherapy can be given intravenously as an injection into a muscle or orally in pill form. In intrathecal (IT) chemotherapy, a spinal tap is used to deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to the cerebrospinal fluid, where cancerous WBCs can collect.
Kristen is 18 years old and has acute myeloid leukemia. Because of her condition she often has to stay in the hospital for treatment for weeks on end. In this video she discusses what her treatments are like and how she deals with spending so much time in the hospital. From amazing nurses to a solid support group of friends and family, Kristen is able to remain positive and optimistic in spite of her illness.
Kristen is 18 years old and has acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the body’s white blood cells (WBCs).
Normally, WBCs help fight infection and protect the body against disease. But in leukemia, WBCs turn cancerous and multiply when they shouldn’t, resulting in too many abnormal WBCs, which then interfere with organ function.
Thanks to advances in therapy and clinical trials, the outlook for kids with AML is promising. With treatment, most are cured.
Learn more: About Leukemia | Causes | Signs and Symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Coping
Kristen is 18 years old and is undergoing treatment for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). This type of leukemia affects 20% of kids with this cancer of the blood cells. Watch as Kristen demonstrates going through her treatments and administering her shots.
Treatment is divided into two phases. The goal of the first phase, called induction, is to kill as many cancer cells as possible and achieve remission (a state where there is no evidence of disease in the body). The second phase (called post-remission, consolidation, or continuation therapy) is designed to eliminate any remaining leukemia cells.
When was the last time you had a stomachache? It’s normal for all kids to get bellyaches once in a while. But some kids get bad stomach pain all the time. They are tired and even feel like they might throw up. Some of these kids may have what’s called inflammatory bowel disease (or IBD).
About 1 million Americans have IBD, and 30,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. IBD, which can be diagnosed at any age, most often affects people between 15 and 35 years old but has even been found in babies as young as 18 months old! In the United States, it’s thought that as many as 100,000 kids younger than 18 years old have IBD.
So, just what is IBD? How do you know if you have it? And what help is available if you do? Learn more
Watch as Hayley talks about dealing with cystic fibrosis and goes through her treatments.
Doctors and people with CF can do several things to slow the progression of the disease and fight its complications. To loosen mucus, people with CF exercise regularly and may use inhalers (like kids with asthma use) or nebulizers that help deliver medication to the lungs.
Coughing helps people with CF clear the mucus from their lungs. They may also take antibiotics to prevent or fight lung infections. Chest physical therapy may also be an important part of a person’s CF treatment routine. After lying down in a position that helps drain mucus from the lungs, the person has a helper, such as a parent, gently bang on his or her chest or back to loosen the mucus. And a newer device called a therapy vest that shakes the chest allows teens to be more independent by doing their therapy on their own.
Hannah is 9 years old and would like to offer a few tips for you when you are getting an IV.
IVs are a way to get fluids or medicines directly into a person’s vein. IV is short for intravenous. Yes, there’s a needle involved — but only for a couple of seconds. Watch additional videos on how this process works.
Lanie is 12 years old and has cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disease that causes the body to produce mucus that’s extremely thick and sticky. The mucus in people with CF is thicker than normal because CF affects cells in the epithelium (pronounced: eh-puh-thee-lee-um), the layer of cells that lines the passages in the body’s organs. In a person who does not have CF, the epithelial cells produce a thin, watery mucus that acts like a lubricant and helps protect the body’s tissues. In a person with CF, however, the thicker mucus doesn’t move as easily. This thick, sticky mucus clogs passages in many of the body’s organs and infection sets in.
Learn more about living with cystic fibrosis.
Hannah is 9 years old and is coping with ulcerative colitis. Ulcerative colitis is a type of inflammatory bowel disease.
Inflammatory bowel disease can cause symptoms that range from mild to severe. Symptoms include, but are not limited to diarrhea that occurs again and again, with or without blood in the bowel movements, rectal bleeding (blood coming out of your rear end), large weight loss over a short period of time, fatigue, abdominal pain and crampiness that occurs again and again, delayed growth and development.
The most common symptom of ulcerative colitis is loose (and bloody, if a person has ulcers) stools. Sometimes, going to the bathroom can be crampy and painful.
Nashawnte is a 9 year old diagnosed with pancreatitis. When her pancreatitis flairs up she has a lot of pain and has to go to the hospital. Sometimes she has to have an NJ tube inserted which requires sedation. She’s SCARED of sedation but has been working very hard to overcome her fears! Learn more [...]
Cody has cancer and also has had a hard tough taking his medication. He has to swallow many large pills for his medication. While this has been difficult, Cody has learned some tips and ways to help get him used to swallowing medicine. Watch as Cody walks through a few different techniques. You can also [...]
Tyler’s gives tips and advice to kids and parents who are going through divorce. Divorce is stressful for parents and kids alike. Although reactions will depend on a child’s age, temperament, and the circumstances surrounding the split, many kids feel sad, frustrated, angry, and anxious — and it’s not uncommon for them to act out because [...]
