Archive for liver disease
Past patient outcomes could help single-ventricle surgery decisions
When considering whether a child who has a single-ventricle heart defect would benefit more from biventricular repair or the Fontan procedure, heart specialists have lacked a key tool to guide them: data that shows possible long-term health risks of each surgical option. But Boston Children’s heart specialists — who perform biventricular repair more often than any other pediatric hospital — ... Read More about Past patient outcomes could help single-ventricle surgery decisions
Immunotherapy for children with primary liver carcinomas: Research offers new hope
Pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and fibrolamellar carcinoma are rare, aggressive forms of liver cancer that typically affect adolescents and young adults. Although some immunotherapy drugs are approved by the Food and Drug Administration as first-line treatments for HCC in adults, less is known about their effectiveness in treating pediatric liver carcinomas. Now, new research led ... Read More about Immunotherapy for children with primary liver carcinomas: Research offers new hope
An act of kindness — Raul and Larry’s journey to a non-directed transplant donation
Acts of kindness can come in many forms, like volunteering or donating to a charity of choice. At 52, Larry loves giving back to his local community in Vermont, which is why he works in law enforcement. However, he has taken these thoughtful acts of kindness to another level — he’s donated one of his ... Read More about An act of kindness — Raul and Larry’s journey to a non-directed transplant donation
From Florida to Boston and back again: Reagan’s liver transplant journey
Reagan, 18, is gearing up for her freshman year of college this fall, and she has a solid idea about her future career. “I hope to become a transplant nurse or a child life specialist,” she shares with a smile. Her inspiration to enter this field of medicine comes from her experiences with the care ... Read More about From Florida to Boston and back again: Reagan’s liver transplant journey
One day on the field, admitted to the ICU the next: Rob’s liver transplant journey
When you’re a teen, it’s not very common to worry about what’s going on inside your body — especially not about potential organ failure. For Rob, now 14 years old, that happened in the blink of an eye. One day, he was scoring goals in soccer and hanging out with his friends. But in just ... Read More about One day on the field, admitted to the ICU the next: Rob’s liver transplant journey
No backing down: Sophia takes on a rare form of liver cancer
Sophia LaBorde is headstrong and “doesn’t back down,” says her mother, Alicia. So last year when Sophia had some gastrointestinal discomfort and a low appetite, she asked her parents to bring her to her local pediatrician. And when test after test ruled out more common culprits — lactose intolerance, heartburn, even thyroid disease — she ... Read More about No backing down: Sophia takes on a rare form of liver cancer
Running the Boston Marathon with a purpose: Ben’s liver transplant journey
Ben is no stranger to sports — in fact he’s probably the most excited when he’s able to get on a soccer field or with his team. This April, he’ll be running alongside the Boston Children’s Hospital team at the Boston Marathon! At 18 years old, Ben has already overcome incredible challenges, so taking on ... Read More about Running the Boston Marathon with a purpose: Ben’s liver transplant journey
Immunotherapy for kids: An option for childhood liver cancer?
You may have seen ads for immunotherapy drugs, or even know someone whose cancer has been treated with them. These medications, which use a patient’s own immune system to help fight cancer, are increasingly popular for treating solid tumors in adults. However, immunotherapy has been less successful in treating cancer in kids. The reason for ... Read More about Immunotherapy for kids: An option for childhood liver cancer?
Kira’s story: how a diagnosis of fatty liver disease nourished a lasting lifestyle change
Kira’s journey with fatty liver disease began about six years ago, when imaging for other medical reasons showed areas of concern with her liver. Fatty liver disease occurs when excess fat is stored in the liver; it can lead to progressive liver disease and is the most common pediatric liver disease in the country. The ... Read More about Kira’s story: how a diagnosis of fatty liver disease nourished a lasting lifestyle change
A surprising diagnosis leads to treatment for Liam’s liver cancer
For Liam Dickerson, what started as a simple sick day turned into a journey he never could have expected. In 2018, he wasn’t feeling well and paid a visit to his high school’s nurse. Although he was experiencing chest and under arm pain, the nurse worried that he might have appendicitis and recommended he see ... Read More about A surprising diagnosis leads to treatment for Liam’s liver cancer