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Where kids come first, The MCH newsletter |
October 2008 Vol. 2 - No. 8 |
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Mad monsters, wicked witches, googly ghosts and pretty princesses... so many costumes to look forward to
this Halloween. But before sending your darling child out into the cold of the night this year, read
up on some safety tips we offer to ensure a fun-filled evening. Also consider getting your children to
bring home more than candy with the MCH Foundation Halloween collection box – all money is raised for
patient care at The Children's.
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And speaking of cold... Once again we are on the cusp of cold and flu season. In this issue we offer a number of
prevention tips to help you get through as healthy as possible. If you do find your self in the Emergency
Department of the MCH with your child consumed with cold or flu or other, please check out our Emergency Department
(ED) video below. It offers tips and advice on spending time in the ED.
If you are one of the many parents out there who wonders why your baby cries so much, you are not alone.
This newsletter will answer some of your questions and hopefully put your mind at rest. We also cover
colic and push the need to never shake your baby, no matter how long or hard he/she is crying.
And if you are a parent with a child who stutters, we explain why we push the need to get your child
therapy for his/her speech as soon as possible.
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Francis and Simon Laforest
16 and 14 year-old brothers, Francis and Simon, were both born with Morquio Syndrome,
a devastating disease that affects bone structure, eyesight, heart function and more.
They have undergone 25 operations over the past 15 years to prolong and improve their life.
But despite the limitations this disease has thrown their way, they continue to find joy in
everything they do. Inseparable and courageous they charge forth.
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Dr. Harvey J. Guyda accepts position as Associate Executive Director of The MCH
"My goal is to continue to try to strengthen ties between the administration and the clinical groups. I also see the large picture: it takes a team effort to run this hospital, so we need input from everyone. I want to build team spirit. But I want to do all of this in a logical and sensible way," says Dr. Harvey J. Guyda about his new appointment. Read more about Dr. Guyda.
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Dr. Larry Lands, doctor and researcher bringing it all together
Dr. Larry Lands didn't always know he wanted to be a doctor. He, in some ways, fell into his profession by following his passion for sciences. The key, he says, to finding the right job is to take your time. Today he is the Director of the Cystic Fibrosis Clinic at the MCH, where he works as a clinician and a researcher, doing the best he can to bring the best care possible to his patients.
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Pharmacists got talent!
Tucked away in a tiny satellite pharmacy of the MCH are a few employees with really big hearts and tons of talent. These oncology pharmacists and a technician like to bring smiles to the faces of children living with cancer. Read how they are making a difference... +
Ready, Set… Go! Transforming speech-language pathology in Quebec
One clinician's efforts to change the health care system
"About 55,000 Quebec children have speech-language difficulties and the average wait time is one year for an assessment, two years for treatment. I think this is unacceptable and I've decided to do something about it…"
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Trick or treating safety
Halloween ghosts, goblins and ghouls will be roaming the streets on the 31st. Here are some easy-to-follow tips to make sure your little trick-or-treater is safe.
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Cold and flu: tips on prevention
Develop a battle plan against the flu this year. Know what you will be up against, get the facts on prevention, learn tips for a quick recovery, and find out when it is appropriate to seek further medical attention.
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Why does my baby cry all the time?
Although a child's loud, insistent crying can be unnerving at times, the good news for parents is that this behavior actually provides a healthy form of communication in the vast majority of cases. The most helpful way to look at your child's tears is to see them as "messaging devices" -- as tools that allow children (and especially infants and toddlers, who can't use words effectively yet) to make their needs and feelings known to the grown-ups around them. Read more.
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What is colic and does my baby have it?
Colic may be more harmful to worried and frustrated parents than it is to babies. A colicky baby cries a great deal typically more than 3 hours a day, and some babies with colic cry for much longer periods. Usually the crying occurs around the same time every day, often in the early evening. Learn more.
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Please! Don't shake your baby
Infants and young children have relatively large, heavy heads, weak neck muscles and a brain that is still developing making a baby's brain more prone to injury from shaking. With shaking, a baby's head wobbles rapidly back and forth and the brain strikes the inside of the skull. The effect is similar to whiplash. The brain may bleed or swell, raising pressure, which can further harm brain tissue. The result may be permanent brain damage…
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Montreal Children's Speech-Language Pathologists encourage early intervention for stuttering
October 22 is National Stuttering Awareness Day and this year Speech-Language Pathologists at the Montreal Children's Hospital want people to know that the earlier a child undergoes therapy for stuttering, the better the results in the long term. One significant consequence of early intervention: a dose of self-confidence that will last a lifetime. Read more.
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For more articles on your children's health and well-being, visit the Health Info section of our website.
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There is more to Halloween than candy!
The MCH Foundation's Halloween Collection Box Campaign has been growing in popularity every year, raising nearly $243,000 since it began in 2004. The Foundation looks forward to seeing this much-anticipated event continue to grow this Halloween.
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MCH paints its walls green
The paint on MUHC walls may be white, yellow, blue or mauve... but really, it's all 'green'. The MCH and the entire MUHC have switched to environmentally friendly paint. These are paints with no volatile organize compounds or VOCs.
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MCH-RVH joint hearing screening program launched
The Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) and the Montreal Children's Hospital (MCH) are pleased to announce the launch of a hearing screening program for newborns. All babies born at the RVH will now be screened for deafness before leaving the nursery. The test is quick, effective, painless and inexpensive. Newborns who fail the hearing test will be referred to the Audiology department at the MCH for more extensive diagnostic evaluations.
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Multiculturalism announces name change
To fully reflect the work of the department, Multiculturalism is changing its name to Sociocultural Consultation and Interpretation Services (SCIS). The new name responds to the requirements of MCH personnel to negotiate complex issues arising from different cultural and social perspectives.
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Safer tests for Down Syndrome
Scientists have developed a safer, less invasive test to detect chromosomal disorders such as Down's syndrome in unborn babies
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Prix Léo-Pariseau bestowed on researcher from The Montreal Children's Hospital of the MUHC
This month Dr. Michael Kramer, of McGill University and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) at the Montreal Children's Hospital, received the Prix Léo-Pariseau, given every year by the Association francophone pour le savoir (Acfas). This prestigious award honours researchers in the biological or health sciences who contribute to the development of knowledge in these fields.
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We need your help!
In an effort to make The Montreal Children's Hospital website the best it can be, we are asking our readers to please take a few minutes to complete a simple survey.
Thank you for your time. It is greatly appreciated. Go to the survey.
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