If you are having problems viewing this message, click here Version française, ici
November can be a grey and chilly month, as the winter air sets in. In this month's issue, we've made sure
to include useful articles about nutrition and wellness to keep your family healthy well into the winter
months.
To start, we've offered up some helpful hints on how to prevent and treat colds and flus, which are
sure to creep up in our kids as the seasons change. What's more, we sat down with staff nutritionist
Claudine Larivière to help clarify those scary labels on the sides of your cereal box, and offer
some helpful hints on how to make sure you are buying healthy foods for you growing kids. Finally,
we discuss energy drinks and the health risks they may present for children who consume them.
Last month, Dr. Shuvo Ghosh, Behavioral Pediatrician at The Montreal Children's Hospital sat down
with Kim Fraser at CJAD 800 to talk about Gender Identity Conflicts. In this issue, we offer a
video snippet of that conversation and an informative article about what the options are when a
girl or boy expresses a desire to be the opposite sex.
We've also included news about our hospital and the incredible story of one of
our patients, Alexa, who has taught us the power of positive thinking.
Until next month, happy reading!
The editorial team at Where Kids Come First
Alexa was once nicknamed "The Diesel" by her soccer team because she was known as a player that gave her all to
the game. During her year-long battle to overcome cancer, she showed her friends and family
that she is a fighter both on and off the field. [+]
Dr. Shuvo Ghosh is a Developmental Pediatrician at The Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University
Health Centre. Last month, he spoke to Kim Fraser on CJAD to help a
mother who had written into the show about her nearly school-aged son who likes to dress
up in girls' clothing and play with Barbies instead of trucks and puzzles. [+]
CLIMBING FOR THE CHILDREN'S
You may know her as a pediatric hematologist-oncologist at the MCH, wife and mother of 2,
but come January, Dr. Sharon Abish will also be known as a mountain climber. In just a few
months, she and her husband will join a team of 10 individuals who will trek Mount Kilimanjaro,
known to many as the highest freestanding mountain in the world to raise money for The Montreal
Children's Hospital Foundation. [+]
SAY CHEESE FOR THE CHILDREN'S RETURNS FOR A SECOND EDITION!
Place Alexis Nihon has decided to show their support once again by hosting Say Cheese for The Children's,
to be held from November 19 to December 12. For only $40, families, friends or colleagues are guaranteed
a unique experience at the Say Cheese for The Children's studio in the Place Alexis Nihon shopping centre.
The team of professional photographers from Espace Urbain creates a fun-filled photo session.
There are no rules; moving, jumping, having fun, or even personalizing the session with favourite
objects is allowed in order to capture the most candid and authentic photos. [+]
CIBC INVESTS IN CANCER CARE BY DONATING $1.5 MILLION TO THE MUHC'S BEST CARE FOR LIFE CAMPAIGN
The McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) has officially received a generous donation of $1.5 million
from CIBC to The Best Care For Life Campaign in support of the MUHC comprehensive cancer centre at the
Glen Campus, now under construction. Pediatric cancer care will receive $500,000 through The Best Care
for Children Campaign and $1 million will go towards adult cancer care, specifically for
breast cancer. [+]
Do you have a question of a general nature that you'd like to ask our specialist?
If your question is selected, the answer will be published in the next edition of the newsletter.
My 12 year old son has developed a few nervous tics. He has gnawed at the fingers for the past 5 years has
now started cracking his jaw recently. I have read a lot about his behaviors, and have learned that
it is best to let him be, but I feel like these tics are quite severe. I know that they are likely
caused by anxiety but my son does not seem anxious and has told me that nothing is bothering him.
What can I do? Worried Dad
R :Dear Worried Dad
From your brief description it is difficult to determine whether your son is indeed having tics or
whether he has developed a "nervous habit", for example, nail biting.
Tics are described as abrupt, purposeless, stereotyped movements or sounds. They are involuntary
experiences exhibited by patients and occur in response to an irresistible impulse, similar to an
inch and a need to scratch, thus having a tic provides a relief.
[+]
Commonly used flame retardant being studied
Montreal Children's Hospital Research Institute's Dr.
Cindy Goodyer is leading a multidisciplinary research team from five Canadian universities and Health
Canada that is studying the potential toxic effects of a common household chemical. She and her team
of eighteen co-investigators will look at the potential impact of brominated flame retardants, or
BFRs, on the developing reproductive systems and fertility in parallel animal and human models. [+]
Eating whole grain white sandwich bread is not as nutritious as eating whole grain brown bread.
False: According to staff nutritionist, Claudine Larivière whole grain white bread contains the same nutritional
content as its brown equivalent, but simply looks different because it's
been bleached.
The fibre content is the same for both loaves of bread, according to Larivière.
But beware; you may still have trouble selling it to your pickiest eaters.
[+]
