Big advances for pediatric patients
Life is back to normal for 5-year-old Carolyn Janco (in purple) and her twin Caitlyn.
It was 2 am when 5-year-old Carolyn Janco’s breathing became shallow and rapid. Her left lung was filling with fluid and was pushing her heart onto her right, healthy lung.
“Carolyn has asthma and has had pneumonia before, but I had never seen her this sick,” says her mother, Patricia Janco of Deptford. “She needed immediate treatment.”
Pediatric surgeon Barry Hicks, MD, performed minimally invasive surgery that removed the fluid and pressure in Carolyn’s chest. With a rapid recovery, she was on her way home within a week.
Carolyn is just one of the many children in South Jersey who has received life-saving pediatric care at Virtua.
“With pediatric surgery as its cornerstone, we are raising the level of pediatric care children are able to receive close to their homes,” says Michael Marchildon, MD, pediatric surgeon.
Through its partnership with Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Virtua provides a team of top-ranked pediatric surgeons and other pediatric specialists who see patients at Nemours Children’s Clinic located just five minutes from Virtua Voorhees.
Coupled with the formation of the John M. Tedeschi Pediatric Institute, Virtua is providing access to a new level of pediatric care in South Jersey.
Dr. Hicks brings the capabilities of a minimally invasive approach to a number of pediatric surgical procedures that will benefit the children of our community.
For certain patients and procedures, this technique
offers a smaller incision and faster recovery.
“Treating a child is very different from treating an adult. There are significant physical and emotional differences, and our approach reflects these unique needs,” says Dr. Hicks. “We engage the family in the decision making process and, most importantly, we ensure that everyone is informed.”
“It was amazing to watch the Virtua team explain the same procedure in two very different ways,” says Mrs. Janco. “They went into great detail for my husband and me; and then brought it down to the most basic level for Carolyn to understand.”
Virtua also understands that for many parents, a sick child is not their only child. Flexible visiting hours, concierge services and a child life therapist help parents through a stressful time in their lives.
This family centered care can play a significant role in recovery. It also helped Carolyn achieve her one goal outside of recovering – to play with her twin sister.
For more information about Nemours Pediatric Partners at Virtua or to make an appointment with a specialist, call 1-888-VIRTUA-3.