At birth, Beckett Hoggarth Beyer appeared to be a healthy newborn baby boy, growing and changing like a typical infant. But when his aunt — a physician — visited their home near Fargo, North Dakota, she noticed something was not right. Beckett's stools were light in color, and his skin tone was slightly more olive-toned than expected.

Beckett's parents, Tracie Hoggarth and Ron Beyer, took him to his pediatrician. Blood tests revealed elevated liver enzymes, which often indicate inflammation or damage to liver cells.

To find out more about the cause of Beckett's symptoms, the family traveled to Minneapolis to see a pediatric gastroenterologist. At just eight weeks of age, fearing Beckett had biliary atresia — the most common condition associated with his symptoms at this age — they pursued advanced care to investigate the cause of his liver disease. 

For the next 13 years, Beckett's care was managed by a few teams of gastroenterologists in Minneapolis.

After several rounds of genetic testing, they discovered that his liver disease was caused by Alagille syndrome. This rare genetic disease affected his liver and bile ducts by reducing bile flow out of the liver and causing jaundice, which is the darkening and yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. This bile buildup in the liver damages cells, eventually leading to liver failure.

Alagille syndrome can affect the liver, heart, kidneys, skeleton, eyes and blood vessels. Complications of the syndrome may be life-threatening. Fortunately, Beckett's form of Alagille syndrome only affects his liver.

Living with liver disease  

Beckett is a mechanically inclined 14-year-old who likes lawn mowers, riding four-wheelers, and repairing and driving RC cars. But his liver disease was throwing a wrench in his health and keeping him from doing all the activities he enjoys.

For several years, he had a mass growing in his liver that eventually grew to 10 by 13 centimeters in size. "For three years, they monitored it via ultrasound and secondary conditions from his liver disease with endoscopy, which is how we learned his disease was advancing," recalls Tracie. “When they performed an updated biopsy on his liver, they learned he had advanced cirrhosis.” Cirrhosis is severe scarring of the liver, which makes it difficult for the liver to do its job.

Given a liver transplant was becoming a likely future necessity, Beckett’s family wanted the best for their son — so they sought the medical expertise of Mayo Clinic. 

In November 2023, Beckett had an initial consultation and testing at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The care team at Mayo Clinic recommended that Beckett be put on the liver transplant list before he became more ill.

With stage 4 liver cirrhosis and a tremendously enlarged spleen, Beckett dealt with difficulty breathing due to his firm liver pressing against his diaphragm. Not only did he have a distended belly and chronic back pain from his liver disease and his enlarged spleen, but low platelet count put him at an increased risk of bleeding.

He had a yellow cast to his skin and was in end-stage liver disease — things that had just become normal for him. But his blood tests showed he was on the cusp of crisis.

The request to put Beckett on the transplant list was approved, and he was placed on the list in mid-February. During appointments with the liver transplant team, Beckett shared, "Maybe I'll get a liver by my birthday."

His birthday on April 1 was quickly approaching, and getting a liver often takes months, so getting his birthday wish seemed unlikely.

The call that changed everything

Eleven days after Beckett officially went on the transplant list, Ron received a call from a Minnesota phone number.

"It'd only been a couple of weeks since we were in Rochester, and I thought maybe Mayo Clinic needed more information or was calling about another test," recalls Ron.

But the care team had something else in mind — a liver for Beckett.

The family had eight hours to get from North Dakota to Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Ron called Tracie home from work. He called the school to let them know a liver was available for Beckett and to send Beckett and his sister home immediately.

When the call came in, Beckett was in history class. "The teacher was about to start teaching, but then they said, 'Beckett, you can head to the office.' And I'm like, what for? I didn't think I was in trouble," Beckett says.

Rather than being in trouble, Beckett soon learned that he was in luck.

Out with the old, in with the new

Dr. Timucin Taner, a transplant surgeon at Mayo Clinic, performed Beckett's transplant on March 13 — just two weeks before his birthday.

"The only treatment for patients with cirrhosis is a liver transplant. Cirrhosis is a chronic disease that does not get better with other treatments," notes Dr. Taner. "Beckett needed a new liver, without any doubt. Without a transplant, Beckett would have continued to have jaundice, and his fatigue and other symptoms would have continued to get worse."

“I remember it vividly,” Tracie says. “I was astonished and grateful for the surgeon. Dr. Taner even took the time to wheel Beckett in his hospital bed down to the surgical suite.”

After hours of tenuous waiting, the transplant was a success. The transformation was noticeable. The night before the transplant, Beckett's eyes were yellow-tinted, but the morning after the transplant, they were already white, recalls Tracie.

Beckett recovered in the pediatric intensive care unit at Mayo Clinic for the next 10 days.

"I got the power-reclining bed with the remote and all the warm sheets I needed," says Beckett.

Visits from a Caring Equine miniature pony named Munchkin and a pet therapy dog named Benny Burrito were highlights of his stay.

"He was kind of sad to get discharged. He was getting like a five-star hotel experience," laughs Tracie. "It says volumes about the care they got when somebody is sad to get discharged."

Beckett and his parents note that all the staff they encountered were exceptionally kind and professional. The entire team — the pediatric intensive care unit doctors, his gastroenterologists, the nurses and the support staff — cared about Beckett and his journey.

Loving his new liver

Since getting the transplant, Beckett can go on long walks. He has more energy, can breathe much better and has less back pain.

"I would get winded just walking, and I couldn't play football or participate in contact sports," says Beckett when thinking back to life before his transplant. "I felt stuffy after I drank or ate a lot. And then when I had my transplant, it felt like I had a lot more space."

Beckett's medication regimen has significantly improved. Previously, he endured a challenging schedule with many daily pills, a bitter-tasting oral medication and daily self-administered injections. Now, he takes a set of pills in the morning and early evening.

Dr. Samar Ibrahim, a pediatric transplant hepatologist at Mayo Clinic, manages Beckett's ongoing care. Dr. Ibrahim routinely monitors Beckett's medication regimen and watches for signs of rejection or infection in his lab work.

"Beckett's new liver is functioning normally, so his symptoms of end-stage liver disease are gone," says Dr. Ibrahim. "He will get to live his life like any other teen and celebrate many more birthdays."

For Beckett and his family, receiving a new liver was the best birthday gift they could have imagined. "When he got the liver before his birthday, we were astonished," says Tracie. "We will be eternally grateful for that."

The post Beckett gets a lifesaving birthday gift appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

If you've been bit by a stomach bug lately, you're not alone.

Noroviruses are usually more widespread in the fall and winter, but you can get sick from the virus any time of the year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says norovirus is the leading cause of vomiting and diarrhea from acute gastroenteritis in the U.S.

Norovirus infection, sometimes referred to as stomach flu, is unrelated to the flu caused by the influenza virus. Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious diseases physician with the Mayo Clinic Children's Center, says it's a virus that causes gastroenteritis.

"Norovirus is a type of virus that causes gastroenteritis or stomach flu. Usually, it presents with symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Most healthy people will have recovery over a few days. But for people with a weakened immune system, for example, their symptoms can last longer than that," she says.

Watch: Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse explains norovirus and how to avoid it

Journalists: Broadcast-quality sound bites are available in the downloads at the end of the post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Name super/CG: Nipunie Rajapakse, M.D./Pediatric Infectious Diseases/Mayo Clinic.

Dehydration is a concern, especially for young children, older adults, and those with other health issues or who are pregnant. Those symptoms can include decreased urination, dry throat and mouth, and feeling dizzy when standing up.  

Transmission

"Norovirus is spread through contact with the virus. People sick with norovirus shed the virus in high amounts in their vomit and stool, so coming into contact with the virus is how you get sick. This can be through direct contact or through contaminated food, or you can pick it up from a surface. That's why hand-washing is important and the best way to prevent getting sick with norovirus," says Dr. Rajapakse.

Risk factors

The CDC says that around half of food-related sickness outbreaks caused by norovirus are linked to restaurants or food-related environments. This happens when infected food workers and staff touch food or when it is contaminated.

Dr. Rajapakse says food that is contaminated with norovirus usually looks, smells and tastes normal so it can be difficult to tell it is contaminated.

Norovirus can quickly spread, especially in confined spaces, such as day care centers, nursing homes, schools and cruise ships. These viruses are tough to eliminate since they can endure high and low temperatures and most disinfectants.

"One of the common places that we see norovirus outbreaks occur is in close confined settings, like cruise ships, for example, where you have a lot of people eating from the same places and living in close proximity to each other," says Dr. Rajapakse. "Even one case of norovirus on a cruise ship can spread quickly to others there. That's why it's crucial to make sure that you're washing your hands well, especially before you eat."

Preventing norovirus infection

Antibiotics won't help because it's a viral infection, not bacterial. The best protection is prevention.

Tips to prevent the spread of norovirus:

• Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Avoid food and water that might be contaminated.
• Clean fruits and vegetables before eating.
• Cook seafood thoroughly.
• If you're sick, stay home and avoid others.
• Avoid preparing food for others if you are sick with vomiting/diarrhea.
• Disinfect surfaces and counters that may be contaminated.

And use caution when traveling. The CDC tracks outbreaks of norovirus and other diseases. You can learn more on their website. 

The CDC says outbreaks from norovirus are usually more common in the winter months. In countries above the equator, outbreaks are most common from November to April, while they are most common from May to September in countries below the equator. 

Related post:

• Mayo Clinic Minute: What to do when sick with norovirus or ‘stomach flu’

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"If you excuse me — I can show you my deck," Arthur says, darting upstairs. Moments later, he returns with a stack of Pokémon cards 5 inches high.

"This is Code Breaker," he explains. "It puts two of any card on top of your deck. It's handy."

As he shuffles through the stack, explaining each card, it's clear that he's become something of an expert.

At just 5 years old, Arthur has been battling neuroblastoma — a cancer most common in children 5 and younger — since he was 2½ years old. His love for Pokémon has been his superpower, lifting his spirits as he battles what no child should ever have to face.

It started when Arthur had pneumonia, which continued to land him in the emergency department in his hometown. He began complaining about his leg when it started swelling, and his belly became firm.

"I called my mom and told her an internet search says it's cancer. We took him in, and, sure enough, it was cancer," says Freya Heyer, Arthur's mom.

The tumor was crushing the bottom of his right lung, so he went on breathing support and eventually extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a machine which pulls blood out of the body, reoxygenates it and puts it back in. The care team at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, also performed a tracheotomy for breathing, which is where surgeons place a small tube in a hole that they make through the front of the neck and into the windpipe. "It was terrifying," recalls Freya. "They pulled us aside at one point and asked me to decide on an acceptable quality of life for him."

After extensive treatment, Arthur went into remission for a year and was taking medication to prevent the cancer from coming back. "A few months later, we discovered that the cancer had moved to his brain and is now terminal," says Freya.

Freya, and Arthur's other parent, Tyler, took him back to Mayo Clinic for treatment so they could spend as much time with him as possible. For Arthur, staying at the pediatric hospital is fun, with unlimited popsicles and ice cream, magic shows, tons of movies, a rolling video game cart, and therapy dogs.

"I like when I get to go," says Arthur. "I get to crack stones and find gems with PT and OT. I like getting to play video games. I have loads of friends." And when he says friends, he's referring to the incredible Mayo Clinic Children's Center care team — his nurses, child life specialists, therapists — and other pediatric patients. Because his initial cancer diagnosis was at such a young age, Arthur hasn't had the chance to make many friends outside of the hospital.

One particular friend he made during his time at Mayo was the one who helped him discover his love for Pokémon.

A new friend ignites a passion

Kevin Pike is a security ambassador at Mayo Clinic, running weapon detection systems and verifying patient visitors. "I frequently see kids coming through for appointments or to visit patients," says Pike.

As a serious Pokémon player, Pike enjoys buying Pokémon card packs. Only a few cards in each pack are rare enough to keep, while the rest — known as bulk — are often set aside. But these bulk cards are perfect for kids in the hospital who are just learning the game.

"I started making little packs to hand out to kids so I could shrink down my bulk collection," recalls Pike. One day, as Arthur passed through, Pike offered him a deck of cards, which he gladly accepted. "I learned what he was facing and asked if I could visit him."  

Once Pike learned what Arthur was facing, he asked if he could stop in to play cards with him during his lunch breaks from time to time, as he does with other patients. Arthur and Pike became fast friends, and Arthur dove headfirst into the world of Pokémon.

"The gift that Arthur got with that first deck changed his life. Pokémon became something constant and something to look forward to every time we go to Rochester," says Freya.

And Pokémon has taught Arthur skills beyond a new game. "When he started playing Pokémon, he couldn't read," says Freya. "But now he can."

Make-A-Wish Minnesota party

Knowing his illness is terminal, the social work team referred Arthur's family to Make-A-Wish Minnesota to bring Arthur some extra special joy. In Arthur's five years, he's lived a simple life — much of it in the hospital — so the family didn’t want an extravagant wish. To share his love for Pokémon, Arthur and his parents decided to host a Pokémon party for his friends at Mayo Clinic.

Make-A-Wish provided funds for Arthur to plan the Pokémon party at the Children’s Center, as well as a pizza party for him and his family — and the chance to crack 100 Pokémon packs.

The community came together to support the wish and greatly surpassed Arthur and Freya's Make-A-Wish expectations:

• Arthur's aunt Liz sought community donations of bulk cards or new card packs, and over 1,000 packs were collected.
• David and Travis, Arthur's buddies at Coulee Cards in Rochester, helped make packs for the party and gave a deep discount on purchased supplies.
• Travis connected with Pokémon Corporation and arranged to get free Pikachu plushies.
• Rachel, their Make-A-Wish coordinator, contacted the Pokémon Squishmallows parent company, and they sent over 100 Pokémon plushies.
• They held the pizza party at Tilda's Pizzeria in Rochester because of its robotic waiter. The staff decorated the robot to look like a Pikachu, with a face, ears and tail. It made Pikachu noises as it delivered pizza to Arthur and his guests.

During the Pokémon party, Arthur was the heart and soul of the event. Beaming excitedly, he handed out cards, plushies, coins and toys to his hospital friends — the pediatric patients, his nurses and care providers, including those from the PICU. Even those who don't play Pokémon had fun collecting the cards they thought were the cutest.   

Arthur's other friends — Pike, David and Travis, and his friends from the local Pokémon League in Rochester — joined the fun to support him and his wish.

Arthur's legacy will live on

Arthur’s family appreciates how supportive people have been and wants to share that kindness with others even after Arthur's journey is complete — and the connections they fostered through Artrhur’s journey will help ensure that the joy of Pokémon will be shared with other patients for years to come.  

For example, Pike continues to share his bulk cards with patients, and he plays cards with those he connects with. Cards are also given to patients with simple instructions so they can easily learn to play the game. Coulee Cards hopes to start Pokémon Nights at the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester, which is extra special for the children who can't leave the facility.

"All this happened because Arthur wanted to share his love for Pokémon with everybody," says Freya.

So often with cancer, people focus on how sad and unfair it is. "I want to focus on how much fun we're having and the people we've met," reflects Freya. "Mayo Clinic Children's Center has helped us buy this time we're using to make memories."

If he could be any Pokémon for a whole day, Arthur says he "would definitely be a Miraidon. He looks like a motorcycle, and I like motorcycles. He's a dragon from the future."

It's a choice full of spirit and strength, just like Arthur.

About Mayo Clinic Children's Center

At Mayo Clinic Children's Center, over 50,000 children and adolescents from the U.S. and around the world receive exceptional care each year. Our world-class pediatric experts inspire hope and provide healing for even the most complex cases in over 70 clinical and surgical departments. Scientists and researchers in the Children's Research Center pioneer groundbreaking treatment options to help children live longer, healthier lives.

The post Pokémon party at Mayo Clinic Children’s Center brings joy, lasting memories appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Approximately 20 active-duty soldiers from the Twin Cities area were in Rochester, Minnesota, for a special mission.

They made a visit to Mayo Clinic Children's Center to meet with 5-year-old Gabe Downey. Gabe is battling rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare type of cancer often found in soft tissue.

Diagnosed in April, Gabe has been receiving weekly chemotherapy treatments. His family has a strong military background, so his mother, Riley, reached out on social media to share Gabe's medical journey. This led to an incredible outpouring of support from soldiers worldwide, who sent Gabe letters, Facebook messages via his mom's account, and flags and patches from soldiers' uniforms, lifting Gabe's spirits.

The soldiers presented Gabe with more patches and other Army gear.

The group organized a "field promotion" ceremony for Gabe, who was also presented with gifts from both the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings.

Judging by the smiles of his family, mission accomplished!

The post An army of support appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Celebrating advancements of cardiac care               

Sixty-five years after her open-heart surgery — a procedure that was pioneered in the U.S. just years before she needed it — Andree Jacob's heart is still ticking strong. She is a living testament to the importance of medical innovation and the lifetime of gratitude that comes with it.

When Andree, 72, from the Canadian province of Quebec, was a child, her mother noticed she caught colds easily and withdrew to rest often while playing. Her heart would beat rapidly, visible even through her clothes.

Concerned, her mother took her to the doctor multiple times and insisted on testing until a medical team in Montreal discovered Andree had atrial septal defect (ASD). This heart condition, a hole between the upper heart chambers, allows an increased amount of blood through the lungs. This defect may cause shortness of breath; tiredness; swelling of the legs, feet or belly area; and irregular heartbeats, skipped heartbeats, or feelings of a quick, pounding or fluttering heartbeat.

The surgery that saved Andree's life

In the fall of 1958, Andree was scheduled for heart surgery in Montreal, but the operation was postponed. Her father's cousin, Dr. Camille Dufault, an internist involved in research in Canada, arranged for her to have surgery at the renowned Mayo Clinic.

In May 1959, at 7 years old, Andree and her father traveled to Rochester, Minnesota, for surgery.

"I remember the surgery day vividly. My father left me in the care of two nuns before the operation, and I felt abandoned when he didn't follow me into the operating room. I only spoke French at the time," recalls Andree.

Andree's father, a farmer, wrote letters to her mother for the 28 days Andree stayed at Mayo Clinic. He reassured his wife that Andree was doing well, while also reminding her to tend to the dairy cows, pigs and chickens.

A life full of gratitude and resilience

Returning home in June 1959, Andree resumed life with a new vigor. She grew into an active adult who married her American husband in 1974. Together they built a beautiful life with their two daughters and their families. Other than a more recent medication for heart palpitations, her heart has remained healthy and strong.

"On this year's heart anniversary, the number 65 resonated deeply with me, reminding me of how far I've come and how fortunate I am," she recalls. "The courage my parents showed in pursuing the best possible care for me is something I will always honor. They placed their faith in a medical team across the border."

"I am overwhelmed by gratitude — for the skilled hands of the surgeons at Mayo Clinic, for my parents' unwavering support and for the beautiful life I have lived since. Every year, we reflect on the miracles and the love that have shaped our lives," she continues.

History of cardiac innovation

In the 1950s — the time of Andree's surgery — cardiac surgery was still developing. Dr. John W. Kirklin, the Mayo Clinic surgeon who performed Andree's life-changing surgery, was a pioneer in modern-day cardiac care. As a young surgeon supported by a multidisciplinary team of physicians and technicians in Rochester, Dr. Kirklin envisioned using a mechanical pump-oxygenator to support the circulation while working inside the heart.

Dr. Kirklin’s persistence paid off in 1955 with the first successful use of the heart-lung machine at Mayo Clinic.

"The only way to address structural abnormalities inside the heart, like ASD, was to stop the heart so you could go inside it. We needed a heart-lung machine to support the patient's bodily systems," says Dr. Joseph Dearani, cardiovascular surgeon at Mayo Clinic. "It was a revolution and paved the way for the whole future of cardiac surgery."

A flutter of innovation

The first 50 years of cardiac surgery were marked by the introduction of new procedures, especially for congenital heart disease.

The next 50 years have brought many significant advances in cardiology and cardiac surgery:

• Heart-lung machines with numerous safeguards and alarms to address issues immediately during surgery.
• Cardiac catheterization labs (cath labs) with technology that allows doctors to access the heart through a peripheral vessel or another vein, avoiding open-heart surgery and enabling same-day discharge.
• Sophisticated imaging techniques like echocardiography, CT scans and MRI that provide detailed road maps for surgery, allowing surgeons to create 3D models and practice operations on rare anomalies before entering the operating room.
• Advanced anesthesia techniques that enable many patients to have their breathing tubes removed immediately after surgery, along with improved pain management protocols aimed at "painless heart surgery."
• Robotic heart surgery, minimally invasive surgery and thoracoscopic surgery that use small incisions and cameras, resulting in shorter hospital stays, reduced pain and quicker recovery.
• Advanced medications administered around the time of surgery to stabilize patients during the procedure and promote faster recovery.
• More aggressive care plans that encourage patients to walk the halls with rehabilitation staff shortly after surgery, enhancing healing and enabling remarkable activity even the day after surgery.
• Improved understanding of technologies that help experts enhance patient tolerance to surgery and speed recovery.

"So many of the surgeries that we used to perform wouldn't require surgery now because we can treat the patients noninvasively in the cath lab," says Dr. Jonathan Johnson, pediatric cardiologist and chair of the Division of Pediatric Cardiology at Mayo Clinic. "Now we routinely replace valves, insert stents — things that once required opening the chest. Many of those patients don't even have to stay overnight in the hospital."

What's next: Transforming cardiac care

As healthcare continues to evolve at an unprecedented rate, Mayo Clinic continues searching for ways to transform healthcare with artificial intelligence (AI), genetic screening and virtual tools.

• Artificial intelligence: In the future, AI will transform how heart defects are detected and diagnosed from birth. AI will be integrated into handheld ultrasound devices and ECGs to help doctors and care teams record the heart's electrical activity more effectively across different healthcare settings and improve their accuracy. This means that signs of heart issues could be spotted much earlier, even when they're not obvious. AI also will support experts by picking up small irregularities on ECG that might suggest more complicated heart conditions, helping doctors better understand and treat heart issues early on.
• Genetic screening: New genetic screening technologies will become a vital tool. Healthcare professionals will use genetic information to predict the risk of developing heart defects, providing crucial insights even before any symptoms appear. Collaborations with genetic researchers will refine these screenings, making them more accurate and helpful for predicting and managing heart health from earlier ages.
• Advancement in cardiac surgery: Cardiac surgery is increasingly adopting more objective methods to assess and improve performance, focusing on communication and technical skills in the operating room. For example, Mayo Clinic, the University of Michigan, the University of Edinburgh in the U.K., and the United States Tennis Association recently received National Institutes of Health funding to use advanced video assessment techniques to analyze surgical skills in the operating room. This approach will allow surgeons to review their procedures alongside experienced colleagues, providing clearer insights into areas for improvement.

Some things never change

Despite decades of medical innovation, the heart behind pediatric cardiac care at Mayo Clinic beats as strong as ever.

"Our team of professionals work together to do the best for each child’s situation," reflects Dr. Johnson. "It's a ballet of people working together at the same time to create this amazing performance. It's extremely humbling to be part of a field that saves and improves lives. Every day, this remarkable team has nothing but their patients on their minds — that's an incredible thing."

Andree couldn't agree more. "My story is not just about survival," she says. "It's about the extraordinary strength of family, the advancements in medicine and the kindness of those who care for others. It's a reminder that every day is a gift."

The post Grateful heart still ticking 65 years after repair appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

In this Mayo Clinic Minute, Dr. Angela Mattke, a pediatrician with Mayo Clinic’s Children’s Center, explains how Mayo Clinic is leading the way to enhance health literacy for kids through engaging books to inform and inspire young people.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:07) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Developing personal health literacy — which is the ability to find, understand, and use health-related information and services — is something that can begin early in life.

"Mayo Clinic is truly an expert in healthcare. And we have an opportunity to be there talking with children, getting them excited about their health and empowering them to have agency over their own health and the health of their communities," says Dr. Mattke.

Dr. Mattke says these types of books provide accessible information on a wide range of health and science-related topics.

"I think there's a lot of health topics that children struggle to understand — anything from immunizations to why they're feeling sick, especially when children have serious and complex diseases," says Dr. Mattke.

Understanding their disease can help them feel empowered and knowledgeable about how they can participate in their care. But it's not just kids with serious health conditions that can benefit from this education.

"My children have read all these books and have read them multiple and multiple times. And so, they can help understand these diseases. It's inspiring their passion to learn more about science and learn more about health," says Dr. Mattke.

Which is another goal of promoting health literacy in children.

"We need to get kids interested in STEM — science, engineering, technology and medicine. And these are really important topics. And so, we're bringing these topics to kids to get them interested at an early age and inspire that passion.," says Dr. Mattke.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: Boosting kids’ health literacy appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Watch: Braxton Wohlferd's story

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (3:19) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

Wetting a line and catching fish is just one of the many passions of young teen Braxton Wohlferd.

"Whatever they like to bite is what I like to throw," Braxton says. "I just like the aspect of being outdoors and just hanging out with people and having fun."

But earlier this year, this healthy, athletic high schooler from St. Charles, Minnesota, had his world turned upside down in a flash.

"He called frantically," says Melissa Wohlferd, Braxton's mother.

It was the morning after his 16^th birthday. Braxton thought he had the stomach flu. He was vomiting. Suddenly, it got much worse.

"I was like, 'You need to get home. Something's not right,'" Braxton says.

His mom, Melissa, a registered nurse, arrived moments later. "And he was lying on the floor, and his hands and feet were mottling," she says.

"My hands were turning, like, blue, almost. And then we tried to come upstairs, and I collapsed on the third stair," Braxton says.

"He said, 'Mom, I just can't do it. I can't catch my breath. My chest hurts,'" Melissa says.

Braxton was rushed to the Emergency Department at Mayo Clinic. Not long after he arrived, he went into cardiac arrest. Life-saving CPR was performed until Braxton was put on a life support machine.

"I believe it was 22 minutes, full chest compressions. His heart never beat again," Melissa says.

But why?

"Completely healthy and then, within a blink of an eye, he's hooked up to every machine possible, keeping him alive," Melissa says.

Doctors at Mayo soon solved the mystery — a common childhood illness called parvovirus B19, also known as fifth disease.

"The majority of people who get parvovirus may not even know that they've had it," says Dr. Rebecca Ameduri, medical director of the Pediatric Heart Failure and Heart Transplant Program at Mayo Clinic. "Most people, when they get parvovirus, will just have kind of common cold effects and will not have severe side effects like Braxton did."

Braxton's body had an extremely rare reaction to the virus causing his own immune system to attack and break down his heart muscle. "They said it was more likely to get struck by lightning," Melissa says.

"Sometimes, in cases like Braxton, it's what we call fulminant myocarditis, where it happens very rapidly, where those children can deteriorate in less than 24 hours," says Dr. Ameduri.

Braxton's only option was a heart transplant. "It was just so scary," Melissa says.

In less than a week, a miracle occurs. A donor heart arrives. "It was a perfect match for Braxton," Melissa says.

And a heart transplant performed by Mayo Clinic surgeons is a success. "It's kind of surreal to think that I'm still here," Braxton says.

"Without that organ donor, Braxton would not be here," Melissa says.

"Thank you doesn't even cover what I'd like to say. It's unbelievable. It's a selfless act that they give their organs away," Braxton says.

The virus also affected Braxton's legs, causing a condition known as compartment syndrome, which required emergency surgery to remove some of his leg muscles.

"I feel great. Feel like I'm getting my strength back, and I'm gonna keep working at it and plan on keep getting stronger," Braxton says.

Braxton hopes to be back playing baseball next year and planning plenty of future fishing trips.

"I don't know how many other people would have went through this and survived," Braxton says. "They said I was very lucky, I'm a miracle. And I feel like I'm a miracle."

Related stories:

• Mayo Clinic expert explains parvovirus B19, a common childhood infection
• Mayo Clinic Minute: What is myocarditis?

The post (Video) ‘In the blink of an eye,’ healthy teen needs new heart appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Cases of pertussis, commonly known as whooping cough, continue to rise in the U.S.  New numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show nearly 18,000 cases through Oct. 5.  While that is somewhat in line with pre-pandemic numbers, it's a large increase from the same period last year when there were just under 4,000 cases.

Whooping cough is an infectious respiratory illness caused by Bordetella pertussis bacteria. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. 

"This is an infection that causes quite a significant cough," says Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious diseases expert with the Mayo Clinic Children's Center. "It can start like a cold with some runny nose, which then turns into a cough."

Watch: Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse explains pertussis, or whopping cough

Journalists: Broadcast-quality sound bites with Dr. Rajapakse are available in the downloads at the end of the post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Name super/CG: Nipunie Rajapakse, M.D./Pediatric Infectious Diseases/Mayo Clinic.

The infection is characterized by a severe hacking cough followed by a high-pitched intake of breath that sounds like "whoop."

"Generally, the kids who have it can have bouts of coughing where they can't catch their breath. And then after the coughing is finished, they take a big, deep breath to catch their breath from it, and that's where that whooping sound comes from," Dr. Rajapakse says.

Early symptoms of whooping cough

• Runny nose.
• Nasal congestion.
• Red, watery eyes.
• Fever.
• Cough.

 Later symptoms of whooping cough

• Vomiting during or after coughing fits.
• Struggling to breathe.
• Extreme fatigue or exhaustion.
• Ending with a high-pitched "whoop" sound during the next breath of air.

Not everyone with the infection will develop a whoop-sounding cough, and infants may not cough at all. Instead, they may struggle to breathe, or they may even stop breathing temporarily.

Pertussis bacteria produce toxins that inflame the airway.

When to seek medical attention 

• Struggling to breathe.
• Turning blue or purpose.
• Coughing violently or rapidly.
• Not drinking enough fluids.

People of all ages can become infected. However, whooping cough is especially dangerous for babies, particularly those under 6 months. It can lead to severe breathing issues, which may require hospitalization.

Prevention

Whooping cough is a vaccine preventable disease. "Thankfully, this is an infection we have a vaccination for," says Dr. Rajapakse. 

There are two types of vaccine available:

• Diphtheria, tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP)
  This vaccine is for children younger than 7 years old.
• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap)
  This vaccine is for older children and adults, including pregnant women.
  

Tdap is recommended for pregnant women in each pregnancy to provide babies with early protection against pertussis. This is crucial because the first few months of life pose the highest risk for serious illness, and babies don't receive their first pertussis vaccine dose until they're 2 months old.

Dr. Rajapakse says it's important for anyone in close contact with newborns and young infants, such as parents, grandparents or child care providers, to ensure they are up to date on their pertussis vaccination.

Practicing good hand hygiene also can help reduce the spread of respiratory infections.

The post Understanding whooping cough with a Mayo Clinic expert appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester is ranked as a top-performing children's hospital in 10 pediatric specialties in U.S. News & World Report's 2024–25 rankings. The rankings recognize the excellence and effectiveness of the team-based approach central to the Mayo Clinic Model of Care.

Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester is No.1 in Minnesota in the U.S. News & World Report 2024–25 rankings of the "Best Children's Hospitals." Nationally, Mayo Clinic Children's Center is ranked as a top-performing children's hospital in 10 of the 11 pediatric specialties reflected.

The report identifies the top 50 children's hospitals in each of the 11 specialties considered. The rankings demonstrate broad-based excellence and the effectiveness of the team-based approach that is the hallmark of the Mayo Clinic Model of Care. 

"The recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to providing high-quality care for children and their families. This care emphasizes team-based, multispecialty, coordinated care for the most complicated and complex illnesses,” says Amie Jones, M.D., interim medical director for Mayo Clinic Children's Center. 

Mayo Clinic Children's Center remains No. 1 in U.S. News & World Report's "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings for the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

“We are proud of our accomplishments and work every day to continue advancing excellence through innovation and transformative care," continues Dr. Jones. "We thank our amazing care teams for helping us deliver on our mission, bringing hope and healing to children from our community and across the world." 

Mayo Clinic is the medical center most recognized as a top choice for patients and families by U.S. News & World Report and many other ranking organizations and is the only healthcare organization that consistently ranks among the top providers nationwide regardless of the quality measures used.

The post Mayo Clinic ranked among ‘Best Children’s Hospitals’ by U.S. News & World Report appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.

As always, it's strongly recommended that everyone 6 months of age and older get vaccinated for influenza. Dr. Nipunie Rajapakse, a pediatric infectious diseases physician with the Mayo Clinic Children's Center, says the flu vaccine is one of the most effective ways to reduce the severity of influenza illness and to reduce hospitalizations and deaths.

Watch: The Mayo Clinic Minute

Journalists: Broadcast-quality video (1:10) is in the downloads at the end of this post. Please courtesy: "Mayo Clinic News Network." Read the script.

The updated flu vaccine for this season is a trivalent vaccine, meaning it contains protection for not just one, but three different types of influenza.

"There's an H1N1, an H3N2 and an influenza B virus that this vaccine will protect against. Compared to last year, the H3N2 component is different. So this protects against a different strain of that virus that we didn't have in last year's flu vaccine," says Dr. Rajapakse.

As far as the best time to get vaccinated for the flu, Dr. Rajapakse says ideally in September or October. But don't wait too long.

"We recommend getting the vaccine before the end of October, since we tend to see cases of influenza increase in November, December, January. You want to make sure that you're protected going into that time of increased influenza circulation," says Dr. Rajapakse.

She says there are some people who may benefit from getting a flu shot earlier.

"Children under 9 years of age — especially if this is their first time getting the flu vaccine or they haven't had two prior doses of the flu vaccine _ they actually will need two doses separated by four weeks. So, to get that full protection, it'll take them a bit longer."

Also, those who are pregnant and will be delivering early in the flu season may benefit from getting the flu shot earlier.

"Their babies will not be eligible to get the flu vaccine themselves until they're 6 months of age. So making sure that the pregnant person gets their flu vaccine during the pregnancy will provide some protection to that baby after they're born," explains Dr. Rajapakse.

Other prevention tactics

The influenza vaccine isn't 100% effective, so it's also important to take several measures to lower the spread of infection, including:

• Wash your hands. Wash your hands well and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water aren't available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Make sure friends and family whom you're around regularly, especially kids, know the importance of hand-washing.
• Avoid touching your face. Keeping your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth helps keep germs away from those places.
• Cover your coughs and sneezes. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. Then wash your hands.
• Clean surfaces. Regularly clean often-touched surfaces to prevent the spread of infection from touching a surface with the virus on it and then your face.
• Avoid crowds. The flu spreads easily wherever people gather — in child care centers, schools, office buildings, auditoriums and on public transportation. By avoiding crowds during peak flu season, you lower your chances of infection.

The post Mayo Clinic Minute: How to prepare for the 2024-25 influenza season appeared first on Mayo Clinic News Network.