Latest news with #ChildrensHospitalColorado
CBS News
3 days ago
- CBS News
Colorado 5-year-old returns home, still recovering after hit-and-run
A five-year-old boy from Colorado is back home after he was hit by a car in a crosswalk near Promenade Parkway and Castlegate Drive in Castle Rock. The boy's mom, Amani Willis, says he was on his bike when a car came across the crosswalk and hit him. Willis was taking her son, Zaiden Martin, to get ice cream the evening of Saturday, July 12th, to celebrate a milestone. "He read his first chapter book," said Willis. "He worked hard, he sounded out all the words, and it was a third-grade level book. So that's why I'm like, okay, you deserve some ice cream." What should have been a celebratory evening quickly took a turn when Zaiden was hit, despite their efforts to safely cross. "We pressed the button, so the lights were flashing to indicate there's a pedestrian walking." Zaiden was rushed to Children's Hospital Colorado with a fractured skull and bleeding and bruising on his brain. "It was definitely the worst moment, days of hopefully the rest of my life," said Willis. After spending a week in the hospital, Zaiden left on Saturday in high spirits. "He was unconscious, he was sedated, he was intubated, breathing from a breathing machine. Now he's smiling, he's making jokes. He's being silly," Willis said. And he was still eager to get that ice cream. "He's getting ice cream tonight, whatever he wants, and pizza," shared Willis. While there's now a lot to celebrate, Zaiden is still battling blood clots in his brain and has a long road ahead to a full recovery. Aside from his health, his mom is hoping for an apology from the person who fled. "He's the most empathetic little boy that I've ever met, and it's hard knowing that the person who did this to him didn't check on him, hasn't seen if he's okay, hasn't apologized, hasn't done any of that," Willis said. The Castle Rock Police Department confirmed the driver of the vehicle involved in the hit-and-run has been identified, but due to an ongoing investigation, they could not provide any additional information.
CBS News
6 days ago
- Health
- CBS News
Colorado childhood cancer survivor leads off first-ever Courage Cruise bike tour
The Courage Classic is Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation's biggest fundraiser. Over two-days, millions of dollars are raised by cyclists participating in a mountain bike tour. For the first time ever, there will be a 2-mile, family-fun route with very little elevation gain. The Children's Hospital Colorado Foundation has tapped an eager ambassador for the ride. "Hattie is a brain cancer survivor," said her dad, Gary McMahon. At just 4-months-old, doctors found a large, aggressive tumor at the base of Hadley's brain. "We did one round of chemo and there was no change, so then we did a second round and still no change," McMahon explained. Hadley's doctors were ready to send her home, but her parents were not ready to give up. "Eventually they went with the only other way to beat anything in the cancer world is radiation, so then we went with radiation," McMahon told CBS News Colorado. Doctors don't usually do radiation on children under the age of 3 because of the dangerous long-term side effects. It was a huge decision to put a 8 month old through 10 straight days of that kind of treatment. The McMahons felt they had no other choice. "Obviously, it went from a big, noticeable cancer to a dot," McMahon said. When Hadley left the hospital at 10 months old, she had already fought for her life and won. "Medicine is better off for it. They did a lot of research and papers where written and all this kind of thing. All these great things came of it, and most importantly Haddie. Haddie's still here hanging out with us," McMahon said. At 5 years cancer free, Hadley got to ring the survivors' bell. "So everybody knows I beat cancer," she said. She has a great sense of humor and an adventurous spirit. Now she's ready to take on the Courage Cruise. "Are you going to be in the Courage Classic?" CBS New Colorado Special Projects Producer Libby Smith asked. "I am," she replied emphatically. "What are you going to do in the Courage Classic?" Smith followed up. "I'm going to ride my chair," Hadley responded. While Hadley may be a medical miracle, she's also a precocious 5-year old, ready to push the limits of her power chair. "Cause I'm going to go so fast," she confided. "She plans on winning ... is what I've been told," her father added. Hadley is already a winner in every way. Her family is excited to show up for Children's Hospital at the Courage Classic just like the doctors and staff at Children's showed up for Hadley when she needed them most. "I love riding my bike," said Hadley's older brother Rhys. "I just got a new geared one." LINK: To register & get more information about Courage Cruise The Courage Classic is July 19 & 20, 2025. The start/finish line is at Copper Mountain. The Courage Cruise is one of the many routes that cyclists can ride.
Medscape
15-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
How To Talk Vaccines With Skeptics: 5 Tips From a Doctor
Vaccines recommended for children and adolescents are safe and effective and have prevented an estimated 146 million deaths in children under the age of 5 years worldwide. However, many clinicians continue to face questions and concerns from parents and may feel uncertain about how to respond. In a recent JAMA Insights , Sean T. O'Leary, MD, MPH, professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, and pediatric infectious disease specialist at Children's Hospital Colorado, outlined five strategies to help physicians build trust and support informed vaccination decisions. Tip 1: Understanding Vaccine Hesitancy Most individuals who question vaccines do not intend to cause harm. Acknowledging this shared concern lays a respectful foundation. For example, 'We both want what is best for your child — keeping them healthy and protected.' This is the most important thing to recognize when communicating with families about vaccination. Tip 2: Effective Communication Strategies For parents who resist an initial presumptive recommendation, clinician responses can shape the outcome of the conversation. A statement such as 'It's time for Maya's vaccines today' normalizes vaccination as routine medical care, whereas a question like 'What do you think about vaccines today?' indicates that vaccination is optional, potentially reinforcing doubt. Tip 3: Values-based messaging Many vaccine-hesitant parents value natural approaches to their health and personal autonomy. Instead of positioning vaccines in opposition to these values, clinicians can frame immunizations to support a child's natural defenses and protect them from serious illnesses. Vaccine conversations should be ongoing and not one-off. Parents who initially decline may change their minds if they consistently hear the same message from a trusted clinician. Gentle persistence, combined with respect for parental decision-making, can lead to higher vaccine uptake. Tip 4: Pre-bunk Misinformation Another effective technique is pre-bunking, which involves addressing false information before parents encounter it. Cautioning parents during well-baby visits about inaccurate sources of information can reduce the influence of false claims on vaccination. For example, a clinician might say, 'There is a lot of inaccurate information about vaccines out there that can make vaccines seem unnecessary or even scary. I have some good sources of information I recommend.' By proactively pre-bunking unreliable information, clinicians can prevent parents from being swayed by misleading narratives. Tip 5: Motivational interviewing Instead of simply stating that vaccines are safe, clinicians can strengthen confidence by using motivational interviewing techniques to explain the rigorous safety testing that vaccines undergo before approval, that vaccines are removed from the market if serious safety concerns arise, and that robust surveillance systems are in place to monitor adverse events. Inserting a simple statement, such as 'I have heard that concern before and I have looked into it. Would you mind if I share with you what I found out?' may make parents more receptive to subsequent shared factual information. Effective communication strategies can help clinicians build trust, navigate difficult vaccine conversations, strengthen parents' intentions to vaccinate, and improve vaccine uptake. Conclusion A presumptive approach presenting vaccination as the norm, combined with listening to parents' concerns, motivational interviewing, and pre-bunking unreliable information, can improve vaccine acceptance. Building trust through clear explanations, aligning messages with parental values, and leveraging social norms further strengthens vaccine confidence. Although some parents may not immediately accept vaccines, ongoing dialogue and consistent messaging can increase the likelihood of their eventual acceptance. Using these communication strategies, clinicians can help ensure that more children receive life-saving vaccines, thereby protecting both individual and public health.
