Mayo Clinic Children's

02/19/2026

March is Marfan Syndrome Awareness Month.
Marfan syndrome is a genetic condition that affects connective tissue and can impact the heart, eyes, and skeleton. With early diagnosis, regular monitoring, and treatment, many people with Marfan syndrome can live full, active lives.
https://mayocl.in/4czNKC8

02/15/2026

We had a LOVE-ly time painting with our friend and local artist, Ally! 🎨

We’re so thankful to the Peters Memorial Fund for supporting many events like this. Your generosity truly means a lot to the kids and families we serve.

02/14/2026

On National Donor Day, we recognize the power of giving hope — and life. 💙
Becoming an organ donor is one of the most impactful ways to make a difference. Just weeks before turning 14, Beckett received a lifesaving liver transplant. Discover his remarkable journey and the care that made it possible: https://mayocl.in/3OkSLo6

02/13/2026

A congenital heart defect is a problem with the structure of the heart that a child is born with. Some CHDs are simple, while others require specialized care and sometimes multiple surgeries over many years.

Learn more about CHDs from pediatric cardiologist Jonathan Johnson, M.D., and help us raise awareness for early diagnosis, advanced treatment, and lifelong support.
https://mayocl.in/4cqV1Ei

02/11/2026

5 Things You Should Know About Epilepsy:

🔹 1 in 26 people will develop Epilepsy in their lifetime.

🔹 Epilepsy is a brainwave‑based condition diagnosed through MRI and EEG to identify seizure types and underlying causes.

🔹 Most seizures are short, but seizures lasting over 5 minutes or multiple seizures in an hour require urgent action and may need a seizure action plan.

🔹 Monitoring matters! Subtle or nighttime seizures may need video EEG, while generalized tonic‑clonic seizures can be detected with FDA‑cleared wearable devices.

🔹 Epilepsy surgery may be an option for the one‑third of patients whose seizures continue despite treatment, especially when doctors can identify a specific seizure focus or when certain generalized epilepsies benefit from disconnection procedures.

If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with epilepsy, you may be asking yourself a lot of questions. Our experts are here to help answer them. For mor...

12/19/2025

Since 2016, Hy-Vee annual Balloon Brigade has delivered more than 5,000 balloons to children at Mayo Clinic Children’s Center, including more than 500 this December.

Each December, Hy-Vee invites customers to donate balloons during a two-week period. Hy-Vee teams then inflate and deliver them directly to patient rooms, helping brighten the holidays for pediatric patients and their families.

Thank you to Hy-Vee and to every customer whose donations make this tradition possible. Mayo Clinic

12/16/2025

Food allergy affects an estimated 8% of children under age 5. While there's no cure, some children outgrow their food allergies as they get older.

For some people, an allergic reaction to a particular food may be uncomfortable but not severe. For other people, an allergic food reaction can be frightening and even life-threatening. Food allergy symptoms usually develop within a few minutes to 2 hours after eating the offending food. Rarely, symptoms may be delayed for several hours.

The most common food allergy signs and symptoms include:

🔹 Tingling or itching in the mouth
🔹 Hives, itching or eczema
🔹 Swelling of the lips, face, tongue and throat or other parts of the body
🔹 Wheezing, nasal congestion or trouble breathing
🔹 Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting
🔹 Dizziness, lightheadedness or fainting

See your health care provider or allergist if you have food allergy symptoms shortly after eating. If possible, see your provider when the allergic reaction is occurring. This will help your provider make a diagnosis.

12/11/2025

😴 Is Your Child Getting Enough Sleep?
Summer fun can throw off bedtime routines—but healthy sleep is essential for kids’ growth, learning, and emotional well-being. 🌙✨
✅ Recommended sleep by age:
👶 4–12 months: 12–16 hrs
🧒 1–2 years: 11–14 hrs
👦 3–5 years: 10–13 hrs
👧 6–12 years: 9–12 hrs
🫶 Teens: 8–10 hrs

Signs of sleep deficit include irritability, poor school performance, and trouble concentrating. 🛑
💡 Tips for better sleep:
✔ Stick to consistent bed/wake times
✔ Limit screens before bed
✔ Create calming bedtime routines
✔ Keep bedrooms cool, dark & quiet
👉 Learn more and set your kids up for success: [link]

12/09/2025

👶 Caring for Kids with Airway Issues
Airway emergencies in children are high-risk, low-frequency—and quick, accurate assessment is critical. 🩺
✅ Mayo Clinic expert Dr. Anna DePompolo recommends using the Pediatric Assessment Triangle (PAT) to rapidly evaluate:
🔹 Appearance
🔹 Circulation to skin
🔹 Work of breathing
💡 If two sides of the PAT are compromised, intervention is needed. If all three? The child is critically ill.
Learn why untreated respiratory compromise is the leading cause of pediatric cardiac arrest and how to stay prepared.
👉 Read more: https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/pediatrics/news/caring-for-young-pediatric-patients-experiencing-airway-issues/mac-20589831?vp=mpg-20426280

12/09/2025

The Child Life Program at Mayo Clinic Children’s benefits from the generosity of community donors. If you’re interested in donating to the Child Life Program, please consider viewing our Amazon wish list for current needs. Your generosity directly supports our pediatric patients and their families.

Amazon wish list link: https://amzn.to/4psh5SS

For all donation inquiries, please contact the Child Life program at childlife@mayo.edu

12/04/2025

🎨 Unlock Your Creative Potential!
Creativity isn’t just for the “naturally gifted”—it’s a skill you can learn with time and practice. 🧠✨
💡 Discover the two key types of creative thinking:
🔹 Divergent thinking = brainstorming big ideas
🔹 Convergent thinking = choosing the best one
Want tips to boost your creativity and train your brain? 🏆 Check out insights from Best Brain Ever by Therese Huston, Ph.D.
👉 Read more: https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/parenting/the-science-of-creativity-and-how-to-boost-yours/

11/18/2025

Mayo Clinic Hospital Gift Shops are teaming up with Mayo Clinic Children's to make the season brighter for Mayo's youngest patients spending time in the hospital.

Purchase a gift item for a child in one of the Gift Shops. The items are donated to the Sharing Tree, Mayo's Child Life team's holiday gift program, from which parents or guardians of patients can select a gift for their child at no cost.

Gift items will be collected by the Gift Shop team until Dec. 19.

Your generosity can make a world of difference. Stop by one of the Hospital Gift Shops today and celebrate the season of giving:

Methodist Gift Shop
Eisenberg Building Lobby Level, Methodist Campus of Mayo Clinic Hospital — Rochester
Sisters Crossing Gift Shop
Joseph Building, Saint Marys Campus of Mayo Clinic Hospital — Rochester

If you are unable to make it in person. Check out our Child Life Amazon donations page: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/25Q5HLO3JBYTC?ref_=wl_share