SickKids VS

While still in utero, David was diagnosed with a severe muscle-wasting disease called spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). The early diagnosis was devastating for David’s family, but his medical team saw a rare opportunity to treat the disease sooner. We tell the remarkable story of how SickKids and Mount Sinai Hospital worked together to dose David with a game-changing SMA gene therapy — the earliest delivery in Canada.

There are a lot of myths about autism, making it hard to figure out what we really know — and what we don’t. We talk to leading researchers Drs. Stephen Scherer and Louise Gallagher, as well as SickKids research participant Jon, about what our genes are teaching us about autism. They'll help us sort facts from fiction — and explain how a "holy grail" breakthrough could give children and families more care options.

Most of us seek — and find — answers whenever worrisome symptoms arise. But some kids grow up facing ever-evolving health issues without discovering why. Hear how far and long Melika and her parents went in their search for an elusive answer. And meet the determined genetics counsellor who provides families like theirs with a much-needed glimmer of hope during the anguish of not knowing what’s wrong.

When a clinical trial offers hope, financial barriers shouldn't stand in the way. For 12-year-old Nika and her family, participating in a potentially life-saving clinical trial at SickKids means more than appointments and medications; it means travel, unexpected expenses, and a new routine. In this episode, Nika’s mom, Amanda, shares what that journey has looked like, and how a new SickKids program is helping families like hers remove some barriers, so that they can focus on what matters most.

In middle school, Mason was struggling to get through the day without an accident. He has bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD), an extremely common condition. But Mason is part of the 1 per cent of kids who don't respond to any existing treatment. Until now. Hear how his SickKids team, an innovative program, and one tiny device strengthened the connection between his mind and body - and opened up his entire life.