SickKids VS

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.

Newborn mortality is one of the biggest challenges facing global child health. One SickKids scientist is determined to change that with an inexpensive kit that gives parents the tools they need to keep their newborn healthy and safe. Join us as we track the kit’s impact in northern Pakistan — and its potential to save children's lives around the world.

Despite advancements in treatment, leukemia survival rates have remained unchanged for years—until now. A groundbreaking clinical trial is transforming outcomes for children. Hear from the SickKids experts who led this game-changing breakthrough and the family whose journey was forever changed by it.

When Harper was four, she was surgically tethered to a machine the size of a dishwasher. It kept her alive as she waited for a heart transplant. But it meant her life was confined to a hospital indefinitely. A new study explores the complex emotions and impact for families surviving in limbo

An accident at the beach left 15-year-old Lauryn in extreme discomfort for years. Pain is one of the body’s most important signals for survival but sometimes signals in the brain can get crossed and the hurt continues long after an injury has healed. Hear from a team that’s re-wiring brains to put pain in its place.

Organ failure is a race against time. Even when a transplant is possible, plenty can still go wrong. But major advances are improving the odds and creating new outcomes for patients, as you’ll hear in this tale of two strangers — Brad and Regan, whose lives became forever intertwined.

(For bonus content or to advance similar research, please visit SickKidsFoundation.com/podcast. The SickKids VS Podcast is generously sponsored by CIBC and edited by Quill).

Many families rush to hospital emergency departments every day. Some don’t know why a child is sick. Some do. But they all share a common concern: how long will we have to wait? Hear how one emergency physician (who’s also a computer scientist) is harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to address wait times so more patients and caregivers can see health-care experts sooner.

(To advance breakthrough research and care like this, please visit SickKidsFoundation.com/podcast. SickKids VS is generously sponsored by CIBC and edited by Quill.)