Anyone with celiac disease, a condition that prevents people from eating gluten – an ingredient found in wheat, barley and rye – knows that gluten-free products tend to cost more than non-gluten-free products. At Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, we care for many kids whose families need to maintain a gluten-free lifestyle for them – without breaking the bank. Here are some money-saving tips we share with families:

Remember, there are many regular foods that you CAN eat!
Not everything has to be the more expensive gluten-free specialty products. For example, in the regular cereal aisle, Rice Chex® now is a gluten-free product (check the labeling on the front of the box to be sure). Cornmeal, grits and Cream of Rice® are other gluten-free breakfast or snack options.
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It’s 2 a.m. and cries from the room next door begin again for the third time tonight. You have tried everything but nothing seems to work. You are at the end of your rope and pleading for just a few moments of sleep before you have to settle into another long, stressful day. Will the crying ever stop?

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Update: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Monday, April 20, Medicine collection brings in 2.73 tons

A great way to properly dispose of outdated or unneeded medications, keep dangerous drugs out of the hands of our toddlers and teens, and protect our drinking water is by participating in Medicine Collection Day, this Saturday, April 18.

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A press conference – Protecting Our Children, Strengthening Our Community  – was held this afternoon at Children’s Health Education Center in Milwaukee, in reaction to the many tragic cases of infant death and child abuse we have been seeing in Southeastern Wisconsin. Representatives from Children’s Hospital and Health System, the City of Milwaukee Health Department, Department of Children and Families, Parenting Network and Children’s Trust Fund came together to bring to light the many resources our community has to offer to keep children and families safe. One of the resources I personally have been part of working on is the Safe Haven Law in Wisconsin.

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It was late yesterday afternoon, and I was returning home from walking my dogs Shadow and Lulu. It is a ritual that happens daily, no matter what the weather. The dogs need to walk. It is what they know. It is what we do.

The sun was out, and I was approximately halfway through the walk when I heard it. The sound was the all too familiar, “THUMP, THUMP, THUMP,” of the rotor blades. I did what I always do. I stopped, and I waited.

As I looked up into the horizon I could see the Flight for Life helicopter slowly making its way through the sky. I watched as it moved with deliberate purpose; headed to some unknown location to pick up a very sick child. My stomach dropped, because I knew at that moment someone’s life was different. Something was happening to someone else, and I felt sad. I bowed my head and said a small prayer for the family of the child that would soon be inside the helicopter.

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