More than 8,000 families are registered with the Center for Autism and Related Services at the University of Central Florida, but experts say there are many undiagnosed throughout Central Florida. Watch this special report According to the latest estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in 68 children in the nation fall somewhere on the autism spectrum. Jonathan Eichenholz, 9, always gets a warm welcome at Nemours Children's Hospital. Jonathan was diagnosed with autism at age 3. Like many autistic kids, he has difficulty in social settings, but his biggest struggle was learning to talk, something his mother says did not come easily. "He understood things, but he couldn't express it," said Robyn Eichenholz. "He really yearns to be social. He wants to talk to people." This month, Nemours Children's Hospital launched an Early Autism Intervention program with $667,000 in funding from the state. That money will be used to provide evaluations and then a roadmap for the necessary therapies. The money will also yield evaluations for 100 Central Florida children regardless of the ability to pay, and it will train therapists and physicians outside of Nemours as well. Child Neurologist Dr. Laufey Sigurdardottir said the grant … Continue reading →

When a person is having a stroke, every second counts and can make the difference between permanent damage and a full recovery. Watch the report New technology in use at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston proved that in February when Ralph Campbell, a retired police officer who lives in Weymouth, was rushed to the hospital's Stroke Center. "It was very, very cold. I'd been working outside a couple of hours. I couldn't get my thumb -- it just didn't want to -- it seemed like it was frozen and didn't want to thaw out," said Campbell. Within minutes Campbell's face and left side of his body were paralyzed. Campbell said he realized it was a stroke when he saw the look on the face of his fianc, Nancy Daignault. "I could see his face, so I knew," said Daignault. "I was afraid to say to 911 that he was having a stroke because I didn't know if he could hear it." Campbell was rushed to South Shore Hospital and then transferred to Brigham and Women's, where he was examined by Dr. Ali Aziz-Sultan, chief of the hospital's cerebrovascular and endovascular divisions. A scan of Campbell's brain showed a blood … Continue reading →

Its a debilitating disease that robs patients of strength and mobility then shortens their lives. But this weekend in the Chicago area, they ride up to 52 miles to show theres no stopping them until they have an effective treatment, maybe even a cure. Ive been in a wheelchair for about 3 years now. All these sports were leaving my life. I loved playing golf and baseball, and I loved downhill skiing and basketball. The rare neuromuscular disorder known as Friedreichs Ataxia was progressively weakening Kyle Bryants body, but it couldnt stop him from cycling. I actually saw a guy online on a trike, and I was like, Oh my gosh! I think I could do that! My first ride was seven miles, and I was so proud of myself. Over the next four months I built up to 100 miles in a day. I was like, sky is the limit! I gotta go huge! And he did. In 2007, Kyle and his father set out on a 2,500-mile, 60-day journey from San Diego to Memphis. We had no idea what we were doing. This disease is threatening our lives, to change everything we had thought for my life, and … Continue reading →