Kennedy Krieger Institute

Sometimes the appearance of a birthmark catches a new parent by surprise. Physicians are often quick to offer reassurance that most birthmarks are harmless, and many will shrink or disappear over time. Although that's true, a birthmark can also be the key to early identification of a rare disorder called Sturge-Weber Syndrome. Dr. Anne Comi, director of the Hunter Nelson Sturge-Weber Center at Kennedy Krieger Institute, tells us how to determine when a birthmark might be a sign of something more.

If you're wondering why Baltimore City Hall is blue, it's for autism awareness. As part of the International “Light It Up Blue” campaign , Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has joined with the Kennedy Krieger Institute on the lighting. The lights go on Monday at sunset and will stay on through April for Autism Awareness Month. Autism is a developmental disorder that impacts one in 88 children, or one in 80 in Maryland . More than 1.5 million are now estimated to be living with the disorder in the United States.

The basketball players settle into drills with the precision and fluidity of a vintage squad - despite the fact that many of them cannot move their bodies from the waist down. Thanks in part to Gerry Herman, they're a wheelchair team to be reckoned with - and among the favorites in April's national championship tournament. For more than 20 years, he and wife Gwena have been co-directors of the Kennedy Krieger Institute's Physically Challenged Sports and Recreation Program, making track stars out of youngsters who can't walk, basketball players out of those who can't jump, and confident striders of those whose sudden falls make the able-bodied gasp.

Linda Schuberth, a senior occupational therapist at the Kennedy Krieger Institute who helped children overcome swallowing and feeding issues, died of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, March 5 at her Homeland home. She was 56 years old. Linda Miller was born in Hazelton, Pa. She earned a bachelor's degree from Temple University and a master's degree from New York University. She was the director of occupational therapy at White Haven Center in White Haven, Pa., and at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. She later held a similar post at United Cerebral Palsy in New York City.

Because of an editing error, an article in Sunday's Carroll County edition incorrectly identified a family member who received outpatient treatment for childhood lead poisoning through Baltimore's Kennedy Krieger Institute. David Williams, 4, of Taneytown, completed a course of treatment as an outpatient.The Sun regrets the error.

A headline for the obituary of Dr. Hugo Moser in Wednesday's editions of The Sun described him as a "Hopkins doctor." While Dr. Moser was on the faculty of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, his principal work was with the Kennedy Krieger Institute, which is affiliated with Hopkins but independent of it.

On Saturday September 18, 2004, EVELYN LEVIN (nee Josephson) beloved wife of the late Dr. Nathan Levin, loving cousin of Dr. Bernard Blackman, of Miami, FL. and Dr. Bernard Siegel, of Yonkers, NY. Services at SOL LEVINSON & BROS INC., 8900 Reisterstown Rd., at Mt. Wilson Lane, on Tuesday September 21 at 11 A.M. Interment at Arlington Cemetery Chizuk Amuno Congregation, 4300 N. Rogers Ave. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made, in her memory, to...

On October 26, 2007, VIRGINIA MAE (nee Carter) COLLINS, beloved wife of the late Frank B. Collins, loving mother of Joan Blair, Frank M. Collins and Debbie Collins, cherished grandmother of Ray, Danielle, Jess and Rachel and great grandchildren, Brandon and Trevor. Also survived by 3 dear sisters. Friends may call at the family owned Duda-Ruck Funeral Home of Dundalk Inc., 7922 Wise Avenue on Tuesday 3 to 5 and 7 to 9P.M. Funeral Service Tuesday 8P.M. Interment Arlington National Cemetery, November 19, 2007.

Elise Kraner Babbitt & John Glenn Welker, both of Baltimore, were married November 10, 2007, by Rev. Laura Cannon, at The Maryland Club in Baltimore, Md. The bride is the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Fred & Janis Babbitt of McGaheysville, Va. The groom is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Glenn & Alicia Welker of Silver Spring, Md. Daniel Babbitt & Charles Hager were ushers. Natalie & Meg Williams were flower girls. The bride graduated from Spotswood High School & received a B.A. in Government from the University of Virginia.

If you're wondering why Baltimore City Hall is blue, it's for autism awareness. As part of the International “Light It Up Blue” campaign , Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has joined with the Kennedy Krieger Institute on the lighting. The lights go on Monday at sunset and will stay on through April for Autism Awareness Month. Autism is a developmental disorder that impacts one in 88 children, or one in 80 in Maryland . More than 1.5 million are now estimated to be living with the disorder in the United States.

A decade-long effort to create a biotechnology park at Johns Hopkins in East Baltimore received a boost Wednesday when a new brain research institute that will be led by several renowned scientists announced plans to establish its headquarters there. Officials with the Lieber Institute for Brain Development announced their selection of the Hopkins-affiliated biopark over four other medical research institutions across the country that vied to become its permanent home. The institute, which is funded by an endowment of more than $100 million, is expected to employ up to 60 researchers focusing on schizophrenia, stem cells, neurobiology and other brain-related fields.

The basketball players settle into drills with the precision and fluidity of a vintage squad - despite the fact that many of them cannot move their bodies from the waist down. Thanks in part to Gerry Herman, they're a wheelchair team to be reckoned with - and among the favorites in April's national championship tournament. For more than 20 years, he and wife Gwena have been co-directors of the Kennedy Krieger Institute's Physically Challenged Sports and Recreation Program, making track stars out of youngsters who can't walk, basketball players out of those who can't jump, and confident striders of those whose sudden falls make the able-bodied gasp.

Sometimes the appearance of a birthmark catches a new parent by surprise. Physicians are often quick to offer reassurance that most birthmarks are harmless, and many will shrink or disappear over time. Although that's true, a birthmark can also be the key to early identification of a rare disorder called Sturge-Weber Syndrome. Dr. Anne Comi, director of the Hunter Nelson Sturge-Weber Center at Kennedy Krieger Institute, tells us how to determine when a birthmark might be a sign of something more.

Nearly 1 percent of children nationwide have autism - with the disorder more than four times more common in boys than girls, according to new figures released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The report, which is in keeping with recent studies that tried to put a number on the puzzling neurobiological disorder, finds an average of one out of every 110 8-year-olds showed symptoms of autism, a sharp increase from the widely cited 1 in 150 figure from the CDC's study on autism's prevalence issued two years ago. Another recent report, based on parent surveys, found autism in 1 in every 100 children.

For Chris Mason-Hale, healing comes in very small stages, sometimes so small he can't even see them. Since suffering a paralyzing spinal cord injury in a Western Tech football game 14 months ago, he has come a long way. But progress is excruciatingly slow for a former star linebacker who cannot walk. The 17-year-old steadily improved in the months just after the accident - a routine tackle that snapped his neck back, breaking the C-5 vertebra and bruising his spinal cord.

April Darchicourt wanted to do something to celebrate the care her daughter received at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. "They did not treat us like an assembly line," she said, recalling that her daughter, Kara, would be 15 this year had she survived cerebral palsy. She died of a seizure in 1999. Each year, Darchicourt, an Edgemere-area homemaker who describes herself as a "domestic goddess," and her husband, Tom, who runs a home improvement business, organize hundreds of motorcyclists for a charity event that brings some excitement to the children being treated at Kennedy Krieger.

C. P. KrishnamurthySchool: Centennial High SchoolHometown: Ellicott CityAge: 16C. P. is a senior and captain of the school's "It's Academic" team, which recently won its first televised round against two rival schools. He is a straight-A student who is also a top-ranking Math Team member and who runs varsity track.He also is a National Merit semifinalist and a Maryland Distinguished Scholar finalist. He writes for Vanguard, a school humor magazine, and volunteers with the American Red Cross.

Caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, a traumatic brain injury can range from mild (known as a concussion) to severe, and can disrupt the way the brain normally works. Signs and symptoms of a brain injury can show up right after the injury or take several hours or days to appear. Although most people get better over time, it is important to know when and how to seek help. Dr. Beth Slomine of the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program at Kennedy Krieger Institute offers advice about head injuries: * Simple precautions can help you reduce the chances of having a traumatic brain injury.