Another “C” word is presently putting fear in the hearts of parents and pediatricians alike. It’s called the Croup. The croup is a not uncommon illness of childhood. Yet this season, it has entered the stage of pediatric health care with a vengeance. Let’s take a moment to discuss the croup and what can be

Yom Tov is over. Time to turn our thought to influenza or flu season which is just around the corner. Flu season generally runs from October through May. My readers know I am a proponent of the flu vaccine. The flu vaccine assumes special importance this year. Let’s start with the flu vaccine during “ordinary”

My lifelong drive to do for people and for my community is one of the reasons I became a physician. But my drive is not just about doing. It’s about doing the right thing and doing it properly. Hence, what I’m about to say may not be popular. Yet winning a popularity contest has never

Uncertainty Noun 1. The state of being uncertain 2. Something that is uncertain or causes one to feel uncertain Uncertainty is part of life and it most certainly sums up the last five months of life in this world. Covid-19 barreled into our lives, turning almost everything upside down and inside out. Many people were

In transparency, these musings are being written over what should be my lunch time. However, I have no appetite (a rare occurrence) following a harrowing morning. The phones have been ringing off the hook, a scene that is repeated daily nowadays, and I understand why. But we all need to take one big collective step

We know summer as beach time. Playing in the sand and swimming in natural water. Sports. Hiking. Travel programs. Art programs. Learning programs. Pools. Barbecues on Bubby’s Grandpa’s deck. Sadly, summer 2020 is being truncated programmatically. This means many kids will be home this summer with plenty of time on their hands. Plenty of time

“Dr. Lightman – Will there be camp this summer?” This question rolls off every parent’s tongue nowadays, together with a look of longing that rivals that for a rebuilt Jerusalem replete with the Beit HaMikdash functioning at full capacity. I sure hope that summer camp happens. This important tool for lifelong growth could possibly happen

The rollercoaster called COVID-19 has slammed the world. It is a vortex of information, misinformation and everything in between. Facts and speculation about this moving target change so quickly that a fatiguing mental whiplash is one of its results. Back in the “ancient days” of this pandemic, meaning less than two weeks ago, scientists believed

A new kind of schedule or rhythm is emerging for our children and for us. Children are Zoom-ing through learning. I sincerely hope that children of all ages with disabilities and/or special needs have the proper support to maximize their growth during this unprecedented time. Yet a disquiet pervades. It is ubiquitous. It is in

Megillat Esther is not just a story, let alone a simple one. There are lessons to be gleaned that can help us to address issues that are eclipsing life. Let’s begin with Haman the vizier who was able to pass a decree calling for our annihilation. How did we Jews ever get ourselves into the