Families from all around the world traveled to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in July for an educational conference about Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome (BWS), a congenital, genetic condition that can cause premature birth, hypoglycemia, abdominal wall defects, abdominal malignancies and macroglossia (enlarged tongue).
Families came from as far as Australia to take part in the two-day conference, which brings together medical experts to discuss the latest updates in treatment, management, and surgical options of the condition, which includes tongue reduction surgery. The patients and their families had the opportunity to meet with specialists in the fields of cardiology, genetics, oncology, orthopedics, plastic surgery, anesthesiology, audiology, speech therapy, genetics, and orthodontics/dentistry. The families also had an opportunity to meet and network with others who have a child with this condition.
The conference is sponsored by Beckwith Wiedemann Children's Foundation International and the
Center for Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome at Nicklaus Children’s, one of the few in the nation with longstanding experience in evaluating and caring for children with BWS. Nicklaus Children’s offers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to care that addresses the full scope of needs for families of children born with this congenital disorder.