During Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital is celebrating its first successful implantation of an Inspire hypoglossal nerve stimulation device in a teenage patient with Down syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea.

"For families whose children have Down syndrome and continue to struggle with sleep apnea despite surgery or cannot tolerate CPAP, having another treatment option can bring renewed hope," said Dr. Aaron Willis, Director of Sleep Medicine at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. "Our goal is to help these teens sleep more soundly so they can feel more rested and participate more fully in the activities they enjoy."

This milestone marks a significant step forward for the Joe DiMaggio Sleep Center, which is celebrating its 12th year of accreditation by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. As South Florida's gold-standard center of excellence for sleep medicine, it is now the only center in the region offering this therapy to these patients, advancing pediatric sleep care into the future.

Dr. Eamon McLaughlin, a community physician who treats adults within Memorial Healthcare System, performed the procedure with assistance from Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital specialists. The pediatric team included Dr. Aaron Willis, Director of Sleep Medicine, Dr. Galia Napchan, associate medical director of pediatric pulmonary and Dr. Thomas Schrepfer, who specializes in pediatric otolaryngology.

The collaboration brings together adult surgical experience and pediatric expertise to help families access a new treatment option close to home.