Hello my name is Yoleita and I have an 8 month old daughter who was born with a cleft lip and palate, a cleft foot, & also a cleft in her forehead.
Children's Hospital Los Angeles has been there for us since the first month she was born.
Now she is schedualed to have her lips repaired and they help ensure us that everything will go fine. They made us feel very confident that there is nothing to worry about!
I never worked for your hospital, but would more than love to. I check the website regularly and I've been there in person once. That one time was quite an experience to me and my family (my family as my big supporter drove with me all the way from Sacramento to LA).
As I walked in the hospital, it felt comfortable enough as a second home. Maybe it was my big desire to serve as a registered nurse there or "as they say" you can feel a vibe of a place that comes from the experiences that happen inside.
Anyway just thought I could share my story and again a big thank you for serving our children!
When Danielle Overholt shared her son August’s story at CHLA.org/SHARE, we asked her if we could feature her son's story for our August fundraising campaign.
It was more than his unusual name that caught our attention during these hot summer months – it was his joyful spirit and his family’s unwavering hope.
August's Heart
A Journey of the Heart
By August's mom, Danielle
When I was pregnant with my 3rd child, an ultrasound revealed that my son, August had an arrhythmia in his heart. The doctors were aware, but not too concerned. His birth was a miracle in itself.
On August 30, 1995, My water broke, I arrived at the hospital at 6am and our sweet little guy was born at 6:47 a.m.!
He came out a little blue and not breathing and he had to be rescuscitated at birth. He was taken away from us right away for testing and was diagnosed with Transposition of the Great Vessels and other smaller defects.
“By a miracle, we were sent to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where the care was phenomenal!”- Danielle, August’s mom
We went home for a few months with a blue baby who slept 20 hours a day on average. Children with this heart disease can live up to about 2 years at most with no surgery. The doctors wanted to wait until he got a little stronger to do any type of procedure.
My two children would wait so patiently for him to wake up and rejoice and get so excited to spend those few hours with him each day. Stunned and struggling at first, we began this journey of tests, surgeries, hospital stays, doctors, tears, fears and even joys with lots of prayer!
When he was 4 months old, doctors reversed the flow of blood in his heart with the Senning repair, to have it pump backwards and maybe function like a normal heart. We were sent home with his pacemaker and CPR training.
We had 7 perfect years of health and never relying on the pacemaker, but the heart is not meant to pump this way and failed. We thought that August had pneumonia as he was out of breath and could not walk without being winded. His condition worsened and he began projectile vomiting and we immediately took him to the ER.
We would have never imagined that we would be told that our little guy was in heart failure. But sure enough, we were about to begin the next phase of his heart issues.
By a miracle, we were sent to Children's where the care was phenomenal! Dr. Starnes and Dr. Silka are amazing. They earnestly tried to fix his heart with 3 more surgeries in two years, but to no avail. His heart was worn out and it was compared to an old man's heart.
August then almost 9 years old, went on a transplant list as his heart was very weak and quickly worsening. He would jump or fall like any normal boy while playing, but this would get his heart rhythms out of sync and he would need to have it shocked back to a normal rhythm.
It was at this time that the old pacemaker from the first surgery kicked in and began to help pick up beats for him. Thank God for good batteries!
Then, our miracle came. We got a call that he would receive a very strong heart after only 20 days on the list! August was thrilled! He helped prep himself for the surgery. He helped remove caps and things for the nurses, spread the Betadine soap on his skin, and was just such a joy to everyone he came in contact with that day. He hadn't eaten for 27 hours, but did not complain once.
He has definitely been given the grace of God to handle this life of his. Transplant is a very difficult journey in itself. There is a lot of pain, suffering, endless tests and medications for life.
Seventeen days after his transplant, August went home, in a giant limo and was greeted by all the neighbors on our street, waving and standing out on the street.
The past six and a half years post-transplant have been both challenging and wonderful. It is challenging to August in his patience, medication adjustments and continual testing of his heart. But, the wonderful part is that we have a beautiful healthy boy, that we get to enjoy each day. The team at CHLA have been phenomenal! Dr. Menteer, August's cardiologist, has such a sweet connection with August and they are good friends as well. We now attend the heart clinic every three months and every station of testing is equipped with wonderful nurses and technicians, we love the staff at Children's. We are so thankful that God brought us here, and that through lots of prayer, we have a healthy 15 year old son. He surfs with his dad, enjoys volleyball and has boundless energy. We are truly thankful for every day.
Nearly 8,000.
That's how many children rely on our leading Heart Institute that repaired August’s heart every year.
We’re proud of the way Children’s Hospital Los Angeles treats kids better. But we couldn’t do it without your support.
Your donation helps provide hope for a healthy future for children like August.
I want to compliment you on your nurse residency program and video. I found myself smiling with tears, watching it this morning.
It's nice to know someone is really supporting the new nurses. I have been a registered nurse since 1982. I would like to share my knowledge of progressive alternative energy medicine with other nurses, so they can help patients, with pain, and disease.
I am a certified reiki master-teacher, and reconnective energy therapist. I will write to you soon.
Again, thank you for supporting the children, and the new nurses, with your nurse residency program.
I'm not a present employee but a former employee of the Diagnostic Imaging Department.
My coworkers and the entire staff were some of the most caring and loving people I have encountered in my career. I worked there for about 6 years and I highly recommend this hospital to any and everyone who wants their child taken care of by the best. You will never meet a more dedicated staff and group of doctors.
Working at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles enriched my life and made me a better person. I really miss and the great friends I made while working there and I hope I brought some joy to the children and their family during my years of employment there.
On August 3,2010, my 11-year-old daughter, Dahlia, and my 14-year-old daughter, Sharoya, were attacked in their home by a family member.
Dahlia was DOA when the paramedics arrived. Sharoya was critical from loss of blood due to multiple stabbed wounds. She was life-flighted to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles.
She went immediately into emergency surgery to save her life. Children's Hospital of Los Angeles went above and beyond to help her recover.
The nurses were extremely understanding to her traumatic event. They had the child pyschologist visit her daily to see how she was feeling, and also had them speak with family.
They went above and beyond to make sure my family and I were dealing with the loss of our daughter, and to understand the long recovery process for Sharoya. They even had a guard outside her door 24 hours a day to give her added safety. We constantly had people coming in to offer their services and to meet our needs, to help us in our tragic time.
Before Sharoya left the hospital she had her first therapy appointment scheduled. I am so thankful to the staff, this was the worst time in my families life and they made it bearable.
I was a fighter from day one. I was born with a heart condition. I was what doctors call a blue baby, born with a heart on the opposite side and upside down. My arteries and valves were closing. The doctors at the hospital said I would not live.
Then a young doctor just out of med school gave my parents hope. His name was Dr. Henry Heins. I was then transferred to Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles.
There I had my first operation. The surgeon went in, opening arteries and valves. I had a happy childhood. My parents never stopped me from doing what I wanted and treated me like you would any other child. I took up ballet and tap.
At the age of 5, my heart had grown and the valves and arteries where closing again. So, another operation for me. So back to Childrens Hospital. I never remember being frightened. I guess if you're born with something you know no different. Just went in and had my operation.
At Childrens again, I was like any normal American little girl. The only diffrence was that I had two scars on my back and had to take meds every morning. At the age of 13, again I started turning a little blue and had to have my 3rd operation, this time at UCLA. Dr Lax operated and put a pigs valve in.
For 22 years, I had no problems. I lived a very happy life. Graduated from High Scool and College, got married and moved up north to Monterey. At 35, I started getting ill doctors did not know what was wrong, turned out that I had a bacterial infection growing on my heart. At UCLA, Dr. Lax performed a operation to remove my pigs valve and replace with a mechanical valve.
Today, 5 years later, I am healthy with no complications. I have sinced moved to Palm Desert and live a very happy single life. I have learned to live life to the fullest, never put off what you can do today becouse you never know what tommorrow might bring. I take each day as it comes. My life has not been a easy one, but I have taken it in stride.
I just celebrated my 42nd Birthday and each day I am happy to be alive. Dr Henry Heins passed away 15 years ago, I would like to thank him for looking over me in the heavens above.
I would also like to thank the team at Childrens Hospital. The staff at UCLA, Dr. Child, Dr.Lax, Pam Miner and Linda Houser in saving my life. A special thanks goes to my parents, in never giving up and always being there for me.
A few hours after our baby girl, Julianna, was born she started turning duskey. They had her under observation and realized it was a serious problem.
They performed a ECG and a ultrasound on her heart. And realized she had a congential heart defect called transposition of the great arteries. At that point, they told us she would need open heart surgery. If she didn't have the surgery she wouldn't survive.
Being a parent and knowing your newborn needs heart surgery is devasting. You don't know what to expect or what the outcome will be.
On March 5 , 2010, one day after she was born they transfered her to Children's Hospital Los Angeles. When we spoke to the surgeons and cardiologist at the hospital, we felt more at ease, knowing how high the success rate for TGA surgery is. And how much expertise they have.
Julianna had surgery when she was four days old. Dr. Starnes, his team and the nurses are amazing. After a little over two weeks, we were able to take our daughter home. She is now 2 months and doing great!
Thank you, Dr. Starnes for saving our daughter's life! With your work and with God, we have a miracle baby. Words can not express how deeply appreciative and blessed we feel.
June 4, 2008, myself and my baby, Jonathan, were flown to CHLA to the CTICU [Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit] floor, from Las Vegas, NV, and I was soooooo upset.
On June 9, 2008, my 5 lb baby boy had open heart surgery performed by the amazing Dr. Starnes. HE SAVED MY BABY'S LIFE!!! Almost 2 years ago, I was so upset to be at CHLA, now I am soooo HAPPY and BLESSED to have been sent there and I met so many WONDERFUL and KIND angels there.
Thank you Dr. Starnes, Dr. Epstein, and all the surgeons, doctors, NURSES, and staff who saved my babies life, and were so kind to us during our stay. My Baby Boy is doing FABULOUS and is cleared for no cardiology visits for a year now.
From her family: a mere thank you will never suffice
On March the 2nd, 2007 our precious daughter Zoey was life-flighted from our local hospital to CHLA...and so began our love affair with Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles. We are indebted to you for ever and for always.
Zoey's entrance into this world marked the commencement of a miraculous journey—a journey of challenges and obstacles—a journey of beauty, grace, and hope. She made her entrance with an extra 21st chromosome, and so began our family's walk with Down syndrome. One extra chromosome, a multitude of blessings, trials, and lessons.
Her frail body arrived with AV Canal Complete and Transient Myeloproliferative Disorder, a transient form of leukemia, necessitating a lengthy stay in Children's Hospital Los Angeles. It was also determined that Zoey had suffered an in-utero stroke.
Despite these initial trials, Zoey flaunted her feisty spirit and persisted on to complete a successful heart repair surgery.
In February 2008, Zoey was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms, a catastrophic seizure disorder emanating from her stroke site. After various therapies and treatments, Zoey's seizures finally were brought under control with Topamax, a drug that gave Zoey the upper hand on epilepsy.
In October 2008, Zoey was diagnosed with AML M7, Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, and, in true Zoey fashion, she remains in remission after six rounds of chemotherapy. But to limit Zoey's existence and achievements to a medical timeline or the confines of a genetic condition would be the ultimate disservice to our little fighter girl and our God.
Zoey is a testament of God's faithfulness and timing. Zoey is a beacon of light in a shadowy world of hardship. She is an illustration of perfection in her innocence and resiliency. She is a representation of all that is good. She is a daughter and a sister who has been the guide for her family and their faith on a walk into the unknown. She serves as the captain of a ship on uncertain seas. She is an expert teacher on living each day and each moment in the present.
Though her strides thus far have already been numerous, she undoubtedly has much more to share with this world.
I grew up not near any hospitals and wish I had. I wanted to be near one and am so glad I was when Sean was born eleven years ago with VACTERLS Association [a non-random association of birth defects] as well as other health issues.
Dr. Stein saved his life at three days old, and the care from Dr. Eyal Ben-Isaac ever since has kept Sean alive. Dr. Shin saved Sean's life late one night in 2005 when he was on the 6th floor following a major surgery.
Without these doctors close by, Sean would not be here. The care from the Emergency Room by Dr. Kearl and so many others helps us know we can go there with Sean and know the help will be the best.
I was an outpatient at Children's Hospital from 1981- 1992. The outstanding care I received from Dr. Elaine Lieberman and staff not only saved my life, but also enabled me to a "normal" life/life span.
I am now an attorney and married mother of four children, who would not exist had it not been for the awesome medical care that Childrens Hospital provides.
P.S. I married a Children's Hospital of San Francisco Alumnus too!!
I initially began donating blood to Children's Hospital Los Angeles about 2 years ago.
A very close friend and his wife, Doug and Therese Spencer, had just had twins, Avery and Paige. Avery was born with heart problems as well as bleeding on her brain.
Doug's brother, Josh Spencer, organized a blood drive at the hospital in honor of Avery...so friends and family came out to support. Once we arrived at the hospital, a flood of memories washed over me.
I had open heart surgery in 1976 when I was 3 years old and Children's Hospital Los Angeles is where I had my surgery. I guess because I'm 36 years old now, I hadn't really thought about being at the hospital or what my family or I had gone through during that time. But that day I remembered: the nurse who helped me every morning to brush my teeth...the tech who always talked me through my MRIs...the therapists—so many memories.
And at that moment I was thankful for Childrens Hospital. Not only for saving my life but for saving Avery's life too. And I will continue to donate as my way of giving thanks and giving a little bit of hope to the children and families who's lives you touch every day.
So thank you to you Children's Hospital Los Angeles!! THANK YOU!!
My nephew was hospitalized in this beautiful hospital on March 2010. He was diagnosed with AML [Acute Myelogenous Leukemia].
My heart was broken at the time, but I knew we will come out of this little by little. He was just told he is now in remission after his first chemotherapy.
My first visit to the hospital was the most painful experience and I mean it in the sense being heartbroken by seeing so many children who need the care and every time I left it hurt even more knowing I could not do much for them.
I'm Catholic but never in my life I thought I would find myself praying more than ever for all those beautiful children in desperate need of good health and my nephew is one of them.
God bless all those beautiful angels. I love you, Fatboy, with all my heart.
My daughter Antoinette Charmaigne Cerna was born with Spina Bifida. She transferred care from another hospital to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles Spina Bifida clinic. We were truly blessed the day we started going there.
When we found out about her condition, we were scared and unsure of what path my daughter was going to take. The staff there are amazing and make it comfortable enough for us parents to understand here condition, and not be afraid to question and ask questions. We call them God's angels.
Thank you CHLA for having such a clinic. Our prayers are always with the doctors and staff at the hospital. Thank you again!! God bless the hands that care for the children at Children's Hospital Los Angeles!!!
El nombre de mi hija es Giselle. Ella nacio con una condicion especial. Tiene síndrome de down y nacio con problemas de corazon. Su primer cirugia fue a los 6 dias de nacida y ahora a los 3 meses un cateterismo de la arteria aorta.
Nos falta otra cuando cumpla 6 meses. Pero tengo confianza ya que aqui me han demostrado el profesionalismo que tienen se que estan en las mejores manos en cuanto a doctores y hospital. Y estoy sorprendida por el trato humanitario que tienen hacia mi nena. De igual forma las enfermeras son muy amables y tratan a mi hija con carino.
Yo no tengo mas que agradecer a todos los que a hecho posible que hoy mi nena este con vida. Y claro con la voluntad de dios todo a has sido posible.
Thanks to Children's Hospital Los Angeles, my son, Christopher, is still with us.
My son was born with the heart condition, TAPVR [Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return]. He had open heart surgery at one day old without me knowing. I was miles away from him but knew he was in good hands, after I found out.
The nurses and doctors were great. Now, Christopher is three years old and he is doing great.
On February 27, 2010 the CHLA Blood Donor Center allowed my wife, daughter and I to hold an annual Celebration of Life Blood Drive In Honor/Memory of our son "DJ."
DJ Martinez was a patient of CHLA. We lost our little guy 2/28/2006 from complications of Cerebral Palsy.
All staff there at the donor center were AWESOME, from the initial contact, day of blood drive and the follow up call EVERYBODY was so supportive, welcoming and compassionate.
In January 2009, Evan was two days old, and we were packing up our things in the hospital to take a seemingly healthy brand new baby boy home. We just needed one last check from the pediatrician.
It was in this last checkup, that the doctor heard a suspicious murmur in Evan's heart and one ultrasound later, our son was diagnosed with Unbalanced AV [atrioventricular] Canal. They sent us home with Evan on oral medications and told us to prepare for open heart surgery. The day we got home, we got a call from Evan's pediatrician and learned that she had firsthand experience with babies with heart failure as her son had received a heart transplant at the age of seven months.
We didn't feel so alone anymore and were so thankful to know someone with experience. It was through her recommendation and our cardiologist's referral, that we decided on CHLA and that Dr. Starnes was who we needed to see for treatment.
Since Evan's AV Canal defect was "unbalanced," the doctors weren't sure if it would be possible to repair the holes in a way that both ventricles could function. They discussed doing the first of a three-stage surgery repair that would result in a functioning, but only one-ventricle heart.
We were OK with that, as long as it meant that Evan had a chance at more life, but we still hoped for the two-ventricle repair and just wanted what was best. We were told time after time that if anyone could make Evan's heart a two-ventricle working heart, it was Dr. Starnes.
We quickly put our trust in him and his team at CHLA, and we were just so relieved that we had options. It was their expertise, their reputation, and their confidence that gave us hope in every moment of the journey.
Evan went in for his first open heart surgery at the age of six weeks, which resulted in a two-ventricle heart with holes fixed! Although it wasn't an easy road—and he ended up needing a second open heart surgery to do a few more repairs two weeks later—we knew we were in the best hands.
After a four-week stay, we happily took our baby boy home and enjoyed the happiest 9 months of our lives to date! Still knowing that Evan would need more repairs for a leaky valve, they monitored him closely. One week before Evan's one-year birthday, he started to show signs of heart failure, and within three days of being symptomatic, our cardiologist at CHOC, and the CHLA team worked together to have him in the OR with Dr. Starnes once again for his third open heart surgery in under a year.
We again took a happy baby boy home a week later. It was a miracle surgery and recovery. Daily, we think of the CHLA team and are thankful that between their work and God's will, we have a miracle boy in our hands.
My son, La'Renzo, started having seizures on February 14, 2010. His seizures have been lasting five minutes and after his seizures, he sleeps for an hour or two. He has had a total of ten seizures in three weeks.
His CAT scan was normal. He has an appointment on the 18th with you. I thank God for Childrens Hospital because the doctors there have a good reputation for helping children.
We are excited and can't wait to visit. My life will be at ease knowing my son is under your care.
August's Heart
Then a young doctor just out of med school gave my parents hope. His name was Dr. Henry Heins. I was then transferred to Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles. 
