All CHLA Blog Posts
Published on September 26, 2016
As parents, we never want to admit that our children are any less than perfect. That wasn’t the case with my eldest son, as no morning alarms were necessary in my home. When he was a boy, my son’s loud snoring and disruptive breathing kept my family awake throughout the... Read More
Published on September 22, 2016
Emboldened by tales of his warrior ancestry, Jeremiah Succar takes the fight to a rare and menacing cancer
“The Succar bloodline is a bloodline of warriors,” his father told him, sitting beside him in his hospital room that evening. “You’re strong. You’re powerful. You... Read More
Published on September 15, 2016
Anat Erdreich-Epstein prepares for her 10th year biking in the triathlon that supports her cancer research
Anat Erdreich-Epstein, MD, PhD, doesn’t get to train as much as she’d like to for the Nautica Malibu Triathlon. She bikes on the weekends when possible, but she has... Read More
Published on September 9, 2016
Strategies to help kids deal with a bully at school
Written by Stephanie Marcy, PhD, psychologist at Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Bullying can be a daily occurrence for some children, making them fearful and anxious about going to school. They may go to great... Read More
Published on September 8, 2016
Have you ever noticed that your child has an assymetrical head shape or flatness on the back of his or her head? Do you think that this is typical and that all children have a flat spot from sleeping on their backs? This is actually atypical, and may be diagnosed by a... Read More
Published on September 8, 2016
Carmella Cruz, 8, shows it’s not how you dance that matters, but that you’re dancing at all.
Despite all the surgeries, despite the grim prognoses—despite the odds, really—8-year-old Carmella “Ella” Cruz just keeps dancing.
It’s a dance all her own, more of a... Read More
Published on September 6, 2016
Karen Hayhurst was giving her daughter Emily a piano lesson one day when Emily, then 7, piped up with a question.
“Wouldn’t this be a lot easier,” she reasoned, “if I had five fingers on each of my hands?”
Her mother’s response was matter-of-fact. “I told her, ‘... Read More
Published on September 1, 2016
I love watching “The Big Bang Theory,” specifically the character Sheldon. He makes me laugh when he knocks on a door and says the name of the person he is visiting, and then repeats this action three times. He displays traits of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). I will... Read More
Published on August 30, 2016
Surgery for hip dysplasia leaves Leana Vardanian pain-free and ready for a bright future.
For Leana Vardanian, the first moment she knew something was terribly wrong came in sixth grade, when she stood up from her desk at school and immediately fell to the floor. Her left leg... Read More
Published on August 24, 2016
At what camp can you be a Jedi one day and a wizard the next, and all while improving strength, coordination and motor skills? Handy Heroes Therapy Camp!
This therapeutic summer day camp at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is a unique camp—in fact, it’s the only camp of... Read More
Published on August 18, 2016
All parents face tough questions from their children, but Cynthia Harkins has had to answer some particularly poignant questions from her son, David.
“He asked me once if he really has half a heart,” Cynthia recalls. “I told him that, for some people, this is the easiest... Read More
Published on August 15, 2016
Back to school season is here, and that means the activities of fall sports are just around the corner. So, we spoke to Tracy Zaslow, MD, FAAP, CAQSM, medical director of the Sports Medicine and Concussion Program at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, to get the top six things... Read More
Published on August 12, 2016
More than 200 Children's Hospital Los Angeles physicians are recognized in Pasadena Magazine's Top Doctors issue for 2016! Many of the honorees are members of the Children's Hospital Los Angeles Medical Group and are academically affiliated with the Keck... Read More
Published on August 11, 2016
Here in Southern California, we have the privilege to escape the summer heat by heading out to the beach, lake, or any large body of water. While these activities are fun, it’s important to note that fun is only maximized when safety is involved! So, here are the top three tips... Read More
Published on August 5, 2016
Teens Create a Campaign and Sex Ed Booth in Hollywood Schools
Written by Maria Sipin
The Hollywood Coalition for Healthy Youth student leaders at a local Hollywood high school launched a social media marketing pilot project. This campaign wasn’t focused on getting... Read More
Published on August 5, 2016
Social Work Student Reflects on Internship Experience and Racism and Violence as Public Health Issue
Written by Karli Santos, MSWc, May 23, 2016
It was always clear that the professional trajectory of my life was going to lead me to work for and with youth, and... Read More
Published on August 5, 2016
Three knee surgeries followed by a meniscus transplant sidelined the young soccer player for 2 ½ years. He’s now on the verge of returning to the field.
From inside her son’s examination room at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Teresa Torres could hear orthopaedic surgeon... Read More
Published on August 4, 2016
Every time 6-year-old Zayden Rainey comes to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, something magical happens: He grows a little taller.
It happens quickly—in less than two minutes—but no hocus-pocus or magic spells are involved. Even better, there’s no surgery. Instead, David... Read More
Published on August 2, 2016
Dieter Stelling is back in the swim, thanks to the specialized skills of the Children's Orthopaedic Center's Hip Preservation Program.
Dieter Stelling feels right at home in the ocean, where he loves to dive and snorkel, exploring marine life. Out of the water, he prefers... Read More
Published on July 28, 2016
Until the day her family got a surprise phone call from Mitch Seruya, MD, Heather Murillo had been at a loss.
Murillo’s youngest daughter, Stella Carrillo, had brachial plexus palsy—also called Erb’s palsy—a condition that rendered her unable to use her left arm. The... Read More