All CHLA Blog Posts
Published on March 7, 2017
In high school, Dagmar Grefe gravitated to all kinds of different subjects, including theology, psychology, philosophy and history. But when one of her teachers predicted she would pursue a career in theology, the teenage Grefe balked.
“I’d have to become a minister,” she... Read More
Published on March 7, 2017
In the face of doubters, sexists and grueling work demands, CHLA’s first female neurosurgeon, Erin Kiehna, would not be deterred.
Erin Kiehna, MD, is midstory. “I have to tell you,” she says, cutting short her evenhanded tone, her eyes squaring up with yours, “it’s incredibly... Read More
Published on March 7, 2017
Judy Sherif has used her skills as a nurse, a pilot and a renegade to help build CHLA’s Emergency Transport Program into one of the largest in the nation.
Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Judy. She wanted to be a nurse when she grew up. Judy took auto shop... Read More
Published on March 7, 2017
Senta Georgia works at the front lines in the fight against diabetes.
Credit a school field trip with inspiring Senta Georgia, PhD, to change the world.
When Dr. Georgia was a young woman growing up in New Jersey, her fifth-grade class took a field trip to a local chemical... Read More
Published on March 3, 2017
Growing up in Southern California and raising two children gets a little tricky sometimes with our great weather. I mean, what do we know about cold temperatures? Californians think it’s cold when it hits 50 degrees outside and when it drops to 40. Well, I am happy to say that... Read More
Published on March 3, 2017
After 15 years as a respiratory therapist, 14 years of pediatric nursing and having raised two teenagers, I have become very familiar with decoding a cough. It’s always distressing to hear your little one cough, especially in the middle of the night. Still, as common as this... Read More
Published on February 23, 2017
In May 2011, at her grandmother’s birthday party, Viviana Flores did something nearly unheard of for a 6 year old: She turned down a piece of cake.
She and her mom, Diana Hernandez, had just come from the doctor’s office because Viviana had a stomachache. Her cousin thought... Read More
Published on February 21, 2017
Early on when my son started trying solid foods, he would eat everything I put in front of him and like it. I remember thinking to myself, “He’s going to be such a good eater.” (My husband and I like everything and eat a wide variety of foods.) Although he still is, since he’s... Read More
Published on February 21, 2017
I recently cared for a child who was admitted to our unit for iron deficiency anemia and worked with Sarah White, MD, to provide some family education on this very common anemia, what the cause is, the symptoms and the treatment. I am partnering with White again to discuss... Read More
Published on February 16, 2017
Brushing your child’s teeth is never easy. Let’s face it, for many of us it’s a stress-provoking task. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists recommends that children have their teeth brushed twice a day for two minutes. As parents, you try and follow all the rules to... Read More
Published on January 25, 2017
Written by Heather Ayers-Cluff, MSW, CPST; Jessica MacDonald, PT, CPST; Kathleen Palas, RN III, CPST; Mina Farag, MPH, CPSTI
Effective Jan. 1, 2017, Assembly Bill 53 requires all children under 2 years old to ride in a rear-facing car seat. The new law will NOT apply to... Read More
Published on January 23, 2017
Welcome to 2017 and National Blood Donor Month! Did you make a New Year’s resolution? I decided to make a resolution to save at least the life of one child in 2017. Here is why I made that choice and how you can join me.
My friend Joe was traveling in a remote part of Asia... Read More
Published on January 20, 2017
Imagine a newborn so small you can hold her entire body in one hand. Then imagine the overwhelming concern and responsibility you would feel for her fragile life if this were your own child. For Nicole and Danny Castro, it doesn’t take any imagination; their daughter, Indi,... Read More
Published on January 20, 2017
A muscle disorder has frozen her body and impaired her speech, but with every academic achievement, the straight-A college freshman delivers a message to those who can't see past her disabilities.
You have to fight the inclination to ignore Connie Morales. Diminutive,... Read More
Published on January 19, 2017
In the U.S., food allergies affect 1 in 13 children. Among food allergies, peanut allergy is the leading cause of anaphylaxis. It is life threatening, and the economic and psychosocial burdens that come with it make life much more difficult for patients and their families. As... Read More
Published on January 5, 2017
A group, known as the ‘6AM-ers,’ rise early in the morning and travel from as far away as Monrovia, Pasadena and Sylmar twice a month to donate blood and platelets at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles’ Blood Donor Center. Their special gift of life has been helping kids who are... Read More
Published on November 29, 2016
When 15-year-old Jenny Cheng learned that she’d been accepted to a prestigious summer ballet and language program in Russia—earning a significant scholarship—she was beyond elated.
But on that same day in April 2015, Jenny and her family also learned that her scoliosis (... Read More
Published on November 29, 2016
In October 2009, Megan and Christopher Pierson welcomed daughter Saylor at a local hospital near their home in Newport Beach, California. Even though their little one was born six weeks early, the proud parents were thrilled. “She was pink and crying and looked perfect,” Megan... Read More
Published on November 29, 2016
A Family Fighting Leukemia Finds Answers, Care and Hope
The signs were subtle. A less persistent person might have listened to the advice from the first few doctors, and just chalked it up to a sinus infection and the overactive imagination of a new mom. But Ashley Kramer... Read More
Published on November 28, 2016
In earlier blogs I wrote about water safety and preventing drowning. I have found that drowning is more prevalent worldwide than deaths by war; in fact it is the second leading cause of unintentional death worldwide. Over half of the deaths are children less than 15 years old... Read More