Patient Stories
Published on September 18, 2020
Thanks to advances in pediatric cancer treatment for neuroblastoma, the odds were in young patient Ariana’s favor.
Published on September 14, 2020
A 7-year-old boy received part of a liver from his mother’s friend. Today, he’s perfectly healthy—a testament to everyone involved.
Published on September 11, 2020
A range of specialists at CHLA collaborated to care for a young patient with the new disorder effecting children who have had COVID-19
Published on August 3, 2020
Orthopaedist Melissa Bent, herself born with the disorder, is now a specialist in it and helping to lead the hospital’s treatment of the most common congenital foot deformity.
Published on July 17, 2020
From sixth grade to his 16th birthday, Jackson suffered from back pain caused by scoliosis. Thanks to orthopaedic experts at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, he’s now “back to normal—actually even better.”
Published on July 14, 2020
They made national news when separated as babies, but now these once-conjoined twins live normal lives in the Midwest
Published on May 8, 2020
In end-stage renal disease, Maverick needed a kidney transplant. When a donor didn't turn up fast enough, his parents decided to look in-house.
Published on February 21, 2020
Geoffrey Von Der Ahe, 18, who has been a patient at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles since birth, says living with a heart defect has made him want to give back to other kids—and study medicine one day
Published on February 7, 2020
How Noa outran three heart surgeries—and retinoblastoma
Published on February 6, 2020
Diagnosed with cerebral palsy so severe he was tripping over his own feet, Brady came to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles for treatment. The result? A “night and day difference,” says his mom.
Published on January 16, 2020
She thought she had the stomach flu. It turned out to be a brain tumor the size of a golf ball. After undergoing surgery at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Kaira is now flourishing.
Published on January 8, 2020
15-year-old Diobeth has faced – and conquered – unthinkable health hurdles, including a brain mass and stroke. He went from being unable to walk or speak to being fully communicative and mobile, thanks in large part to the healing power of music.
Published on December 17, 2019
Imagine back pain so debilitating you can’t even get out of bed. For 18-year-old Eric, an innovative surgery finally provided relief and the chance to pursue his dreams.
Published on November 27, 2019
What’s the first thing Kairi did after getting her new liver and kidney? Eat chocolate, of course. And then go swimming. And then start on everything else her revived body had been denied for so long.
By Jeff Weinstock
There are three-hanky stories, and then there are... Read More
Published on November 26, 2019
By Jeff Weinstock
It wasn’t the standard goo-goo ga-ga or ma-ma da-da, but to his parents the strained, gravelly hehhh that Rio produced inside a patient room at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles was operatic.
Patrick and Holly had not heard Rio’s voice for nine months... Read More
Published on November 14, 2019
Thanks to a groundbreaking treatment, children who once faced inevitable blindness now have a chance to regain—and retain—their sight.
By Eunice Oh
Like many 7-year-olds, Olivia is a burst of energy. She loves riding her bicycle, ice skating, traversing obstacle courses,... Read More
Published on October 24, 2019
A pacifier that plays a sweet lullaby encourages baby Jayla to learn the skills she needs to feed and self-soothe By Marla LehnerIn December 2018, Lynette gave birth to her daughter, Jayla, at a local hospital near their home in Littlerock, California. Moments later, the newborn... Read More
Published on October 7, 2019
Brothers Walter (left) and Lloyd
How Lloyd’s Little Brother Overcame a Skull Condition and Became the Coolest Kid at the Playground
By Michael Y. Park
It wasn’t an easy thing to explain to a 3-year-old, and even now, Sarah and Dan aren’t sure how much of what they were... Read More
Published on October 1, 2019
In an indoor rock-climbing class for patients with hand differences, a wall is just part of what they’re learning to surmount.
By Jeff Weinstock
“Take!”
For the fourth time Akira has called out the one-word cue, prompting her rock-climbing instructor, Quinn, serving on... Read More
Published on September 9, 2019
Hemophilia hasn’t slowed down 3-year-old Braxton—thanks to doctors from CHLA
By Matt Villano
Roughly 20,000 people in the United States live with hemophilia, a bleeding disorder in which blood lacks the requisite protein to clot normally. Few have lived with the condition... Read More