Patient Stories
Published on July 11, 2019
The dawning of gene therapy at CHLA saved a 5-year-old girl from inevitable blindness.By Jeff WeinstockYou will have to grant a parental pardon to Heather for her momentary excessive permissiveness, allowing her 5-year-old daughter to race down the block after dark, free from... Read More
Published on June 5, 2019
Leah found a new future at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, which offers the most advanced care for the tiniest patients and their mothers, even before birth.
By Candace Pearson
At only 2 days old, and 5 lbs., 3 oz., Leah Faith commanded the attention of the... Read More
Published on June 4, 2019
By Katie Sweeney
If you see 4-year-old Adrian obediently eating his vegetables at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, you can be sure of one thing: It’s almost time for him to go to the hospital’s new epilepsy playroom.
“We’re able to negotiate almost anything with him if... Read More
Published on May 31, 2019
Every June, thousands of supporters come together for CHLA's Walk and Play L.A. Christina Osumi-Cabaya had so much fun last year, she and her husband rallied an even bigger group of family and friends to join them this year. Here, she explains the inspiring reason why she... Read More
Published on May 22, 2019
By Matt Villano
Not even a rare marrow disorder can keep Isaiah off the ice for long
Watching 11-year-old Isaiah play hockey, one might think he had the sport in his blood.
No. 71 is always the fastest kid on the ice, chasing down the puck with seemingly effortless... Read More
Published on April 24, 2019
Baby Striver was born with three heart chambers instead of four. He’s been a fighter ever since.
By Matt Villano
The early stages of Megan’s pregnancy began the way these things often do.
There was the nervous anticipation of that positive pregnancy test; the joy... Read More
Published on April 4, 2019
How occupational therapist Jamie Berggren helps infants recover from a potentially disabling nerve injury suffered at birth.
By Jeff Weinstock
Therapy is a bummer, Maurice could tell you. It’s his first teachable moment, and at 8 months old he’s receiving it on his... Read More
Published on March 15, 2019
By Katie Sweeney
On the morning of Aug. 21, 2017, a nurse brought a special gift into 2-year-old Elliott’s room at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles: a pair of eclipse glasses.
It was the day of the much-anticipated total solar eclipse—the first in nearly a century to be... Read More
Published on February 28, 2019
What caused a young girl’s liver and kidney disease? The mystery continues as her doctors plan for a transplant of both organs.
By Jeff Weinstock
Rachel Lestz, MD, not one to mince words or to conserve them, is abruptly stuck in a pause, halfway between a plausible... Read More
Published on February 22, 2019
By Katie Sweeney
The new heart was on its way down from the helipad.
At the same time, Cynthia Herrington, MD, was carefully removing Ruben’s old heart from his chest. It was a heart she had seen before—she had operated on it when Ruben, now 2, was just a few days old... Read More
Published on February 21, 2019
Young Charlie is living a full life—with half a heart
By Matt Villano
Considering the amount of love in his life, considering how much he seems to enjoy every moment with his siblings and parents, it’s hard to believe 8-month-old Charlie was born with half a... Read More
Published on January 30, 2019
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Published on January 24, 2019
By Katie Sweeney
This is a story about Kalea and Noah—two siblings who are also best friends. Best, best friends.
“Oh my gosh, they are completely best friends,” says their mom, Nohea. “From the beginning, their personalities complemented each other... Read More
Published on January 17, 2019
The effects of childhood cancer seemed destined to thwart Alberto’s brilliance at the piano, until he was introduced to a university engineering professor who had an idea.
By Jeff Weinstock
Of the two ways to get on Alberto’s good side, the more obvious one is to stand... Read More
Published on December 7, 2018
Doctors at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles team up to solve the puzzle of a child’s vision problems.
By Candace Pearson
One ordinary, random morning, when he was barely 5 years old, Reiter woke up and “he was a different child,” recalls his mother, Stephanie.
“I see... Read More
Published on November 29, 2018
Katie Sweeney记 向大家介绍Richard(理查德) ，他现就读五年级，喜爱他的老师，喜欢跑步、游泳和画画。他满脸的笑容在他所到之处都能为他带来朋友。近日他曾到访很多地方，他现正住在洛杉矶，然而他真正的家是在北京。但是他的母亲希望你们知到有些关于Richard尤为重要的事情︰就是他有勇气；许多的勇气。并且从 2017年1月19日至今，他实在需要这每一股的勇气。那天，仍在北京的Richard 被确诊患有神经母细胞瘤 (neuroblastoma)，这是一种由未完全发育的神经细胞引起的癌病。在他的腹腔长着一大个肿块，... Read More
Published on November 29, 2018
By Katie Sweeney
Meet Richard. He’s in fifth grade, loves his teacher, enjoys running, swimming and drawing, and has an ear-to-ear smile that makes him friends wherever he goes. And he’s gone a lot of places lately—while he lives in Los Angeles right now, his real home is... Read More
Published on November 21, 2018
Six officers race on all seven continents for the sake of helping others.
By Michael Y. Park
An experienced runner who’d traveled around the globe to race, Randy Pentis was used to seeing courses lined with gawking onlookers.
But this? This was something else... Read More
Published on November 13, 2018
When 7-year-old Evabelle was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, her parents found empowerment and support at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
By Candace Pearson
Sometimes, the early signs that a child is ill can be so subtle, a family may not realize what’s happening—... Read More
Published on November 1, 2018
A dying 3-year-old boy. A desperate email. A stranger’s astonishing gift.
By Katie Sweeney
They were flying down the 101 freeway through Santa Barbara—the kids in the back seat, Chris at the wheel, and Holly next to him, frantically poring over the medical file the... Read More