Department of Global Medicine Patient Stories

The Department of Global Medicine is committed to extending the expertise and resources of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to reach children far beyond the United States.

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Patient story

Sara's Story: Surgery to Treat Epilepsy
Sara lived with seizures until age 9. Her family flew 7,000 miles from United Arab Emirates so she could undergo epilepsy surgery at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Every day since, Sara has told her mom how happy she is to have had the procedure.
Patient story

Congenital Hyperinsulinism: Odinn’s Story
Óðinn Orri Sævarsson was born with a potentially life-threatening disease rarely seen in Iceland, congenital hyperinsulinism (HI). Quick action and a team effort between Icelandic specialists and CHOP's International Patient Services got Óðinn to CHOP for treatment, where he was cured.
Patient story

Finding Hope Far from Home: Ali’s Story

When 6-year-old Ali became seriously ill for the second time, his family believed only one place in the world could offer him the best care — Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Patient story

Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome: Arwa's Story
Mubarak and Khairiah Alqahtani traveled from Saudi Arabia to seek lifesaving care at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for their 18-year-old daughter, Arwa, who suffered from a rare disease.
Patient story

Lymphatic Leaks: Marta’s Story
Diagnosed with a very rare lymphatic disorder, Marta traveled from Norway to find treatment at the Jill and Mark Fishman Center for Lymphatic Disorders at Children's Hospital.
sean playing tennis
Patient story

Spina Bifida and Fetal Surgery: Sean's Story
Prenatally diagnosed with myelomeningocele (MMC), the most severe form of spina bifida, Sean Mulligan underwent fetal surgery at CHOP to repair the birth defect.