Our patients' stories

Celiac Disease: Charlotte & Taylor’s Story
Sisters Charlotte, 9, and Taylor, 8, are living gluten-free since being diagnosed with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity, respectively.

Breaking Barriers: Isa’s Journey with Hip Dysplasia
A complex surgery at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s best-in-nation Orthopedic Center gets an 11-year-old back to the physical activities she loves.
Garden Beds Grow Food, Health & Community: A Neighbor's Perspective
A collaboration between CHOP Healthier Together and the Sankofa Community Farm at Bartram’s Garden promotes healthy eating and improved food access by providing low-cost raised garden beds to residents in Southwest Philadelphia.

'Full of Light’: Harrison’s Experience with Laser Ablation Brain Surgery
A 9-year-old with epilepsy receives an innovative, life-changing procedure available at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Birth and Separation of Conjoined Twins: Amari and Javar’s Story
Tim and Shaneka were unprepared to learn that pregnant Shaneka was carrying conjoined twins. Despite a scary initial diagnosis, they found hope of separation at CHOP.
Finding Relief from Fructose Intolerance: Annalise’s Story
Annalise suffered with undiagnosed pain for two years before being referred to the Integrative Food Reactions Clinic at CHOP. Now, she has found sweet relief from her symptoms.

Bridget’s Story: Chiari Brain Surgery
Thanks to brain surgery at CHOP, Bridget went from experiencing daily pain caused by pulsing headaches to being moved up to varsity lacrosse, all in one year.

Caring for a Rare Variation of a Rare Disease
CHOP not only diagnosed Amelia’s extremely uncommon condition, it had the experts to treat her.
A Chaotic Symphony: Managing Three Kids with HI
Caring for three siblings with hyperinsulinism — and keeping their blood sugar in the safe range — calls for creativity and guidance from CHOP.
Feel the Beat: Lyric’s Journey with Cochlear Implantation
After cochlear implantation at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, a child with sensorineural hearing loss is able to hear – and enjoy – music for the first time.

Mason Family: Fabry Disease
Newborn screening for twins led to the discovery of Fabry disease, a rare lysosomal storage disease. The family found breakthrough therapy and lifelong support at CHOP.

Anaya’s Story: A New Pulmonary Valve, a New Life
CHOP’s Cardiac Center makes history when Dr. Katsuhide Maeda implants a MASA polymeric pulmonary valve in a patient’s heart to treat congenital heart defects.

Ava’s Story: Rotationplasty Promises Greater Mobility
Ava was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer. A novel surgery called rotationplasty allowed her ankle joint to function as a knee, maximizing her future mobility.
A New Ear for Lilliana
Lilliana was born with only one ear due to hemifacial microsomia, a condition in which the tissues on one side of the face are underdeveloped. Doctors at CHOP gave Lilliana a new ear.

A New Ear: Lilliana’s Story
Lilliana was born with only one ear due to hemifacial microsomia, a condition in which the tissues on one side of the face are underdeveloped. Doctors at CHOP gave Lilliana a new ear.
Leo Fought Like a Lion to Beat Stage 5 Kidney Cancer
Two hospitals work together to care for a 3-year-old with cancer and his family.

Weston’s Story: Management of 4H Leukodystrophy
It took many doctor visits and diagnostic tests before a genetic test came back positive for leukodystrophy when Weston was 3 years old.

Seaton’s Story: Venous Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
A blood clot discovered at a local hospital brought Seaton to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia where he was diagnosed with venous thoracic outlet syndrome and underwent successful rib resection surgery to get back on the court.

Osteomyelitis: Shlomo’s Story
Shlomo was diagnosed with osteomyelitis, a rare bone infection, after complaining of pain in his ankle. CHOP got him back on his feet after over a year without walking.

Hugh’s Story
Hugh was diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in utero. His parents traveled to the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), which has treated more CDH cases than any hospital in the world. Hugh is now a healthy 10-year-old who proudly claims Philly as his hometown, and the Eagles as his favorite team.