Our patients' stories
Trigger Thumbs: Madelyn’s Story
Diagnosed with trigger thumb on both hands, Madelyn, 2½, underwent successful surgery at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia during COVID-19.
HI Can’t Stop Abigail’s Big Dreams
Inspired by the care she received at CHOP for her HI, Abigail Ridler wants to go into medicine to help others with rare diseases.
Sacrococcygeal Teratoma Surgery: Julia’s Story
When doctors discovered a large tumor growing on their unborn baby’s tailbone, Jenny and Derek sought expert care at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Life with Celiac Disease: Anna’s Story
Teen with celiac disease pens personal guide to gluten-free living for other newly diagnosed youth.
KOP Hospital Will Simplify Families’ Lives When Kids Need Multiple Surgeries
Between them, siblings Emmalyn and Carson have needed surgical procedures involving the feet, hands, and jaw, all of which will be offered at CHOP’s King of Prussia hospital.
‘KOP Makes My Day More Predictable’: Alex’s Family’s Story
With a rare genetic syndrome, 15-month-old Alex is followed by multiple specialists. When the appointments are at King of Prussia, his mother feels relief and certainty.
Creating access to world-class orthopedic specialists for kids like Jackie
At 18 months old, Jackie needed hip surgery. CHOP’s new hospital will give families like hers easier access to CHOP’s world-class orthopedic experts.
Sophia’s Story: Fetal Surgery to Remove a Sacrococcygeal Teratoma
Before she was born, Sophia underwent successful surgery at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to remove a tumor called a sacrococcygeal teratoma from her tailbone. See how she's doing now.
From Sudden Cardiac Arrest to AED Advocate: Maddie’s Story
When 17-year-old Maddie collapsed on the school athletic field, a quick-thinking staff member saved her life with an AED. Now she’s determined to save others.
Biliary Atresia and Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: Elliott’s Story
After being diagnosed and treated for a genetic disorder, Elliott’s troubling GI symptoms continued – leading CHOP doctors to discover he also had biliary atresia.
Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation (CCAM) Surgery: Owen’s Story
The fetal medicine team at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia made a treatment plan for his CCAM/CPAM, and Owen is now home and happy after surgery.
Maxwell’s Story: Postnatal Repair and Care for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
Chris and Jolin traveled from their home in Pensacola, Florida to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to give their son, Max, access to world-class CDH care.
Fetoscopic Endoluminal Tracheal Occlusion Offers Hope for Prenatally Diagnosed Cases of Severe Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
CDH can be a devastating diagnosis for an expecting parent to receive. But for a select group of babies with the most severe form of CDH, treatment before birth may help.
Aortic Dissection: Joslyn’s Story
A genetic connective tissue disorder leads to multiple aortic aneurysms and life-threatening dissection in an 11-year-old.
Elite Athlete Injuries: Maia’s Story
Supported by CHOP over the years, Maia, 18, is hoping to join the U.S. Olympic fencing team to compete in the Summer Olympics.
Gavin’s Story: Spine Surgery to Correct a Deformity Caused By a Rare Genetic Neuromuscular Disorder
When Gavin was born, doctors didn’t expect him to survive, but thanks to a large team of specialists and a coordinated spine surgery, he’s defying the odds.
Thomas’s Story: Prenatal Diagnosis and Postnatal Surgical Repair of Encephalocele
One family shares their experience for parents who learn their child has a severe diagnosis before birth
Cricotracheal Resection for Subglottic Stenosis: Zakary’s Story
The team at the Center for Pediatric Airway Disorders gave Zakary what he’d never before had: a fully functioning airway.
Unilateral Hearing Loss and Cochlear Implant: Abby’s Story
Spontaneous total hearing loss in one ear turned out to be only a bump in the road — not an end of dreams — for Abby, who had a cochlear implant at CHOP at 17.
New Genetic Condition Identified: Luke’s Story
Luke’s repeated infections worried his parents and puzzled his doctors. Whole-exome sequencing helped CHOP researchers discover a new genetic disease causing his symptoms and determine the best course of treatment.