Our patients' stories

Lifesaving Care for HLHS: Thomas’ Story
Born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, Thomas had a 50% chance of making it to his first reconstructive heart surgery. CHOP helped him beat those odds.

A Long Road: Wyatt’s Journey From Complex Single Ventricle Heart Disease to Transplant
CHOP’s Cardiac Center forges a creative, comprehensive care plan for a transplant patient with multiple congenital heart defects.

Profound Bilateral Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Maria’s Story
With cochlear implants, Maria can now hear more of the things she loves, whether it be music or people.

Health and Well-being Clinic: Londyn's Story
The medication to calm Londyn’s asthma caused steady weight gain. Now a patient of CHOP’s Health and Well-being Clinic, the 12-year-old found a passion for exercise.

Addison’s disease: Chase’s story
Before CHOP’s diagnosis and treatment for adrenal insufficiency, Chase struggled with low energy. Now he dreams of coaching pro football

Elke’s Story: Myelin Oligodendrocyte Glycoprotein Antibody Disease
At age 10, Elke was afflicted by MOGAD, a serious illness that started with acute and severe paralysis and an inability to speak.

Transposition of the Great Arteries: Mazan’s Story
When their son is born with a complex congenital heart defect, a Lehigh Valley family turns to CHOP for care.

A Lifesaving Call: Ellis’ Journey with Single Ventricle Heart Disease
A routine video visit with CHOP’s innovative Single Ventricle Monitoring Program leads to lifesaving care for a newborn with heart disease.

Alexandria’s Story: Burr Hole Hemispherotomy for Seizures Caused By Perinatal Stroke
Alexandria was born at Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation’s first hospital, located in downtown Philadelphia. Everything seemed fine just after her C-section delivery, but within 24 hours of her birth, her mother, Kacy, noticed Alexandria’s eye twitching. She pointed it out to a nurse who brought in a neonatologist to evaluate the newborn. The neonatologist said the twitch was, in fact, a seizure.

Synovial Sarcoma: Callan’s Story
Many oncology programs declared Callan’s rare tumor, located in his chest, inoperable. CHOP offered a comprehensive treatment plan that successfully removed the tumor.

Klinefelter Syndrome: Yuji’s Story
Lancaster teen with chromosomal disorder thrives, thanks in part to support from CHOP

Adrenal Insufficiency (Addison’s Disease): Grayson’s Story
Expertise and reassurance from CHOP specialists helps Grayson, a teenager from Arkansas, thrive and grow again despite extremely rare adrenal insufficiency.

Anna’s Story: Playing a Role in Research Advances for Friedreich’s Ataxia
Since their first experience at CHOP in 2015, Anna’s parents have felt welcomed and supported by the team in CHOP’s Friedreich’s Ataxia Program. Team members go out of their way to make their daughter feel comfortable and cared for, and they have a sincere commitment to providing care that takes the whole child into account.

Aaron’s Story: Surgery, Chemotherapy and Stem Cell Transplant for Medulloblastoma
When Aaron was 4, he was suddenly diagnosed with a brain tumor and had to undergo seven months of arduous treatment. His family will never forget the teams in neurosurgery, oncology, nursing and child life — and the Phillies and their South Jersey community — all of whom lifted Aaron up throughout his journey at CHOP.

Isaiah’s Story: Management of Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome
Isaiah was born with congenital nephrotic syndrome, the same genetic mutation that caused his older brother to die in infancy. Isaiah’s improved experience and outcome showcases how multiple departments at CHOP work together to ensure the best patient and family care.

Expert Cardiac Care, Close to Home: Roman’s Story
Following life-saving heart surgery, a newborn receives top-ranked cardiac care at the Allentown Cardiac Center.

Navigating a Continuum of Care for GACI: Natalie's Story
First diagnosed in utero, Natalie, now 10, benefits from cutting-edge CHOP treatments and a shared-care model that couples CHOP visits with remote monitoring.

The World’s Smallest Pacemaker: Cameron’s Story
An adapted device and minimally invasive heart surgery give a newborn with heart block the boost he needs.

A Life-saving Pediatric Partnership: CJ’s Story
CHOP’s alliance with Main Line Health streamlines the emergency transfer of a newborn with a life-threatening heart condition.

DICER1 Syndrome: Ellie’s Story
With a genetic disorder that increases her risk of developing tumors, Ellie is seen regularly at the Cancer Predisposition Program.