Our patients' stories

Type 1 Diabetes: Asher's Story
When Asher was diagnosed with diabetes at the age of 3 and a half, his family had a lot to learn about the disease and how to control it. But six months later, Asher was using an insulin pump and his diabetes was under control.

Sacrococcygeal Teratoma (SCT): Ava's Story
Despite insurance obstacles, a family found hope at the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment after learning their baby had a sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT).

Marfan Syndrome: Rebecca's Story
Rebecca, 19, has Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder that causes cardiac complications. When she was 3 years old, she was referred to pediatric cardiologist Marie Gleason, MD, at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia — and she’s been coming to the Hospital ever since.

Heart Arrhythmia: Joseph's Story
When Joseph Duran was 4 years old he was diagnosed with a heart arrhythmia. He's now routinely monitored by team members at CHOP's Electrophysiology and Heart Rhythm Program — and is thriving thanks to their care.

Twin-twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS): Aiden and Dillon
After Aiden and Dillon were prenatally diagnosed with twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), Rachel underwent a fetal surgery procedure to halt the progression of the condition.

Twin-twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS): Luke and Landon’s Story
Luke and Landon were diagnosed with twin-twin transfusion syndrome before birth. Things got more complicated when the family learned that Luke also had a heart defect called tetralogy of Fallot and a lung lesion.

Spina Bifida: Ciarlo’s Story
Ciarlo was diagnosed before birth with spina bifida and had surgery at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia the day after he was born. Today, he’s followed by the Spina Bifida Program.

Fetal Surgery for Sacrococcygeal Teratoma (SCT): Maeve’s Story
Before Maeve was born, doctors at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia performed fetal surgery to remove a huge tumor growing from her tailbone called a sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT).

Bladder Exstrophy: Bracken’s Story
Born with his bladder outside of his body (bladder exstrophy), Bracken faced significant challenges. His family found help and healing at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Type 1 Diabetes: Robbie’s Story
After Robbie's diabetes diagnosis, his family's strategy was to embrace education. The learning never ends as they continuously find new ways to help Robbie strive for independence in diabetes management.

Relapsed Lymphoma: Daulton's Story
When Daulton was 3 years old, breathing trouble led doctors to discover a malignant mass occupying 60 percent of his chest cavity. The diagnosis was lymphoma.

Brain Tumor: Liam's Story
It all started when he fell off a trampoline at a friend’s birthday party. Concerns about a possible concussion soon gave way to more shocking news: Liam had a brain tumor.

Siblings of Childhood Cancer: Zak's Story
Zak’s leadership at the Parkway Run is an important part of Naya’s legacy to raise awareness and funds for the brilliant researchers at CHOP who work tirelessly to cure childhood cancer.

Siblings of Childhood Cancer: Shannon and Jessica's Story
While more than 3 in 4 cases of pediatric cancer can be cured, unfortunately, Kayla’s was not. She died in 2011, five years after her diagnosis. Now her family makes sure her spirit lives on.

Astrocytoma: Grayson's Story
Grayson has an astrocytoma on his brain stem. It is the type of tumor that can become almost a chronic disease — it may never disappear, but the goal of treatment is to keep it stabilized.

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Adam's Story
Just shy of his 16th birthday, Adam Bengis was diagnosed with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. For the next 29 days, he lived at CHOP while he received chemotherapy.

Zion’s story: The gift of hands
Zion Harvey is the first pediatric patient to receive a bilateral hand transplant. He was treated by a team at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
World’s First Bilateral Hand Transplant on a Child: Zion’s Story
An 8-year-old boy holds a mini football in the palm of his hand, gently squeezing it between thumb and fingers, dreaming of the day he can get out on the field and throw a pass. There’s nothing unusual about this scenario, except for one thing: a few weeks ago, this child had no hands.

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.

Rick, Gert and Their Grandson Sam
Sam came to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for treatment of a severe heart defect. He received treatment and the chance to be a kid. Sam's grandparents, Rick and Gert, are grateful their grandson had both opportunities.