Skip to main content

Patient Stories

Our patients' stories

Patient story

Giant Omphalocele: Jackson's Story

Casey and Bryan Kirsch were determined to give their son Jackson every chance to live a healthy life when they learned that he had a giant omphalocele.

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.

Patient story

Gardner Syndrome: Felix's Story

When Felix, who is from Caracas, Venezuela, was diagnosed with Gardner syndrome, a condition that often leads to colorectal cancer, his parents found him the best care at CHOP.  

Caoimhghin
Patient story

Spina Bifida: Caoimhghin's Story

Caoimhghin was diagnosed before birth with spina bifida, and was the very first baby delivered in the Garbose Family Special Delivery Unit at CHOP.

Patient story

Leg deformity: Matthew's story

Born with a congenital condition that causes an irregular angle of growth to his lower legs and uneven lengths, Matthew Emerick found help from CHOP orthopedist Richard S. Davidson, MD.

gina
Patient story

Idiopathic Scoliosis: Gina's Story

A back brace kept Gina's idiopathic scoliosis in check for years until a growth spurt at age 15. That's when her family sought surgical help from spine experts at CHOP.

Patient story

Childhood Cancer Advocacy: Megan Ward's Story

Megan Ward is the mother of two childhood cancer survivors, Mollie and Grace. Ward's experiences with her two daughters has led her to become an advocate for childhood cancer research. 

hailey
Patient story

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Hailey’s Story

Just two days after complaining that her leg hurt, 2 1/2-year-old Hailey Tamagno was with her family at CHOP getting a shocking diagnosis: acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Patient story

Ewing Sarcoma in the Brain: Jake's Story

When a CT scan showed a tumor in Jake’s brain, he was sent to CHOP immediately for surgery. Doctors diagnosed the mass as Ewing sarcoma, a type of cancerous tumor.

joey
Patient story

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Joey's Story

Joey was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) when he was 6 years old. A year later, he and his family participated in the Parkway Run to raise funds for cancer research at CHOP.

Jump back to top