Preteen Saves Her Own Life by Catching Rare Cancer Early On
Stem cell transplant at Stanford Children’s helps Lila achieve remission and celebrate two years cancer-free.
Posts By
Lynn Nichols
Exceptional Teen Helps Others After Spinal Fusion Surgery for Scoliosis
After recovering, Lauren is running competitively and helping others who are considering the same surgery.
Young Adult Turns Short Bowel Into Motivator for Full Life
When Arizona Martinez walked into her recent gastrointestinal checkup appointment, her doctor couldn’t contain her surprise over what Arizona was wearing.
Heart-Lung Transplant Patient Going Strong, Reaching Dreams at 16-Year Mark
Needing a heart-lung transplant has not kept ToneeRose Legaspi from living a full life. She recently completed the final step in preparing for her dream career: becoming a librarian.
Transplant Recipient Celebrates Impressive 40-Year ‘Heart-Aversary’ in a Remarkable Year for Stanford
Woman achieves 40-year anniversary of heart transplant with the same donor heart.
25 Years of Exceptional Care for Moms and Babies in Redwood City
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health team at Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital reaches important milestone.
Celebrating Hematology and Oncology Doctors From Diverse Backgrounds
For AANHPI Heritage Month, meet three of our pediatric hematologists and oncologists, who reflect on their heritage and how it influenced their careers.
Stanford Heart Team Keeps Extremely Ill Baby Alive With Finesse and Teamwork
Girl faces quadruple threat—a viral illness, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and a rare heart defect—and prevails.
Kangaroo Care for Premature Babies in the NICU
Innovative i-Rainbow guide helps parents and caregivers know when the time is right for vital skin-to-skin care.
Distance Runner Charging Forward After Crawling Across Finish Line
Medha’s Stanford care team has helped her bounce back stronger after multiple injuries and learn how to reduce her injury risk in the future.
Tween Misses Old Heart but Grateful for New One After Transplant
A multispecialty Stanford heart team takes heroic measures to ensure a good outcome for a complex heart transplant.
Boy With Short Bowel Syndrome Living the Dream of a Better Life
Intestinal Transplant Program at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health frees child from a lifetime of intravenous feeding.
Family Turns Newborn’s Rare Diagnosis Into Something Beautiful
A team of specialists supports boy with rare skin and neurological condition.
Remission Holds Fast After Five Relapses for Young Woman With Leukemia
None of the treatments designed to fight Camille’s acute lymphocytic leukemia worked, until an innovative stem cell transplant at Stanford.
Ask Your Family About Heart Disease
Knowing what you may be carrying in your genes could literally save your or a family member’s life, including your child’s life.
Doctors Remove Highly Complex Brain Tumor Through Toddler’s Nose
At 2 and a half years of age, Lewis had a pituitary gland that was working poorly and worsening vision. Then, fear of a new tumor developing near his hypothalamus triggered worry that Lewis would develop hypothalamic obesity. It was time to operate.
An Innovative Use of ECMO Helps Boy Avoid Lung Transplant
Serious infection damages boy’s lungs, but Stanford Medicine Children’s Health critical care doctors heal him over time.
Boy Tames His Single Ventricle Condition With His Lion Heart
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health provides specialized heart care to give Judah the best possible outcome.
Girl Faces Open-Heart Surgery With Strength, Humor, and Grace
Elodie was diagnosed with coarctation of the aorta—a rare heart defect that is present at birth but often does not create symptoms until later in life.
Teenager Back on Lacrosse Field After Brain Surgery for AVM
Lauren Adair loves the sport of Lacrosse – so much so that it was the first thing she worried about after being diagnosed with an AVM, or arteriovenous malformation.
Couple Conceives After Years of Trying, Celebrates Healthy Baby Girl
Stanford Fertility and Reproductive Health Services helps couple overcome roadblocks to pregnancy.
Teenager With Epilepsy Looking Forward to Driving After Complex Craniotomy
The Pediatric Epilepsy Center at Stanford Children’s performed a highly complex brain surgery called a craniotomy for Isaac Diaz.
Expert High-Risk Pregnancy Care Gets Mom to the Vital 23-Week Mark
Compassionate in-depth fetal counseling helps family make the best decision for them.
Teen Sings After Complex, Rare Airway Surgery
Today, teenage Grace is back to doing what she loves–singing–thanks to our advanced Voice and Swallow Program.
World Heart Day Q&A with Stanford Children’s Heart Doctors
On World Heart Day, we asked our pediatric cardiologists to answer questions around exercise for their child with heart disease.
Cancer Nurse Comes Full Circle to Care for Families
As a kid, Hannah was inspired by the nurses who cared for her brother as he battled a brain tumor, so she became one herself.
Leukemia Doesn’t Stop Pierce From Having Fun and Making Friends
After enduring six months of intense chemotherapy to treat his acute myelogenous leukemia, Pierce is back to an active life.
Simple Orthodontic Device Helps Baby Breathe, Eat Without Support
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health is the first-in-nation to offer a small jaw treatment other than surgery.
Orthopedic Surgery Legend Dr. Lawrence Rinsky Retires
After 52 years helping children, Dr. Lawrence Rinsky retired in September 2023, leaving a group of doctors he trained to continue his legacy.
New Immune System, New Life for California Teen Overcoming Leukemia
After battling high-risk leukemia for years, Emily is finally in lasting remission thanks to an innovative stem cell transplant.
PACT Team Says Yes to Passed-Over Donor Heart, Giving Young Man a Second Chance
Josh, a 24-year-old from Discovery Bay, California, has Danon disease—a rare genetic condition that weakens muscles in the body, along with the heart.
Preteen Beats ACL-Meniscus Tear With Grit and Great Care
After tearing his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and half of his meniscus, 12-year-old Aiden worked hard to return to his elite club soccer team.
By Saying Yes, Stanford Children’s Helps Newborn With Fatal Kidney Diagnosis Survive
Ten years ago, Abigail Beutler was born without kidneys. Against all odds, she’s alive today to play with her Breyer horses, read her favorite Paul Revere adventure book, and challenge her brother in archery.
Young Man Receives the Rare Gift of Three Transplants
Joseph Sanchez-Munoz is the only child who has ever received three transplants from us, each at a different time in his life.
Second Opinion Uncovers Chronic GvHD and Gives Teen His Life Back
After a stem cell transplant, Austin suffered from puzzling symptoms, until a second opinion revealed he had graft-versus-host disease.
Staying Celiac Strong, Together
During our “Celiac Strong” event, we brought together tremendous minds who spoke about every aspect of celiac disease, including how it affects the body, how to eat gluten-free, and the psychological impacts of celiac disease.
Family Sleeping Easy After Newborn’s Laryngomalacia Treatment
No one expects to get any sleep with a new baby. It takes a while for babies to settle into a sleep cycle, and they have to eat often. Yet these usual reasons are not what kept Katie and Ryan Bridge awake when their daughter Claire was just 4 weeks old. It was her noisy breathing.
Twins Share Everything, Including Celiac Disease
When Joseph and Devlin went for their wellness check at age 5, their pediatrician noticed that they were not gaining weight like they should. She suspected celiac disease—an autoimmune disorder that is genetically passed on within families.
When Building a Family Doesn’t Come Easily
In honor of the Mental Health Awareness Month and the recent National Infertility Awareness Week, we asked our experts to discuss a very specific topic: the emotional challenges people have when trying to get pregnant but not succeeding.
Teen Taking on Life After Intestine-Liver-Pancreas Transplant
Zero signs of rejection despite her second intestinal transplant, thanks to advanced protocols and innovations at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.
Two Kidney Transplants, One Family, and a Whole Lot of Love
The program’s one-year and three-year success rates are 100%, which are unsurpassed despite caring for children with the toughest challenges.
Soccer Player Wins the Long Game of Scoliosis Treatment
Macy is sharing her scoliosis care story to inspire other girls who are diagnosed with scoliosis as preteens. She wants them to know that they will make it through. Her advice is to “just keep going week to week and focus on something you love to do, letting it carry you to the other side.”
Rising Stanford University Track Star Turns Injury Into Opportunity
Cate went from a broken leg to breaking records as a high school track star in a little over a year.
Baby MJ Battles an Extremely Rare, Strange Heart Defect and Wins
Stanford fetal heart, heart surgery and CVICU teams come together to treat baby with uncommon heart defect.
Baby With Challenging Tetralogy of Fallot Grows Into Healthy Toddler
Stanford Children’s heart doctors perform unifocalization to repair Hayden’s toF with pulmonary atresia and MAPCAs.
Three Innovations Shorten Heart Transplant Patient’s Wait Time
It started as a simple persistent wet cough, something Eloise (Ellie) McCloskey’s mom, Aubrey, noticed before spring break of second grade, and it quickly escalated from there. After a week in the hospital and an echocardiogram and tests, the family received the news. Ellie had dilated cardiomyopathy—a disease of the heart muscle—and her heart was slowly failing.
A Joyful Pause for Premature Baby on Heart Transplant List
Sky Mattan Gopin is a miracle baby. He went from needing a heart transplant to near-normal heart function in just a few months’ time—without heart surgery.
Elite Diver Faces Chronic Growth-Related Knee Issues and Wins
A core team of caregivers helped Scott Garman overcome injuries and achieve his dream of becoming a D1 diver.
Smallest Baby Born in 2020 Turns 2 and Rules the Day
Om, who was born very early, faced death and survived. Doctors don’t always know why one extremely premature baby makes it while another does not. But his parents know why Om survived.
Premature Baby Turns 2 After Traumatic Start
Juliana Vidigal was just shy of 26 weeks pregnant when she started bleeding and feeling abdominal pain. She immediately called her neighbor, who gave her a ride to a nearby hospital in San Francisco. The news wasn’t good.
NICH Program Gives Parents of Medically-Complex Baby Wings to Fly
Novel Interventions in Children’s Healthcare (NICH) Program supports families of babies with chronic health needs.
From Birthday Party to Brain Surgery, All in 24 Hours
One minute Logan Schwaderer, age 11, was going to his little sister’s birthday party, and the next he was headed to Stanford Medicine Children’s Health for brain surgery.
Young Man Becomes First in World to Be Cured of FSGS With New Treatment
Traejen spent hours a day on dialysis after a failed kidney transplant, until a new approach cured his FSGS and helped him get his life back.
The Pros and (Mostly) Cons of Waiting 12 Weeks to Share Pregnancy News
Debunking the ‘wait 12 weeks to tell’ pregnancy rule can help women get the proper support after a miscarriage.
Preschooler Thriving Three Years After Fetal Surgery for Spina Bifida
Ever since Iliana had a fetal surgery, she has been defying the odds that often accompany her serious form of spina bifida.
Beloved Oncology Nurse Brings Legacy of Caring Full Circle
Leslie spent 40+ years as a nurse after receiving inspirational care from a nurse when she was a teen.
Micropreemie Survives Lifesaving Heart Surgery for Rare Fetal Heart Tumor
Multispecialty clinical teams work together to save micropreemie.
Brave Preschooler Battles Rare Childhood Cancer and Wins
Marlee, her parents, and Stanford doctors teamed up to fight stage 4 rhabdomyosarcoma.
Laughter and a Potts Shunt Are the Best Medicine for Boy With Severe Pulmonary Hypertension
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health gives kids with advanced pulmonary hypertension another option besides lung transplant.
Teenager Finds Relief from Debilitating Pain with Robotic Surgery
Floating kidney resolved with minimally-invasive nephropexy surgery.
On the Road to Normal Eating for Baby Born With Laryngeal Cleft
At our aerodigestive center, we have a large multidisciplinary team—ENTs who intimately understand airway disorders, speech-language pathologists and occupational therapists who specialize in babies with swallowing disorders, pulmonologists who concentrate on aspiration, and gastroenterologists who understand reflux in the context of cleft.
Top Athlete Supported by Circle of Caregivers
R.J. Stephens is a high-performing athlete supported by a team of pediatric sports medicine specialists at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.
Baby Toddling On After Surgery for Craniosynostosis
The craniosynostosis team is made up of multiple pediatric specialists including neurosurgeons and plastic surgeons.
Six Adopted Kids, All With Special Needs
The Moore family of Concord, California, has set a record for having the most kids from one family receiving care at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health. We couldn’t think of a nicer family to reach this milestone.
Genetics Team Serves as Go-to for Mom of Son With Extremely Rare Disorder
Asher Gerlach, age 6, is a special kid. Not only because he’s one of just 20–30 children in the world with an exceptionally rare genetic disease, according to medical literature, but also because he has a refreshing take on life.
New Laparoscopic Procedure for Live Donor Liver Transplant Makes Donation Easier
Felix is the first infant to receive a live donor liver transplant that was removed laparoscopically from an adult donor on the West Coast.
Unconventional Teen Finds Relief From Severe Asthma
Christian went from being hospitalized several times a year with asthma attacks to playing football, thanks to new medicine and Stanford Medicine Children’s Health experts.
A Turbulent Ride for Family Coping With Two GI Conditions
Pediatric Disease Center provides family with wrap-around care.
Increasing Rates of Kangaroo Care for Everyone
At Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, a team of neonatologists are tackling health equity—making sure every patient has the same opportunity to be healthy—especially when it comes to kangaroo care (holding your baby with your skin touching).
Toddler Takes on Jungle Gym After Life-Changing Heart Reconstruction
Highly specialized Complex Biventricular Reconstruction Program offers exciting alternative for kids with single ventricle hearts.
Procedure Expands Teen’s Chest and Confidence
Pectus excavatum is a depression in the chest wall that affects approximately 1 in 400 children.
Kidney Brothers Develop Bond for Life
Two young boys got more than just a new kidney from the Pediatric Transplant Center—they got a friend for life.
New Liver, New Life for Baby With Biliary Atresia
Parents met with the liver transplant team and a month later she had transplant surgery.
Second Opinion Means Second Chance for Young Athlete
Spondylolysis, a break in the spine, prevented Neill from playing sports. A second opinion led him to Stanford, surgery and a return to an active life.
Woman With Heart Problem Achieves Dream of Becoming a Mother, Twice Over
Stanford hospitals collaborated closely to provide deeply specialized care to expectant mom with heart condition.
Groundbreaking Heart-Lung Procedure Gives Toddler a Chance at a Full Life
Novel heart-lung procedure gives toddler a chance at a full life. Heart team combines two highly complex specialties in an unique surgical procedure.
New Heart, New Chance for Young Man with Becker Muscular Dystrophy
Stanford doctors use uncommon practice to save Becker muscular dystrophy patient.
Feisty Micropreemie With Heart Defect Beats Incredible Odds
Smallest baby at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health to have heart stent placed for tetralogy of Fallot.
Back on the High Dive After Surgery for Rare Joint Condition
After powering through elbow pain due to osteochondritis dissecans, Jaiden got help from our experts.
Resilient Teen Receives Stanford Medicine Children’s Health 500th Heart Transplant
Resilient teen becomes Stanford Medicine Children’s Health’s legendary 500th heart transplant.
A Teen’s Lofty Tribute to the Organ Donor Who Saved His Life
Branden Dever, SCH kidney transplant patient will ride atop the Donate Life float at the upcoming Rose Bowl parade honoring organ donors.
Easygoing Teen Goes Hard on the Court
After fracturing a bone in her ankle, Paige turned to a team of sports medicine and rehab experts at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health—and not for the first time.
What Parents of Children With Heart Disease Asked Us About COVID-19
COVID-19 is daunting for all parents, but even more so for parents of children with a heart condition.
Teen Closes in on Recovery after Meniscus Injury
After tearing his meniscus during a basketball game, Branden turned to the sports medicine experts at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health.
Doctor Inspires Colleagues with Song to Keep Trying During Covid
Alyssa Burgart, MD, medical director of clinical ethics for Stanford Medicine Children’s Health and a pediatric anesthesiologist, recently bared her soul in a song about COVID-19 that she wrote for weary medical colleagues across her hospital and the nation.
Rare Condition Does Not Stop Woman’s Dream of Becoming a Mother
Patient partners with Stanford physician to deliver successfully after previous NH diagnosis.
Full Circle, Full Life
Bass Center for Childhood Cancer nursing leader helps patients even during her downtime.
Pandemic Inspires Heightened Response to Food Insecurity
More local families sought help feeding their loved ones during the pandemic than ever before, and those numbers are not showing signs of slowing.
Pregnant Mom Survives Life-Threatening COVID Infection, Delivers Healthy Baby
A multidisciplinary team of Stanford experts came together to save Lorena and her baby after complications from COVID-19.
Pediatric Oncology Nurse Rich Ramos Wins Prestigious Magnet Nurse of the Year Award
Only five nurses in the nation receive the award annually from the ANCC.
Heart Surgery Averts Transplant and Turns Teen From Blue to Pink
Family of teen was told she couldn’t be saved, but doctors at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health offered solutions.
Humbly but Persistently Working Toward a Superhuman Status
With his Stanford PACT team’s help, a young man reaches rare milestone by living with a VAD for 10 years.
Snuggling Your Newborn Against Your Skin Not Only Feels Good—It’s Doing Good
Our expert neonatologist-researcher and director of small baby-unit addresses the most common questions about the benefits of skin-to-skin care in this Q&A article.
Putting Patients First Without Hesitation
Even a pandemic can’t stop frontline nurses from caring, and turning that caring into doing.
5 Ways to Prevent Window Falls
A Packard Children’s nurse practitioner offers tips for parents to help keep kids safe near windows.
Busting the Biggest Myths About Infertility
In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week, we’re joining the conversation about infertility and doing our part to refute myths that cause women and couples unnecessary worry and concern.
1,000th Stem Cell Transplant Given to Girl Who Is One in a Million
Shriya is one in a million. For starters, she’s a 9-year-old girl who will talk… Read more »
Living a Whole Life With Half a Brain
Complex brain surgery cures severe epilepsy in 7-year-old boy.
Tiniest Baby of 2019 Beats Odds to Become Busy Toddler
Specialized teams serve as lifeline for parents of children with medically complex needs.
Best Present Ever! New Heart for Baby’s First Birthday
Baby born with a very rare condition received expert care culminating with a heart transplant from one of the best heart teams in the country.
Boy Wrestles Tough Surgeries for Alagille Syndrome and Wins
A multidisciplinary approach pins down the best care for a complex, rare heart condition.
Bass Center Stays Busy and Focused During the Pandemic
Young boy successfully treated for aplastic anemia during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Short Bowel, Big Life for Adopted Girl
Cali was born with gastroschisis, a birth defect where her intestines grew outside her body.
Girl in Bloom: The Story of a Teen’s Transition
Rose was born a boy, but she’s always felt like a girl.
Prepared for the Pandemic Then and Now
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health prepared quickly for COVID-19.
Novel Treatment Eliminates Need for Liver Transplant in Newborn
A spirit of cooperation drives care and research at Packard Children’s.
From Comprehensive Care to Finding Cures, Fighting Sickle Cell Disease
Stanford Medicine Children’s brings team-based care and new treatments to patients with sickle cell disease.
Girl Power Strong at Stanford’s Spine Program
Two days a week, Stanford Medicine Children’s patients with scoliosis—most of whom are teen girls—are treated by all-women team of doctors and nurses.
Getting Youth Athletes Back on the Field
Sports medicine experts at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health are working with youth teams and athletes to help them safely return to practice during the pandemic.
Beloved Nurse Celebrates 50 Years of Caring
Her love for nursing, helped Anne Jackson to reach 50 years as a nurse at Stanford Medicine.
Pushing the Limits for Patients
Due to COVID-19 extra protocols were taken in the operating room, including N-95 masks and extra PPE.
Stanford Community Answers Call to Confront Food Insecurity
It takes a village to feed a community, especially during a pandemic. The need inspired those at Packard Children’s to introduce a new food support program.
Teen Survives Lymphoma and Says Thanks by Giving Back
After fighting lymphoma at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, a teenager uses her Make-a-Wish to give back to other patients.
Bike Safety: The Power of Safe Pedaling
Nothing says freedom and fun like riding a bike. In honor of national bike month, learn about bike safety from our injury prevention experts.
Snapshot Reveals Rare Skull Condition in Toddler
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health is home to one of a small number of programs in the country that offer expert, multidisciplinary care for complex craniosynostosis patients.
Child Thrives After Laryngeal Cleft Surgery
Stanford Medicine Children’s Health’s Aerodigestive and Airway Reconstruction Center uses collaborative, multispecialty approach to get to root of puzzling symptoms.
Improving Care of Newborns, One Baby at a Time
Stanford approach could potentially impact 100,000-plus newborns each year across the nation.
New Hope for Children with Aortic Valve Disorders
Innovative Ozaki valve repair technique reverses heart failure and improves functioning.
Half a Heart and a Whole Lot of Spirit
Patient with rare heart disease thrives thanks to a fighting spirit and a highly knowledgeable care team.
Heart Monitoring Device Brings Comfort to New Parents
Not the youngest, but possibly the smallest baby in the nation to receive an ICD.
Boy’s Unstoppable Smile Defies Challenging Start
Treating lower urinary tract obstruction in the womb helped get Kaleb to a transplant and an active life.
Mom Braves New Territory to Give Daughter with Spina Bifida Her Best Shot
Fetal surgery gives a baby with spina bifida the best chance at a healthy life.
Caring for Patients with Complex Conditions
Teamwork helps teen survive rare cancer.
Falcon Quarterback Soars after Unique HIFU Procedure
Doctors used an innovative approach called high intensity focused ultrasound to remove a tumor called an osteoid osteoma without surgery or radiation.
ROSA™ and Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery May Cure Epilepsy
The goal was to cure Brynn’s epilepsy without taking anything away from her quality of life.
Successful Mentoring Program Grows Beyond Nursing
The mentoring program provides new graduate nurses with the support they need to navigate their first year and practice their leadership skills.
Groundbreaking 3-D Imaging and Pain Control Innovations Help Math Whiz Recover Quickly
Doctors diagnose and repair sunken chest using Nuss procedure with 3-D imaging and ESP block for pain, minimizing exposure to radiation and recovery time.
Hope Sparks from Camp Fire Aftermath for Boy with Clubfoot
Rider is running and playing after surgery and bracing to treat his clubfoot.
Teen Adopts USC’s Fight-On Rally Call to Tackle Injuries
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital saves limb of teen with complex orthopedic surgery and microvascular surgery with skin, bone and vein grafts.
Hello says it all for Pediatric Critical Care Transport Team
A 4-year-old boy is alive today thanks to a complex life support machine and an exceptional transport team.
Cleft and Craniofacial Center Fosters Patient’s Dream to Entertain
Mathias had bilateral cleft lip and palate when both sides of his lip from his mouth to his nose were open along with the roof of his mouth or palate.
Hefty Nicknames for 2019’s Tiniest Baby
There’s a little superhero in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.
Battling Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia: Micro Preemie Determined to Celebrate His First Birthday
Jase is now breathing better after battling bronchopulmonary dysplasia and surfactant dysfunction.
