Our hospital’s annual Connecting event provides education and support for patients and families coping with the psychological impacts of heart devices. This year’s well-being theme focused on music.
Posts By
Samantha Beal
Rising To Meet the Need for Pediatric Device Innovation
The second annual Pediatric Innovation Showcase brought together pediatric experts and innovators to highlight progress in pediatric device development.
Expanding care for kids through telehealth
This year, Stanford Children’s Health plans to more than double its telehealth services—from 1,100 visits in 2018 to 2,500 visits in 2019.
Celebrating 1 year in our new hospital
One year ago on December 9, we moved 90 patients into our brand new Main… Read more »
Sophie’s Place: a new channel for fun
Sophie’s Place Broadcast Studio is up and running at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. The… Read more »
Formerly conjoined twins reach major milestone
We recently checked in on the Sandoval twins of Antelope Valley, California. The girls, Erika and Eva, who are now 4-years-old, are smiling big as ever — with good reason!
San Jose police officers deliver cheer to a patient awaiting heart transplant
“Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do…” The recognizable Cops theme song is going to… Read more »
Effective treatment offers hope to lower the rate of teen suicides
Recent reports of the rising rates of teen suicide across the nation confirm what mental… Read more »
Reversing the trend of maternal mortality rates in California
Stanford-based collaborative is leading the way to dramatically reduce preventable maternal deaths.
What gene discovery means for families and physicians seeking answers to medical mysteries
Families and physicians seeking answers to the medically unknown turn to genomics experts to unlock secrets hidden in genes.
Excitement brews around promise of gene editing
Matthew Porteus, MD, PhD, is leading clinical research for CRISPR at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital and hopes to launch Stanford’s first clinical trial of CRISPR next year.
Now Seizure Free, Gracin Gets Her Words Back
Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford is using the innovative ROSA™ technology to help children suffering from prolific seizure disorders.
The Four-Pound Fighter
An ambulance rushed Dane to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. At four-pounds Dane Conrads was the smallest transplant the team had ever done.
Fit to Run: A rare heart procedure for Ziyan Liu
A rare heart support helped middle-schooler Ziyan Liu survive to transplant with a single ventricle heart.
Kids test fun features at the new Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford
Recently, a small group of children got a sneak peek of the nearly finished new hospital building.
Siblings with double-lung transplants beat the odds
When 9-year-old David Diaz was wheeled into surgery for a double-lung transplant, he had an advantage almost no one in his situation has: his sister had the same rare surgery just three years earlier.
Physician trainees test drive the Stanford Virtual Heart
Stanford University School of Medicine professors provide a unique boot camp for the next generation of cardiac specialists uses VR to teach complex heart anatomy.
Medicaid changes would hurt health care for all kids
Although only some children and families are publicly insured, all children are dependent on Medicaid funding, Christopher Dawes, president and CEO of Packard Children’s, writes in a recent Huffington Post op-ed.
Teams on a transplant journey
Christopher Castillo and Lani Lasconia had been acquaintances since childhood, but could never have imagined how their paths would cross in adulthood to help save Lani’s daughter, Cyehnna.
Treating an overlooked heart condition
Marissa Eustaquio’s case was a mystery. After a strong recovery from heart surgery as a child, she’d been active for years, enjoying dancing, hula, gymnastics, running, and bike-riding.
Living a full life on a VAD
The youngest of five kids in the Bingham family, 8-year-old Gage is the third of his siblings to suffer from a life-threatening heart failure condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy.
The diagnosis behind the diagnosis
In July 2013, 14-year-old Milan Gambhir – who had been a healthy child – was diagnosed with one of the most aggressive and incurable brain tumors: glioblastoma multiforme (GBM).
The long awaited and newly FDA-approved ‘artificial pancreas’ for type 1 diabetes has arrived
Doctors at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford led the way in testing the device and are currently in the next phase of studying the technology in younger children.
The Teen Health Van celebrates its 20th anniversary of caring for underserved youth
Dr. Seth Ammerman discusses what he’s seen in mobile health over 20 years, how it has impacted youth in the Bay Area and where the need still lies.
When a family vacation abroad turns to tragedy: Finding life-saving care and support far away from home
What was meant to be a trip to Disneyland in late summer 2015 turned to tragedy. Now, more than a year following the horrible car accident that changed their lives forever, the Liu family of Beijing is bringing their little girl home.
A weekend workshop shows patients and clinicians a new approach to think about solutions to their everyday issues
Nine clinicians and ten teen patients along with their siblings opted to spend this past weekend trying out some new skills.
Patient Update: Hana’s busy being a happy toddler with her new heart
We introduced Hana Yago a few months ago when she was awaiting a heart transplant. Today, the Yago family of San Francisco are one step closer home and leaps and bounds closer to their “new normal.”
How to Talk to Your Kids About Trauma
Grim images of violence around the U.S. have filled news reports lately, presenting a challenge… Read more »
Jungle-themed prom at Packard Children’s Hospital marked the near close of the school year: Patients, friends and families came out for an unforgettable evening
People tend to think of prom as a high school event, but at the K–12 school at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, it’s a special night for patients and families of all ages.
BERT to the rescue: Bedside theater reduces anxiety for patients going into surgery
BERT (Bedside Entertainment and Relaxation Theater) rolled out in the hospital’s perioperative unit. It’s purpose is to reduce the use of oral anxiety medications before operations and improving patient and family satisfaction levels.
Robot bridges the gap between young patients on isolation and hospital school peers
The Hospital School now has a new tool to help patients stay engaged — both in their lessons and with their peers.
Rare disease day: PCD looks like cystic fibrosis, but isn’t
Today, on Rare Disease Day, we’re focusing on a lung condition that can be just as… Read more »
A Super Bowl Surprise at Packard Children’s
Thanks to the power of social media, Denver Broncos star Vernon Davis answers a cancer patient’s wish.
Stanford Children’s Health orthopedists seeing a rise in ACL injuries among young girls
Young, athletic girls like Aminah Carter, 8, are being treated for sports injuries typically associated with adults and professional athletes.
After radiation-free treatment for their son’s brain cancer, family travels 6100 miles every year to reunite with their care team at Packard Children’s
Recently, the Loh family, originally from the Bay Area, was in town for their annual visit from Shanghai to check in with son Elliot’s care team. They reflected on the experience of traveling across the world to give their son the best treatment possible.
Inspired by one boy’s vision – youth patients stay engaged in their classrooms back home even from the hospital
Thanks to a collaboration with the Omar’s Dream Foundation, youth patients at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford don’t have to sacrifice their education while they undergo treatment.
Bariatric surgery provides San Jose siblings with a new lease on life
Thanks to dedication, hard work, and an experienced medical team, Michelle, 17, and Miguel, 15, the Rangel siblings from San Jose, are looking ahead toward a brighter future and much-improved medical outlook.
Mom of ‘surprise’ twins takes skin-to-skin time seriously in the intensive care nursery.
Vanessa Applegate was not expecting twins. The very day she discovered her one baby was in fact, one of two growing in-utero, she was admitted into Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.
An Evening at the Oasis for our patients
Patients at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital experience: An Evening at the Oasis
Caring for Kids in the Juvenile Justice System
There’s no question that, for teenagers who end up on the wrong side of the… Read more »
A Heartfelt Valentine’s Party for CHD Awareness Week
On Sunday, February 8, dozens of patient families with children that have congenital heart disease gathered to celebrate lives saved and CHD Awareness Week (2/7/15 – 2/14/15).
Teen traveled 3000 miles, from CT to Stanford, for life-changing neck surgery
Less than one month after reading about “stealth surgery” online, Jennifer traveled cross-country for an innovative surgery that helped her turn the corner from a painful past toward a brighter future.
Neonatology superhero at Stanford celebrates more than 50 years of caring for the world’s most fragile babies
Meet Philip Sunshine, MD, a one-of-a-kind superhero in the world of neonatology and prematurity. After more than 50 years of taking care of the world’s most fragile babies, this 84-year-old doctor is showing no signs of stopping.
Choo Choo! Hospital train creates smiles and memories for patients
What is the most popular spot at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford? It’s the hospital train, a first-floor attraction that draws the young and the young at heart to gaze with wonder at the jolly train as it circles through a miniature version of a Monterey Bay-inspired town.
Halloween Trick-or-Treat Trail brings holiday magic to patients and families
On Friday, Oct. 31, the hospital transformed itself into a Halloween playground for the young and the young at heart — complete with a haunted house, 50 different trick-or-treat stops and caregivers with costumes galore.
Stanford physician shares his story of treating Ebola patients in Liberia
For a month, Stanford emergency physician Colin Bucks, MD, found himself in the remote, dense jungle of northeast Liberia in the heat of the battle against Ebola. Now back home in Redwood City, Calif., he shares his stories from the front.
Screen time for the school year: Expert offers tips
Keeping kids off of tablets and phones can be a problem during vacation, but with teachers instructing students to use screen technology to complete assignments, it may seem like your kids are glued to devices. Thomas Robinson, MD, MPH, has some helpful tips for parents looking to set boundaries around family screen time.
New Baby at Home? When to Call the Doctor
A newborn baby sparks loads of happy feelings and smartphone pictures. But when should a parent call the doctor? Luckily, most newborns are perfectly healthy, but there are a few red flags that every parent should watch out for.
Former preemies share giggles, parents share memories at annual NICU Grad Party
Former preemies and their families and friends enjoyed the magic of this year’s NICU Grad Party on Sunday, Sept. 21.
From Post-WWII Russia to 7-year-old Giana Brown, a bone-repair method evolves
An incredible device originally developed in post-WWII Siberia helped 7-year-old Giana Brown straighten and lengthen her left leg by making small adjustments for more than six months.
Video Game Technology and Surgical Expertise Meet in Groundbreaking Tool at Stanford Children’s Health to Help Parents Understand Complex Heart Repair
One of the most complex birth defects of the heart—and one of the most challenging to repair—can now be easily understood through a groundbreaking, video-game-like graphic now available on the Stanford Children’s Health website. It’s the first in a series called “Moving Medicine: An Interactive 3-D Look at Conditions and Treatments.”
Two Generations Turn to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford for Cleft Lip and Palate Care
The moment Vanessa Garcia of Hollister, Calif., was born in 1985, doctors knew that the two gaps in her top lip and the division of her upper gums would make it impossible for her to eat.
New March of Dimes NICU Family Support program empowers families with sick babies
To help babies in the neonatal intensive care unit start life strong, Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford has launched a March of Dimes NICU Family Support® program, offering support and information to help families cope with the emotional and difficult experience of having a sick baby.
Rare heart-lung transplant allows 12-year-old girl to have a second chance at life
A Minnesota doctor diagnosed Katie Grace, now 12, with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension “IPAH,” at only 5 years old, and didn’t expect her to live. But the spunky lover of swimming beat the odds of that diagnosis, and received a rare heart-lung transplant in June.
Prenatal Partnership Has Lasting Benefits for Future Doctors and Patients
When Emily Ballenger of San Jose delivers her twins in August at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford, she’ll also be credited with helping train a medical student in the art of patient-centered care and relationship building.
‘Lipstick Girl’ Gets Big Birthday Wish: A Life-Saving Double Lung Transplant
Doris Diaz battled with severe cystic fibrosis. After her double lung transplant, Doris is able to take deep breaths for the first time in her life.
Car seat safety: Top tips for parents
Our child passenger safety technician teaches families to properly install a car seat and how to prevent vehicle-related heat stroke in kids.
Skin Care Tips for Safe Fun in the Summer Sun
The warm summer rays may bring fun times, but also a hidden danger – pediatric melanoma. Pediatric dermatologist Latanya Benjamin, MD, provides skin care tips
Bounce Safely Into Summer: 5 Tips to Maximize Trampoline and Bounce House Safety
During summer, kids are eager to let loose their pent-up energy with good, bouncy fun. But are trampolines and bounce houses safe?
A chance discovery, and a decision to wait
In 2005 13-year-old Monica Datta joined several other young people in undergoing MRIs as part of a research study at Stanford University. Unlike everyone else, Datta’s unexpectedly revealed a spot in her brain that nobody had known about.
Talking with kids about medical care
For a child, a visit to the hospital is like entering a whole new world…. Read more »
Parents, patients and doctors unite for progress at the 7th Annual Stanford Autism Update
How can you create a special day for hundreds of families from different backgrounds, whose… Read more »
Measles vaccine provides protective punch, says infectious-disease expert
Measles is one of the leading causes of death of children globally, according to the… Read more »
Special delivery: Cord blood donation saves lives
New mothers looking to make a big difference for families facing life-threatening medical conditions have… Read more »
Personal genome sequencing and your child: What you need to know
Children today are born into a future their grandparents could have only imagined: Scientists have… Read more »
Health Hazards of Homework
A new study by the Stanford Graduate School of Education and colleagues found that students… Read more »
Our baby cuddlers go prime time
Two of our volunteer baby cuddlers, Pat Rice and Claire Fitzgerald, were featured in this… Read more »
Back to karate after beating liver transplant odds
A liver tumor for 5-year-old Finn might have required a transplant, but our doctors had a better plan.
Cancer prevention for kids? It’s worth a shot!
If you knew a vaccination was available that would prevent certain cancers in your child,… Read more »
The Power of Touch
For babies, the nine months of pregnancy may feel like one long, loving embrace. It’s… Read more »
Five Tips for a Healthier Today
Happy National Child Health Day! We’ve got five simple tips you can use TODAY to help make your child’s day—and yours—healthier and happier.
Sports Concussions Vary for Boys and Girls
Specialists from our Brain, Behavior and Neurosciences Center discuss the signs, symptoms and safest care for concussions—and why girls’ rates are rising.
Off to College? Packard Children’s Adolescent and Young Adult Specialist Has Health Tips
Off to college for the first time? Returning for another year? While it’s a time… Read more »
A Boost for Breastfeeding
During World Breastfeeding Week, August 1 to 7—and every week—Packard Children’s partners with moms who want to breastfeed to help ensure they and their babies have all the support they need.
Back-to-School Vaccine Tips
Infectious disease expert Yvonne Maldonado, MD, has recommendations for parents prepping for the back-to-school season.
Summer’s Screen Time Challenge
The extra free time kids enjoy in summer can translate into added screen time. What are the risks, and how can you keep your kids from overdoing it?
Your Child’s Healthiest Summertime Skin
Summer is here, and Packard Children’s Latanya Benjamin, MD, has tips to help you keep your family’s skin safe and healthy.
Mother’s Gift: A Life-Saving Kidney For Her Daughter
To care for her daughter, Lori Vargas first had to care for herself: a diet and fitness regimen helped her qualify to be a living organ donor. She lost close to 40 pounds – and saved her daughter’s life.
New Criteria and Surgeon’s Unique Expertise Offer Hope for Some Congenital Heart Disease Patients
In September 2012, 24-year-old Brooke Stone had her second lifesaving heart surgery, this time at… Read more »
A Teaching Hospital – For Patients, Too
Children on hemodialysis spend a lot of time away from school. Our dedicated dialysis teacher helps make sure they don’t fall behind by meeting their educational needs in the medical setting, and helping support their medical needs when they’re in school.
Healthy Resolutions for Real Success
For kids, learning healthy habits and sticking to them—New Year’s or not—can be the key to a long, happy life. So what steps can really make a difference?
Rare Twins Deliver Holiday Joy
Allison and Kevin Carlson will soon be taking home two great Christmas gifts from Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford – a set of rare monoamniotic twins named Kate and Annie, delivered on November 7 at just 30 weeks gestation.
Healthy Tips for Happy Holidays
Within the holiday season’s boxes, bunting and bountiful food lie health hazards for children and families. Experts at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital offer some wisdom to keep families safe and healthy this season.
Pioneers of the Berlin Heart
For a child awaiting a heart transplant, the Berlin Heart offers a bridge to life. Packard Children’s helped bring this innovative device to pediatric patients in the United States, and achieved some of the early milestones for the most vulnerable patients.
School’s Out, Lunch is On
When summer break begins, it can mean several weeks of hunger for children in East… Read more »
