Cardiac Center Patient Stories

Before Zylah was even born, she received a miraculous birthday gift. It wasn’t a frilly dress or a pretty doll, but a heart procedure developed for extremely premature babies, just like her.

When seemingly healthy Angy-Mike was diagnosed with cardiac disease, his family was shocked. A new heart got this high school wrestler back on the mat.

As an infant, Owen needed three open-heart surgeries. As a teen, he needed a new kidney — which his mother donated.

Cherish’s rare and extremely serious heart condition went undiagnosed for years. CHOP experts gave Cherish and her family, at first, hope, and then a new heart.

Born with a severe congenital heart defect, 17-year-old Brendan is now an accomplished swimmer after treatment from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Brenna first came to CHOP with a lymphatics condition so severe she could hardly function. A collaboration between lymphatics, genetics and oncology changed her life.

Michael, 5, is meeting all his developmental milestones after surgeries for a severe heart defect. He was closely monitored by the Cardiac Kids Developmental Follow-up Program at CHOP.

Born with a severe heart defect, Hudson experienced a harrowing journey before he had a heart transplant at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Doctors and genetic researchers at CHOP teamed up to find the gene mutation responsible for Daniel's painful lymphatic disorder, and successfully treat it.

Ryan had no idea anything was wrong with his heart. But a frightening diagnosis meant he had to take a break from sports to fight for his life.