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Patient Stories

Our patients' stories

Patient story

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.

Ciarlo smiling
Patient story

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.

Patient story

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.

Patient story

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.

Patient story

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.

Donor story

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.

Patient story

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.

Grayson
Patient story

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.

Patient story

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.

Patient story

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.

Patient story

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.

Patient story

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.

Patient story

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.

Peter and Bart
Patient story

Peter and His Grandson Bart

Diagnosed with an enlarged heart and related complications, Bart’s family brought him to CHOP for life-saving surgery. Years later, Bart’s grandfather Peter, calls the doctors “real-life super heroes” and sought a way to thank them.

Patient story

Catherine and Her Granddaughter Molly

Born with a hole in her heart, Molly spent 24 days in the newborn/infant intensive care unit at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Catherine, Molly’s grandmom, found comfort knowing her first grandbaby was being treated by expert and compassionate doctors, nurses and support staff.

Smiling Patient from the Healthy Weight Program
Patient story

Health and Well-being Clinic: Giovanna's Story

The Eisenstein family struggled to help their young daughter maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI), until they sought the help of experts in CHOP’s Healthy Weight Program.

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