“Stay Strong, Be Brave because there are more ups than downs,” Avila would repeat to herself Avila is not your average 12-year-old. Her smile lights up a room, and her […]
“Mom, I’ve decided I’m going to be proud of my epilepsy.” Beth Van Eetlvedt tells a story that would chill any parent to the bone. Her 4-year-old daughter Helaine (Laine) […]
Diagnosed at birth with a rare combination of nongenetic abnormalities, Paxton was rushed to Rady Children’s within his first few hours of life. At just 2 days old, he underwent […]
When Melissa and Marc arrived at the hospital for the birth of their first child, Makayla, they couldn’t have anticipated the challenging journey that lay ahead for their family. Right […]
Eight-year-old Landon was a talented member of his soccer team, playing entire games with ease. When it suddenly became difficult for him to make it through practice, his parents knew […]
Born with only one functional kidney, Brooklyn showed no signs of cause for concern for most of her infancy. When she was 8 months old, a routine ultrasound recommended by […]
The summer following fifth grade, Declan was riding his bike around his neighborhood when he crashed and fell into the handlebars. “First responders knew right away that something wasn’t right […]
When Jonah was 6 years old, a lingering fever took him and his parents to their nearest urgent care. Once there, Jonah’s level of consciousness shifted drastically, requiring emergency transport […]
How Genomics Saved a Teen’s Life Mario Luna, an eighth-grader from Culver City, has always been passionate about basketball. He even dreams of playing in the NBA one day. However, […]
Pioneering Portal Vein Thrombosis Procedure Opens Up New Possibilities Ashlyn Frye hadn’t been feeling her best for the last several years. Teachers said she didn’t pay attention in class and […]
In June 2019, just 36 hours after Christina and Daniel Kettler arrived home from the hospital with their new baby, Fitz, their pediatrician called with bad news. A newborn screening […]
Though genetic testing didn’t generate answers, it still gave young Grace a fighting chance When 5-year-old Grace Holbrook was born, she was diagnosed with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia and a […]
Veronica Castillo had always been a bubbly and active 12-year-old child. She loved to dance and do art with her friends. However, her life took a sudden turn when she […]
An ATV accident turned a family vacation into a journey to save a young girl’s arm When the Ward family set off on a vacation to Northern California for the […]
Liv, a busy and curious 13-year-old, can recite the numbers of pi up to 50 digits. She can also recognize an icosagon, or 20-sided shape. She’s an artist, a published […]
Mina Longo is a soft-spoken 13-year-old who loves to read horror novels, listen to heavy metal music, and wants to learn to play the guitar. She sounds like many girls […]
