COVID-19 Update:Learn more about how we are protecting our patients, families and staff, as well as other important facts about COVID-19.
Patient Stories
At Children’s National Hospital, we provide compassionate, professional care to thousands of patients every year. Our patients come from all over the United States and from more than 20 countries around the world. They have many different conditions and experience unique paths on their treatment journeys – but through it all they experience the same level of warm, family-centered care. Discover our patients' stories to understand their journey and see how it may relate to your own.
Looking for something more specific?
Emilee's Story
Diaphragmatic Hernia
Emilee's Story
Diaphragmatic Hernia
How ECMO helped Emilee not only survive, but thrive.
Ida's Story
Neurofibromatosis
Ida's Story
Neurofibromatosis
Ida Namazi is a bright, ambitious 21-year-old University of Virginia junior who dreams of attending law school and becoming a senator one day. What people might not know about Ida is that she was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) when she was a toddler and has been battling the neurologic condition her whole life.
Abagail's Story
Hydrocephalus
Abagail's Story
Hydrocephalus
Every day is hydrocephalus awareness day for me - Abagail’s mom
Erica's Story
Obesity
Erica's Story
Obesity
Most beauty queens hope for world peace, but one teen pageant contestant wants to tackle an issue that consumes the Washington, D.C., region.
Brynleigh's Story
Brain & Nervous System
Brynleigh's Story
Brain & Nervous System
Two and a half years ago, Adamstown, MD residents Lauren and Sean Shillinger gave birth to a beautiful little girl named Brynleigh. Brynleigh was their first child, and Lauren experienced a full-term pregnancy and a normal delivery. But when Brynleigh was just 9 1/2 months old, Lauren and Sean started to notice something unusual in Brynleigh’s behavior.
Xavion's Story
Skin Disorders
Xavion's Story
Skin Disorders
Sometimes a mom’s intuition is all it takes to get her child to the right physician. When 8-year-old Xavion Chisley developed a fungal infection on his toe, his mother, Nikki, immediately took him to see a dermatologist who removed his toenail to treat the infection. However, when Xavion’s toenail grew back, the infection had not diminished but actually appeared to be spreading to his foot.
Tea's Story
Brain & Nervous System
Tea's Story
Brain & Nervous System
On Tea Abbadini’s thirteenth birthday, she started feeling sudden pain on the right side of her lower abdomen that her parents thought was appendicitis. A few months later on Christmas Eve, Tea’s hand cramped up for 10 minutes and, on New Year’s Eve, she got her first back cramp. Her back cramp was so bad that it curved her to the right and caused her to walk leaned over for a few hours.
Penelope's Story
Heart
Penelope's Story
Heart
Before Penelope was even born, she had a team of Children's specialists ready with a treatment plan for her heart defect.
Ryan W.'s Story
Heart
Ryan W.'s Story
Heart
When Ryan turned 2 months old, his parents noticed a change in his behavior. Their son – who once loved to eat – suddenly stopped nursing, began sleeping more than usual, gradually became fussy and struggled to breathe when he laid down.
Katheryn's Story
Stomach & Digestion (GI)
Katheryn's Story
Stomach & Digestion (GI)
Around Thanksgiving during her sophomore year of high school, Katheryn felt like throwing up after dinner. She began to throw up regularly, but frustratingly didn't know why. After seeing multiple doctors, Katheryn was finally diagnosed correctly.