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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.
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Sadie's Story
Newborn Neurologic Disorders
Sadie's Story
Newborn Neurologic Disorders
Sadie is one of hundreds of infants with acute encephalopathy who have received whole-body therapeutic hypothermia at the Children's National neonatal intensive care unit. Whole-body therapeutic hypothermia is offered in the first few hours of life to preserve brain cells and to stave off disability or death.
Heaven, Tiara and Messiah's Story
Airway & Lungs
Heaven, Tiara and Messiah's Story
Airway & Lungs
"My life has become better because I’m more educated and can help others,” Tiara Cuthbertson embraces being an asthma patient advocate.
Maddox's Story
Neurofibromatosis
Maddox's Story
Neurofibromatosis
Zhen Chao, now called Maddox, was born in China with a genetic condition called neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) that can cause painful or disfiguring tumors called plexiform neurofibromas. Read about Maddox.
Stella's Story
Anorectal Malformations
Stella's Story
Anorectal Malformations
When she and her twin sister were born in 2019, Stella was diagnosed with an anorectal malformation. Her surgeon in Greece recommended that the family see international expert Marc Levitt, M.D., and his team for the surgery, due to his vast experience in repairing challenging cases like Stella’s.
Amarie's Story
Premature Infant
Amarie's Story
Premature Infant
Amarie, an infant born prematurely, is enrolled in a Children’s research study that seeks to understand how preterm birth affects the cerebellum.
Nick's Story
Omphalocele
Nick's Story
Omphalocele
When Nick Cornelius passed his pediatrician’s two-year-old well-child check-up with flying colors, his parents were thrilled. Probably even more thrilled than typical first-time toddler parents, because Nick’s life up to that point had been anything but typical.
Kaylee and Roxi's Story
Kidney Conditions
Kaylee and Roxi's Story
Kidney Conditions
Kaylee Townsley, a seventh-grader, is 12. Roxi Vasquez, a high school senior, is 18. They live in different towns and attend different schools but became "sisters" as they shared the same kidney transplant experience.
Cayden's Story
Aortic Coarctation
Cayden's Story
Aortic Coarctation
Cayden was born with a life-threatening complex congenital heart defect. Learn how the hybrid procedure for HLHS helped Cayden.
Ryan A's Story
Ryan A's Story
Ryan has neurodegeneration with brain iron accumulation, or NBIA. Of the different types of NBIA, he has mitochondrial-membrane protein-associated neurodegeneration, or MPAN, a disease in which a surplus of iron accumulates in the brain and causes it to deteriorate. Tuba Alam, Ryan’s mom, says that despite his condition, his goal in life is to help others like him find a cure so that they can live a full life.
Irina's Story
Colorectal
Irina's Story
Colorectal
When Irina and her husband first learned their infant daughter had a serious health condition, they immediately began researching the best doctors and surgeons to care for her. Read about Irina's story.
Gabriella's Story
Nephrotic Syndrome
Gabriella's Story
Nephrotic Syndrome
Gabriella was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, which meant her kidneys were leaking protein.
Anna's Story
Anna's Story
Heath Alexander of Silver Spring, Maryland, underwent a rigorous assessment to determine whether he was healthy enough to donate one of his kidneys to his daughter, 11-year-old Anna Sophia Alexander.