Patient Stories
At Children’s National, 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?
Noah's Story
Airway Lungs
Noah's Story
Airway Lungs
After Joshua and Sandra Sweek noticed that their 6-month-old son, Noah, was having breathing problems, they took him to the doctor. There, the baby was diagnosed with suspected asthma.
Carly's Story
Cancer
Carly's Story
Cancer
Bone marrow experts and a selfless donation save a local teen’s life.
Sophia's Story
Tetralogy of Fallot TOF
Sophia's Story
Tetralogy of Fallot TOF
During a routine 20-week prenatal ultrasound, Carol Kando-Pineda’s obstetrician in Fredericksburg, Virginia, spotted abnormalities in Carol’s unborn child that she referred to as “possibly inconsistent with life.”
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.
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.
Kaylee and Roxi's Story
Kidney Diseases
Kaylee and Roxi's Story
Kidney Diseases
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.
Gabriella's Story
Nephrotic Syndrome
Gabriella's Story
Nephrotic Syndrome
Gabriella was diagnosed with nephrotic syndrome, which meant her kidneys were leaking protein.
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.
Abagail's Story
Hydrocephalus
Abagail's Story
Hydrocephalus
Every day is hydrocephalus awareness day for me - Abagail’s mom
Brayden's Story
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Brayden's Story
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
From the outside, Brayden Schofield seems like a regular six-year-old boy who loves sharks, snakes, and playing with his little brother. But what most people don’t know is that Brayden’s life – and left arm – was saved by a rare bone tumor surgery performed by a team of doctors at Children’s National Health System.
Xiomara's Story
Heart
Xiomara's Story
Heart
When Xiomara's mother Elena was 20 weeks pregnant, her ultrasound uncovered something that didn’t look right. Elena was referred to Children’s National Health System to meet with Mary Donofrio, M.D., in the Fetal Heart Program who flagged a few potential heart issues and continued to monitor Xiomara throughout the remainder of the pregnancy.
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.