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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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Serenity's Story
Truncus Arteriosus
Serenity's Story
Truncus Arteriosus
Two-year-old Serenity is a normal toddler with a not-so-normal story. She has a long scar in the middle of her chest (her “boo boo”) that represents the three open heart surgeries she had before her second birthday.
Maria's Journey
Obesity
Maria's Journey
Obesity
Maria was the first patient to have weight-loss surgery at Children's National. With its multidisciplinary approach, a team developed a personalized plan for the teenager.
Teresa's Story
Cardiomyopathy
Teresa's Story
Cardiomyopathy
Teresa, age 2, was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy and waited on the Berlin Heart EXCOR® Pediatric Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) for nine months while she waited for a heart transplant. Her heart arrived on Christmas Day.
Paul's Story
Sickle Cell Disease
Paul's Story
Sickle Cell Disease
Almost 18 years ago, Audrey and Paul Sr. were living in Maryland awaiting their son’s arrival into the world. In preparation, they did all the research that expecting parents do, including looking for the best pediatrician and comparing car seats. In addition to this routine research, they also looked for the best sickle cell disease programs within the area. Since both of his parents had sickle cell trait, there was a one in four chance that their son would have sickle cell disease.
Jared S.'s Story
Broken Bones
Jared S.'s Story
Broken Bones
Jared was just shy of 6 years old when he fell off his bike and broke his femur in the summer of 2015.
Isaiah's Story
Airway & Lungs
Isaiah's Story
Airway & Lungs
A young boy and his family confront and manage asthma successfully through Dr. Stephen Teach's IMPACT DC Asthma Clinic.
Emily's Story
Genetic Disorders and Defects
Emily's Story
Genetic Disorders and Defects
In 2012, Emily Rose Wagner was born in Boston, and her parents were beyond thrilled to have their second child. The first few months after Emily was born were a dream come true for the entire family.
Lauren's Story
Heart
Lauren's Story
Heart
Lauren's headaches shattered her Olympic swimming dreams, until she visited Children's National Hospital.
Massimo's Story
Genetic Disorders and Defects
Massimo's Story
Genetic Disorders and Defects
During his first 11 months of life, Massimo was hitting all of his developmental milestones, and his parents, Stephen and Sally Damiani, didn’t notice anything out of the norm. Right before his first birthday, the family started noticing signs of regression in Massimo.
Mila's Story
Hirschsprung Disease
Mila's Story
Hirschsprung Disease
As soon as Mila was born at 35.5 gestational weeks, it was clear something was terribly wrong. Mila’s breathing didn’t sound right. Her mother waited to hear her newborn cry. Following diagnostic imaging and genetic testing, her newborn daughter's health concerns were revealed.
Nadia’s Story
Heart
Nadia’s Story
Heart
Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a rare heart condition in which the heart muscles are too stiff and can’t relax to fill and pump the correct amount of blood to other parts of the body. For Nadia, this not only meant that her intestine function was compromised, causing nausea and vomiting, but her lungs also had to work in overdrive.
Zach's Story
Pulmonary Atresia
Zach's Story
Pulmonary Atresia
Zachary Blumenfeld is so thankful for the Children’s National Hospital physicians who saved his life. Now, he wants to spread miracles around the world.