Stories & Outcomes

For one special inpatient at Blythedale Children’s Hospital, Election Day was a particularly momentous occasion. Eighteen-year-old Amoonthays (Amoon) Khrisat Velazquez cast her ballot in the important midterm elections and voted for the very first time. The teen was admitted to the Hospital...

Walking into a major league ballpark is often an impressive sight to see, but for one Blythedale Children’s Hospital patient and his family, attending a recent baseball game held even more meaning. Nine-year-old Rocky, a previously healthy and active child, suffered a stroke in July. He was...

An infectious smile and big, brown eyes. These are just a few things you notice about Omouri when you first meet him. The two-and-a-half-year-old is unable to talk, but can speak volumes with just a look or a grin. “He’s full of energy and wants to express himself, but is unable to do...

Graduation is a time to reflect on past achievements while looking ahead to new beginnings. For one special 12th grader at the Mt. Pleasant-Blythedale School, located on the grounds of Blythedale Children’s Hospital, her future is paved with potential. “I will be moving to a new house...

Can a nosebleed save a life? For Daniella and her family, it did. Born full term and leading a healthy, active life for her first eleven years, the young girl rarely needed a doctor. In fifth grade, Daniella began developing frequent nose bleeds, fatigue and dizziness that gradually worsened until...

From the start of his life, Hiroshy and hospitals have gone hand in hand. Born premature at 33-weeks’ gestation in October 2011, Hiroshy was diagnosed with jejunal atresia (an incomplete formation of part of the small intestine), and spent 90 days in the NICU. The newborn underwent numerous...

“I’ve never had a child, who’s had a major organ transplant, come back so quickly.” Dr. Mary Didie, Unit Chief of the Day Hospital Program at Blythedale Children’s Hospital, proudly uttered those words upon the return of nine-year-old Malka in March 2018, less than...

"No family ever expects to be in this situation. You just don't think it will happen to you," said Jim McVeigh, Giavanna's father...

How far would you go for the best medical care for your child? For five-year-old Wadeem and her family, the answer was half a world away. Diagnosed with complex congenital heart disease at birth, Wadeem underwent multiple cardiac reparative surgeries in her home country of Saudi Arabia and, later,...

Abby has always amazed her parents and medical teams. The full-term baby was born in April 2017 with a prenatal diagnosis of an atrioventricular canal (AVC) defect and critical coarctation, both congenital heart defects. And within the span of only nine days, Abby underwent two reparative heart...