Stories & Outcomes

Discharge days are bittersweet at Blythedale Children's Hospital. While we miss the children we become so close to over the course of their treatment, our hearts soar when they are able to return to their families and their communities. We are proud to share some of their stories.

A Fighter With Heart

Rebecca's Brave Recovery from Heart Transplant

Rebecca has always been a fighter, even before birth. The 12-year-old was diagnosed in utero with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital heart defect. Throughout her life, Rebecca has endured a variety of procedures related to her diagnosis, but none prevented her from enjoying her activities...

Tags:

  • Pre/Post Organ & Stem Cell Transplant
  • Acquired and Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Complex Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
  • Heart Transplant
  • Congenital Heart Disease
  • Acquired Brain Injury
  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)

Assistive Technology Keeps Nick on Top of his Game

17-year-old Nicholas has not let his diagnosed athetoid cerebral palsy and seizure disorder hold him back. The Ossining tenth-grader is an avid athlete who enjoys baseball, swimming and yoga; however, increased communication and academic demands began to pose a challenge for Nicholas. Almost a...

Tags:

  • Assistive Technology
  • Cerebral Palsy (CP)

Smiles for Ian

Strength Through Blythedale's Therapeutic Treatments

There’s a well-known saying, “Home is where the heart is.” For the Lara family of the Bronx a big piece of their heart was at Blythedale Children’s Hospital. That’s where Ian, their nine-month-old son, has been a patient for more than three months. Born last October, at 33-weeks gestation, Ian was...

Tags:

  • Neuromuscular Disorders
  • Centronuclear Myopathy

Arriyana Doesn't Let Pulmonary Hypertension Keep Her Down

16-month-old Ariyana was born at a mere 25-weeks gestation, weighing only 15 ounces. Her immediate medical needs were highly complex, given her extreme prematurity. She had several serious complications, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia and retinopathy of prematurity. She was also diagnosed with...

Tags:

  • Pulmonary Hypertension
  • Pulmonary Rehabilitation
  • Post Acute Neonatal Care
  • Retinopathy of Prematurity (RoP)
  • Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD)
  • Pulmonary Insufficiency
  • Extreme Prematurity

Nicole's Miraculous Recovery

Driven Teen Battles Back from Cancer and Strokes

Nicole began her junior year at Greenwich High School with much to look forward to. An honors student and tri-varsity athlete, the vivacious teen was looking forward to learning to drive and prepping for college. A diagnosis of leukemia was not in the plans. Nonetheless, when she received the news...

Tags:

  • Acquired and Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
  • Leukemia
  • Stroke

Paying a Visit to Sesame Street

If you ever find yourself singing "Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?" (the theme song to the popular children's show), just ask 10-year-old Noor. The Blythedale Day Hospital patient was recently invited to appear on the hit show, along with her father. She had the opportunity...

Tags:

  • Assistive Technology
  • Muscular Dystrophy

Addiena's Story

Watch Addiena's story and learn more about her journey - overcoming complications of prematurity - to go home with her adoring parents.

Tags:

  • Post Acute Neonatal Care
  • Pulmonary Rehabilitation
  • Extreme Prematurity
  • Micro Preemie
  • Chronic Lung Disease

Kassius and Keaton's Journey Home

Twins Kassius and Keaton were born at just 30-weeks gestation. During the pregnancy, parents Krissy and Sam learned the boys were monochorionic/diamniotic identical twins, sharing a placenta, but not an amniotic sac. This put the boys at greater risk for significant complications. While Keaton...

Tags:

  • Post Acute Neonatal Care
  • Pulmonary Rehabilitation
  • Preemie

Messiah Comes Home

“He is our first child, giving us a run for our money,” said Chappisha Morgan, smiling as she pulled a small shirt over her three-month-old son Messiah’s vertical chest scar. Messiah’s dad, Terrance Mackie, was packing up their belongings for a big family “first”. Their baby boy was going home. “We...

Tags:

  • Post Acute Neonatal Care
  • Specialized Feeding
  • Cardiac Rehabilitation
  • Congenital Heart Disease
  • Preemie

Visionary Valentino

Burke-Blythedale Pediatric Neuroscience Research Collaboration Sets Sights on Innovative Rehab Project

Electronic music is made for dancing, but for the vision research team of the Burke-Blythedale Pediatric Neuroscience Research Collaboration, plugging in and pumping up the volume is just part of the job when working with Valentino Guidi. Born a healthy baby in 2006, Valentino reached all the...