Addisyn's Story

Addisyn has been a patient at Cardon Children's since she was two months old, when it was determined that she needed a tracheotomy for tracheomalacia. She has had many hospital visits at Cardon Children's, however her last one was on April 17, 2010, when she got her trachea removed. She just passed her one-year anniversary of being trach free and has been doing awesome.

Brianna's Story

When I was 15, I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, a gastrointestinal disorder that can affect any part of the digestive tract. I was constantly running to the bathroom and suffering from low grade fevers, abdominal pain and achiness, vomiting, nausea, anemia, weight loss, extreme fatigue, facial inflammation, dehydration, and an injured social life, among others.

I was introduced to Dr. Swati Kolpuru, an absolutely fantastic physician and individual, and was admitted to the hospital with an indefinite release date. Here, I went through blood transfusions and was advised that surgery was not an option. I eventually was prescribed a drug that stabilized my condition, and after about a year was able to get off the medication. I was weaned off of the drug and introduced to food, and I was back on track with school, cheer, dance, and my social life. I participated in Take Steps for Crohn's and Colitis.

That summer, I relapsed completely. I was sent back to the hospital for my very first surgery, which was taken care of easily. My physician advised a change in medication, and I have been in remission ever since.

At this point in my life, I am doing remarkably well. I have been so inspired by my experience and the people I've met that I plan to study Physiology, go to medical school, and become a pediatric gastroenterologist.

Although I understand that remission may not last forever, and that I will always have the disease, I have been so blessed in my life with an incredible support group of family and friends, a team of renowned physicians and nursing staff, a life lesson, and many, many opened doors. I now live with a new perspective and goal - a goal that will not be hindered because of my illness. Because if and when my disease returns, my boxing gloves will be on. And my fists will be swinging.

When he was three weeks old, his primary care physician noticed a heart murmur. So we started going to a Cardiologist and they said he had a fenestrated atrial septal defect. They said, by the age of four, it should close up. In the three years they've been monitoring, the holes have not closed up. So we are at the point where we have to do an open heart surgery because, if it is not done, when he gets older, the blood flow between the chambers of his heart will cause pulmonary hypertension and eventually death.

We took him into the hospital and he was just... he's so comfortable there because we had made so many visits. And he has friends there and they were all waiting for him. And then, when they took him in the back, that was really hard because you're looking at your little boy and he seems perfectly fine. And knowing that they have to fix this hole in his heart, wondering about all the things that could go wrong.

Since undergoing heart surgery, Tristan is happy and healthy, and has even spoken his first words... Mom, Dad, and iPad!

Chloe's Story

My husband and I brought our daughter to Cardon Children's Emergency department this past March. Terrified and exhausted, we were met by smiling faces. Even though it was flu and RSV season, we didn't wait too long to be seen. After some tests and a bit of waiting, our suspicions were confirmed: our daughter had pyloric stenosis. We were told she would need to have surgery as soon as her electrolytes were in balance and that we wouldn't be going home for a few days.

Dr. Ravindra Vegunta performed our daughter's surgery and he was really wonderful! He took lots of time to answer questions, he drew us a diagram of what our daughter's tummy looked like at the time and how it would look after the surgery and assured us that she was going to be OK.

All of the nurses, doctors and other staff were just great! One of the staff members also gave Chloe a Winnie the Pooh blanket to take home. At a very scary time in our lives, it was comforting to know our baby was in good hands!

Sophia's Story

I've always wanted to be a doctor because I've had so much experience. I want to be a surgeon like Dr. [Jonathan] Greenfeld. I have had five surgeries that included tonsil removal, fixing a broken elbow, having my appendix removed and fixing a right inguinal hernia.

Cardon Children's Medical Center is a wonderful hospital. I think that every child should go there if they are sick. It's awesome there! I thought the music class was so much fun. It was so much fun making music! I play the guitar. I really liked the toy closet too.

My sister and I donated toys to the Oncology floor where I stayed. All the nurses were really sweet to me. If I have another surgery, I'm going there. I want to volunteer at the hospital. I am going to ask my class to donate toys for children that have to be in the hospital during the holidays.

William's Story

William was 4 when he broke his femur. He was on the trampoline with his cousin and tripped on a ball. He spent three weeks in traction at the hospital and wore a body cast for two months after that. We found out that he had a tumor in his bone.

A year later, the tumor was growing back rapidly and William needed another surgery. They put in a plate and six screws at that time. The following year, the doctors went in to remove the plate and found that the tumor was growing again.

William was sent to an oncologist when the tumor came back for the third time. His last surgery was in January 2011, where once again they removed the tumor and put in a large plate with five screws. The tumors were benign.

Watching William go through all that pain from the surgery and then from physical therapy was one of the hardest parts, but he did it without complaining and always used his manners, even on bad days.

William loves everyone at Cardon Children's and actually cried when we had to leave. He was happy to go home, but sad to leave all the nurses and doctors. He told his parents that Cardon's felt like family., with celebrations of his sister's birthday and Easter.

William is now tumor free and for the first time in four years not on any restrictions at home or school. He and his family tell everyone how wonderful Cardon Children's is.