Liam’s Super Heart: Care from Birth at the Heart Institute

a boy dressed as a superhero pretending to fly while his father holds him up

Baby Liam wasn’t breathing when he was born. He spent the first five nights of his life in the NICU at his local birth hospital, struggling to survive. He was diagnosed with a genetic illness called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart muscle becomes thickened and stiff, making it harder for the heart […]

Emilia Makes History

UPMC Children’s maintains a strong clinical cancer research program. Thanks in part to the community’s support of the Mario Lemieux Institute for Pediatric Cancer Research at UPMC Children’s, an innovative center dedicated to advancing lifesaving childhood cancer research, the hospital can offer more experimental trials like the blinatumomab study to children like Emilia.

The Best Thing for Him: Miller’s Treatment for HLHS

Before he was even born, Miller was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). A rare congenital heart defect in which the left side of the heart is extremely underdeveloped, HLHS prevents normal blood flow through the heart.

Home Away from Home: How Zoey’s Medical Team Kept Her Comfortable

Zoey’s journey at UPMC Children’s began with a few minor but unsettling symptoms. The four-year–old began experiencing random fevers and soon stopped eating altogether. Her concerned mother, Asterria, sought answers from their local hospital. The diagnosis was strep throat—an explanation that didn’t quite fit the severity of Zoey’s condition. Determined to find an answer, Asterria […]

Patient Update: Lowin’s Story

Lowin came home two days after a 9-hour brain surgery that most surgeons wouldn’t dare to attempt because her tumor location is inoperable. Her parents are forever grateful that Dr. Abel was theirdaughter’s surgeon, and they say they will always sing his praises.

Moving Mountains: Kenny’s Remarkable Recovery

On March 4, 2024, Emily experienced what can only be described as every parent’s worst nightmare. She was holding her 2-year-old, Kenny, in her lap, attempting to rock the toddler to sleep. Suddenly, Kenny grabbed her chest, vomited, and went limp in her mother’s arms. Panic-stricken, Emily immediately called 911. Kenny was rushed to the […]