Stanford Medicine Children's Health

⭐️ Meet Austen: Parents’ pride, NICU grad, and heart patient. Born prematurely and with tracheoesophageal fistula and Tetralogy of Fallot, Austen’s journey has been filled with twists and turns. From the NICU to open-heart surgery, Austen has been surrounded by love and support from her family and the incredible team at Stanford Medicine Children's Health.

On the eve of Father’s Day, we honor caregivers like Alex, who've supported their children through every challenge and triumph. Thank you for your unwavering love and dedication!

Join us in cheering on our Patient Heroes, like Austen, and their families on June 23 at Summer Scamper. Learn more about Austen's inspiring journey. https://tr.ee/CVeZHANCvl ❤️

⚾ It was a dream come true for Jah’Seki as he stepped onto the field at Oracle Park to meet his favorite San Francisco Giants players. The 9-year-old was honored after he received an intestinal transplant at Stanford Medicine Children's Health that gave him another chance at life. 💙💚

Read Jah'Seki's story: https://bit.ly/3VJ4Tki

🌟 Meet Zenaida, a music-loving, bracelet-making, courageous spirit who's faced neuroblastoma with grace. She radiates optimism, earning her the nickname "Z Warrior." Supported by the caring team at Stanford Medicine Children's Health, including child life specialists and music therapists, Zenaida finds moments of happiness amidst her treatment.

Zenaida channels her creativity into making bracelets to raise funds to support other kids facing similar journeys. Your support through events like Summer Scamper ensures children like Zenaida have access to vital resources, enriching their hospital experience and bringing moments of joy.

Join us in celebrating Zenaida and our other incredible Patient Heroes at Summer Scamper on June 23! 🌟 Go here https://tr.ee/CVeZHANCvl to read more of her story and be sure to follow .jewelrybox to see her creations on Instagram. 💖

🌟 Meet Aiden: soccer enthusiast, movie buff, and donut connoisseur! 🍩 Despite living with Hunter Syndrome, his resilience and spirit shine through. Supported by his mom Danae and cutting-edge treatments from Stanford Children's Health | Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, Aiden's journey inspires hope. "I would like to say thank you to all the researchers and donors for all the hard work you are doing to help keep the flame of hope lit for families like mine," says Danae. Your support fuels vital research, making a difference for Aiden and others.

Join us at Scamper on June 23 to celebrate Aiden and our incredible Patient Heroes! To read more about Aiden’s story click here: https://tr.ee/CVeZHANCvl ❤️

We are pleased to sponsor Viva la Calle today in San Jose. Together we’re helping our community explore the city in new ways downtown and eastbound, inviting everyone to walk, run, bike, skate, and play. ☀️ Find Stanford Medicine Children’s Health at the activity hubs, where our pediatricians are handing out giveaways. 🥼🩺

An epilepsy diagnosis can be scary. William Gallentine, DO, shares some uplifting reasons to remain optimistic after receiving an epilepsy diagnosis, including therapies, medication, and resources to support individuals with epilepsy.

Supporting a Child with Epilepsy at Home, at School, and in the Community Learn about IEP and 504 accommodations for epilepsy, how to work on a seizure plan with the school, and how to help your kid advocate for themselves.

The new Innovation Center provides health care teams an opportunity to train in a realistic and risk-free environment.

Stanford Children’s Expands Simulation Innovation Center to Enhance Skills, Confidence, and Teamwork - Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Blog The new Innovation Center uses advanced technology, including high-fidelity mannequins, high-resolution simulation AV, and real-life equipment, that simulate a wide range of medical conditions.

This June, Lewis Larsen is celebrating one year of being tumor free! He has been through quite the journey in his three years of life. At 10 months old, Lewis was diagnosed with a craniopharyngioma, a rare brain tumor. His family found Stanford Medicine Children's Health where they removed the mass through his nose.

Portland toddler with brain tumor celebrates one year being tumor-free A local family is sharing their story of resilience and hope after their son was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor.

🪩 Prom is back at Packard Children’s for the first time since the pandemic. This year we brought the magic of the big city to kids at our hospital. 🚕

It was an unforgettable night, filled with the laughter, dance, and beauty of an evening in New York City's Central Park. 🌳 From a surprise performance by , to the twinkling lights in the Dunlevie Garden, our patients enjoyed a much-needed break from their medical treatments to celebrate a cherished rite of passage.

A special thanks to our Child Life and Creative Arts team, along with our volunteers and donors: Ambassadors for Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, Lifetime Cardinal, Roth Auxiliary, Association of Auxiliaries for Children, Board Members, Kendra Scott and Dunkin' RWC and San Carlos.

🌟 Meet Armaneigh, the remarkable little girl who has shown incredible resilience and spirit on her journey. Born healthy, her path took an unexpected turn at just 9 months old, leading her to Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford for life-saving care. With the support of the dedicated team at the Betty Irene Moore Children’s Heart Center, Armaneigh received a heart transplant after a challenging wait. Throughout it all, her bright-eyed joy, infectious smile, and love for Minnie Mouse and Toy Story have been a source of inspiration for everyone around her. Join us in celebrating Armaneigh’s journey at Summer Scamper on June 23, where she’ll be spreading smiles with her favorite Minnie ears! ❤️👟 To discover more about Armaneigh’s incredible story, visit https://tinyurl.com/5n8k4pp2

We're excited to join forces with the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation - Northern California Chapter to support their groundbreaking work in funding and accelerating research on Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. 💜

Our staff from Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Specialty Services – San Francisco, Pediatric Gastroenterology – Los Gatos, and the Center for Pediatric IBD and Celiac Disease are coming together at community events to raise awareness and funds for these challenging diseases.

Join us today at Martial Cottle Park in San Jose and on June 8th at Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek at 10 a.m.

Together, we're making a difference in improving the quality of life for children and adults affected by these conditions. With $500 million raised and invested in research to date, the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation is paving the way toward a better future. Let's march forward, one step at a time!

Addressing the mental health needs of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander youth is vital. Apurva Bhatt, MD, child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health, highlights barriers to care and steps to improve mental health support in this community.

Understanding Culture to Address Mental Health in the AANHPI Community - Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Blog Mental health providers are making efforts to better understand the challenges Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) youth face and offer culturally informed interventions.

The reasons children are hospitalized have changed over the past century; their need to feel like kids hasn’t. Now in its 100th year, the school at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford has always helped young patients feel like themselves.

Hospital school celebrates 100th year of helping kids be kids At the 100-year-old Packard Children’s Hospital school, children in recovery can make friends, keep up with schoolwork and just feel normal.

Frustrated by kids having to wait months to see a therapist, two Stanford Medicine mental health professionals found a solution. The idea behind the Stanford Parenting Center is that moms and dads can learn evidence-based methods of care that empower them to handle their own children’s mental health problems such as anxiety and screen time addiction.

Empowering parents as first defense for children in crisis Frustrated by kids having to wait months to see a therapist, two Stanford Medicine mental health professionals found a solution.

The snuggle is real! 🦘Our Kangaroo-a-Thon is underway now through May 31, highlighting the importance of skin-to-skin bonding.

Kangaroo care triggers the release of oxytocin in mothers and fathers, and research shows the method helps improve a premature infant's health and well-being.

"The NICU is a stressful environment, but events like this spark joy in all of the small, yet big, moments,” says Courtney Rossi, NICU RN.

Let's embrace the benefits of Kangaroo Care together!

Research has shown that children who experience heightened levels of preoperative anxiety may have negative psychological consequences throughout their recovery, such as anxiety, problems with sleep, and aggressiveness.

These emotional responses can delay important medical treatment, take more time to complete, and can reduce patient satisfaction.

Stanford Chariot has incorporated robotic puppies to help minimize a child's stress and distract them from pain, anxiety, and sometimes loneliness during their hospital stay.

Stanford program matches young patients with robot puppies to relieve anxiety Stanford is providing mechanical pets to children to help them brighten their stay at the hospital.

Join us for a night of glamour at the Stanford Medicine Children's Health Prom!

This special event is dedicated exclusively to our inpatients and outpatients at the hospital. Patients may bring a guest and enjoy an enchanting evening filled with lively games, music, and entertainment in the Big Apple! 🏙️🍎

For those ages 14 and older, please RSVP: https://bit.ly/44USs7I

Let's create unforgettable memories together! 🌟

Hear from StanfordChild pediatric neurosurgeon, H. Westley Phillips, MD, as part of an expert panel discussing treatment options for children suffering from complex symptoms of epilepsy.

Virtual Event: New Treatment Options Open Up for Young People With Epilepsy May 16, 2024

On DIPG Awareness Day, Stanford Medicine Children's Health highlights the strides made in understanding diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), the primary cause of brain tumor-related deaths in children. 🧠

In the last decade, doctors and researchers have made significant progress in understanding the biology of DIPG, and that progress is now leading to innovations in treating kids with DIPG. One of those innovations is a clinical trial—first available at Stanford—where patients receive their own genetically engineered immune cells to fight DIPG, called CAR T cells. 🔬

Jace, whose experience is highlighted in the article below, is one of the first four patients to receive this new treatment

“These four patients are heroes,” said the trial's principal investigator, pediatric neuro-oncologist Michelle Monje, MD, PhD. “They taught us so much, and that knowledge is already being applied to help other kids.”

The trial is ongoing, helping Stanford doctors and scientists optimize the therapy and further develop a multidisciplinary Neuro-Immuno-Oncology Program to help manage inflammation in delicate areas of the childhood nervous system.

From loss comes hope: Pediatric brain tumor treatment shows promise Research from early clinical trials of pediatric glioma patients shows that altered immune cells can fight the deadly brainstem tumor.

An innovative i-Rainbow guide helps parents and caregivers know when the time is right for vital skin-to-skin care.

Kangaroo Care for Premature Babies in the NICU - Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Blog Innovative i-Rainbow guide helps parents and caregivers know when the time is right for vital skin-to-skin care.

Each May, we celebrate our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Island (AANHPI) providers and staff who help make Stanford Medicine Children’s Health exceptional with their diversity and extraordinary talents. This year for AANHPI Heritage Month, we introduce you to three of our Pediatric Hematology and Oncology doctors, who reflect on their heritage and share how it influenced their careers.

Celebrating Hematology and Oncology Doctors From Diverse Backgrounds - Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Blog For AANHPI Heritage Month, meet three of our pediatric hematologists and oncologists, who reflect on their heritage and how it influenced their careers.

With the number of gamers worldwide steadily increasing since 2013, so has the number of children with video game addictions — bringing the total number of people classified as being addicted to video games up to 2%. Bradley Zicherman, MD, explains the threats gaming addiction pose to youth mental health.

Gaming addiction grows in teens, affects social, academic life As Senior Hahn Ng stares into his PC monitor, fake fans on the video game Rocket League cheer, and he shudders from the sound of crashing cars. He’s well into his sixth hour of playing and still isn’t tired due to the adrenaline from winning games and playing with his friends. Ng is not alone...

Baby Zoraya is alive and well today after Stanford Medicine Children's Health helped her overcome a quadruple threat—a viral illness, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and a rare heart defect that needed correcting.

At 8 months old, Zoraya underwent four heart surgeries in one month, including advanced, lifesaving ECMO, while receiving exceptional pulmonary hypertension care from our Betty Irene Moore Children’s Heart Center. By working together and expertly weighing every move, our large team of specialists saved her life.

Learn how Zoraya is doing today: https://bit.ly/3V1da2F

Stanford Heart Team Keeps Extremely Ill Baby Alive With Finesse and Teamwork - Stanford Medicine Children’s Health Blog Girl faces quadruple threat—a viral illness, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and a rare heart defect—and prevails.