We Stand For Care

It’s not everyday you see a miracle, though you are more likely to see them if you work at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.

Laura Börk, a baby born with a rare and severe condition, was successfully treated using new methods of minimally invasive surgery. ”We’re one of the top pediatric hospitals in the world for minimally invasive surgery,” says Craig Albanese, MD.

Miles Coulson, a newborn waiting for a heart transplant, received a miniature, external heart pump attached by tubes. In the U.S. this procedure had only been used on just three other children, and never before for such a young child.

Joe Wise, a 15-year-old grew up with the energy-depleting disorder chronic mitochondrial myopathy. Working with the Packard medical team he uses a unique treatment plan that propelled his swimming career into the Paralympics in Beijing earlier this year.

The doctors, nurses and staff help make a difference everyday Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital. Read more about these everyday miracles.

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital held its first college graduation ceremony for Leslie Zeller, a cancer patient was supposed to graduate with Santa Clara University’s Class of 2007. A year of chemotherapy and two relapses of her disease put the business and marketing student’s studies on hold.

As Zenner slowly made her way toward a hospital auditorium, nurses and doctors showcased moving teamwork by lining the hospital hallway. Several wept, and the team hummed “Pomp and Circumstance.” The university’s longtime president, Rev. Paul Locatelli, personally awarded the diploma.

Zenner said she feels blessed to be among so many gifted doctors, “The nurses are so great, and everyone is so open to my questions. They go out of their way to find answers for me.”

Read more about Leslie Zenner’s graduation at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital.

Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital is encouraging families to work together in the fight against childhood obesity. The pediatric weight-control program is designed to help children, as well as their parents, prevent an epidemic that can lead to future problems such as diabetes or heart disease.

An estimated 17 percent of American youth are overweight; double for adults. Families at Packard learn to break bad habits and and encourage short term wins. As a result 12-year-old Austen lost 14 pounds and his mother Erica Lovett dropped 10, learning and working together throughout.

Read more about the pediatric weight-control program.

The care patients receive at Stanford Hospital & Clinics’ Trauma Center brought them back for an annual reunion. These stories of survival include a wide range of people, a 22 year-old and an 83 year-old for example, who all stand as a testament to how Stanford Hospital made a difference in their lives.

The fourth annual trauma center reunion connects the former patients to their doctors and nurses, demonstrating ongoing teamwork. Thomas Pavelko, 59, celebrated one year of survival since a serious car accident. He remembers hearing one of the ambulance crew say they’d be taking him to Stanford—and he began to relax.

This special occassional serves as another notice of the advancement of patient care on display at Stanford Hospital. Read more about the reunion.