Children’s Hospital Colorado

04/26/2026

When Dylan was diagnosed with autism at 12 years old, his mom, Lynn, felt like it was the most fulfilling part of his journey — to be understood and learn about the tools to thrive. Today at 20, Dylan is advocating for himself and others like him to better understand autism.

“Autism is extremely different and it looks different in every person,” Dylan says. “We can’t treat it all the same way.”

After several other diagnoses when he was younger, including generalized anxiety and ADHD, Dylan came to Children’s Hospital Colorado and met pediatric psychologist Dr. Elizabeth Coan. Quickly, Dylan and Dr. Coan formed a relationship that allowed Dylan to be himself and learn strategies to help him navigate life with autism. His parents also found that the therapies weren’t just for Dylan.

“We wanted to understand him as a family, and Dr. Coan includes us as a family unit where we learn what’s helping treat him,” Dylan’s dad, Jeff, says.

Since starting therapy, Dylan graduated from high school, learned that he needs some time alone to feel less overwhelmed and has a job at a hospital in their food and nutrition services department. He's also part of the Autistic Mentors Group led by Dr. Coan and other providers where he educates other patients, families and healthcare professionals about autism and explains how to help.

“I like to give advice because if it works for me, it might work for someone else,” Dylan says.

Dylan knew he was different and was sometimes treated differently. He hopes that through his advocacy, he can help other kids embrace their differences and advocate for themselves. This Autism Acceptance Month we celebrate Dylan, the neurodivergent community and providers like Dr. Coan that make stories like Dylan’s possible.

04/25/2026

Competition is meant to be fun and exciting, and what comes after is just as important. Sports physical therapist Mimi Babcook shares her post-game playbook on what to say to your kid after they compete.

04/23/2026

More than 3,400 kind and generous souls like Judy and Larry help our hospital run every day.

04/20/2026

Kids have questions. Parents need answers. Get advice from our experts on how to talk to your kids about ma*****na.

How to start a conversation with your kids about ma*****na.

04/19/2026

Talk about worker bees: Last year, 3,441 volunteers in 15 different chapters gave 223,000 hours of their time to support our patients, families and team members.

Drop your shout-outs and volunteer stories here and we'll pass them to our Association of Volunteers!

04/16/2026

For teen athletes, Vitamin C is critical for healing, recovery and performance. Adding in colorful fruits and veggies, especially during lunchtime, can make a difference.

Check out our expert guide on building a high-performance lunch: https://bit.ly/3PxIBRQ

04/16/2026

When things feel overwhelming, look for the good. ✨

04/14/2026

Marcus, Christopher and Austin Root may all have the same genetic condition, but don’t make the mistake of assuming they aren’t unique.

These three, affectionately known around here as the Root brothers, were all diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called cystinosis before the age of 2. The condition causes damage to many of the body’s important organs.

When the eldest, Marcus, was born, his family noticed regular vomiting and delayed growth, leading to his diagnosis. His two brothers followed similar paths, and in all three cases, the condition caused cystine deposits throughout the body — including the kidneys — speeding up organ decline.

When Marcus was 10, his kidneys reached a critical point. He received his transplant in 2016, followed by Austin (then age 9) in July 2018 and Christopher (then age 10) in September 2018. But while their medical journeys look the same, the boys behind them certainly aren’t.

“They're individuals,” says their stepmother, Nicole. “Their personalities are all very different, and their strengths and their needs are different. We really celebrate that.”

Marcus, now almost 20, is learning to play guitar and loves video games, particularly Call of Duty and Life is Strange. In fact, you can often find them all gaming together.

Eighteen-year-old Christopher is the most organized and a linear thinker. He’s looking forward to graduating in May and gaining more independence, even if that looks different than it might for other teens. He’s also excited to move out one day soon.

Austin is the youngest at 17. He’s particularly fond of movies, including all things Marvel and Star Wars. He enjoys dancing. And even though he sometimes struggles with back pain from his condition, he doesn’t let that stop him.

Though each of the boys requires complex care, physical therapy, multiple medications and a close eye on hydration, Nicole says the big, blended family is focused on joy. “We're always celebrating transplant day and organ donation because without that gift, our boys would not be here,” she says. “We are just always trying to find the joy and live, right?”

04/13/2026

At the ballpark, the focus is on fun — not on the hospital.

Some of our patients, families and providers recently stepped up to the plate for our annual visit to baseball spring training. They met the players, soaked up some Arizona sunshine and got a chance to focus on being kids. Thank you to Roundup River Ranch and the Colorado Rockies for a memorable trip and for allowing experiences like this to be a part of their healing!

04/12/2026

Trevor planned to pursue virology in medical school, but a brain tumor diagnosis the week of orientation altered his plans. Now he's focused on oncology and inspired to support people facing similar challenges.

This 24-year-old was about to start medical school. Instead, a visit to the ER down the street turned into a brain tumor diagnosis.

04/11/2026

How much should your kid weigh and how tall should they be before they graduate to the next stage of car or booster seat? The answers might surprise you.

Get the science-backed recommendations for the safest ride: https://bit.ly/3PNjCKo

04/09/2026

After months of waiting, Conor serendipitously received his new heart during Heart Month. Because of organ donation, this was the start of a new journey for Conor, who was born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. See how he’s doing now.

How organ donation changed Conor's life forever.