Children's Hospital Los Angeles

04/09/2026

20 years after losing both eyes to retinoblastoma, a father fights for his son’s eyesight.

Jake Olson has built a life rooted in resilience as an athlete, motivational speaker, and advocate after the rare eye cancer left him completely blind by age 12. Then, in January 2025, Jake and his wife Audrey learned their newborn son Rowan had retinoblastoma too.

Knowing exactly where to turn, they traveled from their home in Florida to CHLA—one of the leading retinoblastoma centers in the world, and the same place Jake had received care throughout most of his childhood.

“There was no other choice in our minds,” Jake says. “We knew we had to come to CHLA for Rowan’s treatment, even if it meant traveling across the country.”

Read the full story on our blog: https://bit.ly/3O6sOJp

04/09/2026

When Sofia was diagnosed with Biliary Atresia—a rare liver disease—as an infant, her family knew she would one day face a liver transplant. Then, at 2 years old, Sofia’s doctor in Nevada referred her to CHLA for the life-saving transplant. When her family learned there was a liver available, they quickly made their way to Los Angeles.

After about 15 hours, the transplant surgery was complete and Sofia was on her way to recovery. A few weeks later, she was cleared to leave the hospital and continue her recovery with her family.

April is , and stories like Sofia’s are possible because of the life-saving gift of organ donation.

Congratulations Sofia—we’re cheering you on every step of the way.

04/06/2026

Zoey was born prematurely in February 2025, weighing only 2.2 pounds. At just 3 weeks of life, she was emergently transferred to CHLA for care in the Neonatal and Infant Critical Care Unit (NICCU). She was cared for in the Small Baby Unit because she was so tiny, where she battled many health issues related to her prematurity. She faced and overcame many problems including pneumonia, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), an atrial septal defect (ASD) requiring closure in the cardiac catheterization lab, and severe chronic lung disease requiring prolonged respiratory support.

She spent months on the NICU cardiac-focused team, where the neonatologists, cardiologists, and the multi-disciplinary team worked together to provide care related to her prematurity as well as the issues with her heart. She then transitioned to the Chronic Lung Disease(CLD) Program within the NICU, where a multidisciplinary team focused on babies with CLD oversaw her care, continuing to make incredible progress every step of the way.

After 8 months of specialized care and countless victories, both big and small, she officially graduated from the NICU and was discharged home on November 7th, 2025.

"We are deeply grateful to the entire team at CHLA, each and every individual who was involved in her care," says her mom Jessica. "It has been a blessing to me, and I am truly thankful to all the doctors, nurses, the people who refilled her medications, the maintenance staff, social workers, the cafeteria who provided us with delicious meals, and the cuddler team who came to hold her and cuddle when I was not able to be there. Everyone treated her as if she were their own child."

04/03/2026

CHLA's Office of Community Affairs was proud to provide fresh fruits and vegetables to patients and their families, reinforcing our commitment to care that goes beyond clinical spaces. By strengthening community connections and improving access to healthy food, we help build healthier futures for children and families.

In partnership with Mother's Nutrition, 20,000 total pounds of fruits, vegetables, and starches were distributed.

For more on CHLA's community impact efforts, visit https://www.chla.org/community-impact.

04/03/2026

Thank you to everyone who helped us celebrate 125 years of CHLA! 🎉

“The story of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is a 125-year commitment to saving and transforming children’s lives,” says Paul Viviano, CHLA’s President and CEO “Our physicians, nurses, researchers, and team members have continually pushed the boundaries of care, developing therapies and surgical approaches that have improved outcomes for generation after generation of children throughout the world.”

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4v6YAGJ

04/02/2026

Baby wearing is a generations-old practice that remains widely popular. CHLA Care Network physician Dr. Cameo Carter shares the benefits and the do's and don'ts of baby wearing.

For many parents, the age-old custom of keeping your infant close against your body as you go about your day is both practical and healthful.

04/01/2026

125 years of hope, healing, and innovation 💙🎉

Today, we celebrated Children’s Hospital Los Angeles’ 125th anniversary with a birthday party! 🎂 Team members got together for a fun celebration with a photo booth, therapy dogs, origami, cake cutting, an original song performance, and special partner giveaways.

Since opening in a small house in 1901 and caring for just 14 patients in its first year, CHLA has grown into one of the nation’s leading pediatric academic medical centers. We now oversee more than 750,000 patient visits each year and serve families from all 50 states and more than 90 countries. Here’s to a legacy of clinical excellence, surgical innovation, and scientific discovery.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4v6YAGJ

03/30/2026

At CHLA, our Child Life team transforms fear into confidence, questions into understanding, and hospital moments into opportunities for play, learning, and empowerment.

From preparing kids for procedures to creating moments of normalcy and connection, Child Life helps patients and families feel safe, supported, and understood. This Child Life Month, we’re celebrating the compassion, creativity, and expertise that guide their work every day. We asked the team what Child Life means to them and these are some of the values that inspire them.

Learn more about our Child Life Program: https://www.chla.org/child-life-specialists.

03/26/2026

Hear ye, hear ye! Today we proudly celebrate a truly extraordinary milestone: Ivan is officially one year seizure free! Before reaching this breakthrough, Ivan faced a long and challenging journey. His seizures could not be controlled with medication alone, and after exhausting other options, epilepsy surgery became the safest and most effective path forward. As we honor this moment on Purple Day, it feels especially meaningful to share his story and raise awareness, support, and hope for everyone affected by epilepsy.

Since his brain surgery, Ivan has been able to reduce his medications, become more active, sleep better, and simply enjoy being a kid again. According to his family, everything feels lighter these days as his progress has brought a comforting sense of ease back into daily life.

Ivan’s mom often reflects on their very first visit to our clinic. She walked in overwhelmed and afraid, and walked out with hope. She still remembers the warmth, kindness, and patience shown to her that day and how those small acts became the foundation of trust their family needed during such a difficult time.

This milestone is not just medical progress. It is a reminder of the power of compassionate, family centered care. And medically, it is significant: Ivan has had no seizures or ICU visits since surgery, has come off one medication already, and we are hopeful to continue safely weaning the others as he stays stable.

The Comprehensive Epilepsy Center at CHLA provides the most advanced, highest quality pediatric epilepsy care in Southern California. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3ZKI14n

03/25/2026

A new CHLA-led clinical trial is exploring nighttime oxygen therapy as a gentler, more practical option for children with Down syndrome who struggle with sleep apnea. With many kids unable to tolerate CPAP, this study offers hope for better sleep, better mood, and healthier days ahead. 💛
Inspired by research that puts children’s comfort first. https://bit.ly/46CAclL

A multicenter clinical trial is evaluating nighttime oxygen therapy for children with Down syndrome who have sleep apnea.

03/24/2026

From his earliest days at CHLA to now serving as Medical Director of the Emergency Transport Team, Dr. Calvin Lowe’s journey reflects decades of dedication to caring for children when every second counts. Born, raised, and trained in Southern California, he has spent more than 30 years at CHLA advancing pediatric emergency and transport medicine through hands-on care, research, education, and leadership. As Medical Director, Dr. Lowe helps ensure critically ill children are moved safely and expertly, even in the most complex situations.

Recognized for his clinical expertise and fondly known for his Elvis impersonation at the hospital's annual talent show, Dr. Lowe brings both excellence and heart to everything he does.

Learn more about Emergency Medicine at CHLA:
https://www.chla.org/emergency-and-transport-medicine

03/23/2026

This , 39 future pediatric doctors discovered where they’ll begin caring for the smallest patients with the biggest hearts. At CHLA—a nationally ranked leader in pediatric care by U.S. News & World Report—this match means joining a place known for innovation, compassion, and world‑class training.

Learn more about the CHLA Pediatric Residency Program at https://www.chla.org/residency/pediatric-residency