CHOC

04/02/2026

Welcome to the new home of the Fetal Care Center of Southern California!

This expanded center is dedicated to supporting families navigating complex fetal diagnoses with compassionate, specialized care. In partnership with UCI Health, it is the only outpatient clinic in the region offering advanced diagnostic testing, such as fetal MRIs, for expectant mothers.

With comfort and continued care in mind, families will have access to coordinated specialists, services and resources--including a new Special Delivery Unit opening later this year.

Learn more at the link in comments!

03/31/2026

Join us for this free event to learn more about community health resources,
education and services. Attendees 18 years of age and younger can also be
fitted for a complementary helmet and learn about bicycle safety.

Reserve your spot by April 9th at the link below! ⤵️

Join us at the 2026 Rady Children's Health Wellness Fair for free health resources, expert advice, and a kids’ helmet fitting with bike safety tips—fun and learning for the whole family!

03/20/2026

If recent news around human metapneumovirus (HMPV) has you worried, we’ve got you covered.

Although it may sound like a new virus, HMPV has been around for more than 20 years and pediatricians are well equipped to handle these cases. If your child has had HMPV symptoms like trouble breathing, dehydration, high fevers that won’t come down, or unusual sleepiness, call your primary care doctor or our free pediatric nurse advice line 1-844-GET-CHOC.

Read more on our blog: https://health.choc.org/what-pediatricians-want-parents-to-know-about-hmpv-human-metapneumovirus/

03/12/2026

Ever wonder what a day in the life of a pediatric emergency department doctor looks like?

For Dr. Heyming, a typical shift might look like:

👟 8+ hours on his feet
👨‍⚕️ Caring for 35 patients or more
🏃 Fast, thoughtful decision-making in high-pressure moments
💪 Seamless teamwork with a large care-team
📞 Consultations with multiple different specialists
🧘‍♂️ Remaining calm in an unpredictable and emotional environment

For the full breakdown of a day in the ED, read more at the link below!

03/10/2026

Spring is in full bloom here at Rady Children’s Health in Orange County 🌷🐝🌱

03/05/2026

Child Life in their childhood 💛

These childhood photos belong to the people who now help our patients feel brave, seen, and understood.

Meet a few faces behind the team and help us celebrate Child Life Month by leaving them a little appreciation below.

03/03/2026

It started as a plain whiteboard, then a flower appeared.

From there the drawings kept coming, growing into a daily ritual of creativity, connection and joy for patients at Rady Children’s Hospital at Mission. Now with a newer, bigger whiteboard, it has become something patients and families look forward to.

“There’s no pressure—it’s just: be a kid, be silly, have fun with it.”

Visit the link below to discover how these daily drawings continue to inspire creativity, connection, and compassion.

02/26/2026

Taylor, 3, loves dinosaurs, riding her scooter, painting, swimming, and bouncing high on trampolines.

You would never guess this fearless girl underwent two carefully planned, innovative heart surgeries for a congenital heart defect.

Today, Taylor is living a joyful childhood thanks to the expertise and compassionate care of her pediatric cardiology team, led by a globally renowned cardiothoracic surgeon. Read her full story at the link below!

02/24/2026

Born without a pulmonary valve, Axel never let his diagnosis call the plays.

He defied early expectations and is now a leader on and off the field.

This Heart Month, we’re celebrating Axel’s resilience and the lifelong care and guidance from his team at Rady Children’s Hospital Orange County that is helping him thrive.

Read how a heart built differently became a heart built for leadership ⤵️
https://health.choc.org/living-with-a-congenital-heart.../

02/20/2026

Having trouble getting your child to eat their veggies? Our hidden veggie mac and cheese recipe is the perfect way to “sneak” veggies into a kid-favorite dinner. This easy, kid-friendly recipe is vegetarian, IBD friendly and clinical-dietician approved to be sure your child is getting the nutrients they need.

For the full recipe and ingredient list with substitutions, as well as other easy dinner ideas for kids, visit the link below!

02/18/2026

When Meyer was born, he needed multiple procedures, including open heart surgery, to repair his heart. From the moment of his diagnosis, CHOC was with him every step of the way. Today, because of the care he received, Meyer is a thriving, growing toddler who recently celebrated his second birthday with his favorite character, Mickey Mouse, surrounded by family.

Click the link in comments for Meyer's full story.

02/13/2026

From Orange to Mission Viejo, happy Valentine's Day from our tiniest patients! Thanks to their incredible care teams, these little valentines got to celebrate their very first holiday with some extra love.