‘Youʼre Never Alone’
Danae Aguilar had to grow up more quickly than most kids. At just 10 years old, she became a medical interpreter and emotional support for her Spanish-speaking…
Category: Patient Stories
Navigating the In-Between: Stories from Stanford’s Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program
Teens and young adult cancer patients often find themselves stuck between pediatric and adult care—disconnected from their peers and without a place designed to meet…
You Helped Jayce ‘Just Keep Swimming’
Doctors and nurses often knocked on baby Jayce’s door in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. But today was special—every…
Meet Max – 3D Digital Artist and Inspiration for Team Mighty Max
As Max stepped up to ring the Golden Bell at the end of his cancer treatment in September 2023, he was surrounded by more than…
Meet Mikayla – Artist, Scooter Rider, and Heart Transplant Recipient
“In hindsight, I think we missed a lot of the signs,” says 6-year-old Mikayla’s mom, Stephanie. “But we had four normal years with her.” The…
Meet Arya – Mac ’n’ Cheese Aficionado, Trolls Fan, NICU Grad, and Craniofacial Patient
“Believe it or not, Arya is super social,” explains mom Shubh with a laugh. “I don’t know how, because first she was in the hospital…
Matthew, 9; Kate, 7; Alex, 7, Portola Valley
NICU grads and siblings with a cause Elizabeth’s first visit to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford was filled…
Meet Zenaida – Concert Lover, Big Sister, Cancer Patient
At the age of 4, Zenaida was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare cancer that usually affects kids under age 5. In the past eight years,…
The Sweet Sound of Music Therapy
If you’ve met 8-year-old Ryan, you’ve likely met Serafina, too. Serafina is a life-size stuffed orange tabby cat with a bit of a sassy side,…
Meet Max – 3D digital artist and inspiration for Team Mighty Max
As Max stepped up to ring the Golden Bell at the end of his cancer treatment in September 2023, he was surrounded by more than…