Browse Blog Posts: Heart and Vascular | Patient Stories

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Heart and Vascular
Frank Ing with baby Mateo and his parents.
Heart and Vascular

Game-changing heart surgery helps premature baby

Born at 25 weeks, Mateo was diagnosed with superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome and transported to UC Davis Children’s Hospital where world-renowned pediatric cardiologist Frank Ing performed life-saving surgery.

Read Mateo’s full story
Five-month-old Heidi Carson
Heart and Vascular

Pediatric cardiologist performs life-saving surgery on baby with rare heart condition

The Carson family had no idea their daughter had a rare congenital heart defect until she was airlifted to UC Davis after her heart was compressing her windpipe.

Read Heidi’s full story
Liam Hight
Surgery

UC Davis pediatric cardiology nurse specialists provide Liam top-notch care

Liam Hight was diagnosed with truncus arteriosus in utero and had open heart surgery at five days old.

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Zaydrian
Surgery

Successful open heart surgery leaves Zaydrian happy and healthy

World-class pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon Gary Raff performed surgery on Zaydrian who was able to receive a mechanical heart valve at 1 month old.

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Baby Andrea
Maternity

Another Fontan patient joins motherhood with healthy baby

With help from UC Davis Health, patient Karla Barrientos had baby Andrea.

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Alana Bender
Surgery

Thanks to the amazing care at UC Davis, Alana is now a thriving, independent and healthy little girl

After spending 119 days in the NICU, the Bender family could finally take their miracle baby home. Six years later, Alana is healthy, energetic, loves music, dancing and her family.

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Kayla Price and her care team
Maternity

Fontan patient fulfills her dreams of motherhood

Born with only one functional heart ventricle, Kayla Price always thought that having a baby wasn’t in the cards. But then she got her miracle.

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Damian
Surgery

The specialists who gave a boy a heart for life

After being born with a rare heart defect, Damian overcame three open-heart surgeries with the help of pediatric specialists who provided life-saving care and support to him and his family.

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Video
Casey Dyke
Surgery

Multiple heart surgeries set the stage for a promising future

Casey was born with a congenital heart defect and needed a series of surgeries to repair it. Now as a 16-year-old, he lives a normal teenage life as he pursues photography, engineering and a promising future.

Watch the video
Surgery

Pediatric Heart Center saves baby Emerald

Testimonial submitted by Mike and Kendra Lamm, parents of pediatric heart patient Emerald

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Heart and Vascular

Teen's heart is still going strong thanks to UC Davis Children's Hospital

Testimonial submitted by Beatriz Gonzalez, Damian’s mother

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Heart and Vascular

Making schools heart safe with Project ADAM

Testimonial submitted by Rebecca McCormac

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Heart and Vascular

UC Davis Health experts save 2-year-old with dangerously high blood pressure

Testimonial submitted by Bobbie Rinek, Owen’s mom.

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Surgery

How partnerships are helping us advance health close to home – Harper's story

Testimonial submitted by Jenneca, Harper’s mother

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Heart and Vascular

Expert pediatric cardiologist performs life-changing heart procedure for infant and family

Testimonial submitted by Jeremy Herrmann, Katie’s father

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Surgery

From routine check-ups to life-saving care

Testimonial submitted by Jessica Mendoza, Xavier’s mother.

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Heart and Vascular

Amazing teamwork, amazing care

Testimonial submitted by Valerie Winn, Adrienne’s mother

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Heart and Vascular

Isabella's road to recovery

Testimonial submitted by Guido Lazzerini, Isabella’s dad.

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|Pediatric heart patient Cody Benning
Heart and Vascular

Flash-forward – Pediatric heart patient is healthy and thriving

Testimonial submitted by Jennifer Benning, whose son Cody had heart surgery following a congenital heart defect diagnosis.

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Heart and Vascular

Micro-preemie, pediatric cardiology and eye surgery patient is family's 'miracle'

Mark and Melanie Payne’s story started like a storybook romance. They were college sweethearts. Mark was the captain of the UC Davis basketball team. Melanie was the captain of the UC Davis volleyball team.

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Grace Garcia
Surgery

Grace's story

“Grace loves everyone and everyone loves Grace.” That is how people see this little superhero.

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avery|avery telehealth
Surgery

Saving Avery

Baby Avery was just a week old and in severe circulatory distress when her parents, Eric and Kim Griffiths, rushed her along twisting Tuolumne County mountain roads.

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Heart and Vascular

Baby Aiden Couldn't Eat

All we knew was that our infant son, Aiden, couldn’t eat. He also had terrible bloating. The first hospital we visited told us the reason he couldn’t keep food down–eating only 2 ounces at a time–was gas.

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Surgery

Born with Ectopia Cordis

I was brought to UC Davis Hospital when I was 25 weeks pregnant with my daughter, Taylor. I went in for an ultrasound thinking my daughter had hypoplatic left heart syndrome.

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Guy Ciapponi|||
Heart and Vascular

Guy Ciapponi–Four Years Later

This story begins in 2012. Shortly before Thanksgiving of that year, Erin Ciapponi delivered her second child at Mercy Medical Center in Redding, Calif.

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