Gala’s Story
From the very beginning, Gala has faced challenges that would test even the strongest spirit. Born with a muscle disease that made movement and breathing difficult, she spent months at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego, where her care team worked tirelessly to give her the best possible start at life.
World-Class Surgical Care for Kids
Gala’s journey required complex surgical intervention from the start, which involved two major surgeries and months of determination and care by her providers. Rady Children’s Surgical Services performs more than 20,000 surgical procedures each year, carried out by a dedicated team of pediatric surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, and support staff which are all trained specifically to meet the unique needs of children and their families.
Specialized Airway Care Through the Aerodigestive Center
A key part of Gala’s care involved a tracheostomy, a procedure that now allows her to breathe comfortably at home with ventilator support. Children with complex airway needs like Gala’s are supported by the Center for Pediatric Aerodigestive Disorders and Airway Surgery at Rady Children’s, a multidisciplinary program bringing together specialists from otolaryngology, pulmonary medicine, gastroenterology, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy, all in a single location.
The center’s mission is to ensure that children with complex airway and feeding disorders receive a comprehensive, coordinated care plan tailored to their individual needs. Families work closely with the team to understand their child’s diagnosis and chart the best path forward for care.
Home and Thriving
Today, Gala is home and full of energy. She loves to dance, is exploring new sounds, and is working hard on her very first words. The little girl who faced so much in her earliest days is blossoming, and her family and care team couldn’t be prouder of her strength and spirit.