November 4, 2025

Brave Beginnings: The NICU at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego Gives Vulnerable Newborns the Best Possible Start

For most families, the first moments of a baby’s life are filled with joy. But when a baby comes too early or needs urgent medical attention, that joy can quickly turn to fear. While most deliveries go smoothly, roughly 10% of newborns need extra support. In San Diego, that often means a transfer from the…

Neonatology
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November 3, 2025

Amazing Amir: A Premature Baby Thrives in the NICU at Rady Children’s

The majority of Blanca Cortez’s pregnancy could be described as uneventful. Ultrasounds showed that baby Amir was developing normally, and no serious issues were detected. “Amir’s dad was the one who was nauseous,” Blanca jokes. At 24 weeks, everything changed. Blanca was rushed to the hospital and gave birth to Amir. She didn’t even get…

Neonatology
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September 5, 2024

Rady Children’s and Little Heroes League: A Beacon of Hope for Premature Infants

Amir’s Story Amir was born at just over 24 weeks, marking the beginning of a long and challenging journey for both him and his family. Shortly after birth, he developed hydrocephalus, a condition where fluid builds up in the brain, leading to potentially severe complications. “Watching Amir struggle to breathe and seeing his head grow…

Neonatology
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April 26, 2024

Maverick’s Journey: Conquering Heart Challenges at Rady Children’s

Maverick’s Story Meet Maverick Ezekiel Miles, affectionately known as Mavey, a resilient 18-month-old with an indomitable spirit. Since birth, Mavey faced a series of health hurdles, including recurrent RSV infections (respiratory syncytial virus) and a congenital heart defect called atrial septal defect (ASD). The condition is characterized by a hole in the heart’s upper chambers…

Heart Institute
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April 23, 2024

The Story of Amazing Mia

Mia Roman’s extraordinary journey began unexpectedly early.   Born at just 25-and-a-half weeks, she weighed a mere 1 pound or just a loaf of bread. Her lungs were not ready for the outside world, and Mia’s care team at a Los Angeles hospital struggled to wean her off respiratory support despite many attempts. The team…

Neonatology
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August 2, 2022

COVID-19 vaccination is approved for kids. As a pediatrician, here’s why I recommend it.

By John Bradley, M.D. The Food and Drug Administration authorized children as young as 6 months old to get the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines last month. For many parents, the decision meant a long wait was finally over. COVID-19 has caused more than 2 million infections among children ages 6 months to 4 years old and…

Parenting tips
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January 16, 2020

Understanding Birth Defects, Risks, and Screening and Prevention Options

Whether a woman is expecting her first baby or has welcomed multiple children into the world, her pregnancy involves many considerations, from the light — such as picking a name and plotting out the perfect nursery — to the serious — such as getting recommended care and screening for birth defects. “Even with something that…

Neonatology
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September 9, 2019

The Newborn Screening Program: Supporting a Healthier Start to Life

For babies born in California, one of the most important health assessments of their lives happens within two days of birth. Through the Newborn Screening Program, a division of the California Department of Public Health’s Genetic Disease Screening Program, infants are evaluated for more than 80 genetic disorders in order to support early health care…

Genomics Institute
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