June 16, 2025

My Second Chance: A Journey Through My Liver Cancer and Transplant

Read Mikey’s first-hand account of his battle with cancer and his journey to recovery. Hi, my name is Mike—but everyone calls me Mikey. I’m 20 years old, the oldest of five siblings, and family has always been the heart of my world. I love football, basketball, fishing, and sharing good meals with the people I…

Liver
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June 5, 2025

A New Era of Hope: Rady Children’s Relaunches Liver Transplant Program

Program Spotlight: A New Era of HopeRady Children’s has relaunched its Liver Transplant Program, led by Amber Hildreth, DO (medical director) and Jennifer Berumen, MD (surgical director for liver and kidney transplant). The program began with the Hospital’s first combined liver–kidney transplant and has performed six successful transplants so far, with living donor transplants planned…

Liver
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May 8, 2025

My Mom Gave Me Life—Twice.

After a lifesaving kidney donation from her mother, Kenya found strength, purpose, and a path to give back. Today, Kenya is just days away from earning her Master’s in Public Health at San Diego State University, driven by a mission to support others in health care. She wrote her thesis on organ donation, volunteers as…

Nephrology
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April 1, 2025

Nathaniel’s Second Chance

The Power of Living Kidney Donation at Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego At just 1 year and 7 months old, Nathaniel’s mother, Maria, noticed something unusual—he was drinking excessive amounts of water, and his belly appeared larger than normal. Concerned, she took him to the doctor, where tests revealed devastating news: Nathaniel had kidney disease.…

Nephrology
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March 12, 2025

A Mother’s Gift

The Lifesaving Impact of Living Kidney Donation at Rady Children’s By Megan Matthew and Sarah Sapeda Melanie Sniff knew for years that she might one day be a kidney donor. Problems with her daughter Quincy’s kidney were detected while Quincy and her twin sister were still in the womb. The family anticipated surgery shortly after…

Nephrology
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May 10, 2023

From Stomachache to Heart Transplant: How Genomics Saved a Teen’s Life

Mario Luna, an eighth-grader from Culver City, has always been passionate about basketball. He even dreams of playing in the NBA one day. However, on January 12, his world was turned upside down. It all started with a stomachache which quickly turned into a more serious heart condition.   Mario’s heart began beating uncontrollably and his…

Heart Institute
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March 20, 2023

An Unbreakable Bond: Andrew and Brooklyn’s Story

After waiting on pins and needles, Andrew All learned that he could save his daughter’s life with the gift of a kidney donation. A donation could mean a return to normal 6-year-old activities, like, swimming, taking baths, and enjoying popsicles. It also meant not being hooked up to a machine for 10 hours a night,…

Nephrology
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February 24, 2023

A Heart to Hold – Parker’s Story

Can you imagine holding your own heart in your hands? That’s just what 15-year-old Parker Mayorgas did after receiving a life-saving heart transplant. But his story didn’t begin there. At 2 years old, Parker’s mother, Melissa, noticed something amiss. Parker wasn’t meeting his developmental milestones like his older brother, and his balance seemed off. Eventually,…

Heart Institute
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August 10, 2022

Team Rady Celebrates at Transplant Games; Honors Team That Delivers Highest Level of Care

The Transplant Games of America recently came to San Diego, honoring those who gave the selfless gift of life and celebrating patients. Held every two years, this was the first time the event happened on the West Coast. Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego patients and families joined team members to make a strong appearance at the…

Rady Children's Staff
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