Children's Hospital Los Angeles

06/19/2026

What’s it like to live with sickle cell disease?

On , McKenzie takes us along as she travels to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) for an appointment at the Cancer and Blood Disease Institute. At 22, McKenzie has lived with severe sickle cell disease for most of her life—navigating pain crises, hospitalizations, and the uncertainty that can come with this inherited blood disorder.

Now, she’s preparing for a major next step: becoming the first patient at CHLA to receive Casgevy, an FDA-approved gene therapy for sickle cell that uses CRISPR gene editing technology to address the root cause of disease.

Follow along as we share more of McKenzie’s journey.

Read more: https://bit.ly/4xV6MeP

06/18/2026

It happened in an instant. Kelly tore her ACL and meniscus during a soccer match.

Suddenly, the sport she loved—and everything that came with it—was on hold.

At the Jackie and Gene Autry Orthopedic Center at CHLA, Kelly began her recovery step by step, from expert diagnosis to advanced sports medicine surgery and rebuilding strength for return to play.

Her focus never wavered. Over time, progress turned into possibility.

Now, she’s back on the pitch and recently stepped onto the world stage as a Coca-Cola Flag Bearer at the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Learn more about CHLA's nationally ranked Orthopedic Center: https://bit.ly/45pf4Oz

06/17/2026

Shots can be scary for kids—and stressful for parents too. These photos show simple positions and distraction techniques that can help reduce anxiety before and during shots.

Our latest blog shares practical, compassionate tips from Child Life Specialists, the experts who help children cope with medical experiences every day.

If you’re a parent looking for ways to reduce fear around shots, support your child’s emotions, and make vaccine visits feel less overwhelming, these expert-backed strategies can help.

Read the full blog and get the tips: https://bit.ly/4bTm1M2

06/16/2026

Megan Nelson is taking on the 2026 Long Beach Legacy Triathlon for her daughter Ella, whose fight against high-risk neuroblastoma changed everything. After Ella was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma at just 2 years old, her family moved from Virginia to California so she could receive specialized pediatric cancer treatment at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

We’re proud to be the charity partner of the 2026 Long Beach Legacy Triathlon, taking place July 19, 2026. Funds raised by participating triathletes help support CHLA’s mission to advance pediatric cancer research, expand access to leading-edge clinical trials, and create hope for children with cancer and their families.

Support pediatric cancer research and learn more about the Long Beach Triathlon: https://bit.ly/3QEo2DT

06/13/2026

Some of the most serious cystic fibrosis complications begin before birth. CHLA’s Dr. Elizabeth Burgener and Dr. Philippe Friedlich share early experience with a prenatal approach aimed at reducing risk: CFTR modulators.

CHLA experts share their experience with an emerging prenatal approach to reduce cystic fibrosis complications.

06/12/2026

We’re proud to celebrate the graduation of CHLA’s Project SEARCH 2025–2026 cohort! 💙

Through this year-long program in partnership with Los Angeles Unified School District, students gain hands-on experience at CHLA while building skills for future employment. Project SEARCH helps young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities prepare for the workforce in meaningful, empowering ways. Congratulations to this incredible group on all they’ve achieved.

Their success reflects CHLA’s broader commitment to workforce development through the Chuck Lorre Pediatric Health Education Institute, which is creating new pathways into health care careers and helping build a stronger, more inclusive future workforce.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4xpdt8r

06/11/2026

10 years of CHLA’s biggest community event of the year!

Walk & Play L.A. 2026, presented by Prologis, was our biggest, most impactful year yet! Thank you Ellen K and Darren Haynes for being our event hosts!

Our community—staff, patients, families, sponsors, and supporters—came together to celebrate, to move, and to make a difference. Thanks to your incredible energy and generosity, this year was record‑breaking, with more than $800,000 raised so far to support lifesaving care and essential programs.

Congratulations to our tied top fundraising teams—CHLA Care Network and Paws for a Cause. And to our top fundraiser, Dorothy Apple! And the impact doesn’t stop here—your fundraising pages remain open through June 30. Let’s keep the momentum going and continue lifting our mission together.

06/10/2026

She fought her way back from one knee injury—only to face another.

After returning to the soccer pitch, Suri suffered a second ACL injury in the opposite knee.

At the Jackie and Gene Autry Orthopedic Center at CHLA, she was once again under the care of sports medicine specialists Dr. Bianca Edison and Dr. Jennah Mann for a second ACL reconstruction.

Her recovery included advanced motion analysis to improve movement, reduce injury risk, and support long-term performance.

Step by step, she’s working her way back. Now, she is stronger, more focused, and determined.

Before returning to competition, she will join 11 other CHLA patients as Coca-Cola Flag Bearers at the FIFA World Cup 2026™.

Learn more about CHLA's nationally ranked Orthopedic Center: https://www.chla.org/jackie-and-gene-autry-orthopedic-center

06/10/2026

When Justin couldn’t make it to his middle school promotion, the celebration came to him at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. 💙🎓

Justin is a 14-year-old CHLA patient receiving rehabilitation care for acute flaccid vs Transverse myelitis (AFM), a rare neurologic condition that affects the spinal cord and can cause sudden weakness in the arms and legs.

Because he was unable to attend his Corvallis Middle School STEAM promotion ceremony in Norwalk, his CHLA care team arranged a special hospital celebration. His family, friends, principal, and teachers joined to celebrate him, and Justin was surprised with multiple other academic awards and achievements including a plaque for tying for top GPA in his class with a 4.2!

We’re proud to celebrate this milestone with him and cheer him on as he continues his recovery and looks ahead to a future in aerospace engineering. 🚀

06/09/2026

They matched. They arrived. And now they’re officially part of the CHLA family. 💙🎉

Last week, 39 new pediatric residents began their next chapter at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. As a nationally ranked leader in pediatric care, CHLA offers a training environment grounded in expertise, compassion, and innovation. Welcome to CHLA!

CHLA’s residency training is part of the Chuck Lorre Pediatric Health Education Institute, a first-of-its-kind hub dedicated to preparing the next generation of pediatric health care professionals.