Patient Stories

The young patients we care for each year at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh come to us from the far corners of the world in search of hope and healing.

Origin of International Patients Since 1982

International Patients Served

Our goal for all patients and families is to make them feel at home until they can return home. Read some of their stories.

Heart Transplant – International Patient Story
Amirah received a Heart transplant from UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Read more about her story.
Read Amirah's Story >>
Heart Transplant – International Patient Story
Amirah continued her recovery in the Children’s Hospital Rehabilitation Unit following a Heart transplant from UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh. Read more about her story.
Read Amirah's Story >>
Peters Plus – International Patient Story
Stoni suffered from Peters Plus and had cleft palate and lip surgery and a corneal transplant. Read his story at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Read Stoni's Story >>
Ossifying Fibroma – International Patient Story
Nayelie suffered from Ossifying Fibroma. Read more about her experience and procedure at UPMC Children's Hospital.
Read Nayelie's Story >>
Atrioventricular Septal Defect – International Patients
Miguel suffered from Atrioventricular Septal Defect. Read more about his experience and success of his procedure at UPMC.
Read Miguel's Story >>
Alagille Syndrome – Pediatric Liver Transplant
Dante suffered from Alagille syndrome. Read more about his experience and treatment of his procedure at UPMC.
Read Dante's Story >>
Sanfilippo syndrome – International Patients
Elena suffered from Sanfilippo syndrome. Learn about her undergoing the first clinical trial for her condition at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
Read Elena's Story >>
Propionic Acidemia – Liver Transplant
Saleh suffered from propionic acidemia, a metabolic disorder. He traveled from Qatar to UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh to receive a living-donor liver transplant procedure.
Read Saleh's Story >>
Congenital Glaucoma –  Tubes and Implants
Jasem suffered from congenital glaucoma. He traveled from his native Kuwait to receive world-class treatment at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Learn more about his story.
Read Jasem's Story >>
Wilson's Disease – Liver Transplant
Abdulhadi suffered from Wilson's Disease. He travelled from his native Kuwait to receive care at Children’s Hospital of UPMC in Pittsburgh, Pa. Learn more about his procedure and recovery.
Read Abdulhadi's Story >>
Cataract and Cornea Surgery – International Patients
Denilson, who lives in a Guatemala orphanage, underwent cataract and cornea surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Learn more about his success.
Read Denilson's Story >>
Krabbe Disease – International Patients
Levi suffered from Krabbe Disease. His family traveled from his home in Australia to receive care at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Learn more about his care.
Read Levi's Story >>

Crigler-Najjar – Liver Transplant
Puerto Rico native Naldyshka suffered from Crigler-Najjar syndrome and received a liver transplant from her father. Learn more about her experience at UPMC.
Read Naldyshka's Story >>
Miller-Dieker Syndrome –  Rare Neurological Disease 
Valeria suffered from renal tubular acidosis. Her family traveled from their native Mexico to receive world-class treatment at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.
Read Valeria 's Story >>
Congenital Cardiomyopathy – Heart Transplant
Sumika was diagnosed with Congenital Cardiomyopathy as an infant. Her family traveled from their native Japan to receive world-class treatment at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.
Read Sumika's Story >>