617-355-6000 
At 10, Kayley Esteves could often be found on the soccer field, dribbling a ball up and down the grass. She seemed the picture of health, but when she started experiencing chest pains, her mother, Sue, brought her to their local hospital. An initial chest x-ray revealed nothing. “But something still didn’t seem right,” remembers Sue. She made an appointment with a cardiologist at Boston Children’s Hospital, where Kayley had previously received care. …
Innovative treatment for a large liver tumor saves Ziad
Ziad Selbak was a pint-sized patient with a huge medical challenge. In March 2017, the two-year-old was diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), an aggressive form of liver cancer rare in young children.
But specialists at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center were ready to take on the challenge. They collaborated on an innovative application of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) — an established treatment for adults — to deliver chemotherapy directly to Ziad’s large tumor and stabilize his condition with the ultimate goal of liver transplant.
It all started in February 2017, when Ziad took a tumble on a toy at his family’s home in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. …
Away from home for the holidays: A new liver gives Phillips the gift of life
Family, friends, food, presents and a tree: It might have seemed like any other Christmas, but there were a few important differences that made this day unique for the Pratts. They were celebrating the holiday a week early. And their younger son, Phillips, was about to get the gift of a lifetime. In just a few days, the 14-year-old would receive a liver transplant. …
‘Like night and day’: Kellen’s new kidney
Like any parent, Brittany Young has scores of photos of her four children, whether they’re celebrating the holidays, visiting Disney World or just goofing around. But it’s a picture of her son Kellen at Boston Children’s Hospital that has the potential to bring tears to a viewer’s eyes. Surrounded by his care team, Kellen sits in his hospital bed, a wide smile on his face. There, amid the stuffed toys and colorful blankets, rests a seemingly innocuous item: a package of Pampers. Yet for Kellen and his family, those diapers mean so much more. They’re a sign that this little boy’s newly transplanted kidney is working just as it should. …