Michael was born on December 10, 2003 at UCLA Medical Center. He was a happy, healthy, and very active little boy. Michael's life would take a traumatic turn when he was diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopthy in October of 2010. A heart transplant was his only option and was immediately placed on the transplant waiting list. While waiting for a new heart he was able to be at home and lived the normal life of an adolescent boy. He even was able to continue to play baseball, with a few restrictions, while he waited.
Then on May 10, 2012 Michael fainted and was told he had to stay in the hospital until he got his new heart. Michael was very upset and depressed at the beginning of his hospital stay. Michael is a boy who loves to be outside playing sports. Now he needed to be confined to a hospital room and since he needed to wear a heart monitor at all times he couldn't even leave the 5th floor. The one thing he had to look forward to was the 5th floor playroom. Michael was the first one there and one of the last to leave. He had the playroom hours memorized. There he met other patients who have become his friends.
The Chase Child Life Progam helped Michael be a kid in a very serious situation. What makes the Chase Child Life Program work is all the wonderful people that work so hard there and all the volunteers who give up their time. UCLA Mattel Childern's Hospital provides world-class medical treatment, but without the Chase Child Life Program it would have been very challenging for Michael to get through this difficult time. Michael did receive his new heart on July 6, 2012 and was finally able to go home on July 17th!
He was back on the baseball field in September without any restrictions and hasn't stopped since. He is truly enjoying life and living it to the fullest. We are all so grateful for the amazing Doctors, Nurses, and all the whole Team from Chase Child Life for taking such wonderful care of Michael and making him feel like a "normal" kid.
Will you run for Michael?
