Elijah’s Story: Navigating a Medical Mystery
From the time Elijah was a baby, he had many painful symptoms – and no one could determine what was wrong. But when Elijah was…
Course Category: Breaking Through with Madeline Bell
Tenlee’s Story: Thriving After a Heart Transplant
Tenlee was born with a rare heart condition and had a heart transplant at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia when she was just 5 months old.…
Kareem’s Story: Advocating for Trauma-Informed Care
While growing up in West Philadelphia, Kareem saw firsthand the devastating impact trauma and violence can have on children. In this episode of The Breakthrough…
Hannah’s Story: Moving Beyond Blindness
When Hannah was a baby, she was diagnosed with a rare eye disease that usually leaves patients completely blind. But Hannah’s story turned out differently…
Emily’s Story: Celebrating 10 Years Cancer Free
Emily was just 6 years old when she received CAR T cell immunotherapy for relapsed leukemia at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Emily was the very…
Conjoined Twins’ Separation Story
When Addy and Lily Altobelli were born in CHOP’s Garbose Family Special Delivery Unit, they needed highly specialized care because they were conjoined – their…
“Do What You Love”: Finding Medicines for Rare Diseases
Hematologist and oncologist Denise Adams, MD, specializes in treating vascular anomalies, which occur when arteries, capillaries, veins or lymphatic vessels fail to develop correctly. She…
“I’ve Always Loved to Ask Why”: The Power of Mitochondrial Medicine
Our mitochondria make the energy that keeps us alive. Geneticist Marni Falk, MD, joins Madeline to discuss what happens when our mitochondria don’t work properly,…
“There Was an Unmet Need”: Breakthroughs in Endocrinology
While growing up in Panama, Diva DeLeón-Crutchlow, MD, MSCE, always wanted to understand how things worked. She speaks to Madeline about how her curiosity led…
“We Have So Many Spine-Tingling Moments”: Treating Birth Defects Before Birth
Pediatric and fetal surgeon Holly Hedrick, MD, has made life-changing breakthroughs for children with congenital diaphragmatic hernia and other rare birth defects. She joins Madeline…