News releases
January 2021
UC Davis pediatric heart patient enters Rock Your Scar contest
January 22, 2021
Two-year-old Leo Woo has already had two successful heart surgeries, thanks to UC Davis pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon Gary Raff. Leo’s parents Sarah Ehrman and Chris Woo have entered Leo in this year’s Rock Your Scar, a national contest hosted by Mended Little Hearts to raise awareness about congenital heart defects.
Mixed reality goggles, 3D printing aid in surgical planning to separate craniopagus twins
January 4, 2021
The surgical team that separated conjoined twins Abigail and Micaela had access to equipment and technology that did not exist 10 years ago, including mixed reality imaging goggles that map out the brain and blood vessels and 3D printed models of the twins’ skulls as they prepared to successfully separate the two girls.
December 2020
‘Miracle babies’: Formerly conjoined twins Abigail and Micaela home for Christmas
December 24, 2020
Christmas came early for the Bachinskiy family today: formerly conjoined twins Abigail and Micaela were discharged from UC Davis Children’s Hospital and will be spending their first Christmas together at home. The 11-month-old craniopagus conjoined twins, born connected at the head, were separated in a 24-hour separation surgery.
UC Davis Health patient gets Northern California’s first robotic mitral valve repair
December 9, 2020
Kris Dyas is the first patient in Northern California to have robotic-assisted surgery to repair his leaky mitral heart valve.
October 2020
Rare set of conjoined twins successfully separated in 24-hour surgery at UC Davis Children’s Hospital
October 29, 2020
Nine-month-old conjoined twins Abigail and Micaela Bachinskiy are recovering at UC Davis Children’s Hospital after surgeons successfully separated them in a marathon surgery on Oct. 23 and 24.
Three-year-old patient with spina bifida walks, runs, thanks to fetal surgery (video)
October 13, 2020
Three years ago, Chloe MacCullough received the life-changing news that her unborn child had spina bifida. She thanks the team at the UC Davis Fetal Care and Treatment Center for the surgery that changed her son’s life.
Patient gives thanks to team that saved her life, her baby and found her a home
October 6, 2020
Lakisha Carmon returned to UC Davis Medical Center today to present plaques and heartfelt appreciation to her team in Labor and Delivery.
September 2020
Congenital heart patient receives continued care from heart nurse through the years
September 29, 2020
Born with only three functioning heart chambers instead of four, Amanda had health challenges from her very first day of life. But pediatric heart nurse Barb Goebel has helped shepherd her care into adulthood.
7-year-old’s cancer diagnosis led her family to seek out UC Davis Children’s Hospital and Lor Randall
September 2, 2020
Lydia Alwan’s family wanted to save their daughter’s leg and her life.
August 2020
Fetal interventions help baby with hydrops
August 7, 2020
Amanda Brazeal was pregnant for the second time. She expected an easy delivery. She could not have known that her baby would have hydrops, a life-threatening condition in which an abnormal amount of fluid builds up in the unborn child.
July 2020
UC Davis Health helps two Fontan patients fulfill their dreams of motherhood
July 31, 2020
Before the Fontan procedure, most children born with single ventricles would die before their second birthday. These days, the survival rate of these patients has extended through young adulthood and now patients with prior Fontan procedures are interested in trying to have children. UC Davis Health helped two of these patients this year.
Gastroschisis patient now a happy, healthy 2-year-old
July 24, 2020
Early in her pregnancy, Liz Curtis received the life-changing news that her baby had gastroschisis, a birth defect in which the intestines are outside of the body, due to a hole in the abdominal wall.
Teen’s heart is still going strong thanks to UC Davis Children’s Hospital
July 16, 2020
UC Davis pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons gave Damian Del Rio a chance at a future.
UC Davis Children's Hospital gives local girl every opportunity to just be a kid
July 14, 2020
Isabella Lazzerini's two rare diagnoses warrant ongoing, specialized care but that doesn't stop her from enjoying life.
Children’s Miracle Network at UC Davis announces local 2020 champion
July 8, 2020
Isabella Lazzerini has been a patient at UC Davis Children's Hospital since she was three days old.
May 2020
Cancer patient puts her faith in UC Davis Health
May 1, 2020
Grace Parker's cancer surgery was scheduled in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. That did not dissuade her.
April 2020
Cancer does not take a break, even during COVID-19 pandemic
April 6, 2020
Diagnosed with cancer, Marlene Blake's surgery couldn't wait.