Before birth, Dylan was diagnosed with multiple heart defects, reversed organs and other complex medical conditions. His local hospital didn’t believe he’d survive and wouldn’t operate.

A second opinion saved Dylan’s life.

When everyone else said no, Cincinnati Children's was the one that said yes.

Our team stepped up to the challenge because we are global leaders with the expertise and experience to take on complex, rare cases like Dylan's.

Dylan received his first lifesaving open-heart surgery only minutes after his birth because his mother, Stephany, delivered him at our onsite Special Delivery Unit. This unique service allows babies like Dylan, who need surgery immediately after birth, to be born at Cincinnati Children’s.

This put Dylan in the expert hands of our internationally renowned pediatric heart surgeons moments after birth instead of needing medical transport. It also kept Stephany and Dylan close after birth and allowed her to see him the same day, which couldn’t happen elsewhere.

After seven months, Dylan gained enough weight for his second lifesaving open-heart surgery. Once again, he benefited from his surgical team’s exceptional experience and expertise, enabling them to adapt mid-procedure to a different surgical approach. 

As a result, Dylan shouldn't need a heart transplant later in life.

Why Dylan’s Parents Chose Cincinnati Children's

Dylan’s father, originally from Brazil, was willing to travel anywhere in the world to get the best outcomes for his son. Like countless families from all 50 states and dozens of countries each year, they chose Cincinnati Children’s. Here’s why.

Our doctors are global leaders.

Our specialists are internationally renowned for their expertise, spanning from the most common to the rarest pediatric health conditions. This enables them to manage a higher volume of medically complex cases than other children’s hospitals, drawing on this unmatched experience to deliver exceptional care.

Our expertise builds upon itself, and each patient makes us even better. Our doctor used what he learned from Dylan’s surgery to successfully help another patient with a similar condition. Stories like this give us the ability to say yes to even more families.

Innovation drives our care.

Our doctors and researchers develop breakthrough medical innovations that advance the knowledge and treatment of pediatric medicine. These advanced treatments are often only available at Cincinnati Children’s. Every day, we use those innovations to create unique solutions and provide the best possible outcomes for the most challenging medical conditions.

We’re also innovative about where we deliver care, like our Critical Care Building where Dylan stayed after surgery. It houses one of the world’s largest pediatric intensive care units—allowing our highly trained providers to give focused, around-the-clock care to patients who need us the most.

Our top-ranked teams work together.

Dylan benefited from a wealth of expertise including cardiology, heart surgery, gastroenterology, nephrology, neurology and more. These teams are all ranked in the top five in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and are a part of our top-ranked hospital. They truly work together through constant communication, shared decision-making and collaborative care. This gives families the confidence and hope that only comes from having a team of top experts caring for their child.

Parents are partners in care.

Our providers actively engage parents and caregivers. We involve and support them in every step of care. It’s why more than 90% of patients and families rate us a 9 or 10 out of 10 for patient experience. This commitment extends to supporting families through the world’s largest Ronald McDonald House, conveniently connected to our hospital. It was here that Dylan’s family stayed between his surgeries.

In the end, we believe a child’s story is so much bigger than their diagnosis, no matter how common or rare. Because a world where all children live their best life is at the center of everything we do.

For brighter futures filled with possibilities, Cincinnati Children’s is the one.