Rami’s medical journey started before birth when ultrasounds revealed multiple complex conditions, including a rare diagnosis with fewer than 100 known cases since the 1970s.

When others would have been overwhelmed by the challenge, Cincinnati Children’s had the world-renowned expertise, plus a creative and innovative approach, to embrace the challenges and provide Rami with the best possible outcomes.

Rami’s mom, Audrey, went into early labor at 27 weeks and was admitted to a local hospital here in Cincinnati. Later she transferred to our Fetal Care Center because being born at Cincinnati Children’s would give Rami his best chance. Our expert team never gave up on Rami and kept Audrey pregnant for another 10 weeks.

Moments after his birth, Rami’s world-renowned airway reconstruction surgeon realized oxygen via intubation wouldn’t work. Instantly the team pivoted to an outside-of-the-box approach. They performed Rami’s tracheotomy, a surgery to let him breathe through an opening in his neck, while still attached to the placenta. This gave him lifesaving oxygen during surgery and helped ensure his best possible outcomes.

Since Audrey delivered Rami at our Special Delivery Unit, she met Rami five hours later. If she had delivered elsewhere, they would have been apart at different hospitals and met days later.

Now, Rami is 17 months old, walking around his home and living his best life. Audrey calls him a “lover boy” because he constantly hugs and kisses his family. One day, Rami will do all the same things as other kids—he will just breathe and hear differently. His family is forever thankful for the world-class care at Cincinnati Children’s that has given them a beautiful life with their son.

Why Cincinnati Children’s was Right for Rami

Rami's parents lived in Cincinnati and were already close to our world-class care. Each year, families from all 50 states and dozens of countries also come here to receive the same level of expert care to help ensure the best outcomes for their children. 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.

In addition, Rami’s airway reconstruction surgeon isn’t just a world-renowned expert. He is a teacher too. Practicing surgeons and medical students from around the world come to Cincinnati to learn lifesaving surgical techniques from him.

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 and rare medical conditions.

We’re also innovative about where we deliver care, like our Critical Care Building where Rami stayed. It is one of the world’s largest pediatric intensive care units and allows our highly trained providers to give focused, innovative and around-the-clock care to patients who need us the most. It’s also the first medical building to have spectral lighting, which was developed by Cincinnati Children’s researchers. This special light source supports a healthy sleep cycle for newborns like Rami.

Our top-ranked teams work together.

A team of experts mobilized to help Rami. Ten doctors, including world-class surgeons, met together with his parents to explain their plan and next steps. His teams included our #1 in the nation pulmonology and lung surgery program, audiology, ENT, genetics and so many others. The team’s constant communication and shared decision-making gives families the confidence and hope that only comes from having a team of top experts caring for their child.

That collaboration is one of the many reasons why Cincinnati Children’s has proudly been one of the top-ranked hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report for more than 15 years.

Compassionate care is our norm.

Our teams go above and beyond to support both our patients and their parents. While in the hospital, Rami needed a pacifier to stay calm and breathe properly. A team member held one in his mouth all night to give Rami’s healing body rest. After his birth, when Rami’s parents were exhausted and under tremendous stress, they received extensive emotional and practical support from across the health system.

Stories like these are why more than 90% of patients and families rate us a 9 or 10 out of 10 for their patient experience.

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.