AMANDA'S STORY

In August 2000, 16-month-old Amanda was gravelly ill. Her parents, fraught with worry over their precious daughter's health, took her to two hospitals, before being referred to CHOC, where specialists were finally able to diagnose her. The diagnosis came within 15 minutes of admission by one of the hospital's pediatric gastroenterologists. Amada was ill with e coli, resulting in HUS (Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome), and her kidneys were failing. As a result of the expert care Amanda received from CHOC's team of pediatric specialists, including members of the hospital's nephrology and hematology divisions, Amanda pulled through with no ill effects. She is now 7, healthy and happy. And, her parents couldn't imagine life without her.