"When asked what’s next for Mina and her family,
The collaborative team has the extensive experience necessary to care for kids with both common and rare disorders involving the respiratory and digestive systems. “We quickly realized that some of our patients with complex conditions that span multiple specialties were receiving fragmented and uncoordinated care,” Matthew Brigger, MD, chief of the Division of Otolaryngology at Rady Children’s, says. “These patients really needed active focus and discussion by a dedicated group of multidisciplinary specialists. We created the Aerodigestive Clinic to address this need.” consultations at a single location on the same day. Not only does this offer convenience, but it also allows for collaborative care from across Rady Children’s. With complicated health conditions to The program is set up with the patient and family in mind by offering weekly
regularly drive two hours to San Diego to receive care. “I could see the difference in the way that people at Rady Children’s listened,” says dad, Ricardo. “There’s a difference in how people are
Mina says the sky is the limit."
treated and how kids are treated here. It's a special hospital. They treat you like family.” Shannon agrees that she was often
overlooked when offering her thoughts regarding Mina's care at other institutions. “When she was young and she needed emergency care, we would take her to hospitals in Los Angeles, and they would diagnose something and I would say, no, that’s not right. Place after place, they would do whatever they thought was right but without considering my input,” says Shannon. “We would come back down to Rady Children’s Hospital because the moment you tell the surgeon your thoughts, they would take that information to heart. They listen when no one else will. It has been a great experience, and that’s why we are here and keep coming back.” When asked what’s next for Mina and her family, Mina says the sky is the limit. She is passionate about advocating and fundraising for other children with complicated diseases through the Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation. In 2022, Mina served as the local Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals champion, helping to raise funds through partnerships with Costco Wholesale, Panda Express, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Rite Aid, Marriott International, Credit Unions for Kids, Ace Hardware and more. Mina met and encouraged these supporters as they raised funds for Rady Children’s through in-store promotions, employee contests, customer contributions and fundraisers. So far, Mina has raised thousands of dollars to help other kids like her.
"The collaborative team has the extensive experience necessary to care for kids with both disorders involving the respiratory and common and rare
navigate, the family can lean on the Rady Children’s team to connect the dots. The program was perfect for Mina, who didn’t have a straightforward diagnosis or treatment plan. “The ability to come together as a team to solve some of the most difficult problems and see the change in these children who often have spent their lives hearing the word ‘no’ is truly a privilege,” Dr. Brigger says. Mina's family found the level of care at Rady Children’s hard
digestive systems."
to find elsewhere. Now residents of Los Angeles, they
22 HEALTHY KIDS MAGAZINE SUMMER 2023
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