Year-End Giving

Meet Lei

“For the first month of his life, we couldn't hold him... We were only able to touch him and change his diaper. It was hard, but the entire team was there to support us.”
- Lei’s mother, Kristin

Your support is needed this holiday season to help build a new model of outpatient care for our children who need it most, like Kristin's son Lei.

Lei was born at just 23 weeks and five days. Because of his early birth, Kristin's newborn was taken down the hall to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to receive specialized care. Lei had a range of medical conditions that needed immediate attention - a congenital heart defect, chronic lung disease as a result of his underdeveloped lungs, struggled with feedings and gaining weight, among others.

Since Lei left the NICU after six months, he has received follow up care from his gastroenterologist, who makes sure Lei is feeding and growing normally, his cardiologist who monitors Lei’s heart, and his pulmonologist who follows his lung progress.

Plus, every three months, Lei receives a checkup from his care team, including x-rays and tests to see how well he can breathe on his own. For many patients, medical care doesn’t end when they leave the hospital and are seen at our 10 pediatric outpatient clinics spread throughout the region – including 7 in Long Beach.

Coming soon! The Cherese Mari Laulhere Children’s Village is scheduled to open in early 2021.

Miller Children’s & Women’s has become a regional pediatric destination since 1970. With your support, we are now on the verge of reaching our next milestone by opening the new pediatric outpatient building, the Cherese Mari Laulhere Children’s Village, a four-story 80,000 square foot structure that will provide specialized pediatric care and health services to more than 65,000 pediatric patients each year – all under one roof.

Located on the Miller Children’s & Women’s medical campus, the Children’s Village will provide a one-stop-shop approach to care. Because of its unique setting, this wonderful project will immediately alleviate many of the issues parents and pediatric patients face today, including a reduction in the amount of time needed for medical appointments and services, and better-coordinated care for patients who need access to multiple specialists.

Your support is needed today to help break new ground in pediatric care and allow the Children’s Village serve a growing number of children who need ongoing specialized treatment.

Learn more about Cherese Mari Laulhere

“The purpose of human life is to serve,” declared Albert Schweitzer, “and to show compassion and the will to help others.” By this measure, Cherese led a life of great purpose, a life dedicated to compassion, empathy, and kindness.

Click here to continue reading her story.