Sadie’s Fund supports families in the toughest times
A chance encounter inspires a compassionate gift. Sadie’s Fund is specifically designed to offer comfort to families at Doernbecher.
Impact Area: Children's Health
Kids and their families come to OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital from across the region to receive the best pediatric care when they need it most.
A Fearless Life
Matt Pozsgai describes himself as an ordinary guy with an extraordinary hunger for life. When he was 4 months old, he was diagnosed with the life-shortening disease cystic fibrosis. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic, progressive disease that affects the lungs, pancreas and other organs. Over time, cystic fibrosis limits a person’s ability to breathe. It’s […]
Fight through anything
Ella was born with a broken heart. She was immediately transferred to Doernbecher where her specialized health teams surgically pieced the two pieces of her heart back together.
When kids are hurt, nurses are there
When children undergo intense medical treatment at Doernbecher, families often say that their care team at Doernbecher—particularly the nurses—made all the difference in their experience. Nurses build incredible bonds with kids and their caregivers during a time when they need support more than ever. When kids are feeling fragile, overwhelmed and scared, nurses are there. […]
Elle Inspires
We’ve all heard the saying: When life hands you lemons, make lemonade. One remarkable teen girl has embraced that sentiment quite literally — and has raised thousands of dollars for OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in the process. Fourteen-year-old Elle Fischer was born with hemifacial microsomia, a rare condition that affects the development of the lower […]
A life without limits
In 2005, Angela and Ryan Fischer were like any first-time expectant parents: thrilled, nervous and excited to welcome their baby daughter Elle. A 3D ultrasound during Angela’s three-month checkup revealed some slight distortion around Elle’s jaw, but with 3D technology being so new at the time, it just seemed like an imaging glitch. In fact, […]
Full of life
At age 2, Eli faced a cancer almost never seen in kids that age. Fortunately, his team at Doernbecher was ready to meet the challenge.
When new treatments save lives
On Halloween 2017, Sarah Martinez took her 8-year-old son Macario out for a night of trick-or-treating with his cousins in their Portland neighborhood. Macario, known as Macky, started feeling unwell after a short walk to the first house, so they turned around and headed home. It was then that Sarah sensed something wasn’t right. A […]
Kids need research just for them
Three physicians at OHSU Doernbecher Children’s Hospital discuss why pediatric research is so important.
Freestyle 2019: Sawyer
Hometown: Bend, OR Diagnosis: brain cancer Shoe: Nike Zoom Pegasus Turbo 2 Sawyer was training as a competitive gymnast when he started feeling dizzy at practice. “It kind of felt like there was a ping pong ball in my head when I did flips,” he explains. A brain scan revealed an egg-sized tumor in his […]
