Our Kids Sofeia If you’ve never heard of blue rubber bleb nevus syndrome, it’s probably because brave Sofeia is one of just 151 people in the entire world to be diagnosed with it.“She normally doesn’t feel bad,” her mom, Kiley, explains. “She has blue spots on her skin, and she also has spots on her small intestine that are internally bleeding.” Full story Nate Pittsburgh was in the midst of a summer heat wave. While most people were craving icy drinks or a dip in a pool, 9-year-old Nate was wearing his winter coat. He was sick, shivering, and he couldn’t get warm. His mom, Monica, knew something was very wrong. She rushed him to UPMC Children’s. Full story Henry Henry’s mom Kate has lived all over the globe, from New York to London, California, Italy, and back again. But when it came time to start a family, she convinced her husband to settle down in Pittsburgh. She even made a spreadsheet outlining pros and cons. Now, she counts her lucky stars that they did — in part because Pittsburgh has a world-class pediatric hospital that’s helping to save her son’s life. Full story Nevaeh Nevaeh got to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh “in the nick of time.” That’s how her mom, Rachael, describes the terrifying day Nevaeh was rushed to the hospital via helicopter. Doctors in their hometown discovered Nevaeh was critically ill. They acted fast, transferring her to UPMC Children’s Hospital for lifesaving care. “When we got here, her blood was 90 percent cancer cells,” Rachael says. “She came in the nick of time.”. Full story Gage Two-year-old Gage uses his very own sign language. He’ll clasp his hands under his cheek and gaze at his mom and grandma with big, dreamy eyes. “That’s how he says, ‘I love you,’” his mom, Keli, explains. She says, “I love you, Gage!” And he responds right back, his hands clasped and a sweet sparkle in his eye. Gage is going through chemotherapy for atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor, or a cancerous brain tumor. He’s also experiencing mutism, or an inability to speak. Full Story