Ava, Tate and Chase each came to Rady Children’s Health (formerly CHOC) with unique colorectal conditions and found not only expert care but a team that truly listened, supported and celebrated their progress every step of the way.
Ava: Courage from day one
Adopted at birth, Ava has shown incredible strength from the very beginning.
Shortly after her parents held her for the first time, they were informed about her complex colorectal condition.
“It was a lot to process,” her mother, Adeline, says.
“We were in the room for five, ten minutes if anything, and then we were taken out to be told of her conditions and everything that happened during birth.”
But from the beginning, Ava’s family felt supported. The colorectal team at Rady Children’s didn’t just explain the diagnosis—they made sure Ava’s parents felt seen, heard, and cared for.
“They approached us in a very gentle way…they let us know, ‘Hey, you’ll be seeing us all the time—probably throughout Ava’s life,’” her mom said. “They opened the door for us to come to them with anything. We felt comfortable, especially learning everything all at once.”
Ava’s already had one surgery. Another is coming. But she’s not defined by her condition.
She’s joyful. Spirited. Her smile is contagious.
“She waves to people on the street,” her dad, Hugo, said. “Blowing kisses and full of a big personality, she’s just so resilient. She’s taken everything like a champ.”
Her parents credit the care team, including Dr. Hira Ahmad and Dr. Donald Shaul, for helping her shine through every appointment, every procedure, every moment of uncertainty.
“They made themselves absolutely available to us,” her mom said. “Not only were they checking in on Ava—they also asked, ‘How are you guys doing? How are you holding up?’ That meant everything.”
Tate: Answers that changed it all
From the moment Tate was born, his parents sensed the journey ahead would be different.
Weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) brought uncertainty. A misdiagnosis at his birth hospital left his parents looking for answers.
They found them at Rady Children’s.
There, the colorectal team diagnosed Tate with Hirschsprung’s disease, a condition that affects the nerves in the bowel, and created a surgical plan that saved Tate’s life.
Patrice recalled, the diagnosis “seemed really daunting. It is a big thing…but we were kind of brought into Rady Children’s—led there—in a good way.”
Tate’s parents met Dr. Maryam Gholizadeh early on, whose expertise provided a steady source of support.
“She looked at us and said, ‘One thing at a time.’ That helped so much,” Patrice shared. “Staff took the time to explain everything in a way we could understand. They didn’t get frustrated when we asked the same questions over and over. They were just there for us.”
Today, Tate is full of joy. Full of energy. His early challenges haven’t held him back; they’ve made his resilience shine even brighter.
Chase: From early challenges to an active childhood
Chase was born with long-segment Hirschsprung’s disease, a condition that runs in his family. His parents had some idea of the journey that lay ahead, but nothing could fully prepare them for the road they were about to travel.
He underwent surgery shortly after birth and lived with an ostomy—a surgically created opening that allows waste to leave the body—for 15 months. During that time, he also battled episodes of enterocolitis, which is a serious inflammation of the intestines, causing pain and fever, requiring intensive care at home.
“It was scary,” his family recalls, “but we always felt like we had a team behind us.”
That team included Dr. Shaul, whose steady presence made a lasting impact.
“Dr. Shaul has been amazing since day one. He helped us understand what was happening with Chase, step by step. We never felt alone in this.”
Now Chase is 4. He’s potty-trained. He’s full of energy. He loves playing with his little brother and being a typical, adventurous kid.
Despite everything he’s been through, “You’d never know it just by looking at him,” his mom, Ashley, said. “He’s thriving.”
A team that cares beyond the diagnosis
For families like Ava’s, Tate and Chase, our colorectal program is more than a place for treatment.
The team sees kids for who they are, supports families every step of the way and celebrates milestones — big and small.
The program’s focus goes beyond treating the disease to supporting the whole child and family — helping them grow, thrive and live joyful lives.
VIDEO: Colorectal and Urogenital Center | CHOC
Get more expert health advice delivered to your inbox monthly by subscribing to the KidsHealth newsletter here.
Learn more about the CHOC’s Colorectal and Urogenital Center
The CHOC Colorectal and Urogenital Center specializes in providing expert diagnosis and second opinions for colorectal disorders, as well as developing personalized treatment plans using advanced diagnostics and the latest research-based treatment options.
