At 2 weeks old, Graylyn was diagnosed with multiple rare medical conditions and would ultimately need a liver transplant. This felt impossible for his family because the hospital near their Utah home could not help him.

A second opinion saved Graylyn’s life. 

Cincinnati Children’s said yes when others said no, providing hope and the expert, life-saving care he needed. 

Our team stepped up to the challenge because we have one of the most experienced and globally recognized pediatric liver care and transplant teams in the world.

Graylyn’s rare liver condition caused critical issues with his lungs, which needed to be immediately addressed. A lifesaving liver transplant was the solution, but it felt out of reach to find a hospital that could provide a transplant for a baby as young as Graylyn.

His mom, Carol, found hope for Graylyn after reading numerous stories online about how our transplant teams helped babies just like him.

Cincinnati Children’s is one of just a few in the U.S. that can provide liver transplants for babies less than a year old with multiple rare or complex conditions. Our pediatric experts are among the most innovative in the world and lead international studies to advance liver care everywhere. Plus, we have some of the deepest experience in advanced liver disease and transplant found anywhere in the world because we treat so many patients. 

Graylyn was a fighter, and the liver transplant was successful. He stayed at Cincinnati Children’s for a few months post-surgery and was supported by compassionate, expert care from across our teams.

Today, Graylyn is 3 years old and thriving. He is full of energy and was recently promoted to big brother of twin siblings. His family moved to Cincinnati and made it their home all because of the welcoming community and world-class care he received here. 

Why Graylyn's Family Chose Cincinnati Children's

Graylyn’s family lived in Utah–more than 1,600 miles away. Her parents chose to travel to Cincinnati Children’s, just as families and patients do from all 50 states and dozens of countries each year. Here’s why:

Our doctors are global leaders.

Our specialists are internationally renowned for their expertise, spanning from the most common to the rarest pediatric health conditions. This enables them to take on a higher volume of medically complex cases than other children’s hospitals, drawing on this unmatched experience to deliver exceptional care.

For example, our team has performed more than 850 liver transplants since 1988 and brought that collective experience into Graylyn’s care and surgery.

Innovation drives our care.

Our doctors and researchers develop breakthrough medical innovations that advance the knowledge and treatment of pediatric medicine. These advanced treatments are often only available at Cincinnati Children’s. Every day, we use those innovations to create unique solutions and provide the best possible outcomes for the most challenging medical conditions. It’s why, time after time, we can say yes and provide solutions for patients like Graylyn.

We’re also innovative about where we deliver care, like our Critical Care Building where Graylyn stayed. It is one of the world’s largest pediatric intensive care units and allows our highly trained providers to give focused, innovative, and around-the-clock care to patients who need us the most.

Our top-ranked teams work together.

Graylyn benefited from a wealth of expertise, including the #1 in the nation pediatric gastroenterology and GI surgery and pulmonology programs and our cardiology program, also nationally ranked by U.S. News & World Report. These teams constantly communicate with each other and make decisions together. This gives families the confidence and hope that only comes from having a team of top experts caring for their child.

That collaboration is one of the many reasons why Cincinnati Children’s has proudly been one of the top-ranked children's hospitals in the nation for more than 15 years.

Parents are partners in care.

Our providers actively engage parents and caregivers. We involve and support them in every step of care. That’s why Graylyn’s mom said our team didn’t just treat his condition, they learned what was truly unique about him. That’s why his care team became "family" for them. It’s also why more than 90% of patients and families rate us a 9 or 10 out of 10 for their patient experience.

After all, we believe a child’s story is so much bigger than their diagnosis, no matter how common or rare. Because helping all children live their best possible life is at the center of everything we do. 

For remarkable outcomes, Cincinnati Children’s is the one.