Dr. Vaughn Starnes at Children's Hospital Los Angeles to be honored for pioneering work
LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- For over 25 years, the Heart Institute at Children's Hospital Los Angeles has been a place of innovation, compassion and hope, and one surgeon, Dr. Vaughn Starnes, has been leading the team of dedicated doctors and nurses.
ABC's Jimmy Kimmel spoke from the heart about his son Billy's heart. He was born with a rare and complicated cardiac defect.
"I saw a lot of families there and no parent should ever have to decide if they can afford to save their child's life," Kimmel said in an emotional speech.
Behind the scenes, Starnes performed the first of many heart procedures on Billy to treat what's called Tetralogy of Fallot.
"His message was very heartfelt, it was very genuine," Starnes said. "I think it touched a lot of lives. It really put the compassion back into healthcare."
Jennifer Page is grateful to Kimmel for taking a stand to help families like hers. Her son Max has the same condition and received the same treatment from the same surgeon at the same hospital. Coincidentally at the age of 4, Max even shared a stage with Kimmel.
"Max's first paycheck was on the Jimmy Kimmel show. He was 4 years old and did a sketch with Chef Adam Lang," Page said.
Now Max, Kimmel and Starnes will be able to share another stage this weekend to raise funds at the annual CHLA Gala.
"It's not about me. It's not about even Jimmy. It's about what we do here at Children's Hospital," Starnes said.
CHLA is considered a safety-net hospital, meaning it serves all patients regardless of their financial status. About 74 percent of patients there are on Medical.
Starnes founded CHLA's Heart Institute in 1992. He's being honored for his pioneering work but says the greatest honor is being able to see patients like Billy and Max grow to have meaningful lives.
"He gives you hope and he gives you a chance," Page said. "And we just live out Max's life in honor of him because he has just been a tremendous gift to this community."
