����������

Some things run in families; for Matthew Smith and his son Turner, that’s care at Children’s Hospital of Georgia.

Turner, now 4, was born a few weeks early at CHOG after his mom was induced due to lack of fetal movement. About a year later, his parents noticed that Turner’s head kept dropping. He was diagnosed with epilepsy and began treatment at CHOG, culminating in brain surgery in August 2024 to remove the scar tissue in his brain that was causing the seizures. Since then, Turner has been seizure-free.

His dad was already familiar with the level of care provided at CHOG, because he had experienced it for himself — and for a lot longer than some of their patients. Diagnosed with a congenital heart defect at age 11, he spent plenty of time receiving treatments at CHOG. Like most pediatric hospitals, CHOG continues to provide care to their patients long after they reach adulthood. Matthew had heart surgery there at age 27.

“When we walked into the OR that morning, people asked, ‘well, where’s the kid?’” . “I said, ‘I am the kid.’”

Matthew is grateful for the care his family has experienced at CHOG. “My journey started here; my son’s journey is still here,” he said. “We can never imagine a better place.”