Shivam, 17, Bay Area

At 17 years old, Shivam is already transforming hardship into hope.  

Shivam’s journey with Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford began when he was just a few days old. Soon after birth, he was diagnosed with critical aortic stenosis and congenital valve dysplasia and was transferred to our hospital for specialized care. There, he underwent procedures to replace heart valves and received a pacemaker to restore heart function. Over the years, Shivam has undergone additional procedures and pacemaker replacements, spending time in our cardiovascular intensive care unit. He credits his care team with helping him feel informed, safe, and supported throughout his treatment. 

As he gets older, Shivam is beginning to process what he has endured. He remembers the fear of needles, the uncertainty before surgery, and the pain of recovery. After one ​​surgery, it took months to rebuild his strength.  

“I wasn’t able to run. I wasn’t even able to speed-walk,” he recalled. Yet, step by step, he worked to regain his confidence and keep moving forward.  

Visits to the emergency room also changed Shivam’s perspective. Seeing other children and families in distress stirred something powerful in him.  

“What stuck with me was that I wanted to care for people in some way,” he said. “I felt a calling to help people.”  

Today, Shivam is thriving. A high school junior, he plays on his school’s junior varsity tennis team, enjoys walking his dog, and is preparing for college with hopes of studying economics. He is also writing a children’s book called The Rhythm of Life, inspired in part by his own experiences. Through it, he hopes to help young patients cope with stress and communicate openly with the people caring for them. Proceeds from his book will be donated to the hospital.  

When asked what helped him most when he was a young Heart Center patient, Shivam described the doctors who took time to answer his questions and guide him through the unknown. “They made me really feel comfortable,” he said. “I was very grateful for them.”  

This June, Shivam will be celebrated not only for the challenges he has overcome, but for the compassion he now shares with others. His story is a reminder that healing reaches far beyond medicine—it grows through courage, kindness, and a community that shows up for children when they need it most. 

When you join us at Summer Scamper on June 21, you’ll help more children like Shivam receive extraordinary care and the chance to thrive.