Four Generations, One Mission: The Story Behind Our Spring Appeal - Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children

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This spring, we are proud to share the story of Samantha Rodriguez, the patient at the heart of our 2025 spring appeal campaign.

Samantha is 4½ years old and was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, a rare condition that causes extremely fragile bones. She has already experienced 32 fractures in her short life. Despite everything, she learned to walk and dance. By age three, however, repeated fractures and a femur deformity made walking too painful to continue. Her family sought care closer to home, but nothing available locally was equipped to meet her needs. That search brought her family to LuskinOIC and to Dr. Bowen.

What makes Samantha’s story so compelling for this campaign is not only her resilience but her family’s deep and lasting connection to this institution. Samantha is the fourth generation of her family to receive care here. Her grandmother first walked through our doors in 1987. Her mother, Karla, and her aunt became patients in 2002, both with the same diagnosis. Now Samantha is our patient too.

Her mother, Karla, a former patient herself, said it best: “My surgery changed my life. I want that for Samantha. I want her to start kindergarten this September with confidence, ready to take on the world.”

Samantha’s story reflects everything we stand for, and it is a reminder of the impact each of us contributes every single day.

Knowing When to Seek Care for Your Child: A Guide from LuskinOIC

As a parent, your top priority is keeping your child safe and healthy. But when your child is sick or injured, it can be hard to know what level of care they need. Should you call your pediatrician, visit urgent care, or head straight to the emergency department?

When to Call Your Pediatrician or Visit Urgent Care

For non-emergencies, your child’s pediatrician or a pediatric urgent care center is often the best place to start. If your child’s doctor isn’t available—such as during evenings or weekends—urgent care can provide fast, effective treatment. Contact your pediatrician or visit urgent care if your child has:

A fever lasting more than 3 days
A fever over 102°F for more than 2 days in an infant, without a clear cause
Symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, dry cough, runny nose)
Minor injuries like sprains, strains, or swelling
Cuts that may need stitches
Minor burns
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Bladder or urinary tract infections
Cold symptoms, coughs, or sore throats
Earaches or sinus pain
Skin concerns like rashes or irritation

You may also have access to virtual urgent care for non-emergency issues, allowing your child to be seen by a provider from home. Check if pediatric virtual urgent care services are available in your area.

When to Go to the Emergency Department

If your child is seriously injured or ill—especially if the condition may be life-threatening or needs immediate attention—take them to the emergency department (ED). Seek emergency care if your child:

Is extremely drowsy, hard to wake, or behaving unusually
Is experiencing severe or constant pain
Has trouble breathing, or is breathing rapidly or deeply
Has a suspected broken bone, a visibly deformed limb, or a lot of swelling and pain
Has a deep or large cut, a cut that won’t stop bleeding after 10 minutes of pressure, or a wound on the head, chest, or abdomen
Sustains a head injury that causes vomiting, confusion, a severe headache, or loss of consciousness
Falls from a significant height
Ingests a harmful substance or medication
- If your child is alert, call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222
- If your child is unresponsive, having trouble breathing, or has collapsed, call 911
Is under 2 months old and has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher (call your doctor first)
Has a high fever along with a stiff neck or headache
Has a fever along with a widespread purple or red rash
Shows signs of severe dehydration (no wet diapers, sunken eyes, dry mouth, weakness, or inability to drink or respond)

Your child’s health matters. When in doubt, trust your instincts—and don’t hesitate to seek care. LuskinOIC is here to support your family with trusted pediatric expertise every step of the way.