YOUR SUPPORT HELPS 

Protect brain health

When a stroke occurs, every minute matters. The faster a patient receives treatment, the greater the chance of preserving brain function and reducing disability.

Thanks to supporters like you, Huntington Hospital continues to strengthen our Comprehensive Stroke Center through investments in specialized staff, advanced technology and patient care. Those resources help ensure patients receive the rapid treatment that can make all the difference.

Alison Birnie’s story is a powerful example. On March 6, 2025, Alison — a former Huntington employee of 35 years and longtime donor — collapsed in her Altadena home. Within minutes, she was rushed to Huntington Hospital, where doctors discovered two clots and a dissection of the carotid artery.

Over the next three-and-a-half hours, one of our interventional radiologists repaired the artery and removed the clots. By the next morning, Alison’s speech had nearly returned, and three days later, she walked out of the hospital.

Today, Alison continues to work and enjoy an active life. Her recovery is a powerful reminder of what expert stroke care — and the donors who help make it possible — can achieve.

YOUR SUPPORT HELPS

Bring comfort and connection to patients

For over 40 years, Huntington Hospital’s Pet-Assisted Therapy (PAT) program has brought comfort, connection and healing to patients through the presence of trained therapy dogs and their volunteer handlers.

Today, dedicated dog-and-owner teams visit patients throughout the hospital, offering moments of joy, calm and reassurance during some of life’s most challenging moments. A patient recovering from surgery finds welcome distraction from pain. A child experiences a moment of play and normalcy. A family member waiting anxiously for news feels a sense of comfort.

These meaningful interactions are made possible through the dedication of volunteers and generous community support, including funding from the Thornton S. Glide, Jr. and Katrina D. Glide Foundation. Together, volunteers, donors and their therapy dogs embody Huntington Hospital’s commitment to compassionate, whole-person care, creating moments of comfort and connection that leave a lasting impression long after a hospital stay ends.

YOUR SUPPORT HELPS

Deliver expert emergency care

When Callie Nishinome was just 18 months old, a high fever suddenly escalated into a febrile seizure. In an instant, an ordinary day became frightening and uncertain for her first-time parents.

They rushed Callie to Huntington Hospital’s Nan and Howard Schow Emergency & Trauma Center, the largest emergency department in Pasadena and a Level II trauma center, where the care team quickly identified the cause of the seizure and provided the timely treatment she needed.

Beyond the expert care Callie received, her parents remember the compassion of the nurses and physicians who guided them through a terrifying experience with reassurance and understanding.
Today, Callie is thriving. She loves going to Disneyland and is preparing to start preschool, with no lasting effects from that difficult night.

Stories like Callie’s highlight the importance of maintaining a strong, well-equipped Emergency & Trauma Center. Philanthropic support ensures we can continue providing expert, compassionate care when families need it most.