Over 900 families, comprising more than 2,500 guests, gathered at the Philadelphia Zoo to celebrate the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) 29th annual reunion. The event honors patients and families treated at the Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment (CFDT). Now named the Lori J. Howell Fetal Family Reunion, it pays tribute to Lori J. Howell, a pioneering nurse leader whose vision has significantly influenced fetal medicine globally.
“This reunion is a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience of our families, and of the deep bonds that connect them to one another and to our team,” said N. Scott Adzick, MD, Surgeon-In-Chief at CHOP and Director of the CFDT. “It’s incredibly special to witness this community grow stronger each year. It continues to be our favorite annual event, and our team is honored to play a part in the lives of the families who attend.”
The annual gathering allows families to reconnect with CHOP’s clinical teams who provided care during critical times. Many children present were diagnosed prenatally with severe birth defects like spina bifida or congenital diaphragmatic hernia and received specialized care either before birth or immediately after delivery.
The event has expanded from a small group in 1997 to over 900 families annually, creating a supportive global community. This year saw attendees from states such as Florida, Maine, Illinois, and Connecticut.
Since its inception in 1995, CHOP’s CFDT has become a leading comprehensive fetal program worldwide. More than 32,000 expectant mothers from across all U.S. states and over 70 countries have sought assistance from CFDT. With over 2,400 fetal surgeries performed so far, it has transformed fetal surgery into a viable option for many families globally.
Patients receive high-level care for complex fetal surgeries at CHOP. Surgical teams focus on advanced procedures addressing various birth defects to ensure optimal outcomes for both mother and baby—from prenatal diagnosis through delivery at CHOP’s Garbose Family Special Delivery Unit.
