Meet Our Donors

Layton and Melinda Han
Healing Quintan's Heart

“When Quintan was born, he was breathing normally and looked healthy,” says Layton Han. “But within 24 hours he was struggling. He was transported to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children’s Hospital & Research Center Oakland. He spent a week in the NICU being stabilized, and then had open heart surgery.”

Quintan was suffering from a congenital malformation of the heart that starves the body of oxygen. Babies born with the condition require swift surgical intervention to survive. Following the surgery, Quintan was hospitalized for a month, with his parents by his side throughout the stressful time. “Because we spent so much time at the hospital, I began to see what Children’s was doing beyond taking care of kids. I saw the impact of their mission and what it means for all children to receive such excellent care,” Layton says.

Inspired by their experience, Melinda and Layton begin donating to Children’s annually, then extending their involvement to fundraising events. “Chase the Blues is a lot of fun,” Layton says. “It’s a real community event – it seems like half of Piedmont shows up to support the hospital.”

Quintan is three years old now and doing fine. He returns to Children’s for follow-up care from his friend, pediatric cardiologist Ziad Saba, MD. Every year, the Hans and their four children attend the picnic that reunites NICU “graduates” ranging from small babies to teenagers.

“Children’s mission is unique,” Layton concludes. “I’m ready to do anything I can to help. It’s a noble cause.”