CHOC Foundation

More than 1,100 community and philanthropic leaders gathered for our 17th annual CHOC Gala, presented by Pacific Life and Pacific Life Foundation, raising $7 million in support of pediatric care 🎉

We’re so grateful for all the ways our community is here to advance hope, health, and healing for kids. Together, we make it possible for kids to return to the joy, wonder, and special moments of childhood.

At just 10 years old, Jazlyn’s sore throat turned into a life-changing diagnosis: papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Following two successful surgeries to remove her thyroid, Dr. Himala Kashmiri, Jazlyn’s endocrinologist at Rady Children’s Health Orange County, suspected something else was causing the lesions and wanted Jazlyn to undergo genetic testing.

That intuition led to a diagnosis that may have saved not only Jazlyn’s life but also other family members’ lives. Jazlyn’s testing revealed she has DICER1 syndrome, a genetic disorder associated with a higher risk of developing tumors throughout the body.

Dr. Kashmiri suggested other relatives get tested. It turned out Jazlyn’s mother, Cindy, and one of her other daughters also carried the DICER1 mutation—something they may not have ever known if it weren’t for Jazlyn’s diagnosis. They are regularly monitored.

Now a high school senior, Jazlyn is thriving in color guard and leading as her school's peer mentor club president. She gets annual ultrasounds and bloodwork every six months and is preparing for a seamless transition into adult healthcare.

When reflecting on her care journey, she has no doubt about pursuing her future dreams: “I never really felt scared, because I felt like I was in good hands.”

This Saturday at the CHOC Gala, presented by Pacific Life and the Pacific Life Foundation, we are honored to share Jazlyn’s story and the life-changing impact of philanthropy. Together, we are helping children like Jazlyn turn their brightest dreams into reality.