Astro Bug

SANTA FE, N.M. - AstroBug -- [SANTA FE, NM] -- UCLA Health and the Los Angeles Lakers honored an extraordinary young fan, Sophia Roybal Anderson, as Laker For A Day during the Doubleheader #268, featuring the Los Angeles Lakers vs. Indiana Pacers and Sacramento Kings vs. Oregon Ducks on February 8th, 2025.

More on Astro Bug

• Brookline Family Dentistry Updates Website URL for a Stronger Brand Identity
• Major Defense Contractor, Satellite and Multiple Deployable Tech Companies Partnering with Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc: Stock Symbol: ASTI
• Rosann Santos Ofrece el Programa Repensando el Síndrome del Impostor™
• Criptlán Partners with Top Capital and Technology Teams to Drive the Future of the Digital Economy
• From Sea to the Site: The Evolution of the Shipping Container From the Water to the Worksite

Sophia took center court alongside the Laker Girls in her own Lakers dance outfit, sharing her incredible journey of perseverance and strength.

When Sophia was born, she struggled to breathe and was rapidly losing weight. Her doctors in New Mexico diagnosed her with a rare heart defect, leaving her parents with limited local options. Determined to find the best care, Sophia's mothers got in contact with Dr. Gary M. Satou, MD, at UCLA Health, who was ready to see them immediately. They quickly learned flying at high altitudes would be fatal to their newborn, so they drove 17 hours from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to UCLA Health.

Dr. Gary M. Satou, MD, informed Sophia's parents that she needed open heart surgery at five months old and performed a successful 10-and-a-half-hour procedure with Dr. Peyman Benharash, MD, FACS–giving Sophia a second chance at life. After spending 12 days in the hospital, she was discharged and strong enough to go home.

More on Astro Bug

• Inbound Lead Generation for Security Companies in 2025: The Key to Sustainable Growth
• Frame Up Now Leverages Cyntexa and Salesforce to Fuel Their Operations & Power Up Lead Conversion
• M Film Lab Launches Spring 2025 Screenwriting Lab: Tales of Identity & Imagination
• TFL Tech Inc. Launches New & Improved Website
• The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, Joins Seabury Resources for Aging® Board of Governors

Sophia and her parents return to UCLA Health for annual checkups and feel like they've become part of their family. Today, she is thriving and is now a proud big sister.

To celebrate her strength and spirit, Sophia was welcomed to the Crypto.com Arena by the Laker Girls, where she danced alongside them in her Lakers gear, creating a special memory that she and her family will always remember.

Sophia now explores new places with her family as travel bloggers on Sophie Says Road Trip, where you get to come along their adventures through her eyes.

For more information on sponsoring a trip for Sophia, you can contact Yvette here.

Santa Fe locals can also visit Octane GMC, owned by Yvette, the first women-owned franchise in Santa Fe, for all your vehicle needs.